Rapid rise in battery innovation key role in clean energy transition
Between 2005 and 2018, patenting activity in batteries and other electricity storage technologies grew at an average annual rate of 14% worldwide, four times faster than the average of all technology fields, according to a joint study published today by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Energy Agency (IEA).
EPO
Jobs and green economy at heart of French Covid recovery plan
France’s prime minister, Jean Castex has stressed the importance of getting the country back on its feet within 18 months and “transforming” the French economy with a green makeover as he unveiled a €100bn (£89bn) coronavirus recovery plan. One third of the €100bn will be used to make the economy greener, including investment in ecological transition, hydrogen and renewable energy, as well as the renovation of homes and buildings to make them more energy efficient.
The Guardian
Destruction of forests ‘will unleash more pandemics’
Rampant deforestation, uncontrolled expansion of farming and the building of mines in remote regions – as well as the exploitation of wild animals as sources of food, traditional medicines and exotic pets – are creating a “perfect storm” for the spillover of diseases from wildlife to people.
The Guardian
Wildlife and forest protection costs 2% of the estimated $11.5tn costs of Covid-19 to the world economy
Spending of about $260bn (£200bn) over 10 years would substantially reduce the risks of another pandemic on the scale of the coronavirus outbreak, the researchers estimate, which is just 2% of the estimated $11.5tn costs of Covid-19 to the world economy. Furthermore, the spending on wildlife and forest protection would be almost cancelled out by another benefit of the action: cutting the carbon dioxide emissions driving the climate crisis.
The Guardian
Trump ignores biggest crisis of all
On Monday, president Trump defended at the RNC the continued exploitation of fossil fuels such as coal and oil as an economic good and dismissed calls for greater of use of renewable wind and solar energy as “very heavily expensive.”
Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for vice president on the contrary tweeted the same day “California is in the middle of a climate disaster with devastating wildfires happening across our state. There’s no denying that climate change is here and we must boldly and rapidly address it. Our future depends on it.”
The Washington Post
Joe Biden ambitious climate plan
Biden has framed his climate plan as a jobs program, making clear that he is prepared to pour unprecedented resources into transitioning the United States away from fossil fuels as part of the effort to boost an economy battered by the pandemic. The result is an extensive plan that called for the elimination of carbon pollution from the electric sector by 2035, rejoining the international Paris climate accord and spending $2 trillion over four years to boost renewables and create incentives for more energy-efficient cars, homes and commercial buildings.
The Washington Post
Arnhem redraws its layout to prepare for global heating effects
The Dutch city of Arnhem is digging up asphalt roads and creating shady areas around busy shopping districts after concluding that the consequences of global heating are unavoidable
The Guardian
IEA Green recovery from coronavirus crisis
Next week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) will host an online summit for the world’s biggest economies as well as developing countries, covering 80% of global emissions. It aims to set out plans for boosting renewable energy, energy efficiency and other emissions-cutting projects that would generate tens of millions of “shovel-ready” green jobs around the world to replace those lost in the pandemic.
The Guardian
Coffee to go: Paper coffee cups are an eco disaster
With only one in 400 cups recycled, and even those barely ‘green’, the hunt is on for an alternative
The Guardian
‘Bicycles are the new toilet paper’
Bike sales boom as coronavirus lockdown residents crave exercise. Australia’s peak representative body for cyclists has called on governments to transform roads into cycleways to ease traffic on bike paths, for a second rush of customers once social distancing measures are eased, consisting of those who have to start commuting to work again but don’t want to risk catching public transport.
The Guardian
How is the coronavirus affecting global air traffic?
Before the coronavirus crisis unfolded, airlines pushed for average emissions in the years 2019 and 2020 to be used as the baseline by which future emissions would be judged.However, with the disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic, this baseline looks set to be drastically lower than anticipated. Thus, if the scheme goes ahead without changes, Corsia’s future carbon targets will be much tougher than envisaged.
The Guardian
Will coronavirus kill oil industry and help save the climate?
Analysts say the coronavirus and a savage price war means the oil and gas sector will never be the same again.A key question is whether this will permanently alter the course of the climate crisis. Many experts think it might well do so, pulling forward the date at which demand for oil and gas peaks, never to recover, and allowing the atmosphere to gradually heal.
The Guardian
The fastest way to cut carbon emissions is a ‘fee’ and a dividend
A group of prominent politicians, economists and corporate executives is renewing its push in Congress for a plan that would tax carbon and refund all the money to Americans in payments of approximately $2,000 a year for a family of four.
the Washington Post
