The complexity of creating a sustainable urban transport system

Athlyn Cathcart-Keays discusses in an article in The Guardian about the up and down transformation currently underway in Oslo to find a sustainable urban transport system that is satisfactory to all citizens. There are many lessons to learn from this experience. Oslo's car ban sounded simple enough. Then the backlash began One day late last … Continue reading The complexity of creating a sustainable urban transport system →

Reviewing the options for Kenya’s energy transition

There is no single way forward for the energy transition. For many countries, the option to expand the use of coal is still being assessed. Erik Nordman, Associate Professor at Grand Valley State University in Michigan explains about the latest developments in Kenya. They could be lessons for all of us. Why the Lamu coal … Continue reading Reviewing the options for Kenya’s energy transition →

New energy efficiency platform to help SMEs in Switzerland

At the recent eceee summer study, many of us were discussing how small and medium-sized enterprises are not getting the policy priority they need. The Swiss Federal Office of Energy has come up with an excellent platform to provide more support. What do you think?   The PEIK platform helps SMEs reduce their electricity bills  … Continue reading New energy efficiency platform to help SMEs in Switzerland →

Five great building blocks for a renewable energy future

More and more we are reading about cities and regions and even countries planning towards a 100 % renewable energy future. The important point is that people are trying to figure out appropriate pathways and that there is a realisation that our current dependence on fossil fuels simply is unsustainable. Mike Jacobs, senior energy analyst … Continue reading Five great building blocks for a renewable energy future →

Australia sees poor performance from its vehicle fuel efficiency standards

Energy efficiency policy is heavily reliant on minimum energy performance standards for many technologies, including cars. Anna Mortimore, Lecturer, Griffith Business School at Griffith University explains in an article on The Conversation website about the less than impressive developments in vehicle efficiency in Australia. How is it in your country?   Australia has stalled on … Continue reading Australia sees poor performance from its vehicle fuel efficiency standards →

A social psychologist’s view on Trump and climate change

In recent weeks, we have seen the Trump administration take quite a negative approach to obligations under the Paris climate agreement. Matthew Adams Principal Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Brighton provides an interesting article on The Conversation website, from a different perspective.   Trump's climate policy may backfire, as he unwittingly plays an … Continue reading A social psychologist’s view on Trump and climate change →

Blog from Catrin Maby – And/and, not either/or: reflections on the eceee summer study

I have just returned from the excellent and thought provoking eceee summer study. Impressed with the range of the discussions, it struck me that this is in fact key to the theme of achieving an energy efficient economy. It’s a matter of doing all of it, not pitting solutions against each other. A case in … Continue reading Blog from Catrin Maby – And/and, not either/or: reflections on the eceee summer study →

How sustainable energy subsidies are evolving in Ireland

Recent analysis shows that there has been an important shift in subsidies towards sustainable energy in the past decade. Michael Viney explains in an article in the Irish Times. What is the experience in your country?   Dramatic shift in environment subsidies towards renewable energy There has been a dramatic shift in environmental subsidies in … Continue reading How sustainable energy subsidies are evolving in Ireland →

Latest update on sustainable energy finance

The SDG Knowledge Hub of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides the May update on global developments in sustainable energy finance.   Sustainable Energy Finance Update: Infrastructure Central to Renewable Energy Deployment and Access The push for renewable energy and improved energy access often requires improved or new energy infrastructure. Developing and building … Continue reading Latest update on sustainable energy finance →