Category: climate change

Chinese eco-cities

Clare Pennington and Sue Lin Wong write for the Green Environment blog in the New York Times on the difficulties in China for developing eco-cities. Steep Challenges for a Chinese Eco-City Fifty years ago, during a time of food shortages, China's young socialist government singled out a few farm villages as role models for the … Continue reading Chinese eco-cities →

Energy taxes in the US now being discussed

Eduardo Porter wrote recently in the New York Times about the pros and cons of introducing energy taxes in the US.  Droughts and hurricanes are starting to stir some debate.  But the conclusion is that, even with all the benefits of new energy taxes, the US seems a long way off from introducing them. In … Continue reading Energy taxes in the US now being discussed →

A Q&A on a carbon tax versus cap-and-trade

Luca Taschini, Simon Dietz and Naomi Hicks of Grantham Research Institute recently provided a Q&A in the Guardian comparing a carbon tax against cap-and-trade.  This is a useful article for all EiD readers.   Carbon tax v cap-and-trade: which is better? Economists argue that, if the market is left to operate freely, greenhouse gas emissions … Continue reading A Q&A on a carbon tax versus cap-and-trade →

European Environment Agency to give emphasis to climate change and energy in its new work programme

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has released its “Annual Management Plan 2013,” which outlines the EEA work programme that will address a broad range of issues including: air quality and noise; air pollutant emissions; climate change mitigation; climate change adaptation; energy; and transport. The Annual Management Plan includes sections on: EEA mission statement, vision and strategic objectives; … Continue reading European Environment Agency to give emphasis to climate change and energy in its new work programme →

Two new reports from the IEA

The International Energy Agency publishes many reports annually.  Two recent ones should be of special interest to EiD readers. The first is on the use and public funding of economic instruments, i.e. government financial tools, in IEA countries to support energy efficiency, particularly in the buildings sector. It is called "Mobilising investment in energy efficiency" … Continue reading Two new reports from the IEA →

New study shows that Canada can achieve an 80% carbon reduction by 2050

Ralph Torrie, Managing Director of the Trottier Energy Futures Project, describes a new study they have just released.  While the focus is Canada, it reviews low-carbon scenario research from eight industrialised countries.  This is an important study that deserves   An 80% Carbon Reduction: It’s Not Just Business as Usual An 80% reduction in Canada’s … Continue reading New study shows that Canada can achieve an 80% carbon reduction by 2050 →

Save these dates – January 31st to February 1st

On January 31st, the two-day R20 Conference: “Implementing the Sustainable Energy Future” begins in Vienna, Austria.  R20 is the Regions of Climate Change.  This 2-day conference, which will be opened by Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Federal Chancellor of Austria Werner Faymann and the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, is focused on bringing together … Continue reading Save these dates – January 31st to February 1st →

New EBRD financing to help Turkey establish a low carbon market economy

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is taking an active role in Turkey.  The EBRD is continuing to help Turkey become an energy-efficient and low carbon market economy with a new financing package of €50 million provided to Finansbank for on-lending to private companies investing in renewable energy, industrial energy efficiency and waste-to-energy projects. … Continue reading New EBRD financing to help Turkey establish a low carbon market economy →