The number of clean air zones across Europe has risen 40% since 2019, forcing older and more polluting vehicles off the road

Low-emission zones, now in 320 cities, are increasing as EU battles pollution health emergency Dirty air is the greatest environmental threat to human health, cutting life expectancy by almost two years. Arthur Neslen explains latest developments in an article on The Guardian website.   Old cars forced off road as Europe’s clean air zones nearly … Continue reading The number of clean air zones across Europe has risen 40% since 2019, forcing older and more polluting vehicles off the road

Blog from Erik Gudbjerg: How do we turn this energy crisis to our advantage?

Some of us are old enough to remember the oil crises of 1973-74 and again of 1979. It wasn't funny. No driving on Sundays, lights out in stores outside business hours, turned off street lights and lower temperatures everywhere. The thing is, today we can be happy about the oil crises. If it was not … Continue reading Blog from Erik Gudbjerg: How do we turn this energy crisis to our advantage?

Does expanding nuclear energy in Britain make sense?

We are in the midst of a zero-carbon energy transition globally and Britain has shown leadership with its strategy that sets out policies and proposals for decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy to meet the net zero target by 2050. The UK Government is putting nuclear at the centre of its strategy to reach … Continue reading Does expanding nuclear energy in Britain make sense?

“The legacy of all that climate disinformation remains”

David Klepper from The Associated Press writes on the National Newswatch website about the role of climate disinformation. Starting in the 1980s and 1990s, as public awareness of climate change grew, fossil fuel companies poured millions of dollars into public relations campaigns denouncing the accumulating evidence supporting the idea of climate change. We are paying … Continue reading “The legacy of all that climate disinformation remains”

We have a lot of work cut out for us to get the energy efficiency improvements we need

Minimum energy performance standards for buildings coupled with generous tax rebates for renovations – 110% in Italy – could unlock the energy service company market in Europe. Sonja van Renssen discusses the main issues with Jessica Stromback in an article on the Energy Monitor website.   Expect a “seismic shift” on energy efficiency – Jessica … Continue reading We have a lot of work cut out for us to get the energy efficiency improvements we need

New report from UN Habitat – World Cities Report 2022: Envisaging the Future of Cities

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 created a temporary crisis of confidence in the future of cities. However, a broad consensus is that urbanization remains a powerful twenty-first century mega-trend; and that well-planned towns and cities remain central to the sustainable development trajectory. There is a sense of optimism that the crisis may … Continue reading New report from UN Habitat – World Cities Report 2022: Envisaging the Future of Cities

Although the gap with fossil fuel power generation continues to widen due to oil and gas prices rising even faster, challenges across the renewables supply chain are becoming increasingly worrying

So far, the narrative has focused on cheap renewables to counter fossil fuels but without well-functioning and diversified supply chains to ensure energy security, the energy transition is at risk. Francesco Luise discusses in an article on the impakter website.   For a Successful Energy Transition: Keeping Cost of Renewables Low Is Not Enough Adding … Continue reading Although the gap with fossil fuel power generation continues to widen due to oil and gas prices rising even faster, challenges across the renewables supply chain are becoming increasingly worrying

New IISD report on how Glasgow Statement signatories can meet their commitment to shift international public finance out of fossil fuels and into clean energy by the end of 2022

The International Institute for Sustainable Development has recently published Turning Pledges Into Action. Glasgow Statement signatories made a commitment to end new international public finance for fossil fuels by the end of 2022 and fully shift their focus toward financing clean energy. Now, it's time to turn those pledges into action. This report analyses the … Continue reading New IISD report on how Glasgow Statement signatories can meet their commitment to shift international public finance out of fossil fuels and into clean energy by the end of 2022

A blockchain-based ‘smart charging solution’ enables EV owners to match their charging requirements with selected renewable options

Jonathan Spencer Jones writes on the Smart Energy International website about a new solution using blockchain to match local renewables to EV charging.   VW and Energy Web develop 24/7 renewable energy charging blockchain solution for EVs Energy Web and Volkswagen have partnered on a solution to match local renewables to electric vehicle (EV) charging. … Continue reading A blockchain-based ‘smart charging solution’ enables EV owners to match their charging requirements with selected renewable options

Scotland provides important lessons in how to implement energy efficiency

Devolution has freed the Scottish government to come up with innovative publicly funded energy-saving schemes. Whitehall should take note of their success according to Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, writing in the July/August issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry.   Scotland can show England the way There has been much … Continue reading Scotland provides important lessons in how to implement energy efficiency