Sometimes all it takes is a little push to get things moving. When Transport & Environment (T&E) and partner NGOs pressured Uber last year into pledging to electrify its fleet, a virtuous cycle was set in motion with Free Now just yesterday following Uber and Bolt’s lead. Ride-hailing revolutionised the taxi industry, but with it, [...]
By Matteo Mirolo and Andrew MurphyThe Covid-19 pandemic inflicted a public health catastrophe on the world together with an unprecedented economic crisis. In the midst of all this sorrow, however, it is a relief that a third item was not added to this list: climatic back-pedaling. Indeed, with most of the aviation sector on its [...]
Was 2019 the year when oil demand peaked? This existential question still dominates the energy debate and reflects the unprecedented changes our society experienced in 2020. Only time will tell. But this new reality is possible, not only because of the devastating impacts of the pandemic but also due to major technological changes in transport, [...]
France likes to think of itself as a leader in electric vehicles. Sadly, the reality doesn’t quite live up to this perception. Apart from the Renault Zoé, French carmakers have been slow to launch attractive mass-market models and 2020 saw a raft of fast-charging stations along French highways close. But if 2020 exposed a mismatch [...]
In 2020 the UK finally left the EU, though trade negotiations grind on and maintaining a level playing field for business remains a major sticking point. The Brexiteer wing of the governing Conservative Party has aspirations for the UK to become Singapore-on-Thames - an ultra business-friendly, low-regulation competitor to the European social model. But the [...]
After a 2019 defined by political instability and Spaniards being called to vote in two general elections, 2020 began with optimism. The newly formed left-wing government pushed a vigorous environmental agenda including a declaration of a climate and environmental emergency in January. Through this declaration the government promised to adopt 30 priority actions in the [...]
“Fortitude under duress” may well be the very short summary of this never-ending year in European finance.Back in April, the EU found itself on its knees due to the economic impact of the pandemic, facing a crisis the likes of which living generations had never experienced. Economists in lockdown were punching numbers into their models [...]
2020 is one for the history books. At no time in recent memory have we had to change our behaviour so much so fast. Personal mobility was curbed in ways previously unimaginable, shops were closed and business travel disappeared. While this grabbed most of the attention, 2020 also saw a great acceleration in technology with [...]
Blissfully unaware of things to come, January 2020 started with an unprecedented drop in new car CO2 emissions across Europe and booming electric car sales. This was not due to T&E’s 2019 wish to Santa Claus, or due to drivers suddenly changing their preferences. The reason was the quiet entry into force of the long [...]
By Matteo Mirolo & Andrew MurphyThe Covid-19 pandemic inflicted a public health catastrophe on the world together with an unprecedented economic crisis. In the midst of all this sorrow, however, it is a relief that a third item was not added to this list: climatic back-pedaling. Indeed, with most of the aviation sector on its [...]