europe

Slide from Michael Barnard's presentation to global institutional investors through Jefferies investment bank

The Geopolitics Of Critical Minerals: China’s Grip & The West’s Response

Recently, I stood — virtually — before an audience of global institutional investors, invited by Jefferies investment bank to speak alongside six other experts on the deepening geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China and their implications. Amid this intense discussion, one of the central themes was the rapid return … [continued]

ChatGPT generated panoramic image of Lisbon at dawn, showing city lights gradually returning after a blackout, symbolizing successful restoration and hope

From Darkness to Light: Iberia’s Rapid Grid Recovery Explained

On April 28, 2025, the Iberian Peninsula experienced a significant and sudden blackout, plunging large portions of Spain and Portugal into darkness and disrupting critical infrastructure for millions of people. The outage occurred at around midday, severing approximately 60% of the region’s electricity supply in seconds. The initial cause remains … [continued]

Photo by Zach Shahan | CleanTechnica

Airline Emissions Soar to Pre-COVID Levels as Europe Fails to Price Their Pollution

Emissions from European aviation have almost bounced back to 2019 levels, with flights within Europe even exceeding these, a new T&E study shows. The EU’s carbon market (EU ETS) is currently failing to address the true cost of these emissions, amid signs of climate backtracking from airlines. Aviation emissions and … [continued]

Image courtesy of Cynthia Shahan.

Copernicus: Warmest March In Europe & Lowest Arctic Winter Sea Ice

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts on behalf of the European Commission with funding from the EU, routinely publishes monthly climate bulletins reporting on the changes observed in global surface air and sea temperatures, sea ice cover, and hydrological variables. Most of the reported findings … [continued]

ChatGPT generated split-screen image featuring a Ukrainian military drone (e.g., PD-2) over war-torn landscapes transitioning into a thriving farm landscape with drones spraying fields

Drone Swords Into Ploughshares: How Ukraine’s Wartime Expertise Can Reshape Farming

Ukraine has rapidly emerged as one of the world’s unexpected drone innovation hubs, driven by the brutal necessities of wartime. Thousands of sophisticated drones now soar above Ukrainian battlefields, ranging from compact FPV (first-person-view) attack drones to advanced reconnaissance platforms capable of extended missions deep into contested areas. Remarkably, this … [continued]

ChatGPT generated panoramic image of the COMAC C919 aircraft landing at an airport

How COMAC Might Leverage Europe to Secure Aerospace Independence from the U.S.

China’s equivalent to Boeing and Airbus, COMAC, faces a critical strategic inflection point, driven by intensifying geopolitical tensions and a trade war that the second Trump presidency intentionally added significant accelerant to. While China’s intent to compete with Boeing and Airbus through the C919 narrow body and the upcoming C929 … [continued]

ChatGPT generated panoramic image of an empty hydrogen fueling station in Austria with barriers indicating closure

From Austria to California: Why Hydrogen Fuel Stations Aren’t Breaking Even

Austria’s recent announcement that it would shutter its entire network of hydrogen fueling stations caught many industry observers off guard. But for those closely tracking the economics, Austria’s exit wasn’t surprising at all. The stations faced persistently low vehicle numbers, low throughput, and mounting operating losses. This stark withdrawal illustrates … [continued]

ChatGPT generated panoramic aerial image of a major logistics center in China, showcasing rows of battery-electric heavy trucks lined up at rapid battery-swapping stations

China’s Electrification Of Trucks, Buses, & Construction Vehicles Accelerates Rapidly

China’s heavy vehicle sector took major strides toward electrification in 2024, underscoring the country’s continued leadership in the global transition toward zero-emission commercial transportation. Heavy road vehicles, including trucks, buses, construction equipment, and special-purpose vehicles, have traditionally lagged passenger cars in the electrification race, mainly due to operational challenges and … [continued]