New study shows that Canada can achieve an 80% carbon reduction by 2050

Ralph Torrie, Managing Director of the Trottier Energy Futures Project, describes a new study they have just released. While the focus is Canada, it reviews low-carbon scenario research from eight industrialised countries. This is an important study that deserves An 80% Carbon Reduction: It’s Not Just Business as Usual An 80% reduction in Canada’s … Continue reading New study shows that Canada can achieve an 80% carbon reduction by 2050 →

New publication on climate change ethics

As the world turns its attention to the negotiations at the next climate change conference in Doha, it is useful to truly reflect on the subject. Most observers of climate change policy developments around the world agree that climate change is a civilization challenging ethical problem, yet most governments have utterly failed to enact climate … Continue reading New publication on climate change ethics →

New publication on our global environmental challenges

Anders Wijkman and Johan Rockström have written an important report for the Club of Rome entitled Bankrupting Nature, Denying Our Planetary Boundaries. Both authors are recognised for their work on sustainability issues. Anders Wijkman is a co-President of the Club of Rome, a former MEP and actively involved in many environmental activities. Johan Rockström is … Continue reading New publication on our global environmental challenges →

Creating jobs and boosting the economy

Energy efficiency investment is one of the best ways to boost the economy, new research reveals. GreenWise provides a good review of a new study from Consumer Focus in the UK. The lessons from this, however, go well beyond the UK. Carbon taxes could boost economy and lower energy bills Investing money raised through … Continue reading Creating jobs and boosting the economy →

Did you know?

The flat glass industry has a big role to play in energy and climate strategies. Glass for Europe has just come out with a new report, Europe’s flat glass industry in a competitive low carbon economy. The report refers to an important study published in 2011: 85% of the glazed surfaces in Europe’s buildings contain … Continue reading Did you know? →

What the IEA’s World Energy Outlook says about energy efficiency

This week, the International Energy Agency published its 2012 version of its World Energy Outlook. There was considerable attention given to energy efficiency. It is instructive to read some excerpts on energy efficiency from the executive summary. Our Efficient World Scenario shows how tackling the barriers to energy efficiency investment can unleash this potential and … Continue reading What the IEA’s World Energy Outlook says about energy efficiency →

The struggles of a resource economy

A recent report commissioned by the Canadian International Council analyses how Canada should start shaping its resource policies for the future. Fur, fish, wood, and minerals may have shaped this country's early history, but more recently, natural resources were largely regarded as part of the old economy, best left behind as Canada raced toward a glittery … Continue reading The struggles of a resource economy →

Two excellent energy efficiency papers

The journal Energy Policy provides two excellent energy efficiency papers on the impact of energy labels and the possible role of how feed-in tariffs can be an option to promote energy saving. The first paper, entitled The impact of energy labels and accessibility on office rents is by Nils Kok from Maastricht University and Maarten … Continue reading Two excellent energy efficiency papers →

Are we thinking “deep”? New survey uncovers important findings

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) surveyed real estate and construction executives in the European Union, India, China and the USA commissioned by the Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN). 423 senior executives from the real estate and construction industries. Over half (51%) were C-level executives or above and nearly half (49%) came from organisations with more … Continue reading Are we thinking “deep”? New survey uncovers important findings →

Energy company obligations in Britain – two important papers

Energy savings obligations in the UK – a history of change: Jan Rosenow of the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford has produced a paper for a special issue of the journal Energy Policy that looks at Energy Savings Obligations in the UK. More specifically, it discusses how the policy instrument changed over time and … Continue reading Energy company obligations in Britain – two important papers →