Decision-makers pay attention when the Financial Times comes out with specific positions. This week, the FT came out with a strong statement on the impact on the economy from addressing climate change. Understandably, it stresses that some sectors will be adversely affected and lobbying will no doubt play an important role in the final decisions. … Continue reading Financial Times argues that addressing climate change can support economic growth
Documenting the energy savings potential in India’s residential buildings
A new report entitled Residential Buildings in India: Energy Use Projections and Savings Potentials by the Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN) and jointly developed with CEPT University from India provides the first comprehensive attempt to document energy saving potentials that could be achieved in India by 2050 in the residential sector. Four energy scenarios were … Continue reading Documenting the energy savings potential in India’s residential buildings
Valuable diplomatic manoeuvring underway on climate change
While there has been understandable focus on the UN’s Climate Summit this week, the International Institute for Sustainable Development also reports on a meeting of another high-level group. Major Economies Forum Convenes Foreign Ministers MEF21 September 2014: The 20th Meeting of the Leaders' Representatives of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change … Continue reading Valuable diplomatic manoeuvring underway on climate change
Coming to grips with how we feel about climate change
This article was written by George Marshall on the eve of the climate summit this week. He assesses how we internalise climate change and one of his points is particularly important: “So if we are to really mobilise action on climate change it is vital that we recognise that it exists in two forms: the … Continue reading Coming to grips with how we feel about climate change
The need to shift to energy-efficient appliances
While the Climate Summit was held this week, focus was on the range of ways to address climate change. Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) provided the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) with a guest article on the importance of shifting to energy-efficient appliances. It is well worth reading. Following its publication, … Continue reading The need to shift to energy-efficient appliances
Turkey’s battle against large energy-consuming appliances
Turkey does not implement all the EU energy efficiency directives, but it does implement those for Ecodesign (energy-efficient appliances) and for energy labelling. This article in the Daily Sabah shows what is happening with respect to refrigerators. While Turkey follows the Ecodesign directive, it has a special consumption tax which is actually lower for the … Continue reading Turkey’s battle against large energy-consuming appliances
China’s carbon footprint growing
While everyone knew that China’s carbon emissions were high, there was definitely the view that on a per capita basis, they were quite behind Europe. That is no longer the case, as explained by Matt McGrath on the BBC News website. China's per capita carbon emissions overtake EU's New data on carbon shows that … Continue reading China’s carbon footprint growing
New call for energy efficiency to lead a new energy policy approach in Europe
Oliver Rapf, Executive Director of the Buildings Performance Institute Europe, writes recently on the BPIE website to remins us of the challenge we have in the upcoming weeks to argue for a paradigm shift in energy policy in Europe. Rapf says it is self-evident about energy efficiency and low carbon being at the heart of … Continue reading New call for energy efficiency to lead a new energy policy approach in Europe
Renewables increasingly cost competitive
There are fundamental shifts in the US energy market, according to an article by Ed Crooks in the Financial Times. As the article reports, renewables are increasingly cost-competitive with natural gas-fired power, even without subsidies. US solar and wind start to outshine gas Large wind farms and solar plants are now cost-competitive with gas-fired … Continue reading Renewables increasingly cost competitive
The EU challenge to find a united approach to achieving emissions targets
There are few who would argue with meeting emissions targets in Europe. But, they are expensive to achieve and many of the new member states have found it difficult to give this a priority when there are so many other economic and social issues to deal with. Christian Oliver writes in the Financial Times about … Continue reading The EU challenge to find a united approach to achieving emissions targets
