The US wants the global shipping industry to reduce its CO2 emissions to zero by 2050. That target is considerably more ambitious than that of the IMO, which is to reduce CO2 emissions by at least half by 2050.

Saudi Arabia is building a $5 billion plant called Helios to make green fuel for export and decrease the country’s dependence on petrodollars. All of the zero-carbon fuel it produces will be shipped to international buyers in the form of ammonia. The 4 gigawatt plant should be fully operational by 2025 and produce 650 tons of hydrogen a day by electrolysis – enough for conversion to 1.2 million tons per year of green ammonia.

The vision laid out in the actions signed by Biden are transformative. The president argues a $2tn clean energy plan will bring millions of new jobs by refashioning the power grid to run on carbon-free sources and offering up a future where electric tanks are operated by the US military. “The whole approach is classic Biden; working-class values, putting people to work,” said Tim Profeta, an environmental policy expert at Duke University.

2021 will be the first year in which investments in European offshore wind will equal investments in oil and gas. Investors in the energy sector are increasingly opting for companies with a green profile. The pressure on fossil companies to limit their CO₂ emissions is now called an 'investment risk'. Moreover, the non-fossil energy companies such as Ørsted have structurally outperformed traditional companies such as Exxon-Mobil.

Heliogen, backed by Bill Gates, makes fuel out of thin air and sunlight. It simply costs a lot of energy.

2020 is already the worst year for the oil industry ever. Even major oil and gas CEOs agree there might be no recovery after this crisis, certainly not to the ‘good-old-days’. The transition is among us. Grossly speaking, there are two transition pathways for the industry to follow: a gradual or a rapid transition. A sudden collapse of the industry - called a carbon crunch - could lead to economic disaster of epic proportions.

Oil fueled the 20th century—its cars, its wars, its economy and its geopolitics. Now the world is in the midst of an energy shock that is speeding up the shift to a new order. The main risks of this transition that have the potential to destabilize geopolitics, are petro-states dependent on oil lashing out as they lose income and influence.

Up to 20% of our energy needs could be met by sustainably harvested biomass, in particular food and agricultural waste, as well as manure. Biomass could serve a crucial role in the energy transition by replacing gas and petroleum in (chemical) industry, aviation and maritime shipping.

How much energy do we need and what do we use it for? In this part, it is determined that the world needs 435 TWh per day, of which 87% comes from fossil fuels. This energy is needed in 3 sectors for 3 different purposes (3x3 energy rule). The sectors are transportation, industry and buildings. The purposes are heating, transport and electricity. Depending on the region, most of our energy is required in the transportation sector and for heating purposes.

How much biomass is produced each year and how much can we sustainably harvest? In the first part of this series, we find that the annual global production of land-based biomass is 50 billion tons, of which roughly 8 billion tons of biomass can be sustainably harvested each year. This is determined by dividing biomass into four distinct groups suitable for energy production: wood, agriculture, food waste and manure. For each group, the amount of annual ‘production’ and the amount suitable for sustainable ‘harvest’ is determined, adhering to the ‘food, feed, fiber first’ principle.

China announces it is considering carbon neutrality as part of its long term climate plan, a critical step in preparation of the COP26 UN climate summit in 2021.

A new “wave” of economic disruption and societal change is upon us, driven by renewable energy technologies. Covid-19 acts as an catalyst for this transformation.

Europe and China double-down on renewables, investing hundreds of billions into electric vehicles, solar, wind and hydrogen. Not despite the corona crisis, but fueled by it.

Because a Universal Basic Income proves to be a sustainable tool to increase freedom and economic resilience for a society, especially in times of crisis such as a pandemic.

Politics is a tug-of-war for power and control of resources. Democracies are best in guaranteeing prosperity because the leaders depend on the citizens’ well being to remain in power.

In IMO’s fourth greenhouse gas (GHG) study, a consortium headed by research establishment CE Delft has found that GHG emissions from global shipping are growing and are expected to continue to increase.

It is summer 2020. We have ‘survived’ the first wave of Corona. The future is uncertain. There is much talk about impending economic doom. As the eternal optimist however, I present a different view. One that can propel us to a sustainable all-time economic high. If we play our cards right, I believe we could create another “roaring twenties” in the coming decade.

What kind of society can support all its people to slack around and think about purpose in life? This is called a post-scarcity society. Post-scarcity is an economic situation in which most goods can be produced in great abundance with minimal human labor needed, so that they become available to all very cheaply or even freely. In such a society we can focus on adding true value to ourselves and others, living the full potential of the human existence. But how could a post-scarcity society look like? Can this actually be achieved in our lifetime? Is it sustainable? I believe so. All it takes is to rearrange our society into framework focused around a specific set of incentives and principles regarding our Economy, Energy Supply, Organization, Income and Education.

With millions of people around the world forced to stay at home due to Covid-19, ripped away from daily routines and distractions, we are confronted with the deep vulnerabilities of our current system. In addition, the Quarantine makes us hold up a mirror and shows us, with shocking self-reflection, our true nature. Mankind is at a cross-roads and realizing - because we are forced to - that there is considerable potential to change working practices and lifestyles. These challenges make me wonder: do we really want to go back to the same way of living as before?

This blog is my personal attempt to further the debate on the redefinition of work. From the time of hunter gatherers to the digital age, people have been “working” to provide for their income and purpose. Most of us are working now more than we ever did in the history of mankind. Why? Why do we cling to a pattern of working “9-till-5” while most of us do not feel we contribute or are outright unhappy? Why do we even bother?