AI-proof careers, efficient buildings compact and a new lease of life for tired e-scooters
In this issue:
AI-proof careers
Perhaps “proof” is a big claim but new research from CBI Economics indicates green careers are likely to be among the most resistant to replacement by AI. It found for 16-24 year olds in green apprenticeships, 96% are in occupations with lower potential for AI substitution. When it looked at the additional workers needed for priority occupations as categorised in the UK’s Clean Energy Jobs Plan, it concluded 94% were in jobs with less potential for AI substitution. So, for a more secure long term career, clean energy and green jobs are the places to be.
Global roadmap published
Just about 12 months on from COP30, Brazil has published its global roadmap for Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Energy Systems. The publication claims all countries can boost economies and pull people out of poverty by enacting the plan. The roadmap came about after COP30 failed to find agreement on fossil fuel elimination.
Only four carrying their weight
That’s the conclusion of the State of the Sovereign Transition 2026 report from LSE. In it, the authors indicate just four countries of the 85 assessed are meeting their proportionate share of the international climate finance goal. Meanwhile, only five of 71 assessed have an active fossil fuel phase out plan and only seven (of 75 with a quantified 2030 target) have an emissions trend consistent with 1.5C. Shortfalls have arisen as pledges expring in 2025 have not been renewed.
3.9 billion tonnes
That’s how much carbon was released annually, on average, from soil between 2016 and 2024 through disturbances and land use change, according to a new report from the World Resources Institute. That’s more than all the world’s trees and atmosphere hold combined and roughly equivalent to the combined emissions of India and Saudi Arabia.
Efficient buildings compact
Just ahead of COP31 – starting Monday – its Presidency has launched the Antalya Compact for Energy Efficient Buildings. The compact is aimed at driving two of the Presidency’s global targets for 2035: pursuing a 25% reduction in the operational energy intensity of the global building stock (relative to 2020 levels), and accelerating efficient electrification in buildings in support of 35-by-35 (electricity share of total energy of at least 35% by 2035).
Where do e-scooters go to die?
In Germany, they could soon be going to enjoy new lives as electricity storage units. Freiburg based EDENenergy is marketing a 70 kWh industrial energy storage system made of 112 used e-scooter batteries. The modular system allows individual cells to be replaced to maintain the unit’s capacity. It’s believed around a million e-scooter and e-bike batteries are discarded each year in Germany, providing a ready supply of feedstock. The batteries see their first use (e-scooters) come to an end when they drop to around 80% efficiency. The EDENenergy units see their efficiency run down from 80% to 60%, when they eventually find their way to the recycle bin.
Did you know …..
The UK will throw away 16 million pumpkins after Halloween, which could generate 12.3GWh of energy – enough to heat 1,300 homes for a year – when converted to biomethane, according to Future Energy Networks.