European Union

German Chancellor Scholz promises Construction of “four to five wind turbines per day” to reach 2030 Target

( Clean Energy Wire ) – In a bid to achieve the high renewable power expansion targets for the end of the decade, German chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed to make the buildout a priority and hold talks with the 16 states every month to assess and improve expansion speed. The envisaged pace until 2030 would […]

Climate Crisis

In 4th Quarter, for first time Hybrid and Electric Vehicles outsold Diesel and Gasoline Cars in the European Union

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – In the European Union in the fourth quarter of 2022, for the first time in history diesel- and gasoline-powered automobiles with internal combustion engines (ICE) were a minority of vehicles purchased. Hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric (BEV) cars together outsold the ICE models, according to DW. The European average was […]

Climate Crisis

As US-EU Trade Tensions Rise, Conflicting Carbon Tariffs could undermine Climate Efforts

The Conversation

By Noah Kaufman, Columbia University;Chris Bataille, Columbia University; Gautam Jain, Columbia University; and Sagatom Saha, Columbia University | – Rising trade tensions between the U.S. and the European Union, two of the most important global leaders when it comes to climate policy, could undermine key climate initiatives of both governments and make it harder for […]

Climate Crisis

3/4s of German Homeowners are Ready to Put Solar Panels on their Roofs: Survey

Benjamin Wehrmann

( Clean Energy Wire ) – Three in four houseowners in Germany wish to put a solar PV array on their roofs, according to a survey commissioned by the country’s solar industry lobby group BSW Solar. One in five houseowners aims to install solar PV arrays within the next twelve months, the survey by pollster […]

Far Right

The Unbearable Whiteness of Being French: Murderer of Kurds ‘William M.’ Treated with kid Gloves

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Last Thursday, one “William M.,” a retired French train conductor, went to the Kurdish Cultural center in the 10th Arondissement of Paris with a gun and shot six people, killing three and wounding three others, all Kurds. Some were in a hairdresser’s shop. So write Nathalie Birchem et Denis Peiron […]

Climate Crisis

Ukraine war: Putin has been weaponising energy for years, here’s what to look out for next

The Conversation

By Thomas Froehlich, King’s College London | – Not since the 1970s oil crisis has the west seen such a focus on energy security. Suddenly in 2022 it became a critical part of the battle for Ukraine. Russian attacks on energy facilities have left millions of Ukrainians without power during a freezing winter. Since it […]

Climate Crisis

Is the New Energy Crisis a Boon for the Green Energy Transition?

Middle East Monitor

By Elif Selin Calik | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – The year 2022 saw the energy topic return intensely to the attention of media, political leaders and public opinion after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. Russia’s war has had huge impacts on the global energy system, disrupting supply and demand patterns and […]

Climate Crisis

New Solar installations Rocket up by 50% in Europe in 2022, amid Ukraine War Energy Crisis

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The industry think tank SolarPower Europe has concluded that new solar power installations rocketed up in Europe by nearly 50% in 2022, driven in part by the spike in fossil gas prices caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine. Europe installed 28.1 gigawatts of solar power in 2021. In 2022, Europe […]

Climate Crisis

Tumultuous First Year for Germany’s Government may start Energy Transition Push

Benjamin Wehrmann

Benjamin Wehrmann | – ( Clean Energy Wire ) – One year after taking over Germany’s government, chancellor Olaf Scholz’s “traffic light” coalition [so called because his Social Democratic Party (SPD) is symbolized by red, the center-right Free Democrats (FDP) are yellow, and the Green Party is, well, green], the looks back at some turbulent […]