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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.