Climate & Environmental Policy

At the UN climate summit in Morocco from November 7 - 18 (COP 22), the global climate community aims to breathe life into the Paris Agreement. However, the real discussion about the most contentious points, including finance and what to do with loss & damage, begins only now in earnest.

Thirty years ago, in 1986, before the world's attention focused on climate change as the defining existential challenge of our times, the Declaration on the Right to Development was adopted. This article explores the timeliness of using the right to development as an ethical framework for climate finance provision in line with the concept of climate justice. 

While utilities in Ohio and elsewhere have sought “around market” charges after affiliated coal and nuclear plants became less competitive, Germany’s large utilities are charting new paths forward.

Interview with hbs' Liane Schalatek 

A new law that took effect in Poland earlier this month could kill growing competition from land-based wind farms by expanding setback requirements tenfold and increasing tax burdens.

Despite an ongoing freeze on state policies to boost clean energy in Ohio, efforts to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy are underway in Cleveland and the rest of Cuyahoga County.

As the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change contemplates enhancing its ongoing work program on gender at the next climate summit in Marrakesh in November (COP 22), a submission by hbs North America recommends key goals and principles to really advance gender mainstreaming in the climate process and in implementing climate actions.

In relation to the rest of Europe, the UK’s role as market, nuclear, and shale gas champion has brought its policies into sharp relief in contrast to countries such as Germany and Austria.

At first glance, the Austrian performance in the energy sector looks quite bright: In the year 2014, about 33% of the gross final energy consumption was provided by renewable energy sources.