Japanese government urged to reconsider its ”disappointing” proposals to cut GHG emissions and adopt a more “ambitious” stance

Samuel Lovett writes on The Independent website about the lack of ambition in Japan’s latest targets that remain unchanged from first commitments made five years ago under Paris Agreement. Japan’s latest climate change plans criticised as ‘feeble’ and ‘shameful’ Japan’s new proposals for fighting climate change have been described as “feeble” and “shameful”, after … Continue reading Japanese government urged to reconsider its ”disappointing” proposals to cut GHG emissions and adopt a more “ambitious” stance →

New EEA briefing on need for EU member states to accelerate actions to reach GHG effort sharing targets

Emission cuts in the European Union’s (EU) Effort Sharing sectors need to accelerate considerably from 2018 onwards to achieve the current EU 2030 targets, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published this week. In particular, the large amount of emission reductions from planned measures in the transport sector need to materialise through concrete … Continue reading New EEA briefing on need for EU member states to accelerate actions to reach GHG effort sharing targets →

Ireland not on track to meet its long-term decarbonisation goals

Fossil fuel use in sectors a threat to Ireland’s long-term green energy goals. Kevin O’Sullivan discusses Ireland’s energy transition situation in an article on the Irish Times website. Transport and heat emissions holding back progress on decarbonising Significant progress in decarbonising power generation in Ireland is being undermined by increases in carbon emissions from … Continue reading Ireland not on track to meet its long-term decarbonisation goals →

Needing leadership for our global climate and energy challenges

This week, Nick Butler, the Financial Times energy columnist and visiting professor and chair of the Kings Policy Institute at Kings College London, raised an important issue this week about the need for a world institution for climate and energy. Here are some of the important points he raises: It’s time to provide detailed steps … Continue reading Needing leadership for our global climate and energy challenges →

The debate in Australia now turns towards the pros and cons of setting a long-term net zero emissions target for 2050

The summer of climate disasters in Australia has led to people seriously reflecting on how to address the situation. Richard Denniss, chief economist at the Australia Institute, writes in The Guardian that there are 30 years to solve the hard problems, but no time to avoid the easy solutions. Putting the 'net' into net-zero … Continue reading The debate in Australia now turns towards the pros and cons of setting a long-term net zero emissions target for 2050 →

Restoring Scotland’s peatland in drive to reduce GHG emissions could lead to problems for its Scotch whisky industry

While very little of the peat extracted annually is for whisky, the industry is caught up in the government’s efforts to restore Scotland’s peatlands. Charlie Parker explains latest developments in an article on The Times website. Green plans for saving peat are risky to whisky The Scottish whisky industry faces a critical shortage of … Continue reading Restoring Scotland’s peatland in drive to reduce GHG emissions could lead to problems for its Scotch whisky industry →

The worst-case scenario for emissions of CO2 this century is no longer plausible, say researchers

Matt McGrath writes on the BBC website about some of the concerns about the worst-case scenario for CO2 emissions. What are your views? Worst CO2 emissions scenario 'exceedingly unlikely' The worst-case scenario for emissions of CO2 this century is no longer plausible, say researchers. Referred to as "business as usual", the scenario assumes a … Continue reading The worst-case scenario for emissions of CO2 this century is no longer plausible, say researchers →

While many English councils state they will be carbon neutral by 2050, few even know their current carbon footprint

It is fairly easy to make a decarbonisation commitment, it is less easy to achieve it. Jane Dudman writes in The Guardian about the challenges ahead for English councils. English councils set to miss carbon emission targets Many councils in England don’t know how much energy they use, a new survey reveals. The findings … Continue reading While many English councils state they will be carbon neutral by 2050, few even know their current carbon footprint →

Financing Europe’s green transition

This was a critical week for ensuring the European Union takes a more ambitious approach to the low-carbon energy transition. The European Commission unveiled a €1 trillion investment plan to fight climate change on Tuesday. The Commission proposals would dedicate around a quarter of the EU budget to the task. The proposal has already had … Continue reading Financing Europe’s green transition →

Russia takes new approach to addressing climate change

A Kremlin website recognises global heating as a problem but lists ‘positive’ economic effects. A news item by Agence France-Presse in The Guardian explains some of the mitigation and adaptation efforts that are planned. Russia announces plan to ‘use the advantages’ of climate change Russia has published a plan to adapt its economy and … Continue reading Russia takes new approach to addressing climate change →