Video - India's Use of Solar in Rural Villages

Solar lanterns are popping up in rural villages all over northern India. This An ADB-assisted project helps communities to study, do chores and lead more productive lives at night. Solar lanterns complement solar energy which is now present in many of India's rural areas. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the ambitious goal of bringing electricity to the 400,000,000 Indians who do not currently have access to it. By 2019, says Narendra Taneja — Modi's energy spokesperson — every household will be able to run at least two light bulbs, a television and also cook with a solar cooker.

Video - Iran's Renewable Energy Revolution

This 2012 video shows that Iran was already exploring cleaner energy two years ago. Iran may be an oil producing state that is at odds with the West over its desire to exploit its nuclear options, but the country is also investing in renewable energy and solar power in particular. In May 2014, Iran approved the allocation of €500 million from national development fund for renewable energy projects. Iran is diversifying its energy portfolio a necessity.and this includes growing amounts of investment in solar and wind. As reported in Cleantechnica earlier this year, Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian announced plans to increase Iran's solar and wind portfolio by 5,000 MW by 2018. This is an ambitious undertaking when you consider that Iran is currently producing only 200 megawatts for photovoltaic solar.

National Laws and a Global Climate Agreement

National laws are an important precursor to a UN climate agreement. Countries around the world are passing legislation ahead of the UN climate meeting in Paris scheduled for the end of 2015. These laws are essential for an international agreement. While some nations are passing comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) legislation others have passed sector-specific laws to tackle emissions.

A GLOBE International and CDKN Study found that there was a correlation between strong climate change legislation and high ambition at international climate talks. The study found that a total of almost 500 national climate change laws have been passed in 66 countries, according to the 2014 GLOBE Climate Legislation Study. All developed and major economies are expected to deliver emission reduction targets to the UN by the end of March 2015.

Denmark's Climate Change Bill

In June Denmark passed a climate change bill that will reduce emissions a total of 40 percent by 2020. The bill had widespread support from its coalition government. This is but the latest measure in a country that is a global wind energy leader. The country is also an international climate leader for its efforts to free itself from fossil fuels in its energy sector by 2050.

The country has a science based approach to managing climate change while at the same time focusing on the nation's economic well being. It is setting up a climate change council that will ensure the nation meets its goals both from a scientific and economic perspective.

Obama's End Run Around the Senate to Secure a Climate Deal

In an effort to bypass obstructionist Republicans the Obama administration is working on an international climate deal that does not require the approval of the Senate. A legally binding treaty would require the approval of two-thirds of the Senate. To circumvent partisan gridlock, in particular the anti science stance of Republican lawmakers, Obama is looking to craft a political agreement rather than a binding treaty. Republicans in the senate (alongside a handful of fossil fuel Democrats) will never ratify such a treaty. The sad reality is that these lawmakers, who represent less than 10 percent of the American population, have the power to kill a binding treaty.

This political agreement is being sought ahead of the December 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (IPCCC) meeting in Paris.

Finland's New Legislation will Reduce Emissions by 80%

Finland has joined a number of other governments in adopting progressive climate legislation. Finland's new climate change act, will reduce emissions a total of 80 percent by 2050. Finland's Environment Minister Ville Niinistö said it will position the nation, "as a pioneer of low-carbon society."

The country's climate policy addresses regulatory uncertainty and provides a clear road forward for the business community. In addition to providing a predictable climate policy for business, it will also provide an impetus for low carbon research efforts.

Why France is a Global Climate Leader

France has shown the kind of climate leadership that sets an example for the world. Their crowing effort to date is new legislation that, if passed, would provide tremendous support to France's low-carbon, green economy.

The proposed bill is worth about €10 billion ($13.41 billion) and includes tax breaks, low-cost loans, and bonuses. The bill supports renewable energy, zero emission vehicles, and efficiency. The bill would reduce the nation's dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

James Hansen's 2012 Research Linking Global Warming and Extreme Weather

The retiring NASA physicist and climatologist James Hansen has made some unequivocal statements about climate change. According to Hansen there is strong evidence to indicate that extreme weather is related to anthropogenic climate change. Hansen, with co-authors Reto Ruedy, also of NASA, and Makiko Sato, of Columbia University, have crunched decades’ worth of readings from more than 1,000 weather stations around the world as well as satellite observations and measurements from Antarctic research stations.

The peer-reviewed paper Hansen and his colleagues submitted stated “with a high degree of confidence” that some extremely high temperatures are in fact caused by human induced global warming.

Video - James Hansen on his Retirement from NASA and What Needs to be Done to Combat Global Warming

In this video Dr. James Hansen explains why he left NASA and his next steps. He also explains how the energy industry is impeding urgent climate action, and his wish for his grandchildren and future generations.


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Hansen is Retiring from NASA not the Fight Against Global Warming

James Hansen is retiring from NASA to get more directly involved in efforts to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. During his 46 year scientific career at the space agency, Dr. Hansen has issued some of the clearest and starkest warnings about the dangers of climate change. Hanson is leaving the Goddard Institute for Space Studies so that he can invest his energies into political and legal means of slowing humanity's reckless heating of the planet.

Dr Hansen is already a leader in the environmental movement, he regularly attends climate protests and he has even allowed himself to be arrested or cited many times. He has repeatedly indicated that if we are to have a chance of keeping global climate from surpassed critical maximum thresholds we will have end our dependence on fossil fuels, particularly tar sands oil, which has more GHG emissions than conventional oil.

Businesses Need to Do More to Reduce Emissions

According to The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the average long-term emissions reduction target for the companies covered in their report is just 1 percent per year -- below the 4 percent annual cuts needed to limit global warming, according to PwC. One percent is “well below the level of ambition needed” to ultimately limit the rise in global temperatures to no more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above what it was in pre-industrial times.

While 82 percent of those responding set emission reduction targets, most of those targets are short-term. Only 20 percent have targets that extend beyond 2020. While Germany was the top ranked country, the CDP report reveals that countries like France, Japan and the UK are grossly under-represented in their carbon reduction efforts.

US Firms are Improving but they are Being Outperformed on Sustainability

According to The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), European firms are outperforming US firms in terms of sustainability. Although the United States has the most companies on the CDLI, Germany has four firms ranked in the top ten while the US has none. European firms like Bayer, Nestlé and BMW are among the companies that are doing more than US firms to address climate change.

The Low Carbon Business Opportunity

According to The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a total of 48 percent of companies polled believe that climate change yielded opportunities for new products and service. However, only 21 percent had set aside a dedicated budget for low-carbon research and development.

IBM, the services provider, is one organization that is driving new revenues through offering solutions in this field. It received 86 points, and a "B" grade, for its own eco-friendly efforts.

Tell the G20 to End Fossil Fuel Subsidies Now

Our tax dollars are being used to subsidize massive oil companies that are making astronomical profits. Big Oil is not only responsible for climate change they are using their record-breaking profits on massive misinformation campaigns and political influence. A growing number of people are seeking to put an end to this $600 billion dollar a year travesty. One of those groups is Avaaz.org, they are organizing a protest against Big Oil when the G20 convenes in Washington and a petition to put an end to fossil fuel subsidies. The following is an excerpt of an Avaaz.org article and call to action called Paid to Pollute:

What Organizations are Doing for Earth Hour 2012

In 2012, Earth Hour is issuing a simple promise and a challenge - I Will If You Will. Here are a few examples of some of the Earth Hour challenges in 2012:

Earth Hour Video: I Will If You Will

I Will If You Will - Dare the World to Save the Planet. Earth Hour 2012: 8.30pm, Saturday 31 March -- switch off the lights and celebrate your action for the planet with the world.

Official Earth Hour Video 2012

This Earth Hour 2012: 8.30pm, Saturday 31 March, celebrate your action for the planet with the people of world by switching off your lights for an hour, then go beyond the hour. From its inception as a single-city initiative -- Sydney, Australia - in 2007, Earth Hour has grown into a global symbol of hope and movement for change. Earth Hour 2011 created history as the world's largest ever voluntary action with people, businesses and governments in 135 countries across every continent coming together to celebrate an unambiguous commitment to the one thing that unites us all -- the planet.

ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard

The International Standards Organization (ISO) is developing a guideline for energy management known as 50001 which will be published in the third quarter 2011. ISO 50001 is designed to help organizations improve their energy performance, increase energy efficiency and reduce climate change impacts.

ISO has identified energy management as a priority area meriting the development and promotion of international standards. Effective energy management is a priority focus because of the significant potential to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide.

The new energy guideline establish a framework for energy management systems for buildings, industrial plants, commercial facilities and utilities. ISO 50001's broad applicability across national economic sectors, it is estimated that the standard could influence up to 60 percent of the world’s energy use.

ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard is based on the common elements found in all of ISO’s management system standards. It is entirely compatibility with ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management).

ISO 50001 will provide a framework for integrating energy efficiency into management practices. It will make better use of existing energy-consuming assets, as well as provide benchmarking, measuring, documenting, and reporting of energy intensity improvements and their projected impact on reductions in GHG emissions

ISO 50001 will provide energy management best practices and good energy management behaviors. It will also supports transparency and communication on the management of energy resources. Evaluating and prioritizing the implementation of new energy-efficient technologies are important part of the framework that also promotes energy efficiency throughout the supply chain and energy management improvements in the context of GHG emission reduction projects.

ISO 50001 is being developed by ISO project committee ISO/PC 242, Energy management, whose Chair, Edwin Piñero, has said of the new series of guidelines, “Everyday, organizations all over the world deal with issues such as energy supply availability, reliability, climate change, and resource depletion. A critical element in addressing these issues is how effectively an organization manages its energy use."

“ISO 50001 provides a proven model that helps organizations systematically plan and manage their energy use. With a strong focus on performance and continual improvement, ISO 50001 will contribute to enhanced energy efficiency and prudent energy use. An extremely high level of consensus drove our committee’s fast progress toward publication - proof that the world needs and wants this standard.”

Roland Risser, Chair of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to ISO/PC 242, and Manager of the Building Technologies Program at the U.S. Department of Energy, underlines that, “This new International Standard provides the structural framework for commercial and industrial companies to continually improve their energy intensity - saving money, improving competitiveness and reducing pollution. When companies can link efficiency to profitability, that’s a win-win.”

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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