Welcome ! As a young French Marketing professional with a Master's in International Management I have been selecting since January 2007 the latest headlines and best researches on sustainable development, climate change, cleantech and the world energy sector. Sounds great ? Don't hesitate to subscribe now !
The Guardian published last week a lenghty article on how the Rio 20+ conference – which will take place in June – might be a huge disappointment as little has been done since and even less might be done.
Due to last only three days when the original event lasted two full weeks, there shouldn’t be any binding agreement, just a few statements and speeches… Likewise, few political leaders will attend.
Since our representatives haven’t understood yet that the only way to solve our current triple crisis is investing in the Green Economy, WE the people have to step up and make ourselves heard.
China is facing a grim future because of climate change, massive pollutions and increasing prices of fossil fuels. To curb its booming energy consumption, it may soon introduce a carbon tax. As China Daily noted :
” China is considering levying a carbon tax within the next three years to tighten its regulations on polluting industries and put the economy on a greener path. (…) The main targets of the tax will be large users of coal, crude oil and natural gas.”
Even if some analysts have called this a hoax, Climate Spectator reminds us the many reasons why a carbon tax is actually the way to go for China, but also for ALL nations…
This post was submitted for the UNEP World Environment Day blogging competition sponsored by the United Nations Environment Program and TreeHugger. Please Like it on Facebook or tweet using the #WED2012 hashtag.
I have been convinced for years now that the only solution to our current global triple crisis - massive unemployment, climate change, peak oil - is the Green Economy. The UNEP and many NGOs have reinforced this strong belief.
Cleantech is already a reality as $260 billion were invested last year alone, and it is only the beginning as the UN declared this year will be the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. Continue »
Here are some more interesting findings on how we could consume much less energy. To the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the United States could consume 60 percent less energy by 2050.
The advocated measures would also create two million jobs and save $400 billion (315 billion euros) per year, or the equivalent of $2600 (2000 euros) per household annually.
Evidence keeps on piling : energy efficiency is the best way to solve our triple crisis. To read out more, I strongly invite you to read the article on Climate Progress as well as the report on the ACEEE website.
I was really thinking about if I should share the latest World Bank prospects with you. To this most venerable agency, economic growth is due to be nearly flat lining globally this year.
With less money for the traditional economy, isn’t it time to embrace sustainable alternatives ? Energy efficiency and renewables are growing faster and faster. They are also creating more and more jobs around the world.
If we want to prevent massive climate change, world wars and other equally horrifying prospects, our only way out is sustainability. It’s high time our politicians hear this !
According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, a trillion dollars – that’s a thousand billion, or 748 billion euros – has been invested in renewable energies, energy efficiency and smart energy technologies since 2004.
As stated in the article : ” Annual clean energy investment has risen nearly five-fold, from $52bn (39 billion euros) in 2004 to $243bn (181 billion euros) last year, a compound annual growth rate of 29%. “
Bloomberg believes that world leaders in Durban should focus on how to keep this momentum rather than trying to find a deal on emissions. I blogged recently on how we could do just that…
I have been committed since January 2007 to bring you each month a selection of the latest headlines and best researches on sustainable development, climate change and the world energy sector.
However, I don’t blog as much as I would like to and generally write around 25 posts per month. But many more news are worth reading. This is why I use Twitter to share dozens of news that are worth your time.
I believe it offers a good complement to this website. So if you are on Twitter and like this selection, don’t hesitate to start following me. Continue »
These are great news, just in time for the current climate talks taking place in Durban as to a new report from Bloomberg, global investments in renewables are surpassing for the first time ever the amounts invested in fossil fuels.
With economies of scale and scope, both solar energy and wind power are getting cheaper and cheaper, making them already seriously compete with much dirtier energy sources.
As a result, last year over $187 billion (141 billion euros) were invested in renewables and only $157 billion (118 billion euros) in fossil fuels. This is only the beginning. Continue »
Do you remember Annie Leonard’s great documentaries The Story of Stuff and the Story of Cosmetics ? Well, she did a few other more, including the latest : The Story of Broke.
In this eight-minute animated clip, she tackles the huge problem of subsidies of all kinds that are given to what she calls ” the Dinosaur Economy “. (Big Ag, Big Food and of course Big Oil…)
Stating that we are not broke but that our economy is broken, she urges us to take back the power and start fighting those subsidies to get a healthier economy and a more enjoyable environment. Continue »
According to the IEA’s annual report, the situation is getting bleaker and bleaker. Confirming that we have five years to start decreasing our global emissions – cf. my previous post on that very matter – it is also providing several other findings.
As you can sure imagine, several websites published lengthy articles on the very matter. In today’s article we will review the main findings and the most essential parts of the World Energy Outlook 2011.
World leaders will meet again very soon in Durban, South Africa, to discuss about the future of the Kyoto Protocol. It’s time they, we, step up and heed the calls for serious actions. Continue »
