Articles tagged with "climate-goals"
"Improve Rail Ticket Booking!" — EU Groups of Youth, Consumer, & Environmental Push for Change - CleanTechnica
The article discusses a push by the Youth on Track coalition—a group comprising youth organizations, consumer advocates, and environmental NGOs—to reform rail ticket booking and pricing across Europe. This coalition urges EU policymakers to leverage upcoming revisions to VAT (value added tax) rules and the Single Ticketing Package to make train travel more affordable and accessible, particularly for cross-border journeys. Currently, rail tickets often cost more than flights, despite trains being a more environmentally friendly mode of transport. Notably, rail transport is not exempt from VAT, unlike air travel, which contributes to this pricing imbalance and discourages sustainable travel choices. The coalition highlights that this disparity undermines Europe’s climate goals, as cheaper flights incentivize carbon-intensive travel over trains. They call on EU officials, including Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, to address these issues by simplifying booking systems and reducing rail ticket prices. The article expresses hope that these changes will help shift travel habits toward greener options and improve the competitiveness of rail
energysustainable-transportrail-travelEU-policyclimate-goalsVAT-reformpassenger-transportationEU Reaffirms 2035 ICE Phaseout Plan - CleanTechnica
The European Union has reaffirmed its plan to phase out combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2035 despite persistent lobbying from European automakers seeking to relax the policy. Industry leaders, including Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius and European Automobile Manufacturers Association president Matthias Zink, argue that new geopolitical and industrial challenges—such as China’s dominance in the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain and US trade barriers—make the 2035 CO2 targets unrealistic. They urge the European Commission to reconsider the timeline and allow more regulatory flexibility, including continued support for hybrids and alternative technologies beyond 2035. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz echoed these calls for flexibility during the Munich auto show, emphasizing the need for a pragmatic approach to the transition to electric mobility. However, EU policymakers and environmental groups maintain that the 2035 ban is crucial for meeting climate goals, pointing to rising EV sales and increasing European battery production, even though much of the EV manufacturing and battery supply remains linked to China. The ban, narrowly
energyelectric-vehiclesEU-policycombustion-engine-phaseoutautomotive-industryclimate-goalsbattery-manufacturingWebinar: How to talk to Canada's next clean technology adopters - Clean Energy Canada
The article announces an upcoming webinar titled “How to talk to Canada’s next clean energy adopters,” organized by Re.Climate and Clean Energy Canada. The webinar will launch the report Empowering Households, developed in partnership with Abacus Data, based on a survey of 3,000 people in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and Metro Vancouver. This research identifies five distinct groups of clean technology adopters, ranging from highly motivated individuals to those not yet interested, and explores the barriers, motivations, information sources, and potential incentives influencing their adoption of clean technologies like electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps. The article emphasizes the urgency of accelerating clean technology adoption in Canadian households, which contribute at least 17% of the country’s emissions. Despite strong interest, obstacles such as upfront costs, housing limitations, and confusing information hinder broader uptake. The webinar will feature insights from report authors and clean technology experts, focusing on the main barriers and offering policy and communication strategies tailored to effectively engage the diverse
energyclean-technologyclean-energy-adoptionelectric-vehiclesheat-pumpsclimate-goalsCanada-energy-policyUS Pressuring Other Countries To Abandon Clean Energy And Climate Goals - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights the U.S. government's current efforts to undermine global clean energy and climate initiatives in favor of expanding fossil fuel use. It criticizes the administration for prioritizing fossil fuel interests by promoting “energy dominance” and opposing international agreements aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in sectors like shipping. The U.S. has reportedly threatened punitive measures such as tariffs and visa restrictions against countries supporting climate action, and has allied with oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia to block production limits on fossil fuels. Key figures in the U.S. Energy Department have framed the choice as one between “freedom and sovereignty” through fossil fuels versus economic decline due to “climate alarmism.” European officials and climate experts express alarm over this U.S. pressure, especially given recent severe heat waves and the scientific consensus on the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal. The article underscores the tension between the U.S. administration’s fossil fuel agenda and
energyclean-energyfossil-fuelsclimate-goalsenergy-policyinternational-energygreenhouse-gas-emissionsMaine Focuses On Renewables Even As Trump Revokes Climate Policies - CleanTechnica
Maine is advancing its clean energy agenda despite federal rollbacks under the Trump administration. Governor Janet Mills signed legislation accelerating the state's transition to 100% clean energy, setting a target of 90% renewable and 10% low or zero-carbon energy sources by 2040—moving previous goals up by a decade. The state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) has already driven significant economic benefits, including over $100 million in direct investments, nearly $900 million in operations spending, and more than 1,000 full-time jobs between 2008 and 2022. In 2023, approximately 65% of Maine’s energy came from renewable sources. Regional collaboration is a cornerstone of Maine’s strategy, with the Maine Public Utilities Commission directed to work with other New England states to negotiate competitively priced energy contracts and jointly procure clean energy, transmission, and storage projects. This cooperative approach is vital given the interconnected nature of power systems and the need to manage costs and reliability effectively.
energyrenewable-energyclean-energyenergy-policyenergy-transitionclimate-goalsenergy-storageBuilding clean does not need to break the bank - Clean Energy Canada
The article from Clean Energy Canada emphasizes that addressing Canada’s housing shortage and climate goals can be achieved simultaneously without significant cost increases. While much attention is given to reducing emissions from heating and powering homes, the emissions embedded in construction materials like concrete, steel, drywall, and insulation are often overlooked. These materials contribute substantial industrial emissions, with a single home’s construction potentially locking in emissions equivalent to decades of car travel. Given the scale of housing needed by 2030, ignoring these emissions could undermine national climate targets. Fortunately, cleaner, low-emission alternatives for key construction materials are already available at little to no additional cost. A report by Clean Energy Canada highlights that options such as low-emission drywall and insulation can reduce emissions by up to 98% without price premiums, and cleaner steel and concrete alternatives often come at negligible extra cost. Even when slight cost increases occur, they are minimal relative to overall project budgets. Prioritizing these materials supports Canadian producers, who benefit from a cleaner electricity grid and innovation, and aligns with government strategies like the “Buy Clean” approach, which mandates emissions reductions in publicly funded projects. Additionally, more efficient building designs that reduce material use can cut emissions by up to 40%, offering further savings in cost and carbon footprint. The article concludes that building affordable, climate-friendly housing with Canadian materials is both feasible and economically sensible.
energyclean-energylow-emissions-materialssustainable-constructiongreen-buildingclimate-goalsCanadian-materialsThe World Hit Another Clean Power Record Last Year
energyclean-powersolar-energydecarbonizationrenewable-resourcesclimate-goalsIcelandHiệu ứng bí ẩn đe dọa trang trại điện gió
energywind-farmrenewable-energyoffshore-windenergy-productionclimate-goalswind-theft