Don Fitz writes on the Resilience website about concerns (“myths”) about renewable energy in our low carbon energy transition. He has one key message – we must reduce our energy demand. What Is Energy Denial? The fiftieth anniversary of the first Earth Day of 1970 will be in 2020. As environmentalism has gone mainstream … Continue reading “Using less energy should be the beginning point, the ending point and occupy every in-between point on the path to sane energy use”
New report from the European Environment Agency identifies ten focus areas for enabling sustainability transitions
There is growing recognition that achieving prosperity within environmental limits requires fundamental changes in core systems of production and consumption. A new European Environment Agency (EEA) report, published recently, identifies ten focus areas for enabling sustainability transitions. How to accelerate change towards sustainability? The EEA report ‘Sustainability transitions: policy and practice’ identifies policy options … Continue reading New report from the European Environment Agency identifies ten focus areas for enabling sustainability transitions
Australia’s energy transition – meeting renewable energy target but much more to do
One cannot rest on one’s laurels these days. There is so much to do for our low carbon, energy transition. Dylan McConnell, Researcher at the Australian German Climate and Energy College at the University of Melbourne writes on The Conversation website about the progress to date in Australia meeting its renewable energy target. Australia has … Continue reading Australia’s energy transition – meeting renewable energy target but much more to do
‘Secret sustainability’ is on the rise in the business world
‘Secret sustainability’ is on the rise, with companies loath to talk about their ecological credentials. Cassandra Coburn writes in The Observer to explain why. Why industry is going green on the quiet There’s a factory in Asia that uses only a single litre of water to make a pair of jeans. That’s 346 litres … Continue reading ‘Secret sustainability’ is on the rise in the business world
Sometimes an organisation has outlasted its usefulness
We have been very good at creating new international organisations when needed but we have a hard time removing them when they have either achieved their expected results or simply do not have a positive role to play in our current global context. Can it be reformed to meet today’s challenges? Such is the concern … Continue reading Sometimes an organisation has outlasted its usefulness
Many Asian countries’ existing and expanding dependence on coal power is undermining international efforts to fight greenhouse gas emissions
Harry Cockburn writes on The Independent website about the dependence on coal power in many Asian countries. Renewable sources are struggling to compete with cheap coal amid surge in demand. Asia's growing coal use could negate global climate change progress, UN says Many Asian countries’ existing and expanding dependence on coal power is undermining … Continue reading Many Asian countries’ existing and expanding dependence on coal power is undermining international efforts to fight greenhouse gas emissions
Rubbish will be picked up in Britain as never before
Both the City of Westminster and Sheffield will be piloting a project to collect household rubbish from electric bin vehicles. These are diesel trucks that have been repowered with electric motors. Maya Wolfe-Robinson explains in an article in The Guardian. It will be interesting to see how successful the pilot is. Westminster and Sheffield … Continue reading Rubbish will be picked up in Britain as never before
German wind energy build-up is stalling
Everyone has been watching Germany’s energy transition - energiewende - with great interest. Much of it relates to deploying renewable energy technologies. Uwe Hessler writes on the Deutsche Welle website about how the wind industry is stalling. German wind energy stalls amid public resistance and regulatory hurdles The German Economy Ministry has called a … Continue reading German wind energy build-up is stalling
Lighting should “make a positive impact on the world”
As Roy T. Bennett said, “Shine your light and make a positive impact on the world; there is nothing so honourable as helping improve the lives of others.” While incandescent lightbulbs transformed our societies 140 years ago, they simply were not sustainable and now we have important, efficient options. Steven Mufson writes in the Washington … Continue reading Lighting should “make a positive impact on the world”
Burgundy wine grapes are as good a barometer of climate change as any
When we come to September in many regions of France, one thinks of grape harvest. There is great concern that wine grapes in the Burgundy region of eastern France have been picked 13 days earlier on average since 1988 according to a recent study. Tom Bawden explains in an article on the i news website. … Continue reading Burgundy wine grapes are as good a barometer of climate change as any
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 