To overcome last winter’s energy crunch, France successfully introduced a 15-point ‘energy sobriety’ plan to cut gas and electricity use and reduce emissions.
The 142 fossil fuel producers collectively exceeded the limits on coal, gas and oil production required to achieve the Paris Agreement goals by between 63% and 70%.
Research found people were not confident about the government’s leadership in meeting net zero.
In February 2022 in Brussels, demonstrators (wearing masks of Ursula von der Leyen, Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron) protest against the European Commission’s decision to classify gas and nuclear energy as “sustainable”.
François Walschaerts/AFP
While EU countries are capable of initiating strong joint actions, a divide is emerging between countries with very different, even antagonistic, decarbonisation strategies.
20 years ago, solar and wind were expensive enough to make nuclear seem like an option for Australia. With cheap renewables a reality, there’s simply no point to domestic nuclear.
The Indonesian president’s visit to Australia could lead to closer co-operation on the energy transition, with Australia supplying lithium for Indonesia’s electric vehicle and battery production.
Heat pumps are three times more energy-efficient than boilers.
Virrage Images/Shutterstock
Commitments have been made to cybersecurity, defence and certain gaps in STEM education and workforce – but much remains to be seen this year once we review the national priorities.