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
Fracking cultural wars continue
The news agency AP reports in The Independent newspaper about the continuing cultural wars on fracking in the US. EiD reported earlier this month on the topic. Imagine there's no fracking… Yoko Ono joins tour against controversial extraction technique Celebrities including Yoko Ono, her son Sean Lennon and actress Susan Sarandon were in Pennsylvania today … Continue reading Fracking cultural wars continue
Global atlas for renewable energy goes online
The world’s first open-access Global Atlas of renewable energy resources went live recently, announced at the annual general assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). “The Global Atlas provides a powerful new tool in international efforts to double the world’s share of renewable energy by 2030” The Global Atlas is the largest ever initiative … Continue reading Global atlas for renewable energy goes online
Impact of biofuel production assessed
The Reuters news agency writes in The Guardian about a new study that biofuel production could actually be doing a lot of harm to the environment. Biofuel production threatens air quality and crop yields, study finds Report warns large-scale cultivation of trees for renewable wood fuel would emit high levels of the chemical isoprene. Fighting … Continue reading Impact of biofuel production assessed
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
New York gives new push to improve energy performance of its public buildings
Greenbiz.com provides us with an important new executive order by outgoing Governor of the state of New York to improve the energy efficiency of it’s state buildings. It ranks amongst the most ambitious in the USA. There is a very interesting comment below on comparing some of its older buildings to LEED-certified ones. How … Continue reading New York gives new push to improve energy performance of its public buildings
Website to watch
The OECD together with the IEA has a very useful site on fossil fuel subsidies and other support. This site brings together the OECD inventory of estimated budgetary support and tax expenditures relating to the production or use of fossil fuels in its member economies, and IEA data on consumption subsidies, primarily in developing and … Continue reading Website to watch
EBRD adopts new Russia strategy for 2013-2015 that continues to give priority to energy efficiency
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has adopted a new strategy for Russia, setting priorities that will govern the Bank’s activities in its largest country of operation over the next three years. It shows below how energy efficiency remains a high priority. During its new strategy period of 2013-2015, the Bank will prioritise … Continue reading EBRD adopts new Russia strategy for 2013-2015 that continues to give priority to energy efficiency
News from the IEA – Powering down to save energy need not be a turn-off
After success of its 1-watt initiative, IEA turns to “smart” appliances’ power consumption in network standby Less than a decade ago, televisions in homes around the world consumed significant electricity whether they were turned on or off. But in 1999 the IEA spearheaded the “1-watt” initiative that led to the average new television’s standby consumption … Continue reading News from the IEA – Powering down to save energy need not be a turn-off
Green Investment Bank shows it’s in business
Renewable Energy Focus provides details on the first deal by the UK’s new public-funded green investment bank in wind energy. UK Green Investment Bank agrees its first offshore wind farm finance package The UK’s state-backed Green Investment Bank (GIB) has struck its first deal in the offshore wind sector, contributing to a £224 million re-financing … Continue reading Green Investment Bank shows it’s in business
