Significant increase in climate finance in 2014

The International Institute for Sustainable Development reports a welcome increase in multilateral funding for climate finance. Importantly, of the mitigation funding, 35% went to renewable energy, 27% to sustainable transport and 22% to energy efficiency.   Multilateral Development Banks Report 19% Increase in Climate Finance Six multilateral development banks (MDBs) have launched the fourth edition … Continue reading Significant increase in climate finance in 2014 →

New report by UNEP identifies innovations for scaling up sustainable development financing

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report, titled 'Pathways to Scale,' which identifies "critical innovations in the US$300+ trillion global financial system that can help bring together the historically separate agendas of financial reform and sustainable development." Drawing on country-level examples of financial market and institutional reforms, the report proposes a number of … Continue reading New report by UNEP identifies innovations for scaling up sustainable development financing →

IEA review of EU energy policies

The International Energy Agency has recently published its review of EU’s energy policies as part of its country review series. This follows the first review of EU policies it undertook in 2008. The review states that at the time of the first review, “the European Union had embarked on two major reforms in energy and … Continue reading IEA review of EU energy policies →

The importance of improved energy efficiency to meet climate objectives

Mat Hope writes on the Carbon Brief website about the latest Emissions Gap report of the United Nations Environment Programme and the growing awareness that improved energy efficiency must play a more important role. Alas, it is unfortunate that the European Council did not understand this when it downplayed the role improved energy efficiency would … Continue reading The importance of improved energy efficiency to meet climate objectives →

Comments on the IEA’s World Energy Outlook

This year’s World Energy Outlook (WEO) from the International Energy Agency provides a stark warning that the global energy system is in danger of falling short of the hopes and expectations placed upon it. It does add that advances in technology and efficiency give some reasons for optimism, but sustained political efforts will be essential … Continue reading Comments on the IEA’s World Energy Outlook →

Energy policy review of Morocco

The IEA recently published its country review of the energy policies of Morocco. It is the first such review that the IEA has done for any African country. Morocco’s energy strategy is very much on target, with notable advances in wind and solar power and on fuel subsidy reform, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says … Continue reading Energy policy review of Morocco →

Financing resource efficiency

It is good to see that the international financial institutions are starting to look more broadly and start financing for resource efficiency.   EBRD signs its first resource efficiency credit line in Turkey The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is extending its first credit line under its Sustainable Resource Initiative (SRI) with a … Continue reading Financing resource efficiency →

New IEA report on the energy efficiency market

The International Energy Agency has recently published its 2014 edition of its Energy Efficiency Market Report. This year's report includes an in-depth look at energy efficiency developments in the transport sector and in finance. Significant demand for mobility is emerging in OECD non member economies, bringing with them the challenges of pollution and congestion already … Continue reading New IEA report on the energy efficiency market →

IEA’s new medium-term renewable energy market report highlights sector’s strength

Renewable energy certainly is gaining momentum globally. It now produces 22% of the world’s electricity. Terry Macalister writes a good article on the report in The Guardian. For further information on how to obtain the report, EiD readers should go directly to the IEA’s website.   Renewable energy capacity grows at fastest ever pace Wind, … Continue reading IEA’s new medium-term renewable energy market report highlights sector’s strength →

Reaction to President of World Bank’s view of the importance of coal

A few weeks ago, an EiD post  raised concerns that the World Bank’s lending policies are environmentally disastrous. Now we get a post from Justin Guay, Associate Director of the Sierra Club International Climate Programme, writing on the Huffington Post website. He criticises Dr. Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank, for his views … Continue reading Reaction to President of World Bank’s view of the importance of coal →