Ten years since the Fukushima disaster, expensive nuclear energy plants are being shut down across the world as renewable power prices plummet. Stuart Braun discusses nuclear power today in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. What are your views? Nuclear power: Downward trend ahead of climate summit In the face of soaring gas … Continue reading Does nuclear energy have a role to play in addressing climate change?
European Commission publishes recommendation and guidelines on the ‘Energy Efficiency First’ principle
Energy efficiency first has been a guiding principle in European climate and energy policies for many years. It considers energy efficiency as a source of energy in its own right and as a “first fuel” in planning processes and investment decisions. It has been an essential element of the energy union and the Clean energy for … Continue reading European Commission publishes recommendation and guidelines on the ‘Energy Efficiency First’ principle
Lesson on contacting politicians about climate change
Seth Wynes, Postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment at Concordia University in Montreal discusses in an article on The Conversation website about what works most effectively in contacting your local politician. This comes from Canada but may also apply to your country. What approach has been most effective for you? … Continue reading Lesson on contacting politicians about climate change
New EEA briefing on counting the cost of industrial air pollution
Emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases from large industrial sites in Europe cost society between €277 and €433 billion, in 2017, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis, published this week. About half of the annual cost is caused by just 211 facilities, around 2 % of the largest industrial sites in Europe. … Continue reading New EEA briefing on counting the cost of industrial air pollution
Can solar geoengineering help us address climate change?
The last chance to stop global warming — or a delusion of grandeur? Scientists are working on innovative ways to artificially cool the planet. Tim Schauenberg discusses three possible ideas in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Solar geoengineering: Can we cool the planet? "There is no doubt that humans are able to artificially … Continue reading Can solar geoengineering help us address climate change?
European Central Bank climate stress tests show the challenges ahead
The stress test published Wednesday compiled data gathered on more than 4 million companies worldwide and 1,600 banks in the 19-country eurozone where the ECB sets monetary policy. The broad takeaway was that an orderly and swift transition “to minimize costs and maximize benefits outweighs short-term cost of transition to zero-carbon economy over the medium … Continue reading European Central Bank climate stress tests show the challenges ahead
New analysis shows the cost of achieving carbon neutrality in Germany
Germany wants to be carbon neutral by 2045. Restructuring its economy will cost trillions. But not investing the money would cost even more. Tim Schauenberg discusses the costs in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. This is obviously an area that the incoming Chancellor will have to deal with – urgently. What climate … Continue reading New analysis shows the cost of achieving carbon neutrality in Germany
New World Health Organization Global Air Quality Guidelines aim to save millions of lives from air pollution
New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) provide clear evidence of the damage air pollution inflicts on human health, at even lower concentrations than previously understood. The guidelines recommend new air quality levels to protect the health of populations, by reducing levels of key air pollutants, some of which also contribute to climate change. Since … Continue reading New World Health Organization Global Air Quality Guidelines aim to save millions of lives from air pollution
“No regrets” revisited
Energy conservation through improved efficiency has been seen as an important long-term policy tool since the first oil crises in the 1970s. The International Energy Agency (IEA) realised that improved energy efficiency could not be a short-term solution in a crisis so it ensured that energy efficiency policies took a longer-term perspective. In 1987, the … Continue reading “No regrets” revisited
We need to think about the wide range of ways to cut shipping emissions in the coming decade
One of the sectors doing the most damage is international shipping, the emissions of which are almost equivalent to those of an industrial country like Germany. Simon Bullock, PhD Candidate in Shipping and Climate Change at the University of Manchester provides 10 ways to reduce GHG emissions in an article on The Conversation website. … Continue reading We need to think about the wide range of ways to cut shipping emissions in the coming decade
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 