Category Archives: Climate and Energy

Re-energising Europe: the choices are ours

The choices we make about the resilience and sustainability of our energy system are of such central concern to all our lives that they must be informed by more voices than those of the great and the good alone. That … Continue reading

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Doha COP18 – Fast track to sustainability or careering towards climate catastrophe?

Just like global temperatures, the stakes at global climate change negotiations continue to rise.  Ever since the global negotiators lost their way in Copenhagen in 2009, those who care about saving the planet have been trying to put them back … Continue reading

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Mixed-up messages on cutting carbon

In the relative quiet of summer, with many politicians and policy makers off working on their tans instead of their portfolios, Shell’s Climate Change advisor David Hone was still hard at it.  He shrugged off the tempting call of sand … Continue reading

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Adapt or die. The all-natural approach to climate change

It was widely reported in June that Exxon’s CEO said we will adapt to climate change: ‘As a species that’s why we’re all still here: we have spent our entire existence adapting. So we will adapt to this.’ It’s an … Continue reading

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Update – EU renewables manufacturing – Terminal decline or simple shake-out?

Below is a great link to a recent article in the European Energy Review which reinforces the points made in my original blog posting.  The Author, Craig Morris, provides clear examples of how Germany continues to benefit from its domestic … Continue reading

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EU renewables manufacturing – Terminal decline or simple shake-out?

Reading the frequent headlines of solar manufacturing bankruptcies and factory closures, it is easy to see why many have come to the conclusion that austerity driven cuts to solar support schemes have pushed the sector to the brink of collapse.  … Continue reading

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30/30/30: nein/nein/nein!

During the current Republican primary race for president of the United States, the candidate Herman Cain promoted a plan called ‘9/9/9’, referring to flat percentage rates for various taxes. It was simple, and made a good TV soundbite – but … Continue reading

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Wellbeing of Poles ignored in study by big polluters

A recent report[1] commissioned by the Polish Chamber of Commerce (PCC) and big players in the power and mining sectors[ii] claims that if Poland were to contribute to an EU goal of 80% greenhouse gas reductions by 2050, the costs in … Continue reading

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Poland risks courting Durban failure over hot air

A common sport at COPs is watching the EU struggling to talk to anyone except themselves as they endure endless rounds of internal coordination. When push comes to shove in the final negotiations, they are often so inward focused that … Continue reading

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What about the Kyoto shipjumpers?

The potential shift in the Chinese position about the nature of a future climate deal has had everyone at the Durban COP analysing what they meant – was it just legally binding but without obligations for them? Was it an … Continue reading

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