The latest IPCC report and Ukraine crisis show the urgency of phasing out fossil fuels, investing in renewables and developing sustainable agriculture. Mahmoud Mohieldin, the Egyptian UN Climate Change high-level champion and the UN special envoy on financing the 2030 sustainable development agenda writes on the Climate Change News website about some of his views … Continue reading “At Cop27, it is incumbent upon all states and non-state actors to demonstrate a united world that faces climate change challenges through urgent, ambitious, and transformative agenda”
Japan beefing up its building codes
Zero Energy Homes (ZEH) and Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB) guidelines will be used to enforce the revised building codes according to a news item on the Rethink Tokyo website. They will come into effect after 2025. Energy conservation architecture to be mandatory for Japan real estate from 2025 On April 22nd, the Cabinet of … Continue reading Japan beefing up its building codes
If the world’s energy consumption grows at the pre-COVID rate, technological change alone will not be enough to halve global CO₂ emissions by 2030
Mark Diesendorf, Honorary Associate Professor at UNSW Sydney explains in an article on The Conversation website that we may need to take reducing energy consumption more seriously. Technology alone is not the answer. What are your views? Net zero by 2050 will hit a major timing problem technology can’t solve. We need to talk … Continue reading If the world’s energy consumption grows at the pre-COVID rate, technological change alone will not be enough to halve global CO₂ emissions by 2030
Energy-as-a-service (EaaS) can help to implement energy efficiency worldwide
In an article on the Sustainability Times website, April Miller discusses the energy efficiency gap and how EaaS can help close the gap. What are your views? EaaS solutions can address the energy efficiency gap The energy sector helps the world go round, but that heavy power usage takes a toll on the planet. … Continue reading Energy-as-a-service (EaaS) can help to implement energy efficiency worldwide
New UN group to scrutinise companies’ pledges to cut planet-heating GHG emissions
Saphora Smith writes on the Independent website about a new UN group set up to tackle greenwashing. The chair of the new group, Catherine McKenna, says: ‘I believe that most people want to do the right thing but they have to pushed.’ Hopefully this group will have some real impact. ‘Transparency is the best … Continue reading New UN group to scrutinise companies’ pledges to cut planet-heating GHG emissions
Calling for greater energy efficiency to reduce EU dependence on Russian fossil fuels
Initiatives to improve energy efficiency can reduce the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels. They can also help increase the union’s influence in the global south. Mats Engstrom discusses the issues in an article on the European Council on Foreign Relations website. Efficient influence: Energy initiatives for a geopolitical Europe Russia’s brutal war on … Continue reading Calling for greater energy efficiency to reduce EU dependence on Russian fossil fuels
New EEA briefings: Europe not on track to reach 2030 targets for municipal waste recycling
The European Union (EU) circular economy action plan aims to halve the amount of municipal waste in the EU that is not recycled by 2030. According to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week, achieving this target requires both reducing waste generation and considerably increasing recycling, possibly even beyond the binding recycling target … Continue reading New EEA briefings: Europe not on track to reach 2030 targets for municipal waste recycling
Arguably the world’s largest residential building retrofitted to the Passive House standard in Canada
The project team for the 18-story high-rise for seniors slashed the building’s greenhouse gas emissions by 94 percent and its heating energy demand by 91 percent. Robert Cassidy discusses the retrofit in an article on the Building Design + Construction website. Ken Soble Tower becomes world’s largest residential Passive House retrofit Ken Soble Tower, … Continue reading Arguably the world’s largest residential building retrofitted to the Passive House standard in Canada
With limited supplies of key materials, the need to recycle old batteries becomes more important
Inayat Singh writes on the CBC News website about the importance of recycling old batteries as sources for lithium and cobalt become more concentrated in only a few countries. For example, 70 % of cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo alone. Battery recycling could help make electric vehicle production more sustainable The … Continue reading With limited supplies of key materials, the need to recycle old batteries becomes more important
California has set a new record of 97.6% instantaneous renewables on its grid early April
Joshua S Hill writes on the renew economy website about a new milestone for renewables achieved in California. “Re-imagining the grid:” California reaches record 97.6% renewable share California has set a new record of 97.6% instantaneous renewables on its grid, marking a major new milestone on the way to a carbon free grid by … Continue reading California has set a new record of 97.6% instantaneous renewables on its grid early April
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 