Cities play a key role in our sustainable future

We’ve had so many initiatives at the local or city level related to sustainability, climate change or energy and there is a good reason for that. Action can be mobilised and results achieved with good city commitment. Chris Mooney discusses their importance in a recent article in the Washington Post. Why Earth’s future will … Continue reading Cities play a key role in our sustainable future →

Latest update on climate finance

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides the September update on global developments in climate finance. September 2015 Climate Finance Update During the month of September, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the World Bank, the … Continue reading Latest update on climate finance →

How climate change has moved beyond theoretical scientific debates to the start of practical planning

There was much discussion after the Bank of England Governor Mark Carney gave his views on the impact of climate change. While the audience was British, the message went global. Barrie McKenna wrote in Canada’s Globe and Mail: “Think of it as a sobering climate-change wake-up call for Canadians. . . . For Canada, the … Continue reading How climate change has moved beyond theoretical scientific debates to the start of practical planning →

Should investors be worried about stranded assets related to climate change?

Any transition is going to lead to stranded assets. In the news recently has been the concern that climate change policies will lead to stranded assets in the fossil fuel industry. Nick Butler provides a good blog on the Financial Times website that there is a need to step back from the emotion of the … Continue reading Should investors be worried about stranded assets related to climate change? →

Discussing taxing carbon in the US

The United States has always had a difficulty getting environmentalists and politicians to find a common ground. Professor N. Gregory Mankiw from Harvard University writes in the New York Times that carbon tax policy was championed by a right-of-centre government that did not previously have close ties to the environmental movement. You should enjoy this. … Continue reading Discussing taxing carbon in the US →

Cities are key to deciding our planet’s climate future

For many years, we have realised the power of cities to address our climate and energy concerns. There are a growing number of initiatives to mobilise urban policies. Chelsea Harvey writes in the Financial Times about a new study by the New Climate Economy that details how great a lever that cities can be. … Continue reading Cities are key to deciding our planet’s climate future →

Latest update on climate finance

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides the August update on global developments in climate finance. August 2015 Climate Finance Update During August 2015, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the … Continue reading Latest update on climate finance →

Once a global leader, Denmark takes a different approach to climate policies

While this was announced a couple of weeks ago, EiD believes this story needs to be told again. The Local website in Denmark wrote about plans of the new Danish government to scale back its climate change policies. How this fits into its obligations under the European Union is not certain. This is an unfortunate … Continue reading Once a global leader, Denmark takes a different approach to climate policies →

Grime isn’t the pollution sink that many thought it was

Jonathan Webb provides a good article on the BBC news website about recent rooftop experiments to better understand the overall effect of grime that all our cities suffer from. You may be surprised by the results. City grime 'breathes back out' polluting nitrogen gases Scientists say the grime which clings to urban surfaces "breathes … Continue reading Grime isn’t the pollution sink that many thought it was →

Canada on the carbon crossroads

Canada’s energy policy has covered the full spectrum of themes since the first oil crisis. It is probably long forgotten but after the oil crises of the 1970s, Canada was a leader in sustainable energy developments in the OECD. Jeff Rubin, former chief economist at CIBC World Markets, and David Suzuki, a scientist, emeritus professor … Continue reading Canada on the carbon crossroads →