Environment Focus
An environmental lens on policies for better lives
Category: Mitigation & net-zero emissions
Charting climate action through data insights
By Daniel Nachtigall, OECD Environment Directorate As we turn the page on the hottest year on record, communities across the globe are facing the accelerating impacts from climate change. 2023 witnessed unprecedented extreme weather events, from heatwaves, to wildfires, floods, and hurricanes. From Cyclone… Continue Reading “Charting climate action through data insights”
Rediscover our top 5 blogs of 2023
Find out what our readers enjoyed the most in 2023. Our top 5 blogs discuss a range of issues from financing water to the evolution of climate policies, the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, the affect of climate change on careers, and building resilience to… Continue Reading “Rediscover our top 5 blogs of 2023”
Time to Walk the Talk – “Unlocking the Hydrogen Hype: Exploring the Gap Between Talk and Action”
By Moongyung Lee and Joseph Cordonnier, OECD Environment Directorate In the 19th century, when William Nicholson and Sir Anthony Carlisle discovered the electrolysis process to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, they could not have foreseen the potential to develop a “hydrogen economy” in… Continue Reading “Time to Walk the Talk – “Unlocking the Hydrogen Hype: Exploring the Gap Between Talk and Action””
Charting a Course to Net Zero: The Crucial Role of Shipbuilding in Greening the Maritime Sector
By Halvor Hvideberg, Ambassador of Norway to the OECD The maritime sector occupies a critical position in global efforts to transition to net-zero. It accounts for up to 3% of global CO2 emissions, surpassing aviation, and if unchecked, could see a dramatic increase by… Continue Reading “Charting a Course to Net Zero: The Crucial Role of Shipbuilding in Greening the Maritime Sector”
The role of households in a more sustainable future
Nicolina Lamhauge, Katherine Hassett, Rose Mba Mébiame and Ioannis Tikoudis, OECD Environment Directorate Autumn in Paris brings back memories of a cold and uncomfortable winter last year. Not because temperatures were particularly low – quite the opposite. Like a number of other European countries… Continue Reading “The role of households in a more sustainable future”
Germany’s climate action: “not enough, too slow, too late”: How could Germany accelerate its climate action?
by Julia Wanjiru Nikiema “Not enough, too slow, too late. Welcome to my world!” With these words, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck reflected on Germany’s current climate policy at the launch of the 2023 OECD Environmental Performance Review of Germany and the OECD Economic Survey… Continue Reading “Germany’s climate action: “not enough, too slow, too late”: How could Germany accelerate its climate action?”
How the need to mitigate climate change will affect careers and what to do about it
By Elisa Lanzi (OECD Environment Directorate), Francesca Borgonovi (OECD Centre for Skills) and Helke Seitz (OECD Centre for Skills) Students around the world who have recently finished their secondary education are about to face a new phase of their lives. Those planning to continue… Continue Reading “How the need to mitigate climate change will affect careers and what to do about it”
Accelerating climate action: 12 steps for governments to build climate and economic resilience
By Kilian Raiser, OECD Environment Directorate Action on climate change has never been more urgent. With current levels of global warming, scientists warn that some catastrophic climate system ‘tipping points’ are already dangerously close to being triggered. Governments and society must act fast to… Continue Reading “Accelerating climate action: 12 steps for governments to build climate and economic resilience”
What are the economic and environmental effects of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme?
By Daniel Nachtigall, OECD Environment Directorate and Antoine Dechezleprêtre, OECD Directorate for Science Technology and Innovation The European Union (EU) put forward an ambitious climate mitigation target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030. How will… Continue Reading “What are the economic and environmental effects of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme?”
How have governments’ climate policies evolved in the last decade?
We have seen a growing number of countries strengthen their emission reduction pledges by updating their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) or by pledging carbon neutrality targets towards mid-century. But with the increasing urgency of the climate crisis, what are countries actually doing to implement these targets and how has the climate policy landscape evolved over the last decade or so?
Environment Focus 