2013 Weekly News, week 24
Headlines
UN climate talks see progress towards new deal
The UN climate conference in Bonn ended on Friday after making concrete progress towards a new universal climate change agreement and on creating solutions to increase existing global action to deal with climate change, according to released statements. As a result of the constructive and flexible engagement amongst governments, nations now have a clearer idea of how to move to achieve demonstrable progress at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Poland later this year and beyond.
UK to stimulate offshore wind power investment
Britain this week announced the launch of a new offshore wind investment plan at a time when some are questioning its commitment to developing the industry, writes UPI. Britain has 3.3 gigawatts of offshore wind installed - more than the rest of the world put together - but it aims to get 18 gigawatts installed by 2020. To reach this goal, the government and industry are developing an offshore wind industrial strategy to be published this year.
Renewable investment shifts to developing countries
Global capacity across all renewable energy sectors increased in 2012. Investment in renewables significantly grew in developing countries while globally decreased due to reduced technology costs and policy instability in some industrialized countries. However, with USD244 billion 2012 was the second highest year ever for renewable energy investments, which total USD1.3 trillion since 2006, show two major reports.
Linked Open Data could boost climate action
The world's leading climate knowledge brokers gathered last weekend to exchange experiences and thoughts on Linked Open Data (LOD) and how it could be a useful technology to accelerate climate change adaptation and mitigation. A strong focus on what the target users, often policy-makers or advisers, really need and want is the key. It was also agreed that proofing impact is a major requirement to access the funds available.
Breakthrough in electrical storage systems needed
Many of the medium and long-term renewable energy targets are impossible to achieve without a fundamental breakthrough in electrical storage technology, writes Leonardo Energy. The main hopes lie with hydrogen stored in the natural gas network and on innovative electrochemical battery technologies. In addition to compensating the variable output of renewable energy, these would lead to more stable electricity prices and make the entire system highly robust against blackouts.
IEA calls for intensive climate action before 2020
Warning that the world is not on track to limit the global temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius, the International Energy Agency today urged governments to swiftly enact four energy policies that would keep climate goals alive without harming economic growth. The IEA report shows how to stop growth in energy-related emissions by 2020 at no net economic cost. Delaying the move would result in substantial additional costs to the energy sector.
EU internal energy market - a step closer to action
European energy ministers took stock of the conclusions adopted at the European Council, with regard to the internal energy market, energy efficiency, interconnections and the diversification of energy sources. The conclusions, adopted at their meeting on Friday, will help bring the rhetoric on the internal energy market a significant step closer to actions. It also is a signal from energy ministers to all market actors to accelerate their work on completing the internal energy market.
 |  |
OPTIONS AND HELP
Email to a friend
To email this article to a friend, click:
http://www.energy-enviro.fi/index.php?PAGE=58&ARTICLE_ID=7&emailSubscribe
To subscribe to our mailing list, visit:
http://www.energy-enviro.fi/index.php?PAGE=59&subscribeUnsubscribe
To unsubscribe mailing list, click:
http://www.energy-enviro.fi/index.php?PAGE=60&unsubscribe
