So, after years of rancorous argument, the UK slipped out of the EU at the end of January with hardly a murmur. In London, a small number of hardcore Brexiteers celebrated in Parliament Square. In Scotland, which voted strongly Remain, activists held candlelight vigils - as they did in Brussels where the Union Jack was [...]
“I see a pivotal role for hydrogen,” in Europe’s efforts to achieve its climate goals, said Frans Timmermans. And up jumped the crowd in a rare standing ovation for a climate commissioner. Hydrogen is the talk of the town and the Commission is widely expected to make it a big priority in its green industrial [...]
To fund a brave new (green) world and kill greenwashing - many thought the EU’s attempt to tame the ‘animal spirits’ of financial capitalism with ‘a list’ was… well, delusional. But despite a horrendous start, on December 16, just in time for Christmas, the EU Commission has miraculously sealed a good compromise for the new [...]
This article was first published by EurActivLate last year, Ursula Von der Leyen announced a sweeping plan to green Europe’s economy. The plan includes measures to restore nature, protect biodiversity, reduce air pollution and make Europe climate neutral by 2050. We welcomed the green deal but warned that Von der Leyen’s plan to extend the [...]
At the end of 2019 the shipping industry surprised the world by proposing a USD500 million per year global fund - dubbed International Maritime Research Fund (IMRF) - to finance research into climate solutions for the sector. On the face of it, this is a welcome addition to existing plans to clean up shipping. However, [...]
“Should I offset my flight, and if so, which offset should I use” is now the question I get asked most frequently. It’s understandable - CO2 emissions per flight mean that flying is by far the most carbon intensive activity anyone can engage in. Related Environmental IssueClimate Change and EnergyRelated Transport ModeAviationRelated Policy AreaInvestmentPricing and [...]
Hans-Werner Sinn è un vero personaggio. Gli scritti e le opinioni di questo ex professore tedesco di economia spaziano dalla crisi greca all'immigrazione, fino alla politica energetica tedesca. Di recente, ha inoltre scoperto una nuova passione: i veicoli elettrici. Ad aprile, Sinn ha pubblicato un articolo in cui afferma che una Tesla Model 3 emette [...]
“Our most pressing challenge is keeping our planet healthy. This is the greatest responsibility and opportunity of our times ... To make this happen, I will put forward a Green Deal for Europe.” Ursula von der Leyen was in Rooseveltian form in her acceptance speech five months ago. Now in her second week of office, [...]
Hans-Werner Sinn is quite the character. This German economics professor’s writings range from the Greek crisis to migration, to German energy policy. Recently he has discovered a new passion: electric vehicles. Back in April Sinn published a paper claiming electric cars were worse than diesel. The study was roundly criticised for being misleading. Even Germany’s largest carmaker VW felt [...]
Twelve years ago, the IPCC Fourth Assessment estimated aviation’s total climate impact at two to four times that of its past CO2 emissions alone. This is because aircraft at altitude generate significant additional climate warming – from NOx, the formation of line contrails and cirrus clouds, water vapour, soot, aerosols, black carbon and other factors. [...]