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Introducing The Jolt, a new series from FORESIGHT Climate & Energy, which will keep you updated on all the essential energy transition stories
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Welcome to today’s episode of The Jolt by FORESIGHT Climate & Energy. In a world underpinned by climate and energy stories, it is sometimes hard to cut through the cacophony of noise and get to the news you need to hear.
This is where The Jolt comes in. Tune in on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for bite-sized updates, expert analysis and a global view.
We kick off with a look at the major global climate and energy news stories.
What you need to know
Here are some of the main climate and energy stories making the news around the world:
- EU negotiators brokered an agreement on fluorinated gases, which means the most harmful of which will be phased out by 2050. The climate-damaging refrigerants, which can be found your fridges, air conditioners, heat pumps and the electrical grids, will need to be replaced by environmentally-friendly alternatives.
- Pope Francis said that the world may be “nearing a breaking point” because of climate change and has urged world leaders to be more serious about making decisions. The head of the Catholic Church made the call as part of a new addition to a landmark 2015 statement that drew attention to the dangers of global warming and rampant consumerism. You can read the full document here.
- Indian President Droupadi Murmu told power sector officials that energy efficiency and renewables are the main ways India will achieve its 2070 net-zero target.
- New projections by the London Stock Exchange Group show that if the EU implements a 90% emissions reduction target for 2040, emissions trading permits could top €400 per tonne. That would be a mighty increase on the ~€80 currently sustained by the carbon market.
Today’s big story
Britain falls off the rails
HighSpeed Train, MidJourney.
- UK climate and energy success stories have gradually petered out after a strong start in the 2010s that included renewables rollout and decoupling emissions from economic growth. Recently, approvals for new oil and gas exploration, a backtrack on key net-zero pledges and slowdown of green investments have called into question British climate credentials.
- The ruling Conservative government confirmed this week that it would scrap the second half of the HS2 high-speed rail project connecting London with northern cities and was meant, in part, to help the country go green and make a dent in its transport emissions.
- Not every British climate and energy story is a negative one though, the government recently published its targets for a zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which is set to do a lot of the heavy lifting associated with road transport decarbonisation.
- Johann Beckford from the Green Alliance says a delayed ban on internal combustion engines was a “bad market signal”, while Ralph Palmer from Transport & Environment says that the ZEV mandate is “a very positive step”.
“It’s indicative of us not having done a good enough job on decarbonising transport and shifting people onto more sustainable means of transport”
- A national election is almost certainly going to be held next year and although the opposition Labour Party, a long-time leader in the polls, has pledged to reverse some of the Conservative Party’s climate changes, HS2’s second leg is unlikely to be reinstated.
- Check out this recent episode of Watt Matters that charts the UK’s journey towards net-zero and stay tuned for the next edition of the Policy Dispatch, when Wales’ climate minister will be the expert guest.
Audio clip credits:
Rishi Sunak X account | Climate Change Committee YouTube account
This is week one of The Jolt, and we are keen to hear your feedback. Get in touch with us at the following links to let us know what you liked, what you weren’t keen on and what you’d like to see in upcoming editions of the show.
FORESIGHT LinkedIn / Twitter
Sam Morgan LinkedIn / Twitter
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