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There is both hope and hype for what artificial intelligence can do for growth – if politicians can tame its destructive potential

Since returning from this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, I have been asked repeatedly for my biggest takeaways. Among the most widely discussed issues this year was artificial intelligence – especially generative AI (“GenAI”). With the recent adoption of large language models (like the one powering ChatGPT), there is much hope – and hype – about what AI could do for productivity and economic growth in the future.

To address this question, we must bear in mind that our world is dominated far more by human stupidity than by AI. The proliferation of megathreats – each an element in the broader “polycrisis” – confirms that our politics are too dysfunctional, and our policies too misguided, to address even the most serious and obvious risks to our future. These include climate change, which will have huge economic costs; failed states, which will make waves of climate refugees even larger; and recurrent, virulent pandemics that could be even more economically damaging than Covid-19.

The WEF zeitgeist is, in my experience, a counter-indicator of where the world is really heading. Policymakers and business leaders are there to flog their books and spew platitudes. They represent the conventional wisdom, which is often based on a rear-window view of global and macroeconomic developments.

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Further developing the biodiversity credit markets and reforming subsidies harmful to nature are among the top priorities to bridge the biodiversity finance gap, researchers have said.

A study conducted by the National University of Singapore (NUS) has recommended a framework for the city state to include blue carbon in its greenhouse gas emissions reporting under the Paris Agreement.

The European Greens will push for full climate neutrality by 2040 - 10 years earlier than the bloc is aiming for - in an election manifesto adopted on Sunday.

Three out of four of the largest Nordic companies are struggling to assess their biodiversity risks and integrate nature into their business models, a paper has found.

Exclusive: Meeting took place days after BP reported record profits while households were squeezed by high energy bills

The energy and climate minister Graham Stuart asked BP about the incentives required to “maximise” extraction of oil and gas from the North Sea, documents released under freedom of information rules have revealed.

Stuart’s meeting with the corporation’s UK boss, Louise Kingham, last year came days after BP had announced a record profit of $28bn (£23bn) for 2022, raised its dividend to shareholders, and rowed back on its aim to cut its carbon emissions by 2030. Households were also enduring very high energy bills. BP will report its profits for 2023 on Tuesday.

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The maker of Philadelphia cheese and Capri-Sun juice is turning to green hydrogen to partially replace natural gas demand at a large manufacturing plant in northwest England, as it strives to curb its carbon footprint in line with its emissions reduction goals.

A major energy unit of South Korea's GS group has teamed up with an urban greening solution provider to tap into the offset market, with a focus on the development of nature-based solutions.

Terry Reintke and Bas Eickhout vow to fight for more equal and ecological Europe amid surge to far right

The European Green party has picked Terry Reintke and Bas Eickhout as lead candidates to front its campaign ahead of elections in June that polls suggest will see it lose seats.

Flanked by green banners bearing the word “courage”, the two MEPs, who were elected by delegates at a congress in Lyon on Saturday, said they would stand up to the surge of the far right and fight for a more equal and ecological Europe.

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A blockchain group that supplies digital carbon credits is planning to tap into the Japanese market through a subsidiary, seeking to bring digital J-Credits on to blockchain later this year.

Moving to a new flat forced my wife and I to go electric – and realise it wasn’t the tragic culinary loss I believed

My wife and I have always had certain non-negotiables when looking for a place to rent: good light, a decent location – and a gas stove. We love cooking together, and countless food shows have impressed upon us that there is nothing more essential to a tasty meal than a flame.

Then came the pandemic. Our landlord wanted to move back into our Barcelona flat, so in the first months of 2020 we found ourselves looking for a new place to stay. With just days to relocate before the first Covid lockdown came into effect, we were forced to set aside our preference for gas – and reluctantly moved into an apartment with an induction hob.

Michael Kavate writes the newsletter Cooler Futures and is a senior reporter with Inside Philanthropy

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The Indian government is looking to launch a carbon capture policy later this year which will aim to capture about 70% emissions generated from the use of coal, even as the South Asian nation has no immediate plans to abandon the fossil fuel, according to media reports.

Shareholders are prone to overlooking the Scope 3 emissions of their investment decisions, and are more concerned by regulatory and reputational risks than the climate impacts of those decisions, according to a report published Monday.

Experts say Albanese government plan should provide a greater choice of electric cars but Coalition calls savings claims a ‘lie’

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Suppliers of electric vehicles are the big winners from the Albanese government’s fuel efficiency standards with one industry group saying half of all new cars will be electric by 2029 and 100% by 2035 on the proposed trajectory.

The energy minister, Chris Bowen, and infrastructure minister, Catherine King, released the details of the plan for consultation on Sunday, saying motorists would potentially save $1,000 a year by 2028 as manufacturers brought in more efficient models.

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China on Sunday published fundamental regulations that support trading in the national emissions market, with new rules set to be effective from May 1.

Electrify everything juggernaut 1komm5 has bought another company in Australia, this time targeting a solar air-con one-stop shop.

The post 1Komma5 makes third Aussie acquisition of solar and air-con one-stop shop appeared first on RenewEconomy.

South Korea and Australia have agreed to cooperate on cross-border projects for carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Grassroots campaigns in favour of clean energy are rallying around Australia ahead of a well-connected anti-renewables rally in Canberra.

The post Anti-renewables rally inspires counter action, as farmers share solar and wind benefits, debunk myths appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Nickel and lithium producers warn the slump in prices is crushing net-zero dreams, terminating more than 1000 jobs and mothballing projects.

The post Miners seek share of tax relief to dig for net-zero appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Pacific Green unveils plans for its second energy storage project in Australia, a massive multi-battery "energy park" in the industrial hub of Portland.

The post Victoria to get huge big battery park as UK developer advances “multi-gigawatt” Australian plans appeared first on RenewEconomy.