In brief | 9 October '24
With solar leading their rapid deployment, renewables are on course to meet almost half of global electricity demand by the end of this decade, a new IEA report says.
New Scientist: Growing number of Earth's ‘vital signs’ endangered by climate change
Key climate indicators from greenhouse gas levels to ice loss have reached record levels this year in what researchers call a “critical and unpredictable new phase of the climate crisis.”
Politico: The EU’s (vague) climate aid stance: Want more money? Get more donors
The bloc's finance ministers approved the 27 countries' joint negotiating position regarding the central issue of the upcoming summit — funding for climate action — but did not reveal how much cash EU governments would be willing to put up.
Politico: Most of Europe is fine without Russian gas
But the end of the supply contract through Ukraine at the end of this year could prove costly for Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
FT: Costs of the green transition loom large for European companies – opinion
Business leaders say Europe’s policymakers are ill prepared for just how expensive the shift is likely to be.
Bloomberg: How Europe’s big hope in EV batteries came unstuck
Europe’s ambitions to lead the world in green technologies like EV batteries risk fizzling out in the face of China’s dominance.
Bloomberg: Green hydrogen will be far costlier than estimated, Harvard scientists find
In transporting and storing the gas are hidden costs that new research finds will make it uncompetitive as a decarbonisation solution.
EES News: GIGA Storage’s battery project in Belgium expands to 2.8 GWh
GIGA Storage Belgium is gearing to build the largest battery energy storage system in continental Europe.
Open letter: Earmarking ETS revenues to deliver clean industrial competitiveness
A coalition of cleantech innovators, investors, industry associations, researchers and civil society organisations calls for ETS revenues to be spent with priority on the development of a competitive clean industry and clean technologies.
BPIE: How to establish whole life carbon benchmarks
This report intends to support European and national policymakers in preparing for whole life carbon (WLC) regulations in buildings.
EEA: Understanding the data — what drives our material footprint?
While the overall material footprint — or the amount of raw materials extracted from nature in and outside of the EU to deliver goods and services — remained stable over the past decade, more measures need to be taken to reduce resource consumption in the housing and food sectors, said EEA.
Danish Energy Agency presses the start button for billion-dollar tendering procedure for carbon capture and storage
The new CCS Fund has DKK 28.7 billion (USD 4.2 billion) to secure capture and storage of CO₂ from as early as 2029, and to help Denmark along its path to climate neutrality.
