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 !
Here is another renewable energy we little hear about… According to a new publication from the IEA, geothermal could provide about 3.5% of annual global electricity production, 3.9% of energy for heat by 2050.
As the press release notes : ” there is potential to achieve at least a tenfold increase in the global production of heat and electricity from geothermal energy – heat emitted from within the earth’s crust – between now and 2050. “
Currently, geothermal represents 0.3% and 0.2% of electricity and heat, respectively. It is worth noting that Indonesia believes this could bring up to a third of its electricity by 2025.
To the AFP : “Indonesia has launched an ambitious plan to tap the vast power of its volcanoes and become a world leader in geothermal energy, while trimming greenhouse gas emissions.”
“The sprawling archipelago of 17,000 islands stretching from the Indian to the Pacific Oceans contains hundreds of volcanoes, estimated to hold around 40 percent of the world’s geothermal energy potential.“
“The government’s aim to add 4,000 megawatts of geothermal capacity from the existing 1,189 megawatts by 2014 is truly challenging,” Indonesian Geothermal Association chief Surya Darma said.” Continue »
Biodiversity is a vital issue to us all as to the United Nations the disappearance of both fauna and floral species costs six percent of the world GDP, or more than $3,100 billion (2,000 billion euros) per year.
The Mother Nature Network published recently a splendid infographic with the Top 20 countries with most endangered species. The list is as impressive as it is truly scary.
This is another issue to be tackled fast as even if “only” 900 species disappeared over five centuries, we are currently on the verge of losing 10,000 in a short period of time. Continue »
The year is beginning with many good news. After the huge wind energy plan in the UK, another good sign that climate change mitigation slowly but surely surfaces as a key preoccupation at a global scale.
Indeed the Brazilian goverment signed a National Policy on Climate Change bill which is due to help the country cut its emissions by 39 percent by 2020 from a business as usual scenario. (cf. my previous post on that topic)
On the other side of the Planet, Indonesia is also willing to act on deforestation and start reforesting. Both countries need the help of developed nations to reach their ambitious objectives. Continue »
While in the train going to Paris to attend the Green Job forum I read an interesting article on how banking on trees could enable us to fight off climate change and give money to enable developing nations to protect their forests.
The United Nations REDD program – Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries – may enable us to do just that by financing the protection of existing rainforests.
Time Magazine investigated in Indonesia’s Aceh province as the country is the third greenhouse gases emitter behind China and the United States because of its massive deforestation. Continue »
India, the most populated nation and largest democracy announced it would cut its greenhouse gases emissions by 20 to 25 percent by 2020 or 2030. As you can see, the targets are very wide.
This happens as China decided to cuts the carbon intensity of its growth by 40 to 45 percent by 2020. CleanTechies also noted that ” Mexico, Indonesia, Brazil and South Africa have already announced plans to reduce their carbon outputs.”
All these news make me more comfortable about the Copenhagen Climate Conference due to begin next week. We will see what will happen there, so stay tuned !
The UNEP Billion Tree Campaign‘s goal was to plant seven billion trees before the Copenhagen meeting in December. To today’s news the goal was reached as China planted 2.6 billion trees to support the campaign.
This shows at least two things : when China starts on something, it is unstoppable. The country’s efforts on climate change mitigation and pollution reduction are each day bigger.
Second message : people around the world are more than willing to mitigate climate change. This is an important message for our representatives meeting this week in New York. Continue »
As the United Nations are gathering in Manado, Indonesia for the World Oceans Conference many websites published articles on corals, an important part of the oceans which are today at risk as oceans are warming inexorably.
Indeed, warmer waters are due to destroy coral reefs and their rich ecosystems. To the WWF up to 100 million people are depending on them in the Coral Triangle.
This region encompasses six developing countries: Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste. Continue »
Rain forests around the world already suffer largely from deforestation. Now, another large threat is appearing as climate change leads to less water and thus less trees.
Both the Indonesian and the Amazonian rain forests are at threat. This phenomenon will lead to even more climate change. This article will show how critical sound forests management are in the mitigation of global warming.
This occurs as I finished Guns, Germs and Steel which reminded me of the fate of the Fertile Crescent, a now semi desertic place. Will our rain forests suffer the same fate ? Continue »
I have been willing to write an article on biofuels for now more than a year, and the so-called panacea they represent to some people.
Today the famous company Nestlé provided me a great occasion to do so as according to its CEO, biofuels are planting the seeds of famine.
This is quite shocking as not so long ago they were regarded as a great idea for both climate change mitigation and providing us fuel after peak oil. Continue »
