European Investment Bank provides draft climate action strategy for review

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is carrying out a review on its approach to supporting climate action. A related public consultation was open from 12th January 2015 to 16th March 2015. The consultation involved meetings with stakeholders. The review process is taking place in parallel to the on-going climate negotiations before the global climate summit … Continue reading European Investment Bank provides draft climate action strategy for review

Balancing national politics and the need to decarbonise in the UK

The Financial Times provided a very good editorial this week about the Conservative government’s path from environmental trailblazers to considering it a faddish agenda. It will be curious to see the stance that the British government takes at the global climate summit later this year in Paris.   A positive plan is needed to decarbonise … Continue reading Balancing national politics and the need to decarbonise in the UK

Latest update on climate finance

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides the July update on global developments in climate finance.   July 2015 Climate Finance Update During the month of July, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank, the Adaptation Fund, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Nordic Environment … Continue reading Latest update on climate finance

France sets the bar for energy savings

This was a very strange week, with the UK deciding to cut many of its renewable energy subsidies together with ending its flagship Green Deal and France taking an opposite view. Mike Szabo writes a very good article on the Carbon Pulse website, describing the measures in the energy bill that was approved in France … Continue reading France sets the bar for energy savings

Book review on communicating about climate change

Dennis Bours, from the Global Environment Facility Independent Evaluation Office has posted a book review by a professor who looks at the current climate change debate from the perspective of an English professor. The review is well written and it certainly leads one to want to now read the book. Let EiD know if you … Continue reading Book review on communicating about climate change

Explaining climate policies in Australia

Andrea Bunting writes a thorough overview on the greenleft website on the situation in Australia to balance climate policies with its priorities to be a major energy and commodity producer. It will be interesting to see Australia’s position at the global climate summit in Paris later this year. What’s wrong with emissions trading Australia’s climate … Continue reading Explaining climate policies in Australia

New publication on the economy and the climate

The International Institute for Sustainable Development writes about an important new report. This is important reading for all of us.   Global Commission Identifies Economic Opportunities that Mitigate Emissions The Global Commission on the Economy and the Climate has released a report that identifies ten concrete economic opportunities that could also reduce emissions, and close … Continue reading New publication on the economy and the climate

British government ditches plans for zero carbon homes

Philip Oldfield writes in the Guardian about the government decision to axe plans to make new homes carbon neutral from 2016. This has raised much criticism. What the article does not mention is how the government will now meet its related obligations for nearly zero energy buildings under the EU’s energy performance of buildings directive. … Continue reading British government ditches plans for zero carbon homes

Latest thoughts on the new development banks

Adrian Fenton, a post-graduate researcher at the Sustainability Research Institute of the University of Leeds, and a visiting researcher at the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), has written an important blog on the website of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) on the possible impact of the new development banks. … Continue reading Latest thoughts on the new development banks