Harnessing the power of hydrogen through scalable and colour-agnostic infrastructure that already exists today will accelerate the clean energy transition, argues David Burns from Linde
A sustainable and resilient energy system must incentivise a strong role for demand-side flexibility solutions, says Bertrand Deprez from Schneider Electric
The European Commission must recognise its role and prioritise investment in secure and predictable renewable electricity sources in its upcoming proposal on the European Electricity Market, as they are the best way to both replace reliance on imported fossils fuels as well as balancing wind & PV production, say Sanjeev Kumar and Berenice Crabs of the newly-formed Alliance of Secure, Indigenous and Predictable Renewable Electricity (Aspire)
Adaptation and mitigation efforts are mutually reinforcing. A cohesive policy effort to improve Europe’s buildings and urban spaces is becoming increasingly vital, says Oliver Rapf of Buildings Performance Institute Europe
Grid operators are not maximising the system capacity, resulting in wasted or lost clean electricity. A concerted effort to boost digitalised grid management could help save money and power, says Amir Cohen of EGM
Europe’s search for alternative gas supplies fails to recognise what this energy crisis really is: a fossil fuels crisis. Investing in costly, stranded fossil-fuel assets is the exact opposite of our way out of the multifaceted emergency we are in, says Eva Brardinelli at Climate Action Network Europe (CAN Europe)
Following COP27, the climate conversation is very much turning towards implementation. Insurance markets have a double role to play here, says Charlie Langdale from international insurance broker Howden
Consumers are more engaged in their energy use. Now is the time to leverage this desire to cut demand and support the grid in a flexible and rewarding way, says Lucy Yu from the Centre for Net Zero
Europe should look at how other nations are promoting new technologies to accelerate the deployment of new smart energy systems in Europe, says Lars Erik Knaack at NOVENCO Building & Industry
Such is the rigour for safety, regulation and quality in the civil nuclear industry, the whole supply chain is being drawn into a process of business and engineering improvement that is proving beneficial for engineers across a myriad of other industries, says Julian Vance-Daniel of Vessco Engineering
New chemistries are required to make the battery sector more sustainable amid growing demand. To become a reality, greater investment and supportive policies need to be put in place, says Kim Grøn Knudsen from Topsoe
Green hydrogen is considered to be an energy carrier of the future, but many people are not aware that it can also be used to heat buildings. As a complementary fuel, hydrogen can be truly efficient, economical and sustainable all at the same time. Plus, when used to store surplus clean energy, hydrogen can also help balance the electricity grid—a major challenge when leveraging renewables, says Henning Sandfort of Siemens Smart Infrastructure
The rise in demand from electric vehicles (EVs) will put untold pressure on the already constrained grids. Supporting and expanding smart charging infrastructure will not only stabilise the grid but also provide fair prices to customers at times when energy bills are high, says Torben Fog of Spirii
Governments can play an important role in affecting the financial markets to support decarbonisation, says James Shaw, Minister of Climate Change for New Zealand
Placing decarbonisation of buildings on the international agenda means heat pumps can finally have their moment in the spotlight, says Richard Lowes of the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
A fully renewable energy future is within reach and storage is definitely required, but it is a combination of measures that will truly make it possible, argues Johan Söderbom of EIT InnoEnergy
Governments are setting ambitious targets for the use of synthetic fuels in the aviation sector. But clarity is still needed before the industry can step up to meet these objectives, says Elena Scaltritti from Topsoe
Multilateral development banks have the unique ability to bring in innovative financing structures, mitigate risks, help the government to drive policy and institutional change, and bring in the knowledge and innovation needed in the market, says Annisa Sekaringtias at E3G
As European markets seek new sources of natural gas to meet winter demand, Gulf nations could instead play a role in supplying another clean energy carrier, says Frank Wouters from the MENA Hydrogen Alliance
Political and regulatory interference in the offshore wind turbine market—at least in the short term—would allow the market to use Chinese-made turbines but also retain European market shares while western OEMs get their houses in order, says Carsten Nielsen of K2 Management
By using the wrong metrics, the European Union is locking in inefficient ways of space heating. Changing the definitions of renewable heat may help support low-carbon alternative technologies, says Duncan Gibb from the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
Energy efficiency measures, coupled with renewables, are the right tools for achieving carbon neutrality and protecting our energy sovereignty, says Francesco Venturini of Enel X Global Retail
A large, mature voluntary carbon market is urgently needed. To get there, it has some growing up to do, says Charlie Langdale, from international insurance broker Howden
Owners and operators of offshore wind projects need to rapidly accelerate their adoption of digitalisation to head off the impact of soaring costs and supply chain challenges, says Evgenia Golysheva at ONYX Insight
Smart buildings are energy-saving, sustainable buildings. Clustered into smart city districts, they play a crucial role in climate protection. The adaptive, open-source technology to make this possible is already available, says Matthias Rebellius of Siemens Smart Infrastructure
A clear consensus is emerging that a clean power system by 2035 is a crucial milestone for a successful and timely energy transition in Europe. Achieving this requires significant acceleration of current efforts, the groundwork for which must be laid in the next few years, says Elisabeth Cremona of think tank Ember
The decarbonisation of truck traffic is on its way. Zero-emission trucks are ready to roll and megawatt-charging technology will satiate the resulting charging needs. Now regulatory bodies must do all in their power to speed up the transition, says Markus Mildner of Siemens eMobility
Current policies around the energy transition place emphasis on the democratisation of power generation and the rise of prosumers. But while the energy system of the future may be decarbonised and digital, it will also be less decentralised than we envisage, say Thomas Boermans and Michael Stautz of E.ON
Urbanisation, rising global living standards and geopolitical tensions are placing enormous pressure on the global energy supply. Energy security and sustainability are critical—but scaling up today’s approach will not be enough. We must invest in industrial energy efficiency on a global scale, says Tarak Mehta from ABB Motion
Both high energy prices and the recent geopolitical developments have increased the pressure to gain energy independence. Now is the right time to add renewable capacity to the grid and thus accelerate the energy transition. However, this also requires some new technologies to be introduced, says Johan Söderbom of EIT InnoEnergy
As water scarcity becomes a bigger issue, industry must become more resilient by reducing pressure on available freshwater resources. Strong policy frameworks are required to support more efficient water usage, says Emilio Tenuta from Ecolab
With REPowerEU underway, Europe’s energy and climate strategy demands a rapid change of scenery. We must utilise the full palette of solutions available, including household flexibility, says Sophie Yule-Bennett from the Regulatory Assistance Project
A proposed tax on Danish road users is misguided and difficult to enforce. Taxing the type of vehicle would help increase the uptake of electric-powered trucks in the haulage sector, says Joakim Bansholm Nilsson from Volvo Denmark
Due to the high degree of fragmentation, investing in energy efficiency at scale is notoriously difficult. But with specialised investment teams and innovative financing structures, the sector can present a highly attractive opportunity for institutional investors, says Alexander Hunzinger from SUSI Partners
Water requires energy. When we move it, clean it, heat it and cool it—energy moves with it. These two precious resources come together seamlessly in our daily lives, but they can also jointly create significant energy savings. Unleashing the potential of the water-energy nexus will drive substantial energy savings to repower the EU while drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions, says Hayati Yarkadas at Xylem Europe
We could electrify 30% of all trucks today. The technology is ready as is the industry, but a lack of clear economic incentives is standing in the way. We need policies, investments and tax systems to favour electricity if we are to realise the potential, says Joakim Bansholm Nilsson of Volvo Trucks Denmark
Simply rolling out renewables will not be enough to end Europe’s dependency on gas. Energy efficiency is just as important, says Katarzyna Wardal from Knauf Insulation
Energy prices across Europe remain high and volatile with no signs of slowing down. But placing the power to change in consumers’ hands could help alleviate the pressure, says Johan Söderbom from EIT InnoEnergy
The European Union wants to reduce reliance on Russian energy imports. For this to work, a pan-EU Taskforce with the sole purpose of improving energy efficiency in buildings must be established, says Adrian Joyce of Renovate Europe
Two things have made energy-efficient solutions more in demand than ever: the invasion of Ukraine, which has sent Europe’s energy prices skyrocketing, and the green agenda, says Lars Erik Knaack at Novenco Building & Industry
Poland has recorded the strongest growth in heat pump sales in Europe in 2021. This is the result of market certainty and customer incentives and shows the way for other states looking to heat pumps in decarbonisation efforts, says Monika Morawiecka and Jan Rosenow from the Regulatory Assistance Project
As well as dealing with the pressing issue of the climate catastrophe, energy efficiency policies are also a part of the debate around national security, says Chris Friedler from the Association for Decentralised Energy
The European Union’s new Batteries Regulation must encourage more domestic production and be enforceable, says Claude Chanson of RECHARGE, the European advanced rechargeable and lithium battery value chain association
The shipping sector must avoid taking the wrong pathway that would end up locking in polluting fuels for decades, says Delphine Gozillon at Transport & Environment
The gas price hike has demonstrated the risks associated with the EU's energy dependence. The situation prompted a pan-European debate about the structure of electricity markets. The European Commission has now asked the Association for Cooperation of Energy Regulators to assess the current design. It should look beyond the present circumstances and focus on the urgent need to prepare for the future, says Simon Skillings, Artur Patuleia and Lisa Fischer from E3G
Supply chain emissions offer huge potential for reducing a company's carbon footprint. To tap into this, companies need to work closely with their suppliers to encourage them to switch to renewable energy, says Professor Dr Christian Heinrich from carbmee
Three out of four European cement producers are operating above the emissions threshold set by the new EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities, risking both their license to operate and commercial opportunities, says Fleming Voetmann at FLSmidth
Digital transformation in renewables is accelerating the green energy transition, exponentially expanding both the energy sources that can connect to the grid and the avenues for cyberattacks, says Clinton Firth from EY
Lithium demand is set to rocket in the coming years massively outstripping supply. Investments need to be made in lithium production today for it to match the world’s needs and to become more environmentally friendly, says Ernie Ortiz, president of Lithium Royalty Corp
A second batch of legislative proposals under the European Union’s Fit-for-55% climate package can complement and confirm the bloc’s climate ambition, say Lucie Mattera and Elisa Giannelli from E3G
Wind power operators are creating new ways of working to manage their portfolios more efficiently. But as wind scales up, digitalisation must be delivered strategically, otherwise, a fragmented and ineffective approach to digital tools could hold the industry back, says Evgenia Golysheva at ONYX Insight, a provider of predictive data analytics and engineering consultancy
Commitments to reaching net zero carbon emissions are important but the real test is moving from the “what” to the “how”. This requires a far more inclusive and holistic approach, says Jeff Connolly, CEO of Siemens Australia & New Zealand
Increasing the level of electrification, coupled with greater use of renewables, is the best way of avoiding a climate catastrophe, says Matthias Rebellius of Siemens Smart Infrastructure
To give electromobility a real boost and make the Green Deal a reality, we have to look beyond public charging, says Jean-Christoph Heyne from Siemens Smart Infrastructure
Facing the prospect of huge bills for emissions allowances by 2030, cement companies must act now to accelerate the decarbonisation of the industry, says Fleming Voetmann at FLSmidth
Green hydrogen is expected to become a commercially viable energy carrier soon. The coming decade could see it become a vital part of the energy transition, says Frank Wouters from the MENA Hydrogen Alliance
Ahead of this autumn’s climate change conference, the UK, Norway and Denmark can demonstrate leadership on the energy transition by backing up their words with serious action, say Andrzej Błachowicz from Climate Strategies and Gökçe Mete of the Stockholm Environment Institute
Developing a climate finance plan of requisite scale depends on better joined-up diplomacy by developed countries who must heed the warnings of high jeopardy, says Iskander Erzini Vernoit from think tank E3G
Socially responsible investing is becoming increasingly popular, especially in the wake of the pandemic, and the momentum behind using ESG criteria in investments is set to snowball, says Nigel Green from financial advisor deVere Group
The world's largest economies risk missing the window of opportunity to maximise the global recovery from the pandemic and accelerate the energy transition, says Dileimy Orozco from think tank E3G
The IEA regards broader adoption of energy efficient technology as the “first fuel” in tackling climate change. High efficiency industrial motors and drives could cut global energy consumption by up to 10%, according to Morten Wierod, president at ABB Motion
The latest EU Climate Law lays the groundwork for significant progress in the energy transition by placing carbon removal and emissions reduction on separate pedestals, say Mark Preston and Suzana Carp from Bellona Europe
Government support for Power-to-X projects and Denmark’s energy islands is essential in commercialising the technology, says Søren Rydbirk from Green Hydrogen Systems
The European Union has a chance to set the course for a decade of environmental action. But only if an ambitious policy framework can be established, says Rebecca Humphries from WWF’s European Policy Office
India’s energy system can improve by incorporating more load-side distributed clean solutions. To achieve that, regulators will have to develop suitable evaluation and incentive structures for the country’s distribution companies (discoms), says Rasika Athawale from the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
The world’s ocean provides much of humanity’s foodstuff, carries the bulk of the world’s trade and acts as a store for enormous amounts of carbon dioxide. It is central to our climate goals and prosperity, says Graham Stuart, UK International Trade Minister, on World Ocean Day (June 8th, 2021)
Fulfilling the Paris Agreement’s climate-neutrality commitments by 2050 demands significant efforts from the building sector. All actors from across the entire buildings value chain need to increase decarbonisation efforts, say Caroline Milne and Zsolt Toth from the Buildings Performance Institute Europe
New technologies may offer India’s network operators cheaper and cleaner solutions to improve reliability without having to add more wires, says Rasika Athawale from the Regulatory Assistance Project
Upgraded emission reduction goals are important. But crucially tools and policies decide whether the wind sector can unlock its full potential, says WindEurope’s Giles Dickson
The deal on the EU’s Climate Law raised awareness on a very important point. Without a debate on the institutional reforms necessary to implement the European and international climate objectives the risk of not reaching them, or making wrong decisions, increases, says Elisa Giannelli from E3G
The Biden Administration’s offshore wind ambition will prove futile unless the transmission infrastructure is there to support it. Upgrading the US’s ageing grid system and providing further regulatory support must be the new president’s priority to make the most of the country’s burgeoning offshore wind sector, says Liz Burdock from the Business Network for Offshore Wind
The multiple roles of battery energy storage can help remote or off-grid power systems stop using diesel generators. But the regulatory environment needs to adjust to spur wider adoption of these new systems, says Michael Lippert from Saft
There is a growing appetite for hydrogen in net zero plans. The countries with more renewables and lower cost generation are best suited to benefit from the expansion of green hydrogen, while those with a history in gas production may turn to blue hydrogen, says Alexander Esser and a team from Aurora Energy Research
The introduction of a carbon price in the building sector will only encourage fuel switching and burden those least able to pay with the cost of decarbonisation. If implemented, it should be complemented with legislation to boost energy efficiency, says Monica Frassoni of the European Alliance to Save Energy
The rise of distributed energy sources means finding new ways to operate the grid systems. Digital products are set to play a role in solving the issues, says Matthias Rebellius of Siemens Smart Infrastructure
The Fridays for Future Global Climate Strike on March 19th was a reminder of the monumental changes that need to happen to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change. Cities and regional authorities have it in their power to make a significant contribution, says Raymond Johansen, Mayor of Oslo, and Mark Watts from C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
In many ways, ammonia can be an important part of the energy transition and be a catalyst to accelerate the development of the hydrogen economy, says Rami Reshef, CEO for Israeli fuel cell manufacturer GenCell Energy
Emission-free energy alternatives to fossil fuels are emerging that could drive the world’s shift to a net-zero future. But there must be sufficient stimulus from governments to limit the technical, commercial and financial risks of these new technologies for investors, says Arnaud de Giovanni, global renewables leader at EY
Hydrogen can play a major role in the green transition of heavy-duty transport. Creating a network of partners across northern Europe will help facilitate this technology but we need action from lawmakers now, says Thomas Becker from STRING, a cross-border organisation of cities and regions supporting the development of a hydrogen network
The public transport sector has been hit hard by the covid-19 crisis. Since climate change is not taking a break, electrification must be at the centre of a green recovery. Smart depots will play a crucial role in transforming the face of urban transport, says Monique Mertins at Siemens Smart Infrastructure
Replacing limestone with clay in cement production can cut global CO2 emissions by up to 3%. But there is significant investment tied up in the "old" ways of doing things, and it will be necessary to use a range of incentives—as well as technological advancements—to change the status quo, writes Fleming Voetmann, vice president at FLSmidth
Climate injustices adversely affect communities of colour and low-income communities, yet the issue of environmental justice has still not made it into the mainstream environmental movement—due to the same power structures that perpetuate its impacts. Voices that have been left out of these discussions must be heard, says Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes
Work to increase the energy performance of Europe’s building stock remains sluggish, despite long standing political commitments and the launch of the EU’s Renovation Wave initiative in late 2020. Thomas Boermans, from German energy supply company E.ON, believes considering building renovation as an infrastructure project could help accelerate the movement
The past 12 months have shown that even drastic changes to our daily lives are not enough to sufficiently reduce emissions and avoid catastrophic global warming. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) will now have to start playing a role, says Suzana Carp, political strategy director at Bellona Europe
In 2020, the UK government’s finance advisor, Mark Carney, set out a roadmap for securing private sector finance for the energy transition ahead of the COP26 climate negotiations later this year. But public sector finance must also remain central to the UNFCCC talks, argue Kate Levick and Sonia Dunlop from E3G
Compared with batteries, ultracapacitors have a power output nearly ten times greater, are environmentally superior and come without safety issues. Johan Söderbom from EIT InnoEnergy explains how a long-familiar piece of power system technology is unlocking new opportunities for sustainable and efficient energy storage and usage
There is no clear definition of climate neutrality despite 117 cities worldwide setting it as a target in the coming decades. Where Paris will include all emissions it produces, regardless of the sector or source, Copenhagen only calculates CO2 emissions related to heating and electricity. But both will claim to be neutral. This results in different levels of ambition, says Raphael Hasenknopf from Energy Cities
The European Union is faced with making a number of key decisions imposed by the climate emergency and the need for drastic CO2 reduction. More than ever, the fight against climate change also needs to contribute to the economic recovery by developing the EU industry and technologies of the future. Low-carbon hydrogen meets both ambitions, says Christelle Rouillé, from EDF subsidiary Hynamics
Consumers can play a significant role in the energy transition as distributed energy resources, and as electrification of heating and transport increase on the system, says Zsuzsanna Pató from the Regulatory Assistance Project
The guarantees of origin (GO) framework for renewable energy certificate trading is unable to function efficiently and is distorting the market, says Rasmus Lildholdt Kjær, CEO at solar PV project developer Better Energy. But a change in the rules could spark a wave of new investments
Continued backing for gas infrastructure from the European Union is not in line with its climate ambitions, says Dominic Kavakeb from environment NGO Global Witness
The cement and mining industries recognise their need to decarbonise, and the rapidly falling price of renewables-generated electricity is making this decision easier, says Thomas Schulz, CEO at FLSmidth
Coal power generation is the single biggest cause of global temperature increase. The efforts to transition away from coal must accelerate to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change, say UK energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng and Canada’s climate change minister Jonathan Wilkinson, co-chairs of the Powering Past Coal Alliance
The president-elect’s climate agenda could spur new forms of innovation beyond just technological advancements, says EIT Climate-KIC's Chief Strategy Officer Tom Mitchell and its Director of Capital and Investment, Dominic Hofstetter
Economies and companies that set an agenda for climate-resilient growth will likely be seen as more attractive prospects, says Matthew Bell, EY Asia Pacific climate change and sustainability services leader
There needs to be more effort in easing access to financial backing in order to take full advantage of Europe’s Renovation Wave, says Louise White and Reinhard Six from the European Investment Bank (EIB)
Debt markets and capital markets both notoriously struggle to prepare for external shocks. The covid-19-induced economic crisis is no exception, says Dileimy Orozco from climate change think tank E3G
Research into energy poverty initiatives often ignores society’s most vulnerable groups. In order to fulfill the just transition, all members of society across geography, gender and income need to be included, says Sergio Tirado Herrero of the Institute of Environmental Science and Technologies (ICTA) at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the EmpowerMed research project
The global pandemic has bought us more time to make the changes necessary to avoid catastrophic climate change. But innovation solutions need to have a global appeal to be truly impactful, says Elena Bou, Innovation Director at EIT InnoEnergy
The European Commission’s Renovation Wave strategy will bring added momentum to the pandemic recovery along with much-needed new standards, and some clarity on financing. On REDay2020, Adrian Joyce from the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency (EuroACE) says the real work to improve the efficiency of Europe’s building stock starts now
Solar players in South Korea have filed an unprecedented legal challenge against the government for its support of biomass generation. As the European Commission prepares to reopen its own Renewable Energy Directive, Joojin Kim, from Seoul-based NGO Solutions for Our Climate explains the background to the South Korean case
Border carbon adjustments (BCAs) are technically difficult to design and politically challenging to implement. If BCAs are going to succeed, the European Union (EU) will need to engage trade partners from the start, says E3G’s Johanna Lehne
The European Commission’s plan to increase the emissions reduction target to 55% lacks ambition and would miss out on additional benefits that a higher goal would present, argues WWF’s Imke Lübbeke
Hydrogen brings a lot to the table for the EU's energy transition. But to be truly beneficial we need to design its contribution with a global perspective, argues Thomas Boermans, head of innovation trends and strategy at E.ON.
Europe’s electricity industry is decarbonising at an increasing pace, with the rise of renewables and drop in coal-based power generation. But progress on the ground will be bigger once the remaining barriers are removed, argues Eurelectric’s Kristian Ruby
The biggest barrier in the transition to electric vehicles is the lack of charging infrastructure. While large-scale projects will ultimately deliver the most effective results, traction will come from multiple smaller applications and innovations, argues Jean-Christoph Heyne from Siemens’ Future Grids business unit
On World EV Day, the stage is set for electric vehicles to become the mainstream mobility choice, as long as the main actors play their part, says Frank Mühlon, head of ABB’s Global E-Mobility Infrastructure Solutions
The mining and cement industries contribute over 10% of the world’s CO₂ emissions but demand in both industries remains high. It is, therefore, imperative that decarbonisation efforts should be accelerated, argues Thomas Schulz, CEO of engineering firm FLSmidth
It is beyond discussion that the global climate emergency calls for solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and requires decarbonisation. Often, the spotlight is aimed at renewable energy as the solution, but in fact, we can achieve 44% of the required global reductions by capturing the potential of energy efficiency, argues Lars Knaack of Novenco
The strong figures posted by the wind industry in the troubled first half of 2020 were testament to the resilience of the industry. This further shows how vital wind energy will be in achieving a zero-carbon economy, argues Ivan Komusanac from trade body WindEurope
By competing with each other in clean transport technology, Europe and China have the opportunity to keep oil prices, demand and production down, says Carl Pope, environmentalist and climate advisor to Michael Bloomberg
A development being planned in Sacramento, California, could provide a blueprint to tomorrow’s cities. Many of the answers are already here, but some research remains, says Geeti Silwal from design firm Perkins and Will
The Covid-19 crisis has forced society to collaborate on the recovery. This shows the same effort can occur in the fight against climate change, argues Adriano Pires of the Brazilian Center for Infrastructure and Elbia Gannoum from Brazil’s wind energy association
The gas package and renovation wave in the European Green Deal raise new opportunities for ending Europe’s dependence on gas. We need to think about what this means for energy poor households, writes Louise Sunderland from the Regulatory Assistance Project
With careful planning and utilising materials within a circular economy, the wind industry can reduce its waste during the production process, says Olivier Fontan, the new CEO at blade manufacturer LM Wind Power
Energy systems across the world suffered a shock as the Covid-19 health crises forced carbon-intensive industries, aviation and other transport, to a virtual standstill. The effects of the slowdown could result in a stiff test for renewables competitiveness, argues Juan Alario from GNE Finance
The fiscal response to the Covid-19 crisis is an opportunity to establish a green economy but finance ministers across the globe need to coordinate their actions for the biggest impact, says Dileimy Orozco from E3G
The renewable energy sector cannot escape the impact of Covid-19, but a redrawing of the landscape and its resilience through the pandemic will lay the foundations for future growth, says Arnaud de Giovanni, Global Power and Utilities Transaction Advisory Services leader at EY
The 2050 targets are closer than you think. The impacts of today’s decisions will directly affect the young people already in the workforce. Monika Skadborg, chairperson of the Danish Youth Climate Council, argues it is time those voices should be heard in the climate debate
A year of living with a heat pump has required some lifestyle changes, but after doing some number crunching, Jan Rosenow from the Regulatory Assistance Project found the numbers speak for themselves
Offshore wind attracts investment, jobs and has the ability to severely cut emissions worldwide, which is why the world should aim for 1,400 GW of capacity by 2050, argue Benj Sykes and Stephen Bull, Co-Chairs of Ocean Renewable Energy Action Coalition (OREAC), a global coalition of offshore wind companies and international institutions on World Oceans Day (June 8)
In an EU that aims to be carbon neutral by 2050, production of green hydrogen can be a new job creating industry, argues Tjisse Stelpstra, Member of the Council of the Province of Drenthe in the Northern Netherlands, providing an economic boost for regions like his and Europe as a whole.
As methane emissions from the oil and gas sectors come under increasing scrutiny, Cate Hight and Laura Hutchinson from the Rocky Mountain Institute, a US-based NGO, call for a differentiated gas standard that focuses on climate change and sets the bar for acceptable methane emissions
The clean energy transition must be socially fair for everyone, not just those living in regions that are heavily reliant on coal for fuel and jobs, says Louise Sunderland from Regulatory Assistance Project
Recent Eurelectric analysis reveals the need to reconsider and improve a number of policies and priorities as part of the European Green Deal — the EU Emissions Trading System and an effective carbon pricing for non-ETS require careful consideration, says Petar Georgiev, Eurelectric Policy Advisor climate & e-mobility
With strong leadership from government, the world can achieve a 100% clean energy economy and get out of the recession caused by Covid-19 measures, argues Solomon Goldstein-Rose, a US climate activist and author
Making buildings greener and more energy efficient makes environmental and economic sense if the right financing solutions are used, says Thomas Geiselbrecht, Financing Solution Partner, Siemens Financial Services
The impact of Covid-19 on decarbonisation efforts is likely to be short-lived if governments can learn lessons around the effective response to a crisis, says Paul Micallef Global Digital Grid Leader at EY
Investments spent on dealing with the social and economic impacts of Covid-19 in Europe should focus on achieving the highest value outcomes in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, insists Simon Skillings from think tank E3G
Despite the constant flood of bad news related to Covid-19, there are signs we are also witnessing unprecedented global dialogue, innovation and collaboration, offering hope that climate change and clean energy can be at the forefront of post-pandemic plans, says Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities
While helping workers and companies survive the current crisis, the European institutions should confirm and accelerate the EU’s path to carbon neutrality by 2050, including fixing emissions reduction targets in line with science, says Monica Frassoni, President of the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE)
The best way to persuade treasuries and heads of state to put the environment and clean energy at the heart of packages aimed at stimulating economies after the coronavirus is to focus on debt-related risks, argues Brook Riley from Rockwool Group
As governments across Europe attempt to deal with the economic and social impacts of coronavirus and how and when to end strict confinement measures, the time is right to invest to ensure every person can live in a healthy, connected and sustainable home, argues Davide Cannarozzi, CEO and Founder of GNE Finance
The move to a clean energy economy will not happen overnight, but profound changes are happening and business is playing a leading role, argues Andrew Hoffman, Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan, US
The idea the transition to a clean energy economy should also be as fair as possible to everyone has, until now, been seen by many as a nice to have. Andrzej Blachowicz and Julie-Anne Hogbin from Climate Strategies argue developing countries in particular can achieve greater and more inclusive climate action by placing the just transition at the heart of their climate plans
The clean energy transition needs to be fair to everyone, with laws and financing to ensure the poorest households are not penalised by the switch from fossil fuels to renewables and benefit from the change, argues Marilyn Smith, Founder & Executive Director of The Energy Action Project Relative to income, energy use and energy prices have a greater impact on the household budgets of poorer people
The European Green Deal sets a clear, sustainable path for Europe to move forward from the economic and social impacts of Covid-19, speed up the energy transition and create jobs, says Julian Popov, Fellow at the European Climate Foundation and former Bulgarian Minister of the Environment
As the EU puts forward plans for a European Green Deal aimed at getting the region to climate neutrality by 2050, Jan Rosenow and Richard Lowes from the Regulatory Assistance Project argue for much more attention to be paid to the decarbonisation of heat
With the European Commission planning to announce details of a building “renovation wave” in the autumn of 2020, Susanne Dyrboel, vice-chair in Renovate Europe explains what the EU executive should be considering to make its vision reality
Ahead of proposals this week by the European Commission for EU industrial policy and circular economy strategies, Christian Westermeier, President of SolarPower Europe, argues for solar to receive the boost it needs to help Europe achieve its carbon neutral ambitions
Europe can lead the world on emission-free hydrogen, but it needs to solve the dilemma that industry offers the greatest potential demand, while the profit margins are in transport. Bart Biebuyck from the European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking argues the value of emission-free hydrogen must be judged by more than its price tag versus fossil fuels
Despite differences in system architecture, regulation and technology adoption, a global community of electricity distribution operators can leverage knowledge, innovation and lessons learned to deliver a better energy future, say EY’s Serge Colle and Dana Hanson
Sébastien Godinot, Economist with the WWF European Policy Office, welcomes new European laws that will make it much clearer which investments are genuinely sustainable and help shift funding from fossil fuels to clean energies
Poland gets a lot of bad press for its over reliance on coal, but Jan Rosenow and Richard Cowart from the Regulatory Assistance Project highlight how the country is putting in place regulations that could see it become a leader in ending the use of coal to heat homes
Two-thirds of countries do not have energy building codes. This needs to change if buildings are to become part of the solution to the climate crisis, argues Jim Edelson, Director of Codes and Policy at New Buildings Institute, a US-based not-for-profit organisation
Carbon emissions must be more than halved to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C. The rapid rise of renewables is not progressing fast enough to head off catastrophic global warming. Energy companies must reshape themselves and prepare for an accelerated energy transition, says Serge Colle, EY Global Energy Advisory Leader
Europe is moving fast to make the financial innovations required to underpin its Green Deal, write Tom Jess, Policy Advisor, and Kate Levick, Programme Leader, at E3G, an independent climate change think tank
Massive investment opportunities exist for those deciding to use their cash to help renovate buildings, says Jennifer Layke, Global Director of Energy at the World Resources Institute
The Just Transition Fund presents an opportunity to get the EU on track towards climate neutrality, but only if it requires all countries to present phase out plans for high-emission technologies like coal burning, argues Rebekka Popp, researcher at the climate change think tank E3G
The European Green Deal, launched in December 2019, is an ambitious policy proposal that will try to agree a carbon emissions reduction target for Europe of up to 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. Two questions appear: is it possible and how much will it cost. But both could be misleading, says Julian Popov, Fellow at the European Climate Foundation and former Bulgarian Minister of the Environment
The launch of the Santiago Action Plan at the COP25 meeting in Madrid by finance ministers is an important step to ensure finance ministries play their role in accelerating the zero carbon transition, says Dileimy Orozco Policy Advisor at E3G
Industry leaders need to change their way of thinking, social and environmental impacts be integrated in investment decisions and capital redirected to support a rapid transition to a low carbon economy for New Zealand to meet its Paris Agreement commitments, says Jane Taylor from The Aotearoa Circle