Sunday Brunch: not every sustainability decision is an either/or
As a society we seem to what to make every choice binary. You either select A or B. And the A people often hate the B people, and think that they are idiots, or something worse.
How big a water problem does Europe have ?
European consumers have got used to cheap and fresh produce in our supermarkets, often all through the year. But much of this produce comes from water stressed countries - hard to believe on a wet day in Northern Europe, but true.
Have we finally found a zero carbon cement solution?
What if we could take demolition concrete and turn it back into new cement. And do it piggy backing off the process for making greener steel - the Electric Arc Furnace. Wouldn't that be good news.
Sunday Brunch: Can the new politicians derail the transition?
Recent elections in Europe have led to a shift to the right, but will this really halt the green transitions, or are we just talking about a temporary slowing ?
Could artisanal miners help bridge the critical mineral funding gap?
If the large global mining companies are not investing enough in critical minerals, do we need to think more laterally? Could artisanal miners (ASM) help bridge at least part of the gap, and maybe bring production on stream faster?
What to do with gas grids?
The use of gas will decline dramatically as part of the transition to net zero. Modelling at European levels shows that by 2050 about 70% less gaseous fuels will be used. Which raises the question of what happens to our gas grid infrastructure?
Are we thinking about stranded assets incorrectly?
If I say stranded assets to a finance person or a sustainability professional my guess is that your first thought is oil & gas. But is this missing the point?
Sunday Brunch: Can we totally rely on regulation ?
Regulation is seen as an important element of the process of building a more sustainable economy. But sometimes it fails - we need to remain vigilant.
The 'value' of wind and solar to the grid
Can more wind and solar lead to lower electricity prices for consumers. The answer is broadly yes - and some consumers are already seeing the benefit.
Replacing lost soil carbon
A generation of farmers and scientists are working together to find ways to sequester carbon in the soil, while improving crop yields. And it's not difficult. It involves no new technologies. However, the biggest barrier is humans
Corporate fleet electrification
In the EU, six out of ten new car registrations are corporate. You might think this was a perfect opportunity to easily sell more EV's. Big fleets and bulk deals. But apparently not.
How hard is it to get rid of coal fired electricity?
It's not as impossible to get rid of coal fired electricity generation as you might think. And no - you don't have to replace it with gas. Low carbon electricity grids are within reach, but getting there takes time