Economists at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says efforts to counteract the Covid-19 pandemic create an opportunity to “tilt to green” the large-scale recovery spending being pledged, making it a key accelerator towards a low-carbon economy. Vanora Bennett explains in an article on the EBRD website. Spending to counteract coronavirus creates … Continue reading Governments seeking to protect their citizens medically and economically in the short term should also look to the long term and protect the environment
Can an eclectic mix of hundreds of students brought together to work against the clock come up with technological solutions to the world’s environmental problems?
Lucy Sherriff asks this question in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. More than 500 people turned up for the Santa Cruz event, grappling with problems presented at the start in categories such as sustainability and earth conservation technology, mental health and social justice. Now let’s hope they succeed. Hackathons: An inclusive way … Continue reading Can an eclectic mix of hundreds of students brought together to work against the clock come up with technological solutions to the world’s environmental problems?
Japanese government urged to reconsider its ”disappointing” proposals to cut GHG emissions and adopt a more “ambitious” stance
Samuel Lovett writes on The Independent website about the lack of ambition in Japan’s latest targets that remain unchanged from first commitments made five years ago under Paris Agreement. Japan’s latest climate change plans criticised as ‘feeble’ and ‘shameful’ Japan’s new proposals for fighting climate change have been described as “feeble” and “shameful”, after … Continue reading Japanese government urged to reconsider its ”disappointing” proposals to cut GHG emissions and adopt a more “ambitious” stance
The important role of improved energy efficiency in microgrid projects
Why do microgrid projects need to start with energy monitoring and energy efficiency? Jules Nohra, director of optimisation services, Veolia North America, explains in an interview with Yasmin Ali, Microgrid Knowledge contributor to its website. Why Microgrid Projects Start with Energy Monitoring and Energy Efficiency Why is it important to make a facility as … Continue reading The important role of improved energy efficiency in microgrid projects
IEA welcomes Luxembourg’s ambitions to shift to a low-carbon economy
In its latest in-depth review of Luxembourg’s energy policies, the IEA notes that Luxembourg faces challenges in achieving its energy objectives but welcomes their approach. These are described in an article by the Newsroom on the Modern Diplomacy website. IEA support Luxembourg’s ambitious energy transition goals Luxembourg is targeting a sharp reduction in emissions … Continue reading IEA welcomes Luxembourg’s ambitions to shift to a low-carbon economy
The Trump administration rolled back Obama-era fuel efficiency standards for automobiles this week, creating regulatory confusion for the auto industry
Alyssa Danigelis, writing on the Environment + Energy Leader website, discusses the confusion that has been created by the Trump administration rolling back on the previous planned approach to improve fuel efficiency standards for automobiles. Now the annual improvement is significantly lower than previously planned. But there are still clashes with the new federal standards … Continue reading The Trump administration rolled back Obama-era fuel efficiency standards for automobiles this week, creating regulatory confusion for the auto industry
An 11-year study in Sweden has found that older people exposed to air pollution are more at risk of dementia
EiD has had many posts over the years on the impact of air pollution. Harry Cockburn write on The Independent website about an 11-year study in Sweden on the impact of air pollution. Its findings added more reasons to reduce emissions from sources such as transport, and to optimise treatment of cardiovascular disease – particularly … Continue reading An 11-year study in Sweden has found that older people exposed to air pollution are more at risk of dementia
Scientists discovered a strain of bacteria that can degrade the harmful compounds in polyurethane products — a positive step toward reducing the amount of plastic pollution in the environment
Scottie Andrew writes on the CNN website about a new synthetic chemical compound that can degrade the harmful compounds in polyurethane products. Hopefully industry won’t take this to mean they can produce more plastic Plastic-eating bacteria could be small step toward tackling world's pollution crisis Plastic products made with polyurethane, a synthetic chemical compound, … Continue reading Scientists discovered a strain of bacteria that can degrade the harmful compounds in polyurethane products — a positive step toward reducing the amount of plastic pollution in the environment
Warning labels, like those on cigarette packets, could be used to show the health risks of fossil fuels
Labels could connect the dots between the 'abstract threat of the climate emergency with the use of the fossil fuels in the here and now'. Louise Boyle writes on The Independent website that a group of health experts are suggesting that they be used. What are your views? Fossil fuels should have cigarette-style warnings, … Continue reading Warning labels, like those on cigarette packets, could be used to show the health risks of fossil fuels
The time window for halving global emissions has narrowed: in 2010, the world thought it had 30 years to halve global GHG emissions; today, we know that this must happen in ten years
At the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, countries set goals that require halving carbon emissions by 2030. In a new piece in Nature, Professor Harald Winkler, from the University of Cape Town (and a friend of EiD), as part of an international team, delivers the bad news that the emissions gap - … Continue reading The time window for halving global emissions has narrowed: in 2010, the world thought it had 30 years to halve global GHG emissions; today, we know that this must happen in ten years
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 