How to communicate about climate change

We’ve had posts on communication before. Understandably we have more to learn because we are still not convincing enough people and definitely not convincing enough decision makers. Tae Hoon Kim, Researcher in Energy Politics at the University of Cambridge provides some good views about how it should be done. Do you agree?   How to … Continue reading How to communicate about climate change →

Discussing the importance of the 2 degree C target for climate change

We read about the global climate target all the time and we know that even the 2015 Paris climate conference called for an aspirational goal of 1.5 degrees. David Titley, Professor of Practice in Meteorology, Professor of International Affairs & Director Center for Solutions to Weather and Climate Risk at the Pennsylvania State University writes … Continue reading Discussing the importance of the 2 degree C target for climate change →

The environmental impact of mining the materials for electric vehicle batteries

We have given much attention to the developments in batteries for electric vehicles as we try to increase their range. Max Opray provides an important article in The Guardian about the environmental impact from nickel, one of the major materials used in lithium ion batteries. Having grown up in a mining community and having seen … Continue reading The environmental impact of mining the materials for electric vehicle batteries →

How one Dutch utility is providing innovative new services

Everywhere we are seeing innovative new ways that energy utilities are performing in the energy transition. Some have obligations provided by governments or regulators, while others act to take advantage of market conditions. Stanley Reed explains in an article in the New York Times about what one utility in The Netherlands is up to.   … Continue reading How one Dutch utility is providing innovative new services →

Have we appropriately considered the human rights and social implications of the clean energy transition?

There is a human dimension to all our policies and we should always remember that. Roberta Pinamonti writes a thoughtful article on the Business for Social Responsibility website about the human rights implications.   The Human Rights Implications of the Renewable Energy Transition In 2015, Amnesty International and Greenpeace released a joint statement calling on … Continue reading Have we appropriately considered the human rights and social implications of the clean energy transition? →

Role of graphene in improving energy efficiency

We are always looking at new technical innovations to improve energy efficiency. An article on the Wall Street Pit website describes how researchers are looking at graphene to play an increasingly important role.   Energy-Saving Graphene Computers with 1,000x Speed and Efficiency Graphene is the strongest and lightest material in existence, with an amazing tensile … Continue reading Role of graphene in improving energy efficiency →

Sustainability and our digital carbon footprint

What is the environmental cost of producing media? Pietari Kaapa, Associate Professor in Media and Communications at the University of Warwick discusses this question in an important article on The Conversation website.   It's time to start thinking about our digital carbon footprint The media is at the forefront of generating awareness over environmental issues. … Continue reading Sustainability and our digital carbon footprint →

How the upcoming solar eclipse gets people thinking about power grids worldwide

This week’s solar eclipse will mainly be in the United States but it provides an important opportunity to look at the bigger issues related to solar energy. Ephrat Livni writes about some of the issues on the Quartz website.   The total solar eclipse is a test case for renewable energy in emergencies Like many, … Continue reading How the upcoming solar eclipse gets people thinking about power grids worldwide →