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
What works to slow climate change?
Kevin Trenberth, Distinguished Scholar, NCAR; Affiliated Faculty at the University of Auckland, writes on The Conversation website argues that that the most effective way to address the climate change problem is to decarbonise economies not to have such alternatives as geoengineering; carbon capture and storage, including “direct air capture”; and planting trees. What are your … Continue reading What works to slow climate change?
European Commission urges member states to slash gas use by 15% to counter ‘Russian blackmail’
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, thinks that a total cut-off of Gazprom shipments to the EU-27 is 'probable.' To counter this, Brussels has come up with a plan based on voluntary action, asking each of its member countries to curb their consumption. Virginie Malingre discusses the announcement in an article on … Continue reading European Commission urges member states to slash gas use by 15% to counter ‘Russian blackmail’
New EEA reports on which European cities have the best air quality
The cleanest cities in Europe in terms of air quality during 2020 and 2021 were Umeå in Sweden, and Faro and Funchal in Portugal according to the updated European city air quality data viewer published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) recently. In addition to the viewer, the EEA also published two reports looking at … Continue reading New EEA reports on which European cities have the best air quality
Possibly the future of green energy: a catamaran that became the first boat in the world to produce hydrogen out at sea using just the power of the wind
A British start-up has designed technology that can generate storable energy on seagoing vessels. Ben Spencer discusses recent developments in an article on The Times website. Hydrogen ahoy! Water-splitting yacht creates green energy as it sails The catamaran skimming over the waves off the Essex coast looks like something a particularly enthusiastic sailor might … Continue reading Possibly the future of green energy: a catamaran that became the first boat in the world to produce hydrogen out at sea using just the power of the wind
Women and girls are the most affected by the flooding in Bangladesh due to climate crisis
Thaslima Begum writes on the Guardian website about the vulnerability of women and girls in Bangladesh. In the north-east region of Bangladesh, called Sylhet, 414 of the 926 community clinics scattered throughout the region were under water due to flooding from the monsoons. ‘Every year it gets worse’: on the frontline of the climate … Continue reading Women and girls are the most affected by the flooding in Bangladesh due to climate crisis
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 