The report of the newest update of the Sustainable Society Index, SSI-2012, is available on-line, showing at a glance the level of wellbeing and sustainability for 151 countries. The index is prepared by the Sustainable Society Foundation, SSF, a non-profit organisation, established in 2006 with the objective of stimulating and assisting societies in their development … Continue reading 2012 Sustainability Society Index now available
Category: Sustainable development
The on-going controversy over lower VAT rates in the UK to promote energy efficiency
Will Nichols of BusinessGreen writes about the problems the UK has been having to convince the European Commission of the importance of a lower VAT rate to improve energy efficiency in buildings. It becomes all the more important as the UK rolls out the Green Deal. One would think the Commission would be encouraging this … Continue reading The on-going controversy over lower VAT rates in the UK to promote energy efficiency
New research on the clean development mechanism
The secretariat of the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recently published research showing that the Kyoto Protocol’s clean development mechanism (CDM) has spurred billions of dollars of investment in projects that curb greenhouse gases and contribute to sustainable development. The report, titled Benefits of the Clean Development Mechanism 2012, answers in the … Continue reading New research on the clean development mechanism
EBRD funding for energy efficiency and renewables
Last week, EiD published a post on a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to Russia to promote energy efficiency. It is useful to look at the extent of the EBRD’s activity in this area in recent years. Recently the EBRD announced that since 2006 they have invested €10 billion (over … Continue reading EBRD funding for energy efficiency and renewables
New blogs to watch out for
The IEA’s Sustainable Building Centre (SBC): First the SBC wins a major global award following the creation of its on-line database, and then it starts its own blog. Readers are encouraged to follow the SBC here. Congratulations to Yamina Saheb and her team. Safe and Sustainable Buildings: Three colleagues from Rockwool International recently started a … Continue reading New blogs to watch out for
New publication on climate change ethics
As the world turns its attention to the negotiations at the next climate change conference in Doha, it is useful to truly reflect on the subject. Most observers of climate change policy developments around the world agree that climate change is a civilization challenging ethical problem, yet most governments have utterly failed to enact climate … Continue reading New publication on climate change ethics
New report on green procurement
The European Commission’s DG Environment published a new brochure titled “Green Public Procurement: A collection of good practices”, illustrating how European local authorities successfully launched green tenders and providing guidance to those wishing to do the same. Green public procurement is highlighted as an important element in the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) guidebook, which … Continue reading New report on green procurement
Cost of the German transition to a non-nuclear future
Juergen Baetz of AP news service provides an important look at the costs for the phasing out of nuclear energy. The phase out is to be complete by 2022. It shows that the policy will definitely cost in the coming years, although once complete, it should ensure that Germany is on a sustainable foundation that … Continue reading Cost of the German transition to a non-nuclear future
Important tools to help success in the renewables industry
David Worthington writes for Smart Planet about the role insurance can play to promote the deployment of renewable energy. Insurance: the key to renewable energy success? Many banks are wary to finance renewable energy projects, and that hesitation can stall or even stop new projects. Insurers have stepped in to help mitigate the risks … Continue reading Important tools to help success in the renewables industry
Preparing for the next World Sustainable Energy Days conference, February-March 2013
The next WSED conference will present the work and achievements of young researchers in the field of biomass and in the field of energy efficiency. It will be held as one of the conferences of the World Sustainable Energy Days 2013 from 27 February - 1 March 2013 in Wels/Austria. With more than 800 participants every year, the World … Continue reading Preparing for the next World Sustainable Energy Days conference, February-March 2013
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 