Latest update on energy finance for mitigation

The SDG Knowledge Hub of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides the recent update on energy finance for mitigation compiled by Beate Antonich.   Mitigation Finance Update: Which Banks Take Climate Action Seriously? Story highlights: Brazil’s cement industry aims at reducing 35% of its emissions. Bank of America will mobilize USD 300 billion … Continue reading Latest update on energy finance for mitigation →

New report explores how a number of African countries are designing systems to simultaneously achieve their climate targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India, published a report titled, ‘SDG Footprint of African NDCs: Advancing the Co-benefits Approach,’ which explores how a number of African countries are designing systems to simultaneously achieve their climate targets and the SDGs. Wangu Mwangi explains in an article on the SDG Knowledge Hub of the International Institute … Continue reading New report explores how a number of African countries are designing systems to simultaneously achieve their climate targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) →

Addressing pollution and emissions by shipping

UPDATE: The International Maritime Organization (on Friday agreed stricter energy efficiency targets for certain types of ships in an effort to speed up action to cut the sector’s emissions. See here. The International Maritime Organization aims to halve global emissions by 2050. Shipping, along with aviation, has been excluded from international talks on climate change … Continue reading Addressing pollution and emissions by shipping →

Consumers are warned that their behaviour will have to change if Scotland is to meet its long-term low-carbon objectives

Finally, a government minister has explained that we cannot continue our current ways if we are to effectively meet our long-term climate and energy objectives. Roseanna Cunningham, Environment Secretary in Scotland, said people changing their behaviour would be “critical” for the country to have any chance of ending its contribution to global warming within 25 … Continue reading Consumers are warned that their behaviour will have to change if Scotland is to meet its long-term low-carbon objectives →

Corporate arrangements now account for 22 percent of large renewable deals signed last year in the United States

Large corporations are increasingly committing their operations to switch to renewable energy.  Stanley Reed explains in an article in the New York Times some of those efforts in the US.   Could Beer Brewed With Wind Power Help Save the Planet? During the Super Bowl in February, a commercial showed a Budweiser beer wagon drawn … Continue reading Corporate arrangements now account for 22 percent of large renewable deals signed last year in the United States →

Innovative approach to heat storage facility

An experimental salt-based heat storage facility at Berlin’s Reuter thermal power station uses quicklime in a simple chemical reaction. Frank Jordans from Associated Press explains in an article on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette website.   'Salt battery' holds promise in search for renewable energy In the hum and heat of Berlin's Reuter thermal power station stands … Continue reading Innovative approach to heat storage facility →

Climate change does not mean a disastrous financial crisis

We get all types of reaction to the impact of climate change.  Encouragingly, Glenn McGillivray, Managing Director, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction at Western University in Canada writes on The Conversation website that a financial collapse as we saw in 2008 seems unlikely. Regardless, there is no doubt we have to do much more to … Continue reading Climate change does not mean a disastrous financial crisis →

In Germany the Energy Avant-Garde Anhalt shows its commitment to a sustainable energy future

It is encouraging to see some of the sustainability efforts underway. In Sachsen-Anhalt, one of the former Eastern German Länder, here is one group of very engaged people that deserves more attention. They come from various backgrounds – citizens, research institutes, municipal energy companies – has a goal of pushing “a socially just energy transition … Continue reading In Germany the Energy Avant-Garde Anhalt shows its commitment to a sustainable energy future →

Dubai: To be more successful at achieving an energy-efficient neighbourhood, technological solutions should complement urban design solutions

Karishma Asarpota, an urban planner and researcher, writes on the Inter Press Service News Agency website about his views on ways in which we should rethink architectural or urban design solutions. What are your views?   Building a More Energy-Efficient Neighbourhood in Dubai Dubai is an Emirate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a … Continue reading Dubai: To be more successful at achieving an energy-efficient neighbourhood, technological solutions should complement urban design solutions →