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View interview - Dr. Hamadoun Touré, Secretary General, International Telecommunications Union (ITU - 24 Jun 2008
ICT’s smart answer to climate change - 02 Jul 2008
ITU Symposium on ICTs and climate change - 02 Jul 2008
Telecom solutions to energy and climate change - 08 Jul 2008
Leading market providers back new registry system for the Voluntary Carbon Standard - 02 Jul 2008
CONSTRUCTION | USA: index shows green buildings are capturing the attention of architects and their clients(ENN) Autodesk, Inc and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently announced the results of the 2007 Autodesk/AIA Green Index, an annual survey that measures how AIA member architects in the United States are practicing sustainable design, as well as their opinions about the green building movement. The index shows that green building has taken a firm hold on the industry and has captured the attention of both architects and their clients.Full story |
GERMANY: the environment: South-western city offers taste of green future(FT) The Germany city of Freiburg is attracting city delegations from all over the world with an interest in finding practical answers to the questions posed by climate change, according to The Guardian. The city is not only home to pioneering companies in developing solar energy but also has become a showcase for housing and local transport projects stressing energy conservation.Full story | |
UK: planning boost for green homes(The Guardian) The UK government has published a new planning policy designed to boost the use of renewable energy and community heating schemes in new buildings as it gears up for the introduction of carbon-free homes from 2016.Full story | |
USA: Department of Energy finalises regulations to increase energy efficiency in new federal buildings by 30 per cent(ENN) “Dramatically elevating building efficiency standards to these unprecedented levels substantially transforms the way the federal government manages and uses energy,” DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Andy Karsner said. “These standards contribute to sound and stable efficiency policy that will yield real, substantive energy savings and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.”Full story | |
ENERGY | CHINA: Beijing introduces cleaner fuel standards(ENN) China is introducing cleaner fuel standards in its capital Beijing to curb the city's notorious pollution ahead of the Olympic Games in August.Retailers will be required to supply gasoline and diesel equivalent to the Euro IV standard, a move that will cut emissions of acid rain-causing sulphur dioxide by 1,840 tonnes, the China Daily said.Full story |
USA: solar cell production jumps 50 per cent in 2007(ENN) "Production of photovoltaics (PV) jumped to 3,800 megawatts worldwide in 2007, up an estimated 50 per cent over 2006," says Jonathan G Dorn, Staff Researcher at the Earth Policy Institute, in a recent release. " PV production has been doubling every two years, making it the world's fastest-growing energy source."Full story | |
USA: small businesses to get energy efficiency helpSmall businesses, which make up over 99 per cent of businesses in the US are poised to take advantage of the same energy efficiency projects that Fortune 500 companies have adopted in recent years, according to GreenBiz.Under a pilot programme included in the energy bill signed into law last month, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will offer low-cost loans for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) that want to improve their energy and fuel use. Full story | |
Biodiesel from algae(Carbon commentary) Shell announced an investment in a Hawaii-based plant to make biodiesel from algae. Algae are the most promising route to low-cost fossil fuel replacements. Yields per acre will eventually be a multiple of other sources of liquid fuels, such as maize, wheat and palm oil. The other key advantage of algae is that they can be used to sequester carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion.Full story | |
Oil hits record $100(ENN) Oil vaulted to a record $100 a barrel on Wednesday as geopolitical turmoil, tight energy stockpiles, and a weak dollar triggered a flood of speculative buying, dealers said.U.S. crude gained $4.02 to $100 a barrel by 12:13 p.m. EST. London Brent crude rose $3.63 to $97.48. | |
INDIA to provide subsidy for solar power plants(ENN) India will subsidise the running of solar power plants to help develop a renewable energy infrastructure, where high costs can be prohibitive, the minister for renewable energy said on Wednesday. Renewable energy accounts for about 7.5 per cent of India's installed generation capacity.Full story
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FINANCE/INSURANCE | USA: how to cash in on a warming planetBusiness week reports on how a growing number of advisers to big institutional investors and high-net-worth types are sizing up companies based on how likely they are to benefit from rising energy prices, stricter regulations, and changes to the natural world ranging from freshwater shortages to new disease patterns and more chaotic weather.Full story |
USA: financial practices could hinder green innovation(Environmental Leader) A cap on carbon emissions is all but inevitable, however the details of those caps have yet to be determined. As a result, some companies are moving slower rather than faster towards green investment. But according to Marketing Green, a recent Harvard Business Review article sheds light on three common financial practices that could be suppressing investment in green innovation in such a way that causes severe long-term harm on a company.Full story | |
Technologies to combat climate change could cause wider environmental damage, investors warnedA new report warns investors to think more widely about the social and environmental impacts of their clean energy investments. The report has been written by sustainable development charity Forum for the Future.Full story
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FOOD AND AGRICULTURE | USA: ShipGreen offers retailers a web-based program to offset carbon emissions from shippingShipGreen.net is offering a web-based program that integrates with retailers’ online shopping carts, enabling consumers to easily and accurately offset the carbon produced from product life-cycle shipping emissions.Full story |
Are food pouches greener than cans?(Environmental Leader) Foods like tuna and pet food, which used to be sold only in tin cans, are now widely available in pouches, but environmentally, those pouches may not be the best solution, Courant reports.Full story
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TRANSPORTATION | EU agrees to reduce airline emissions from 2012(Business Week) EU environment ministers meeting in Brussels in December agreed that restrictions should be put on carbon dioxide emissions from airplanes from 2012. Under the proposal, all airlines coming to and leaving the EU bloc of 27 member states, as well as intra-EU flights -- will be included in an emission trading scheme, something that has already been applied to other polluting sectors in the Union.Full story |
California to sue US for denying emissions waiver(ENN) California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he will sue the US government for not granting a waiver that would allow his state to enforce new standards on motor vehicle emissions. California needs the waiver from the US Environmental Protection Agency to implement a state law requiring automakers to cut tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions by 25 per cent on 2009 model cars.Full story | |
EU: Berlin spar over auto emissions(Business Week) The European Commission has hit back at German criticism of its plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new cars saying they represent an opportunity for the country's car industry. EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag that the plans were not a "punishment" but "a chance for the German industry."Full story | |
USA: surprisingly strong SUV sales(Business week) Despite high gas prices and calls for greater energy efficiency, many Americans are still buying large, luxury SUVs and pickups.Full story | |
UK: Livingstone backs move to create green business park(The Guardian) London Mayor Ken Livingstone is backing plans for a new sustainable industries business park in east London in a move that could transform the environmental technology sector in the UK. The London Development Agency and Livingstone's advisors have held talks with Ford officials to persuade the car giant to base its worldwide green car division at the Dagenham docks site near its diesel engine manufacturing plant. They hope that Ford will eventually produce hydrogen-powered cars there.Full story |
