In an op-ed article in today’s FT, Columbia University Professor Jagdish Bhagwati argues that the Kyoto Protocol was rightfully rejected by the USA because it made insufficient demands of India and China. Because the protocol mainly penalized countries with high historical carbon emissions, these two newly-industrialising countries escaped penalties, even though are now major greenhouse [...]

As an example of innovation helping the environment, The Guardian has reported on a Dutch project in which carbon dioxide produced by a Shell oil refinery is pumped into commercial greenhouses, instead of them burning natural gas.  
“Before the project was launched last year the greenhouses, which grow vegetables and flowers, used to generate CO2 [...]

As anyone based in a European country will know, this summer has seen a severe drought. In addition to impacts on agricultural outputs (some negative, some positive), fires, water restrictions and reduced river levels, the drought has had impacts on energy generating companies and prices:
“Lower hydroelectric and nuclear output has forced some countries to [...]

Researchers at Hadley Centre, part of the UK’s Meteorological Office, have predicted that this year’s hot, dry summer will be increasingly typical.  According to a report in the FT:
“Europe will experience 50 per cent less rainfall in summer and 30 per cent more rainfall in winter.
The areas around the Mediterranean will be worst hit by [...]

A recent article in the FT included a neat graph from National Grid, showing the relationship between temperatures and demand for electricity.  At low temperatures, we consume more electricity in heating, while at high temperatures we consume more for air-conditioning.  The minimum consumption seems to be between 18-19 degrees C. (Unfortunately, the graphs are not [...]