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Friday, October 30, 2015

COP21 Climate Change Calculator - online tool for tracking and projecting GHG emissions from major economies

The COP21 Climate Change Calculator  was co-created by the Financial Times and Climate-KIC, and it allows tracking and projecting greenhouse gas emissions from China, US, EU, India, Russia, Brazil, Japan, Canada, Australia and the Rest of the World (“Others”), over the period 1870 to 2100. Emission values for each country are built into the tool but it is possible to alternate emissions trajectories on a country-by-country basis.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Google invests in Africa’s biggest wind power project

The Lake Turkana Wind Power Project in Kenya is expected to generate 1,400 gigawatt-hours of power per year, or 15 percent of the country’s electricity consumption. New project will include 365 wind turbines spread along the shore of Lake Turkana.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Carbon Pricing Panel is launched by global leaders ahead of Paris climate talks

The Carbon Pricing Panel aims to provide political momentum to complement the voices of government and industry leaders in the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition, an action-based platform set up at the UN Climate Summit in September 2014. It is based on the support for carbon pricing from 74 countries and 1,000 companies.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Newly elected Canadian leader Justin Trudeau faces a tough task meeting climate protection expectations

According to CBC environmental journalist Étienne Leblanc, "over the last ten years Canada has developed a very bad reputation as a country that doesn’t care about climate change and lets companies pollute as much as they like, and Justin Trudeau’s main challenge in Paris will be to restore Canada’s reputation on the world stage.” Trudeau has less than 40 days before the Paris conference begins to forge a common position with Canada's provinces on carbon emissions cuts. 

Friday, October 23, 2015

EU is on track to beat 2020 emissions target

Climate Commissioner Miguel Cañete launched a report by the European Environment Agency, which predicted that if no additional measures were taken, the EU would beat its 20% 2020 goal, slashing emissions by 24%. Transport was the only sector which had increased its emissions by 19%, over the 1990 to 2013 period. The report also warned that Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg and Austria would miss the 2020 target. 

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Banks provide financing for geothermal development in Eastern Caribbean

New $71.5 million loan and grant package, called the Sustainable Energy Facility (SEF), is approved by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Program will support geothermal and other sustainable energy development projects in the Eastern Caribbean.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

UK spends 0.7% of national income on foreign aid - highest rate among developed countries

According to  The Economist , since 2010, the UK's aid budget has risen by 40% and reached $19 billion. Only America disburses more - $33 billion, what represents just  0.2% of its gross national income. About 62% of UK Department for International Development (DFID) spending now goes to multilateral organisations, up from 56% in 2009. 

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Energy efficiency improvements over the last 25 years saved globally a cumulative $5.7 trillion

IEA's Energy Efficiency Market Report 2015  shows that in 2014, investments in energy efficiency over the past 25 years saved IEA member countries $80 billion in fossil fuel imports. According to the report, energy efficiency improvements since 1990 in IEA member countries reduced primary energy consumption in 2014 by more than 760 million tonnes of oil equivalent. 

Monday, October 19, 2015

Most and least energy efficient U.S. states in 2015

To identify the most energy-efficient states, the personal finance website WalletHub measured the efficiency of car- and home-energy consumption in 48 U.S. states. New York, Vermont, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Utah are among most energy efficient states, and Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas, Louisiana and South Carolina are least energy efficient. 

Friday, October 16, 2015

Ukraine makes carbon reduction pledge ahead of Paris climate change summit

Ukrainian government issued executive order approving Intended Nationally-Determined Contribution (INDC) of Ukraine to a New Global Climate Agreement to keep greenhouse gas emissions under 60% of its 1990 emissions level.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

SolarCity and Panasonic claim setting world records for solar module efficiency

SolarCity’s panel was measured with 22.04 percent module-level efficiency by the Renewable Energy Test Center. The silicon-based bifacial PV cell combines n-type substrates, copper electrodes, thin-film passivation layers, and a tunneling oxide layer that yields high conversion efficiencies.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

EU heating strategy: more district heating and renewables

The European Commission (EC) is finalising recommendations on heating and cooling with an intention to update EU energy legislation and possibly draft new directives. Currently heating and cooling account for around 40% of European Union energy consumption, but are only indirectly targeted by existing EU policies, which focus more on power production with renewable energy. 

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

New California law boosts renewable energy and energy efficiency to fight climate change

According to the law, which builds upon standards already on the books, California will need to generate half of its electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind by 2030, and, at the same time, the state will need to double energy efficiency in homes, offices and factories. A third goal, cutting gasoline use in half, was removed from the bill amid stiff opposition from oil companies. 

Monday, October 12, 2015

The SAMSET project: supporting African municipalities in sustainable energy transitions

The SAMSET project involves six cities in Ghana, Uganda and South Africa. Secondary and smaller cities, which are experiencing massive social and economic expansions, but have less capacity to cope, are the main focus for the support.

Friday, October 9, 2015

India's commitment before Paris climate summit to reduce the growth rate of its greenhouse gas emissions

India, the world’s third-largest carbon polluter, was the last major country to issue its plan before a climate summit  in Paris in December. Under the plan, India does not commit to an absolute reduction in carbon emissions levels, unlike other major polluting economies, but will take measures to slower down the pace of emissions growth comparing to "business as usual" scenario.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

China will launch the world’s largest national carbon trading program in 2017

The targeted industries in China include power generators, steel and cement producers, and other industrial sectors. Program will incentivize major polluters to reduce emissions by handing out a limited number of permits based on a national emissions cap.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

After spending $7 billion Shell quit drilling in the Arctic

Royal Dutch Shell announced it will indefinitely suspend its Arctic drilling off the Alaska coast after finding insufficient oil and gas in one of its exploratory wells to justify costly development.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

IPCC elects a new leader

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has elected South Korean Professor Hoesung Lee as its new chair. On Tuesday, October 6  his proposed IPCC direction earned him the chair of the UN-body, beating off strong opposition from three European physicists, an American physicist and a last-minute candidate from Sierra Leone.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Catastrophic flooding as a result of Hurricane Joaquin devastated South Carolina, U.S.

Fourteen people were killed as a result of weather-related incidents in South Carolina since Thursday. Thousands of homes are damaged, hundreds of roads and bridges remained closed. At least nine dams breached or failed completely, state emergency management officials said. Damage from the storm across the state  has been estimated at more than $1 billion.

Friday, October 2, 2015

Foods with the biggest carbon footprint

According to the report published by two American research organizations and called the "Meat Eater's Guide to climate change + health", meats are among most carbon intensive foods. Lamb is a leader with 39.2 kg CO2 per kilogram, what is equivalent to  driving about 90 miles on the car with average gas mileage.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

The United States and China Joint Presidential Statement: Common Vision for an Ambitious Global Climate Agreement in Paris

The Joint Presidential Statement was made on the occasion of President Xi’s State Visit to Washington, D.C.and it includes significant domestic policy announcements and commitments to global climate finance. Statement builds on last November’s historic announcement by President Obama and President Xi of ambitious, respective post-2020 climate targets, describes a common vision for a new global climate agreement to be concluded in Paris this December.