The European Environment Agency (EEA) has come out with an important new study on industrial air pollution. Air pollution and GHG emissions from industry cost Europe between €59 and €189 billion in 2012, the report shows. The upper estimate is approximately equivalent to the GDP of Finland or half the GDP of Poland. Over the … Continue reading New report from European Environment Agency: Industrial air pollution has high economic cost
Opinion on a possible carbon tax in the US
Following the agreement between the US and China on curbing emissions, there has been considerable attention paid to the way forward. Eduardo Porter recently wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times arguing that a carbon tax is the one tool available to trim carbon emissions on a relevant scale but that it remains … Continue reading Opinion on a possible carbon tax in the US
Assessing the cost of energy efficiency
Merriam Borgeson writes an excellent blog for Switchboard, Natural Resources Defense Counsel Staff Blog, on a recent study comparing the cost of energy efficiency and the cost of building coal power plants. New Analysis: The Cost of Energy Efficiency is Under Half the Cost of Building Dirty Coal Power Plants After mining the results … Continue reading Assessing the cost of energy efficiency
Public utilities can take up the solar mantle
Kristel High, Editor in Chief of Politic365 assesses the growing developments in utility-scale solar facilities in the US. Could this be the case in other countries? Any views? Utility Scale Solar Among Most Affordable Options for Renewable Energy As the EPA issues new rules on carbon emission standards and climate change deniers get a … Continue reading Public utilities can take up the solar mantle
The importance of improved energy efficiency to meet climate objectives
Mat Hope writes on the Carbon Brief website about the latest Emissions Gap report of the United Nations Environment Programme and the growing awareness that improved energy efficiency must play a more important role. Alas, it is unfortunate that the European Council did not understand this when it downplayed the role improved energy efficiency would … Continue reading The importance of improved energy efficiency to meet climate objectives
The need for smart EU energy markets
The Third Generation Environmentalism Ltd, E3G, the independent, non-profit organisation accelerating the global transition to sustainable development, has published an important new briefing report on energy markets in the European Union, written by Simon Skillings and Taylor Dimsdale. As E3G states, it is easy to be pessimistic about the state of EU energy policy and … Continue reading The need for smart EU energy markets
Latest developments in the roll out of smart meters in the UK
The EU has an ambitious plan for 80% market penetration of smart meters by 2020 as part of the internal electricity and gas market reforms. Emily Gosden writes in The Telegraph on the latest developments in the UK. Widespread installation of electricity and gas "smart meters" was due to begin late next year but could … Continue reading Latest developments in the roll out of smart meters in the UK
Ecodesign to focus on big screen TVs
It is long overdue that size matters when it comes to improving energy efficiency. Arthur Neslen writes an important article on the European Commission’s planning to address mega-TVs. It reminds EiD of the effort made by the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (eceee) several years ago to address whether efficient is sufficient. Hopefully … Continue reading Ecodesign to focus on big screen TVs
What if the climate change problem were instead treated as a moral issue
Ever since Obama reached a deal with China over reducing carbon emissions, the issue of climate change has strengthened in the US. David Ignatius, an opinion writer for the Washington Post, provides a thought-provoking column that you should enjoy. The moral issue of climate change The politics of selfishness was embraced enthusiastically last week … Continue reading What if the climate change problem were instead treated as a moral issue
Vehicle of the future?
We generally hear about electric cars and how they are gaining market share. We hear a lot less about hydrogen cars. Kenneth Chang provides a good article in the New York Times about developments in the US. EiD knows there are efforts under way in Europe. It would be good to hear about them. … Continue reading Vehicle of the future?
