Despite the UK and Scottish Governments going backwards on their top-level commitments to phasing out the sales of petrol and diesel cars and vans, things are actually going pretty well for electric vehicles. A new analysis shows that someone who bought a …
Never mind the climate crisis
Labour’s botched retreat from their commitments to a massive investment in reducing climate emissions looks doubly bad given its timing. First, in 2021 there was the pledge to invest £28 billion a year in measures to combat climate change. Then, …
Granting new oil and gas licences is insane
Despite the International Energy Agency saying in 2021 that no country should be granting new oil and gas licences, despite the UN Secretary-General saying that investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure is “moral and economic madness” and despite December’s climate …
Renewables energy’s rise and rise
Renewable energy prices are tumbling and installation rates are surging ahead. In almost every part of the world, it is cheaper to install wind and solar than it is to invest in new fossil-fuel power generation. Globally renewable energy grew by a …
Getting a grip on grouse moors
Today, proposed amendments to the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill will be debated and voted on by the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee. Scotland has a chance to outlaw many of the cruel practices of the hunting and shooting …
Nuclear PR push can’t change the facts
The UK’s nuclear enthusiasts have been on another PR offensive, with announcements of new reactors and possible life extensions to old reactors. All of it denying the reality that nuclear is much too slow and much too expensive to be …
Record temperatures fail to change world’s course
Globally 2023 was the warmest year ever recorded, fully 1.48ºC warmer than pre-industrial times. Climate scientist tell us we must avoid going over a 1.5°C temperature increase, to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. This is a first target in the 2015 …
COP28 aftermath
Things are getting back to normal in Expo City Dubai, now that the 85,000 delegates for COP28 have headed back home after nearly two weeks of difficult negotiations. The talks ran over by about 24 hours and reactions to the …
COP28 and oil
As I write this COP28, this year’s UN climate talks in Dubai, are looking likely to fail, for the first time since COP6 in 2000. Tuesday morning’s deadline has passed, an improved draft agreement is due and there will clearly …
Tobacco style attacks on heat pumps
Transforming the heating of our homes and other buildings is essential to reduce climate emissions and protect people from the volatile costs of fossil fuels. But anti-climate forces and vested interests are using tactics straight out of the tobacco industry …
Grangemouth closure should have been no surprise
The announcement last week that Grangemouth refinery is to close should not have been a surprise to anyone, it is the inevitable consequence of taking climate change seriously. This makes the apparent lack of preparation for this event doubly surprising. The refinery …
Plastics’ use under pressure
Pressure is growing to reduce our use of plastics, internationally and at home. Our massive use of plastic globally keeps us hooked on fossil fuels and continues to create widespread contamination of the environment by long-lived compounds. WWF estimate that the cost to …