uk posts, articles, and infographics

Should We Talk About Climate Change?

January 4, 2012 by David Lewis
with 706 views

David Roberts, a blogger at Grist, is challenging what he says is an evolving consensus among American "climate hawks" who say there's "nothing to be gained from talking about climate change". These types, according to Roberts, argue that political effort aimed at climate mitigation needs to conceal itself inside debate focused on... [read more]

Predictions, Speculations, & Random Ideas for 2012

December 27, 2011 by Dan Yurman
with 1,219 views

Another fearless look ahead Each year this blog posts its fearless outlook for the coming year. For 2012 I will add the caveat that while no one can predict the future, there are plenty of pointers to how things might work themselves out over time. That's what this blog is reporting here. Japan A... [read more]

It’s Official – Wind Generates “Substantially” More Electricity

December 22, 2011 by Vicky Portwain
with 360 views

The latest Government figures on the amount of electricity generated by wind power have been welcomed by RenewableUK, the country’s largest renewable energy trade association, as proof of the increasingly significant contribution wind energy makes to UK households. Statistics for the third quarter of 2011, released by the Department of... [read more]

Why is Sustainable Biodiesel Illegal in the UK?

December 19, 2011 by David Thorpe
with 424 views

The Government is currently considering the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations (Amendment) Order 2011. I have seen a copy, and I can tell you that there is plenty to be concerned about in terms of its inadequacy. But in this column I'm going to concentrate on one particular aspect: an appalling oversight which involves a... [read more]

Is The End of Durban Also The End of Kyoto?

December 9, 2011 by Shira Honig
with 257 views

The end of the Durban conference is approaching, and in all likelihood, the end of the Kyoto Protocol along with it.Developments in the last few days indicate the outcome is more likely to confirm a global disagreement, rather than agreement, over the idea of a second Kyoto commitment period, or “Kyoto II,” for all countries, both... [read more]

Will Britain Exceed Its Carbon Reduction Targets? Post 2

December 9, 2011 by David Thorpe
with 147 views

This is the second of two posts that examine the UK's claims and efforts to reduce its carbon emissions. Its conclusion: the UK must stop burning coal to win the battle to cut carbon emissions. The Government claimed last week in its Carbon Plan that it is on track to meet its carbon reduction target, but this is contradicted by other... [read more]

Will UK Will Exceed Its Carbon Reduction Targets? Part 1

December 8, 2011 by David Thorpe
with 132 views

This is the first of two posts about the UK's climate emissions and its plans to reduce them. This first one represents the Government's current view: David Cameron and Nick Clegg last week launched a Carbon Plan setting out the Coalition Government's policies to meet its long term commitments to cut carbon emissions. These must, by... [read more]

How To Eliminate Fuel Poverty

November 1, 2011 by David Thorpe
with 458 views

Thousands of lives could be saved by giving energy bill rebates to the fuel poor that are conditional on having smart meters, advice, energy audits and eco-refits.A recent report by Professor John Hills of the London School of Economics for the Government estimated that at least 2,700 people die every winter because they can’t afford... [read more]

UK Pulls PV Subsidy For Inefficient Buildings

October 28, 2011 by David Thorpe
with 176 views

Greg Barker has told the domestic solar industry that all new domestic PV sites from April 2012 must meet minimum energy efficiency standards.Speaking at the Solar Power UK conference yesterday in Birmingham to an audience of PV installers angry at the cut in Feed-in-Tariffs for PV that has thrown their business models onto the rubbish... [read more]

Weightman Warns Nuclear Industry To Do More Research

October 12, 2011 by David Thorpe
with 396 views

The post-Fukushima Weightman report into nuclear safety has been welcomed by the Government and industry as being favourable, but contains warnings to the industry.Chris Huhne has interpreted the report on the UK's nuclear power stations and facilities as giving the green light to nuclear newbuild, but critics have claimed it is "rushed... [read more]

Renewable Electricity Reaches 10%, Sky Doesn't Fall

October 5, 2011 by David Thorpe
with 407 views

Wind, hydro and other renewables supplied 50% more electricity than in the same period last year, and now represent almost 10% of all electricity generated.But there have been howls of protest from energy intensive industries, echoed by Goerge Osborne at the Tory Party Conference, that the cost of all the Government policies leading to... [read more]

A Carbon Price Floor – Tax or Trade?

September 19, 2011 by Sabina Manea
with 449 views

As part of the latest budget the UK government announced its intention to introduce a price floor for the emissions market. It is hoped that this move will encourage low carbon investment by disincentivising regulated entities from emitting at current levels. How this proposed unilateral measure will interact with the EU ETS remains to... [read more]

Drive to Build Thorium Reactor Prototype Launched In U.K.

September 8, 2011 by Dan Yurman
with 1,345 views

The Weinberg Foundation says success with thorium-based reactors could lead to rapid deployment 8 Sept (NucNet): A new London-based lobbying organization aimed at promoting nuclear technologies fuelled by thorium is calling for the UK's Sellafield site to be used as a research centre into next-generation reactors. The Baroness... [read more]

WORLDbytes – After Fukushima: The Fear Factor

August 25, 2011 by Rod Adams
with 524 views

I received a comment yesterday through the Atomic Insights Contact link telling me about a recently produced video titled After Fukushima: The Fear Factor. The source described the work as a report on the media frenzy in the UK following the tsunami attack on the Fukushima region of Japan. As the video describes, less... [read more]

All Buildings Should Display Energy Certificates

August 12, 2011 by David Thorpe
with 354 views

Forcing all commercial buildings to display data on their energy performance would bring huge economic as well as environmental savings. The Government's Energy Bill is in its second Report Stage, prior to its Third and last Reading. Its flagship policy is the 'Green Deal', which would give householders, private landlords and... [read more]