The surprise result is a diplomatic triumph for Australia, whose prime minister, Scott Morrison, had promoted Cormann’s OECD credentials in calls with international counterparts in recent months. Cormann narrowly defeated the Swedish former EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström in the election to lead the 37-member Paris-based organisation, which gives advice to member governments on economic … Continue reading Australia’s Mathias Cormann elected OECD chief despite climate record
Global heating pushes tropical regions towards limits of human liveability
A new study suggests that large swaths of the tropics will experience dangerous living and working conditions if global warming isn’t limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Henry Fountain discusses the study in an article on the New York Times website. Global Warming’s Deadly Combination: Heat and Humidity Here’s one more reason the world should … Continue reading Global heating pushes tropical regions towards limits of human liveability
The challenges Britain faces in hosting COP26 in November
Larry Elliott provides a good account of the challenges that Britain faces for ensuring COP26 this November resets global climate policies to ensure that our long-term climate and energy objectives are met. It certainly helps that the US is back but there is no guarantee that the conference will end in success. If Johnson … Continue reading The challenges Britain faces in hosting COP26 in November
The road to climate-neutrality: Are EU national long-term renovation strategies fit for 2050?
With the EU Renovation Wave and European Green Deal, every effort by all member states is so crucial to achieve the long-term climate and energy objectives. This report by BPIE makes one wonder how serious we really are in achieving our long-term goals. Will this be a wake-up call? Hopefully, but it’s not obvious. … Continue reading The road to climate-neutrality: Are EU national long-term renovation strategies fit for 2050?
Our global Covid recovery plans are still not giving enough attention to sustainability
Madeleine Cuff writes on the inews website that less than a fifth of the Covid recovery spending announced by governments around the world has been earmarked for green projects. How do we get that to change? Less than 20 per cent of global Covid recovery spending is green, report says Despite promises to “build … Continue reading Our global Covid recovery plans are still not giving enough attention to sustainability
Understanding carbon-free construction
Buildings and construction generate nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. As urbanisation skyrockets, the sector needs to find ways to rapidly decarbonise through net-zero building as required under the EU Energy Performance In Buildings Directive and to meet our long-term climate and energy objectives. Stuart Braun provides a good account to understanding carbon-free construction in … Continue reading Understanding carbon-free construction
Green hydrogen seen as way forward for Scotland’s whisky distilleries
The aim is for green hydrogen to be produced using energy generated by onshore and offshore wind farms. The fuel could be used in industrial processes, such as heating stills for whisky distilleries, or plant operations in the port. Greig Cameron discusses latest developments in an article on The Times website. Whisky goes green … Continue reading Green hydrogen seen as way forward for Scotland’s whisky distilleries
By continuing to privilege economic growth over environmental and social sustainability, “we are creating the conditions in which epidemics flourish …”
Tom Pegram, Associate Professor in Global Governance and Deputy Director of UCL Global Governance Institute, UCL and Julia Kreienkamp, Researcher at the Global Governance Institute at UCL write on The Conversation website about our need to embrace the politics of ecology as our sustainable way forward. Global obsession with economic growth will increase risk … Continue reading By continuing to privilege economic growth over environmental and social sustainability, “we are creating the conditions in which epidemics flourish …”
Manufacturers fight to source the exotic materials needed to produce batteries for electric vehicles
Shortage of key materials and rising demand for batteries prompt urgent calls for action to avoid supply issues. Alan Tovey discusses the issues in an article on The Telegraph website. Electric car rush drives rare earths arms race Car companies’ rush to go all-electric is likely to drive an arms race between manufacturers as … Continue reading Manufacturers fight to source the exotic materials needed to produce batteries for electric vehicles
One of Britain’s biggest insurers lets corporate clients know they will lose cover if they fail to meet GHG emissions targets
Aviva is the first global insurer and the first UK financial services company to set a target of reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2040. Louisa Clarence-Smith discusses latest developments in an article on The Times website. Aviva leads global insurers on climate change plan One of Britain’s biggest insurers is putting companies … Continue reading One of Britain’s biggest insurers lets corporate clients know they will lose cover if they fail to meet GHG emissions targets
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 