Internationaal Nieuws

Top 10 residential green building trends to watch in 2012

goedele — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:27:44 +0100

Here's a list of some top trends that will help
accelerate growth in the residential market, as compiled by the Earth
Advantage Institute.

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Biodiesels pollute more than crude oil, leaked data show

goedele — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:56:18 +0100

Greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels such as palm oil,
soybean and rapeseed are higher than those for fossil fuels when the
effects of Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) are counted, according to
leaked EU data seen by EurActiv.

The default values assigned to the
biofuels compare to those from Canada’s oil sands – also known as tar
sands – according to the figures, which should be released along with
long-awaited legislative proposals on biofuels in the spring.

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Most carmakers must further improve carbon efficiency by 2015

goedele — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:15:29 +0100

Several carmakers need to make their fleets even more
carbon-efficient in order to meet 2012 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
target, according to updated data published today by the European
Environment Agency (EEA). The data also show that almost all
manufacturers must reduce emissions to meet 2015 targets under European
legislation for new passenger cars, based on average CO2 emissions for
each manufacturer.

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Higher EU CO2 cut ‘fundamental’ to developing world

goedele — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:28:04 +0100

An increase in the EU's carbon emissions reduction target to 30% on 1990 levels within eight years is ‘very fundamental' to the developing world's interests, said the European chair of the G77 group of developing nations.

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Leaked document reveals Rio+20 sustainable development goals

goedele — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:27:45 +0100

By John Vidal, the Guardian

Countries will be asked this summer to sign up for 10 new
sustainable development goals for the planet and promise to build green
economies at the first earth summit in 20 years.

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Canada confirms it will ditch Kyoto Protocol

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:02:27 +0100

The Canadian government yesterday confirmed that it will formally withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol, freeing it from legally binding emission reduction targets that it was expected to miss next year.

As had been widely expected, Environment Minister Peter Kent told reporters in Toronto that the country would exercise its "legal right to withdraw from Kyoto".

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Recycling industry can boost the European economy

goedele — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:53:40 +0100

Recycling has multiple benefits for many areas of the economy - providing raw materials, creating jobs and ncouraging business opportunities and innovation. These economic benefits of recycling are examined in a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). The report considers the recycling industry in the context of building a 'green economy', a major European policy objective.

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Energy savings deal pushed back to 2012

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:25:05 +0100

EU energy ministers reiterated their opposition to binding energy savings targets at a meeting yesterday (24 November), leaving a political agreement for the incoming Danish presidency in the first half of 2012, EurActiv has learned.

Poland, which currently holds the six-month rotating EU presidency, presented a progress report on the draft energy efficiency directive at a meeting of the Energy Council on Thursday (24 November).
The report included amendments pushed by member states requiring more "flexibility" in achieving the proposed targets.

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A vision of sustainable water management for Europe becomes reality - European Water Stewardship launched

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:15:15 +0100

Water shortages, droughts and floods in a variety of European regions are raising public awareness of threats to an ever scarcer resource and increasing demand for effective responses as well as strategies for ensuring sustainable management.

A new, tried-and-tested system to support water users manage this precious resource responsibly is being launched and involving strategic heads of leading industries and agro-business.

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EU comes clean on phosphates ban in detergents

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:45:31 +0100

EU member states agreed to proposals aimed at reducing the use of phosphorus compounds in dishwasher and laundry detergents, taking a decisive step in tackling the formation of algae in Europe's waters.

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Battle lines drawn ahead of 2013 'Year of Air'

goedele — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:10:41 +0100

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik wants 2013 to be the "Year of Air" and is pushing for stronger air quality laws across the European Union. But with many member states failing to enforce current rules, the commissioner could face an uphill battle.

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Rare earth metal shortages could hamper deployment of low-carbon energy technologies

goedele — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:16:48 +0100

Following the release of a Commission report on critical raw materials in 2010, scientists at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) highlighted in a new report that five metals, essential for manufacturing low-carbon technologies, show a high risk of shortage. Reasons for this lie in Europe's dependency on imports, increasing global demand, supply concentration and geopolitical issues.

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Solar subsidies to be cut by more than half

goedele — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:08:40 +0100

Britain's solar subsidies will be dramatically cut by more than half, according to government documents that were prematurely published online and quickly taken down.

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Research points way to effective environmental footprints for products

goedele — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:07:40 +0100

Product carbon footprints are increasingly popular, intended to inform consumers about the environmental impact of the goods that they are buying, and as a tool for manufacturers to reduce the environmental impact of their production activities. There are a growing number of methodologies and labels addressing carbon footprints in Europe and around the world.

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Global leaders point way to economic recovery at UN summit

goedele — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:17:48 +0200

Washington D.C., 20 October 2011
- With economic recovery topping the United States and global political agenda, a group of CEOs, major investors and bankers together with former United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President of Ireland Mary Robinson called for a far-reaching reform of the global financial system at a summit which ended in Washington D.C. today.

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EU starts negotiations on Caspian pipeline to bring gas to Europe

goedele — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 11:14:51 +0200

The European Union has adopted a mandate to
negotiate a legally binding treaty between the EU, Azerbaijan and
Turkmenistan to build a Trans Caspian Pipeline System. This is the first
time that the European Union has proposed a treaty in support of an
infrastructure project. The treaty will be concluded by the EU after
decision by all 27 Member States that the European Commission should
lead the negotiations on behalf of them all.

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Reversing Desertification

goedele — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:57:02 +0200

Participants gathered at a
United Nations meeting in New York yesterday (20th September) to
highlight the need for stronger action to protect the world's drylands, home to 2 billion people. More than 12 million hectares of productive
land are lost every year due to desertification, the equivalent of
losing an area the size of South Africa every decade according to the
Secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

While the term desertification often conjures up visions of land turning

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Commission tables plan for a resource-efficient economy

goedele — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:48:23 +0200

The European Commission unveiled plans to decouple the EU's economic growth from natural resource consumption, suggesting that the bloc's 27 governments sign up to a myriad of short- and long-term environmental targets by the end of 2013.

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Parliament backs EU crackdown on energy market abuse

goedele — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 16:24:53 +0200

New rules to monitor trading and prevent abuses in European wholesale energy markets were approved by EU lawmakers on Wednesday (14 September), in a move which MEPs said would help bring down prices for consumers.

The new rules ban the use of insider information and market manipulation practices in a wholesale market estimated to be worth around €500 billion per year.

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European solar power to be competitive by 2020, says lobby

goedele — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:14:33 +0200

European solar module-generated power may take until the end of the decade to compete with conventional forms of energy across Europe for cost, the world's biggest solar association said.
But that 'grid parity' could be reached sooner in some regions, the report added.

Based on a study looking at five major solar markets - Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Britain - the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) said competitiveness could be reached by 2020.

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Romania suspended from Kyoto carbon trading

goedele — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:57:51 +0200

A UN panel has suspended Romania's right to trade its surplus carbon emissions after it breached rules on emissions reporting, Bucharest's environment ministry said on 28 August.

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Carbon Farming Brings Fields of Opportunity for Regional Australia.

goedele — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:21:29 +0200

Carbon Farming Brings Fields of Opportunity for Regional Australia.
The Gillard Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative has today passed
through the Parliament to establish a regulated carbon offsets market in
Australia. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg
Combet, welcomed the legislation which fulfils the Government’s
commitment to give farmers, forest growers and other landholders access
to international and domestic carbon markets.

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EU 'may propose Kyoto Protocol extension'

goedele — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:04:07 +0200

The EU could propose a lifeline for the beleaguered Kyoto Protocol and secure the future of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) beyond 2012, government negotiators and observers have said.

EU officials will discuss whether to back an extension to the climate treaty in the next few weeks, on the condition that it expires in 2018 and is replaced with a deal that caps all major nations' emissions.

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Steelmakers sue EU over carbon market rules

goedele — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:43:47 +0200

European steelmakers said they started legal action on Thursday (21 July) to overturn the way the sector has been included in the European Union's carbon market.

Industry body Eurofer says the rules for the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) do not fairly set a benchmark that would allow the industry's most efficient 10% of factories to get free pollution permits after 2013.

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Renewable Energy from Water Pressure

goedele — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:25:37 +0200

The water industry, their consumers and the environment could benefit from a new research project to assist the industry to cut its energy bills. Researchers from Bangor University and Trinity College Dublin have identified a way of using water pressure within the water storage system to generate renewable energy; that energy can then be used by the water industry and sold to the grid.

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Renewable energy produced 20% of 2010 global electricity

goedele — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:40:49 +0200

Renewable energy supplied 16% of global final energy
consumption and almost 20% of electricity production in 2010, according
to REN21.

By Renewable Energy Focus staff

At the same time, global investment in renewable energy increased
more than 20% to US$211 billion and renewable energy capacity now
accounts for about a quarter of global power generating capacity if
including hydropower.

In terms of added capacity, renewable energy accounted for around half of total added power capacity in 2010.

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EU agrees to bury nuclear waste in secure bunkers

goedele — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:54:11 +0200

Radioactive waste from Europe's 143 nuclear reactors must in future be buried in secure bunkers, ministers from EU member states agreed on 19 July.
The new rules force national nuclear authorities to draw up disposal plans by 2015, which will be vetted by Europe's Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger.

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What a population of 7 billion people means for the planet

goedele — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:21:29 +0200

Source: guardian.co.uk, 18 July 2011

Demographers aren't known for their sense of humor, but the ones who work for the United Nations recently announced that the world's human population will hit 7 billion on Halloween this year. Since censuses and other surveys can scarcely justify such a precise calculation, it's tempting to imagine that the UN Population Division, the data shop that pinpointed the Day of 7 Billion, is hinting that we should all be afraid, be very afraid.

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Global Investments in Green Energy Up Nearly a Third to US$211 billion

goedele — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 20:07:32 +0200

Investments in Germany in "small distributed capacity" rose 132% to US$34 billion, in Italy they rose 59% to US$5.5 billion, France up 150% to US$2.7 billion, and the Czech Republic up 163% to US$2.3 billion.

The price of PV modules per megawatt has fallen 60% since mid-2008, making solar power far more competitive in a number of sunny countries.

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EU traders fear Australian carbon market 'price shock

goedele — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:52:31 +0200

The Labour government's decision to tax 500 firms, including coal, steel and airline companies, has delighted some environmentalists.

But others have been disappointed that sectors such as aluminium and zinc refining have been given free permits covering 94.5% of average industry emissions until 2015.

The carbon tax has also proved unpopular with voters, who now expect utility price rises, and markets, which fell by 1.5% on Monday (11 July) as investors steeled themselves for losses.

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Commission renews push for 2030 renewables target

goedele — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:44:25 +0200

The European Commission has put its full weight behind a new target to raise
the share of renewables in the continent's energy mix by 2030.

The security that this would provide to potential investors was "more important than ever", EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard told a launch of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s renewable energies report in Brussels.

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Greenpeace: Cloud Contributes to Climate Change

goedele — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:05:31 +0200

This chart from Greenpeace looks at the power sourcing for major data center projects.

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Nederland is een kleintje op het gebied van duurzame energie en blijft dat voorlopig ook

goedele — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:12:05 +0200

Het Nederlandse kabinet dicht het bedrijfsleven een belangrijke rol toe. De markt moet grote vraagstukken oplossen. Dat geldt ook voor de energiesector. Als er geen draagvlak is voor zonne- of windenergie, dan heeft het geen zin dit soort niet-rendabele technieken als overheid te blijven stimuleren, redeneert dit kabinet.

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Worst ever carbon emissions leave climate on the brink

admin — Tue, 31 May 2011 14:11:06 +0200

Greenhouse gas emissions increased by a record amount last year, to the highest carbon output in history, putting hopes of holding global warming to safe levels all but out of reach, according to unpublished estimates from the International Energy Agency.

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Renewable energy can power the world, says landmark IPCC study

goedele — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:36:29 +0200

Renewable energy could account for almost 80% of the world's energy supply within four decades - but only if governments pursue the policies needed to promote green power, according to a landmark report published on Monday.

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Climate change has spurred food prices: Study

goedele — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:01:16 +0200

Climate change cut global wheat and corn output by more than 3% over the past three decades compared to growth projections without a rise in temperatures, a study found on Friday. The impacts translated into up to 20% higher average commodity prices, before accounting for other factors, according to the paper published in the journal Science.

Crop yields rose over the period as a result of improvements in practices and plant breeding, and the isolated, negative impact of climate change was equivalent to about one tenth of those advances.

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Act now on peak oil or curtail mobility, says Commission

goedele — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:32:07 +0200

The European Commission's director-general for transport and mobility policy has warned at a conference on peak oil that it would be a "fatal mistake" for the EU to postpone measures to reduce oil dependency.

"If action is delayed, in the not-too-distant future we may be forced to drastically reduce all our mobility and import technological solutions from other part of the world," Marjeta Jager told a Green Party conference in the European Parliament.

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Offshore wind turbine cost to be cut by a third?

goedele — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:17:46 +0200

The cost of offshore wind turbines could be cut by a third through the use of new approaches, according to the UK Energy Technologies Institutes (ETI).

By Renewable Energy Focus staff

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Developing ozone hole approaches Europe

goedele — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 20:34:03 +0200

An exceptionally large area of depleted ozone has formed over the North Pole, and scientists warn that it could settle over Scandinavia and Eastern Europe on 30-31 March.

The fast-thinning Arctic ozone layer was first detected by an international network of over 30 ozone sounding stations spread across the Arctic and sub-Arctic, and coordinated by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research.

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European Energy Efficiency Plan: Commission gears up for more savings with renovation and smart meters

admin — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 10:40:38 +0100

The European Commission adopted a plan for saving more energy through concrete measures. Energy efficiency is a key tool for strengthening Europe's competitiveness and reduces energy dependence, while decreasing the level of emissions. The set of measures proposed aims at creating substantial benefits for households, businesses and public authorities: it should transform our daily lives and generate financial savings of up to €1000 per household every year. It should improve the EU's industrial competitiveness with a potential for the creation of up to 2 million jobs.

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Bees Under Bombardment: Report shows multiple factors behind pollinator losses

admin — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 10:52:55 +0100

More than a dozen factors, ranging from declines in flowering plants and the use of memory-damaging insecticides to the world-wide spread of pests and air pollution, may be behind the emerging decline of bee colonies across many parts of the globe.

Scientists are warning that without profound changes to the way human-beings manage the planet, declines in pollinators needed to feed a growing global population are likely to continue.

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New UNEP Report Underlines Sustainable Public Policy and Investment Path on the Road to Rio+20

admin — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 10:44:19 +0100

Investing two per cent of global GDP into ten key sectors can kick-start a transition towards a low carbon, resource efficient Green Economy a new report launched says. The sum, currently amounting to an average of around $1.3 trillion a year and backed by forward-looking national and international policies, would grow the global economy at around the same rate if not higher than those forecast, under current economic models.

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European Energy Efficiency Plan: Commission gears up for more savings with renovation and smart meters

goedele — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:43:34 +0100

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Europe's CO2 emissions growing with the economy

goedele — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:35:36 +0100

Europe's CO2 emissions picked up speed as the continent's economies emerged from recession in 2010, finishing 2-4% higher than a year before, market analysis seen by EurActiv indicates.

Industrial emissions rose by 4% while power and heat emissions grew by 2%, according to estimates contained in a new report by leading carbon market analysts Point Carbon.

Emissions covered by the EU's cap-and-trade system, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), increased by 3%.

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Denmark joins the fray over Europe's climate change targets

goedele — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:52:48 +0100

An offshore windfarm near the Danish island of Samso. Denmark is a leader in wind energy generation. Photograph: Bob Strong/Reuters

The Danish government has stepped into the fray over Europe's climate change targets, boosting the attempts of a group of member states to opt for more ambitious emissions cuts.

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Chemicals/REACH: six dangerous substances to be phased out by the EU

goedele — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:05:09 +0100

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Status of feed-in tariffs in Europe 2010

goedele — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:00:00 +0100

The use of feed-in tariffs (FiTs) to pay for renewable generation now overwhelmingly dominates European renewable energy policy, according to the most recent meeting of the International Feed-in (tariff) Cooperation council (IFIC).

The council was founded by Germany, Spain, and Slovenia and holds workshops annually to discuss issues surrounding the use of feed-in tariffs. The 2010 meeting was in Berlin.

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Scientists thrash out Arctic early warning system details

goedele — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:21:53 +0100

Scientists at an Arctic tipping point conference in Norway are trying to agree terms for an early warning system that could monitor sudden climate shifts, such as the much-feared melting of glaciers.

If the Greenland ice sheet melted completely it would raise global sea levels by about seven metres, and leave many of the world's coastal cities underwater.

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Doing more with scarce resources

goedele — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:25:40 +0100

A plan for more efficient use of the Earth's natural resources will feed into the EU's common goals on climate change, energy, transport, raw materials, agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity and regional development.

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Renewable Energy Targets: Commission calls on Member States to boost cooperation

goedele — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:34:23 +0100

The European Commission presented its Communication on the progress of renewable energy in the EU. It shows that the 2020 renewable energy policy goals are likely to be met and exceeded if Member States fully implement their national renewable energy action plans and if financing instruments are improved. It also stresses the need for further cooperation between Member States and a better integration of renewable energy into the single European market. Estimates indicate that such measures could lead to 10 billions Euros savings each year.

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Internationaal Nieuws

Top 10 residential green building trends to watch in 2012

Biodiesels pollute more than crude oil, leaked data show

Most carmakers must further improve carbon efficiency by 2015

Higher EU CO2 cut ‘fundamental’ to developing world

Leaked document reveals Rio+20 sustainable development goals

Canada confirms it will ditch Kyoto Protocol

Recycling industry can boost the European economy

Energy savings deal pushed back to 2012

A vision of sustainable water management for Europe becomes reality - European Water Stewardship launched

EU comes clean on phosphates ban in detergents

Battle lines drawn ahead of 2013 'Year of Air'

Rare earth metal shortages could hamper deployment of low-carbon energy technologies

Solar subsidies to be cut by more than half

Research points way to effective environmental footprints for products

Global leaders point way to economic recovery at UN summit

EU starts negotiations on Caspian pipeline to bring gas to Europe

Reversing Desertification

Commission tables plan for a resource-efficient economy

Parliament backs EU crackdown on energy market abuse

European solar power to be competitive by 2020, says lobby

Romania suspended from Kyoto carbon trading

Carbon Farming Brings Fields of Opportunity for Regional Australia.

EU 'may propose Kyoto Protocol extension'

Steelmakers sue EU over carbon market rules

Renewable Energy from Water Pressure

Renewable energy produced 20% of 2010 global electricity

Renewable energy supplied 16% of global final energy consumption and almost 20% of electricity production in 2010, according to REN21.

EU agrees to bury nuclear waste in secure bunkers

What a population of 7 billion people means for the planet

Global Investments in Green Energy Up Nearly a Third to US$211 billion

EU traders fear Australian carbon market 'price shock

Commission renews push for 2030 renewables target

Greenpeace: Cloud Contributes to Climate Change

Nederland is een kleintje op het gebied van duurzame energie en blijft dat voorlopig ook

Worst ever carbon emissions leave climate on the brink

Renewable energy can power the world, says landmark IPCC study

Climate change has spurred food prices: Study

Act now on peak oil or curtail mobility, says Commission

Offshore wind turbine cost to be cut by a third?

Developing ozone hole approaches Europe

European Energy Efficiency Plan: Commission gears up for more savings with renovation and smart meters

Bees Under Bombardment: Report shows multiple factors behind pollinator losses

New UNEP Report Underlines Sustainable Public Policy and Investment Path on the Road to Rio+20

European Energy Efficiency Plan: Commission gears up for more savings with renovation and smart meters

Europe's CO2 emissions growing with the economy

Denmark joins the fray over Europe's climate change targets

Chemicals/REACH: six dangerous substances to be phased out by the EU

Status of feed-in tariffs in Europe 2010

Scientists thrash out Arctic early warning system details

Doing more with scarce resources

Renewable Energy Targets: Commission calls on Member States to boost cooperation

Renewable energy supplied 16% of global final energy
consumption and almost 20% of electricity production in 2010, according
to REN21.