GBPN Buildings Sector Summit and Symposium

The Paris-based Global Buildings Performance Network, funded by Climate Works of the US, held a series of meetings May 30 and 31st to essentially launch the Network. The network has hubs in Europe, the US, China and India. The meetings were designed to discuss two important research projects commissioned by the GBPN and released at … Continue reading GBPN Buildings Sector Summit and Symposium →

Southern Voices on climate policy choices

This report from the Southern Voices programme provides an analysis of the tools and tactics advocacy groups use to influence policy responses to climate change at international, regional, national and sub-national levels. More than 20 climate networks and their member organisations contributed to the report with their experiences of advocacy on climate change, including over … Continue reading Southern Voices on climate policy choices →

A real gold mine of information

Young volunteers for the environment from the Climate and Development Network (Réseau Climat & Développement) have come up with a document listing more than 200 information sites on economic, social and environmental issues. While the names of the various sites are in French the web address frequently uses the English name so it’s easy to … Continue reading A real gold mine of information →

Quotes from Jeffrey Sachs

At the Asian Development Bank annual meeting this week, Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute and professor of sustainable development at Columbia University in the US, said: "We won't meet the carbon targets if nuclear is taken off the table," and further: "Emissions per unit of energy need to fall by a factor of … Continue reading Quotes from Jeffrey Sachs →

More from the Clean Energy Ministerial

The Clean Energy Ministerial also had more to say on carbon capture and storage. At the 2011 CEM meeting in Abu Dhabi, the CEM Carbon Capture, Use and Storage Action Group (CCUS AG) presented seven recommendations on concrete, near-term actions to accelerate global carbon capture and storage deployment. This week, at the 2012 CEM meeting … Continue reading More from the Clean Energy Ministerial →

From the Clean Energy Ministerial

The third Clean Energy Ministerial of 23 leading countries was held in London late April. Leaders from the 23-government Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and the UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative (SE4All) have given their backing to a renewed push to increase energy efficiency worldwide. Meeting at the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) taking place … Continue reading From the Clean Energy Ministerial →

Quote of the week

Edvard Munch’s painting, The Scream, will soon be sold by auction and is expected to reach a sizable sum. The Norwegian’s painting (there are actually four versions of The Scream) is one of the most well recognised globally. The Norwegian businessman, Petter Olsen, whose family has owned the painting since 1937, recently gave his view … Continue reading Quote of the week →

New report on industrial energy management

The International Energy Agency (IEA), in partnership with the Institute for Industrial Productivity (IIP), has published “Energy Management Programmes for Industry: Gaining Through Saving.” This report is part of IEA’s Policy Pathway publication series detailing implementation of the “IEA 25 Energy Efficiency Policy Recommendations.” The report is available on the IEA website. The document details proposals … Continue reading New report on industrial energy management →

Achim Steiner: head of UN Environment Programme

Michael McCarthy of the Independent newspaper from the UK has provided an excellent article on Achim Steiner. In the lead up to Rio+20, this is excellent background information on one of the leading figures in the preparation of the summit for all EiD readers. Achim Steiner: 'We haven't even begun to understand the damage … Continue reading Achim Steiner: head of UN Environment Programme →

What’s a carbon footprint and how is it worked out?

This is a useful description of a carbon footprint written by Duncan Clark a consultant editor for The Guardian on April 4th. What's a carbon footprint and how is it worked out? A carbon footprint is an estimate of the climate change impact of activity – such as making a product, living a lifestyle or … Continue reading What’s a carbon footprint and how is it worked out? →