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 →

Some of the main takeaways from the IEA’s World Energy Outlook

This week, the IEA published its 2019 version of its annual World Energy Outlook. Brad Plumer writes in The New York Times about his main takeaways. 5 Global Trends Shaping Our Climate Future Wind turbines, solar panels and electric vehicles are spreading far more quickly around the world than many experts had predicted. But … Continue reading Some of the main takeaways from the IEA’s World Energy Outlook →

Energy transition: so far the IEA has unfortunately failed to deliver real reform

The International Energy Agency and its annual World Energy Outlook have significant impact in our energy and climate policies. As one columnist for Bloomberg writes: the WEO is like “a map used by the people, companies and institutions planning and building the roads. If its scenarios point a certain way, then investments will be made … Continue reading Energy transition: so far the IEA has unfortunately failed to deliver real reform →

Will the IEA’s models reflect meeting the Paris climate objectives?

In September, EiD had a post on concerns about modelling at the International Energy Agency and whether it truly meets the objectives of the Paris climate agreement. Now the Oil Change International team write on the Price of Oil website about similar concerns. They worry that there is now an over reliance on natural gas … Continue reading Will the IEA’s models reflect meeting the Paris climate objectives? →

New analysis from the European Environment Agency on air quality

Europe’s air is getting cleaner but persistent pollution, especially in cities, still damages people’s health and the economy. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) new analysis on air quality shows that exposure to air pollution caused about 400,000 premature deaths in the EU in 2016. Cutting air pollution in Europe would prevent early deaths, improve … Continue reading New analysis from the European Environment Agency on air quality →

IEA in new drive to increase rate of energy intensity improvements

Undoubtedly, if we are to accelerate the low carbon energy transition, we need organisations such as the International Energy Agency to play a lead role. Last week, EiD had a post raising concerns about its modelling and we are looking forward to what it next presents in the upcoming World Energy Outlook. Recently, the IEA … Continue reading IEA in new drive to increase rate of energy intensity improvements →

New report from OECD linking climate action and well-being

In energy efficiency we are often discussing the so-called multiple benefits that include health, jobs and other social benefits. Now the OECD Secretariat has released a report that tries to look at climate action with a social focus. The OECD publication Accelerating Climate Action: Refocusing Policies through a Well-being Lens builds on the OECD Well-being … Continue reading New report from OECD linking climate action and well-being →

New report from UN Economic Commission for Europe to accelerate energy transition

Recently, the UNECE has published a report to accelerate the shift to improved energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment in selected countries of South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and in the Russian Federation. UNECE issues recommendations to accelerate energy efficiency and renewable energy shift in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Russian … Continue reading New report from UN Economic Commission for Europe to accelerate energy transition →

Will IEA’s models truly reflect meeting the Paris climate objectives?

In April this year a group of investors and scientists wrote to the Executive Director of the IEA calling for a more realistic approach to modelling in its World Energy Outlook. They closed the letter this way: “As a group of individuals representing the investor, business, academic and non-profit sectors, we are key end users … Continue reading Will IEA’s models truly reflect meeting the Paris climate objectives? →

Sometimes an organisation has outlasted its usefulness

We have been very good at creating new international organisations when needed but we have a hard time removing them when they have either achieved their expected results or simply do not have a positive role to play in our current global context. Can it be reformed to meet today’s challenges? Such is the concern … Continue reading Sometimes an organisation has outlasted its usefulness →