On February 16, 2005, the Kyoto Protocol entered into force. The first global agreement of history to reduce carbon dioxide emissions was based on the scientific consensus that climate change is occurring. Thirteen years later, how do we stand now given the recent developments?
A new research conducted by world leading emissions experts is painting a rather gloomy picture. Due to stronger economic growth, global greenhouse gas emissions have hit a new record high of 37 billion tonnes of dioxide in 2017. Is there a chance that the European 2020 goals could still be reached?
In the UK, Nottingham, the birthplace of Robin Hood, who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, already reached the 2020 energy targets. How does a 300,000 people city manage to be the forefront of energy innovation?
Hundreds of residential buildings are currently being renovated with innovative methods, subsidised by the European project “Remourban”. Among them is a refurbishment concept called Energiesprong, which was developed in the Netherlands and was welcomed in several world’s countries. As it is now being implemented in the UK, it will turn old houses from the 60s into zero net emission homes, within a few days.
Moreover, nearly 60 fully electric buses are already operational while plans to charging points for more electric cars will materialise soon. These solutions indeed show how ambitious the legend-rich city is.