For many years, the EU pursued the strategy of âleading by exampleâ in international climate negotiations. However, since the Copenhagen climate summit, frictions inside the EU and a paradigm shift have become increasingly evident, write Severin Fischer and Oliver Geden of the influential German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). With the October 2014 compromise in the European Council on a new climate framework for 2030, the … [Read more...]
Rising sun, sinking influence? Japan’s self-marginalisation from global climate politics
As other countries including the US, China, UK, Germany and Mexico lead on climate action, the lack of effort from the worldâs third largest economy and fifth largest emitter has left Japan isolated in a debate that is increasingly central to trade, investment, security and foreign policy, write Taylor Dimsale, Liz Gallagher and Camilla Born in a new report from the London-based consultancy E3G. The authors explain the reasons behind Japan's … [Read more...]
viEUws VIDEO: High hopes for UN September Summit on Sustainable Development Goals
Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), talks to Sonja van Renssen on viEUws.eu about his great expectations for the United Nations September Summit that will decide on the UN Sustainable Development Goals to be attained by 2030. … [Read more...]
IEA: Clean energy progress falls well short of what is needed
It is ârealistic and economically sensible to pursue a clean energy agendaâ, states the International Energy Agency (IEA) in a new edition of its annual Energy Technology Perspectives. But, it addsâ: âclean energy progress is failling well short of the levels needed to limit the global increase to no more than 2 degrees Celsiusâ. Governments must do much more to stimulate the uptake of clean energy and energy efficiency technologies. … [Read more...]
Less worldly, more wise: a letter to Ben van Beurden, CEO of Shell
In a speech given in London in February, Ben van Beurden, CEO of Shell, called on the energy industry to be "less aloof, more assertive" in the debate about climate change. Van Beurden stressed that "the world's energy needs will underpin the use of fossil fuels for decades to come" and called for "realism and practicality". In a speech given in Paris in March, John Ashton, independent speaker, former UK Special Representative for Climate Change … [Read more...]
A global deal that drives good decisions: what success at the Paris summit should look like
 âTargets and timetables are only exciting to policy insidersâ, writes Professor Nick Rowley of the University of Sydney, former strategic director of the Copenhagen Climate Council as well as former climate policy advisor to Tony Blair, in the final part of his three-part essay on the prospects of a global climate deal at the Paris summit in December. To be successful, argues Rowley, the Paris climate talks should spell out what concrete steps … [Read more...]
Why the Paris climate talks wonât be another Copenhagen
Nick Rowley of the University of Sydney, who was closely involved in the failed Copenhagen Climate Summit in 2009, presents five reasons to be optimistic about the outcome of the upcoming Paris talks. Many countries now see a climate agreement as more than an end in itself, he notes. They regard it as a vital means to address other challenges as well. And he notes that the cast of characters in Paris looks much better than in Copenhagen. … [Read more...]
The Road to Paris: three myths about international climate talks
With only nine months to go before the most important international meeting on climate change since Copenhagen in 2009, what are the chances of success at this yearâs Paris talks? What might âsuccessâ mean? And can the mistakes and challenges that have befallen previous meetings be avoided and tackled? Nick Rowley, Professor, Sydney Democracy Network at the University of Sydney, and former climate advisor to Tony Blair, addresses these questions … [Read more...]
Spainâs generation mix: almost 70% carbon-free
Spain gets 69% of its electricity generation from zero-carbon sources, reported the countryâs grid operator, Red Electrica de Espana (REE), on the 31st of March. The largest source of carbon-free electricity is nuclear power (23.8%), followed by wind (22.5%). The figures apply only to March 2015. … [Read more...]
Everything you always wanted to know about carbon trading in China
China is moving rapidly towards a national carbon emission trading market. Currently there are seven regional carbon markets operating in China, and these will be merged into a national one in 2016. … [Read more...]
A new framework for climate policy: why carbon pricing is not enough
It is often argued, especially by representatives from the energy sector, that climate change policy should be based exclusively on carbon pricing. In the EU this means: on the EU Emission Trading Scheme. However, a new book by Professor Michael Grubb convincingly shows why such a policy approach is misguided. We also need policies on energy efficiency and renewables as well as policies that drive system change. … [Read more...]
Big Oilâs broken business model: the real story behind the oil price collapse
The underlying cause of the oil price collapse is to be found in the collapse of Big Oilâs production-maximizing business model, writes Michael Klare, professor at Hampshire College and author of many books on the geopolitics of energy. According to Klare, the oil companies were operating according to a business model that assumed an ever-increasing demand for their products, no matter their cost. They also assumed that concern over climate … [Read more...]
Interview chief climate negotiator for France Paul Watkinson: âCOP21 will not solve everythingâ
The COP21 climate conference in Paris in December needs to lead to a âbinding agreementâ that will provide âa long-term basis for the futureâ, says Paul Watkinson, head of the Climate Negotiation Team of France, in an interview with Energy Post. âWe cannot continue negotiating. We need to decide on something that will last and will become stronger as time goes onâ. But Watkinson warns that COP21 will ânot solve everything.â It will also be âa … [Read more...]
Why is CCS stuck in second gear? We need it to fight climate change
Although carbon capture and storage (CCS) is acknowledged by experts as a key technology to fight climate change, it is currently stuck in second gear, writes Howard J. Herzog  is Senior Research Engineer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The reason, he says, is that there is no market for CCS at this moment. He calls on policymakers to set a carbon price that would generate demand for CCS. … [Read more...]
IEAâs projections for renewables continue to look way too low
The IEAâs projections for wind and solar capacity look much too low, continuing a history of vastly underestimating renewables growth.  Their projections are not a reliable basis for projecting the worldâs future power generation mix, argues energy expert Adam Whitmore on his blog On Climate Change Policy. … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- …
- 31
- Next Page »