Thematic Thoughts/What Caught Our Eye
Developments that we found particularly interesting during the week and why.
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
Legal trends in climate action
Legal actions against governments are seeing some interesting changes. And legal actions against governments have implications for companies and investors.
Making green buildings actually happen
Sometimes good data is the key that unlocks change. In this case the data that is needed is how well aligned buildings are with industry agreed 1.5C aligned pathways.
Artisanal Mining – Opportunity for Mercury Elimination
It's hard to believe that the use of mercury in artisanal mining is still so prevalent 200 years after its extensive use in California. Until you start to think about the practicalities. The alternatives are often limited.
The cheapest energy is the energy you don’t use
The cheapest and greenest energy is the energy we don't use. And this is especially true in industry, where energy waste reduction can result in real financial gains. Plus benefits to the planet and wider society.
Creating sustainable cities
There is more to this than just selecting the right 'technology' and finding the finance. If we don't take the local community with us, then our investments run the risk of failing.
Decarbonised cement - are we getting closer?
And sorry - the short answer is not really. But we can make progress faster than we might think, just by spreading current best practice
How willing are we to pay a green premium?
A recent PwC survey suggests we are willing to pay a green premium, but is this being reflected in real world decision making? The jury is still out on this one. Be careful about surveys, the intentions actions gap (what you say you want is not what you end up
Can new technology 'save' our transmission grids?
One new (ish) type of interconnector is attracting more attention. Ultra High Voltage DC (UHVDC) enables electricity to be transported vast distances with low line losses. Could this be our best solution?
Should London become a sponge city, and who pays?
Do we need to rethink surface flood protection in our cities, and if so who pays? Over the last few years London, like many cities around the world, has been hit by a series of disruptive and expensive floods, mostly caused by intense heavy rain falling on impervious sources such as concrete.