‘Impossible’ is not in the vocabulary of Swiss explorer and environmentalist Bertrand Piccard. He was the first person to fly non-stop around the world in a hot air balloon and the first to do the same in a solar-powered plane. Piccard is firmly of the belief that society has all the tools it needs to solve the climate crisis, but there is perhaps something currently missing: enthusiasm and the will to act. That is why his latest adventure involves piloting a hydrogen-powered plane around the globe, to show the world that it can be done. One of the world’s greatest living explorers joins the ..read more

Wind power in Europe continues to set records. Concerns over supply chains and geopolitical issues have posed challenges but have not derailed progress. Developments in the North Sea continue at a great pace but it is not Europe’s only resource for wind power. Other areas, some of them far-flung and unexpected, show great potential to provide clean electricity for all of Europe. That potential is now being tapped, as technological advancements and policy shifts gradually unlock zero-carbon generation on the Atlantic coast, in the Mediterranean, Baltic, Black and even Caspian seas. WindEurop ..read more

Electrification of road transport has asserted itself as the leading decarbonisation for four-wheeled vehicles. Manufacturers are investing billions in new EV models and governments are following suit with the infrastructure needed to power them. But there is more to electric cars than just a battery and a plug. A whole host of data-related interoperability issues affect how EVs function and will have a significant impact on how quickly and effectively this new generation of vehicles are rolled out. Eurelectric energy and climate policy officer Ivan Asen-Ivanov joins the Policy Dispatch to e ..read more

Indonesia is the world’s eighth biggest polluter and one of the most populous countries on Earth. Its energy system is largely reliant on coal and its economy is propped up by mass exports of the polluting fossil fuel. But there is appetite to break coal’s hold over Indonesia’s energy future. A $20 billion partnership between the island nation and wealthier countries could hold the key to sparking a green transition. It is just a drop in the ocean but if the cash is invested wisely, it could act as a trigger for longer-term sustainable changes. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air ..read more

The majority of countries around the world have some sort of coastline. That means that they have access to natural resources that could soon make a substantial impact on the energy transition: waves and tides. Water is a proven energy source: countries with the right geography have used hydropower to generate green electricity for decades. Now the power of waves and tides, which can also spin turbines, is starting to garner attention. The technologies already exist and new innovations are being trialled at select sites around the world. Now the sector needs investment to scale up. Rémi Gruet ..read more

COP28 generated plenty of headlines during the two weeks it ran. Emission pledges, new alliances, policy agreements, informal deals and various other announcements flooded the airwaves and email inboxes. Add in the emotional aspect that is now a hallmark of top level climate talks and you would be forgiven for finding the whole thing an overwhelming ordeal. That is why more than a month on from the summit, Sam is joined by Linda Kalcher, executive director of pan-European think tank Strategic Perspectives, to look back at what happened in the United Arab Emirates. Linda shares her thoughts on ..read more

Methane is the greenhouse gas that often lives in the shadow of its more infamous cousin, carbon dioxide. But methane is a massive problem nonetheless due to its fast-acting impact on the climate.Global action is starting to take off and will be on the agenda at the COP28 summit. The European Union recently agreed on new rules that will aim to reduce leaks and ensure that imported fossil fuels adhere to strict standards.The Environmental Defence Fund’s senior director for the EU energy transition, Flavia Sollazzo, joins this edition of the Policy Dispatch to discuss those new rules and explain ..read more

New Zealand Aotearoa is infamous for its breath-taking scenery, remote location in the Pacific Ocean, all-conquering rugby team and being the backdrop for the Lord of the Rings. 'The Land of the Long White Cloud' is, like every other country on Earth, presented with some difficult and complex energy transition hurdles that will have to be overcome.Governments have attempted to address these climate and energy issues by launching an emissions trading system, establishing carbon budgets and aiming for a completely clean power grid. This is all with a 2050 net-zero target firmly in mind.Are ..read more

Decarbonisation is happening across sectors, and although the pace may at times be less than required, the direction of travel is generally the correct one. Industries and businesses are all starting to actively engage with the energy transition in one shape or another. That means there is a role for firms to help other companies clean up their act.This week, Sam is joined by Gwenaelle Avice-Huet – who at the time of recording was chief strategy and sustainability officer at multinational company Schneider Electric – to discuss what her employer is doing to turbocharge the green transition. Fr ..read more

2023 has been a big year for energy and climate developments already even though we are only just over the halfway point. From the fallout of the energy price crisis to the beginnings of a ‘green gold rush’, there has been plenty of energy transition news to report on and analyse. How is industry actually going to decarbonise? What is going on in transport? And what can we expect from the end of year COP summit?These are just some of the points considered in this week’s show.To round up these big talking points and look ahead to the big milestones ahead, Sam is joined this week by fellow Fores ..read more