To that end,
the Board of Regents plans to move away from fossil fuel holdings in favor of a $140 million investment in solar and wind developments and projects to limit carbon emissions and to hasten
the transition to a low-carbon economy, according to a release. (Source: University of Michigan, PR, Mining Journal, 27 Mar., 2021) Contact: University of Michigan,
Mark Schlissel, Pres, 734-764-1817, www.umich.edu
More Low-Carbon Energy News Net-Zero Emissions, Carbon Footprint,
To date, T2 Energy Transition investment strategy has invested €440 million in 6 SMEs focused on clean energy generation, low-carbon mobility and energy efficiency. T2 fund portfolio companies have provided goods and services that, over their lifetime, will avoid one million tons of CO2 from being emitted, according the Tikehau release.
Tikehau Capital had € 28.5 billion of assets under management as of 31 December 2020.
(Source: Tikeau Capital, PR, 23 Feb., 2021) Contact:
Tikehau Capital, Louis Igonet , +33 1 40 06 11 11, shareholders@tikehaucapital.com, www.tikehaucapital.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Low Carbon Energy, Climate Change, Paris Climate Agreement,
The company plan covers Scope 1 and 2 emissions across the group's entire operations, including aluminum production, heat and electricity generation. To that end, the company will convene a En+ Climate Change Taskforce and publish its final net-zero strategy in September 2021 ahead of the UN COP26 in Glasgow.
The company notes its target of emitting less than 2.7 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per tonne of aluminum (scope 1 and scope 2 from electrolysis) by 2025, was met in 2017.
(Source: En+ Group, PR, Website, Platts, 18 Jan., 2021)
Contact: En+ Group (London), +44 207 747 4900, Fax: +44 207 747 4910, Sustainable Dev . (Moscow), +7 495 642 7937, csr@enplus.ru,
www.enplusgroup.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Caebon Neutral, Carbon Emissions,
Fossil fuels currently provide the lowest cost pathway for producing hydrogen, according to cost data in a recent DOE/FE Hydrogen Strategy Document. The U.S. will authorize advanced and novel technologies capable of improving the performance, reliability, and flexibility of methods to produce, transport, store, and use hydrogen. When coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS), low-cost hydrogen sourced from fossil energy feedstocks and processes will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of these processes and enable progress toward hydrogen production with net-zero carbon emissions.
Funding is available for significant advancements in the following program areas:
li> Hydrogen Pipeline Infrastructure -- The objective is to develop technologies that improve the cost and performance (e.g., resiliency, reliability, safety, integrity) of hydrogen transportation infrastructure, including pipelines and compression stations.
The FOA will be used to solicit R&D for specific areas of interest aligned with the above seven program areas. Successful applications will be of different monetary values and project durations. Projects will be managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NRTL).
Download the HYDROGEN STRATEGY -- Enabling A Low-Carbon Economy document HERE. (Source: U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy DOE, PR, 15 Jan., 2021) Contact: U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy, 202-586-6660, www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy
More Low-Carbon Energy News Hydrogem, DOE Office of Fossil Energy ,
Fossil fuels currently provide the lowest cost pathway for producing hydrogen, according to cost data in a recent DOE/FE Hydrogen Strategy Document. The U.S. will authorize advanced and novel technologies capable of improving the performance, reliability, and flexibility of methods to produce, transport, store, and use hydrogen. When coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS), low-cost hydrogen sourced from fossil energy feedstocks and processes will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of these processes and enable progress toward hydrogen production with net-zero carbon emissions. Funding is available for significant advancements in carbon capture as follows:
Carbon Capture -- The objective is to complete the initial design of a commercial scale carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCUS) system that separates and stores more than 100,000 tpy net carbon dioxide of 95 pct purity, with 90 pct+ carbon capture efficiency, from a steam methane reforming (SMR) or autothermal reforming (ATR) plant producing 99.97 pct H2 from natural gas.
The FOA will be used to solicit R&D for specific areas of interest aligned with the above seven program areas. Successful applications will be of different monetary values and project durations. Projects will be managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NRTL).
Download the HYDROGEN STRATEGY -- Enabling A Low-Carbon Economy document HERE. (Source: U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy DOE, PR, 15 Jan., 2021) Contact: U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy, 202-586-6660, www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy
More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Capture, Hydrogen,
The plants well be constructed next to its Progressive Energy's Stanlow refinery on the Mersey estuary in north-west England. Natural gas, and fuel gases from the refinery, will be converted into low carbon hydrogen, with carbon dioxide captured and stored (CCS) in depleted undersea gasfields 60km offshore in Liverpool Bay. The refinery will be converted to burn hydrogen instead of natural gas.
(Source: Essar, PR, FT, Jan., 2021) Contact: Essar, +91 89125 23213, www.essar.com; Progressive Energy, www.progressive-energy.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Progressive Energy, Hydrogen,
"Climate (change) challenges include more hot, humid weather with more intense and more frequent heavy rainfalls, as well as freezing winter rain instead of snow, followed by deep winter freezes (such as those from a polar vortex). These changes affect the stability of Wisconsin's economic sectors as well as human health and safety. Immediate action is necessary:
Download the Wisconsin Governor's Task Force on Climate Change Report 2020 HERE. (Source: State of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Task Force on Climate Change, Public News Service, 28 Dec., 2020) (Contact: Climate Change Wisconsin, climatechange.wi.gov
More Low-Carbon Energy News Wisconsin Climate Change,
In a related effort, the country will increase its efforts to scale down its dependence on fossil fuels and further develop green energy sources such as hydrogen and renewable energy.
In 2019, coal accounted for 40.4 pct of the country's power generation followed by liquefied natural gas (LNG) at 25.6 pct and nuclear power with 25.9 pct.
(Source: Yonhap, 7 Dec., 2020)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions, Korea Carbon Emissions, Low-Carbon Economy, Low-Carbon Energy,
According to the G20, the CCE "4Rs" will advance stable and secure energy markets and energy access for all while holistically managing emissions and advancing cleaner and more sustainable future.
The G20 presented the CCE Platform that includes the CCE Approach, Accelerator and Guide -- a toolkit of opportunities and recommended options to be utilized by G20 members, each according to their different national circumstances, needs, and priorities.
Collectively, G20 members represent roughly 80 pct of the world's economic output, two-thirds of global population and three-quarters of international trade.
(Source: G20, Ritz Herald, 30 Oct., 2020)
Contact: G20, www.g20.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Low-Carbon Economy, Carbon Emissions, G20,
The project, which has been certified by the Michigan-based Global Innovation Institute (GINI), will cover the Maldive islands of Vandhoo, Addu and Kulhudhuffushi, aims to address the country's waste-management and energy challenges and generate about 4MW of renewable energy, save 3.5 million lpy of diesel, and reduce CO2 emission by 9,200 tpy.
The Maldives (pop. 516,000 +-) aims to be a low-carbon economy and to meet 30 pct of its daytime electricity demand with renewable energy. (Source: ADFD, PR, Emerites News Agency, 11th October, 2020) Contact: Abu Dhabi Fund for Development www.adfd.ae; Global Innovation Institute, 877-276-7701, www,gini.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Waste-to-Energy,
Warsaw and the unions previously rejected the existing the 2050 date insisting the country's heavily coal-dependent economy needed until 2060 to completely cut its coal production and transition to a low-carbon economy. The government also expressed concern that a proposal by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen to raise the 27 member EU trading bloc's 2030 target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions from 40 to 55 pct.
Poland depends on heavily subsidized coal
for 80 pct of its power needs but the industry is plagued with losses. Poland's state-owned PGG, one of Europe's largest coal companies, reported a €107 million loss in 2019 and expects dramatically larger losses in 2020.
(Source: Various Media, EurActiv, 27 Sept., 2020)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Poland Coal, Coal, Carbon Emissions, Paris Climate Agreement, Carbon Emissions,
The funding support will allow Slovak Investment Holding to enhance its support energy efficiency solutions and enable the hiring of additional personnel and experts that will play a key role in Slovakia's transition to greater energy efficiency and a low-carbon economy. This new agreement is additional to already established energy efficiency and "smart" city cooperation between SIH and the EIB.(Source: The Mayor EU, 28 Sept., 2020) Contact: European Investment Bank, www.eib.org; Slovak Investment Holding, office@sih.sk, www.sih.sk
More Low-Carbon Energy News European Investment Bank, Energy Efficiency,
To that end, the Institute's Rebuilding a Resilient B.C. action plan recommends:
B.C. positions itself to be a leading supplier of renewable fuels and invest in active (alternative , low-carbon) transportation as well as provide funding for capital and operating costs for transit. It also calls for the province to set a path to become leading producer and consumer of low-carbon and zero-carbon hydrogen.
(Source: Pembina Institute, DCN-JOC News Services July 27, 2020
Contact: Pembina Institute, Stephen Hui, Communications,
778-987-7654., stephenh@pembina.org, www.pembina.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Pembina Institute, Alternative Fuel,
"Banks have been a bit late to the game on climate action." -- Nigel Topping, UK High Level Climate Action Champion for the COP26 Climate talks
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change news, Carbon Emissions news,
According to the GCAP overview, Vancouver aims to cut community-based greenhouse gas emissions to 5 pct below 1990 levels, even though the city's population has jumped 27 pct and jobs have increased more than 18 pct. Vancouver secured 93 pct of it's electric power from British Columbia-based renewable sources. The city has implemented the greenest building code in North America, stresses energy efficiency and other measures aimed at encouraging and support a low-carbon economy and addressing climate change.
Download the Greenest City Action Plan HERE. (Source: City of Vancouver, CBC, 3 Jan., 2020) Contact: City of Vancouver, (604) 873-7000, www.vancouver.ca
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change, City of Vancouver,
The Johnson government's commitment to wind energy is part of its effort to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The government also confirmed its planned £800 million investment in a carbon capture storage (CCS) cluster by the mid-2020s.
A further £500 million will also be provided to help energy-intensive industries move to low-carbon techniques and a low-carbon economy. (Source: BBC, Various Media,Dec., 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS, Offshore Wind, UK Renewable Energy,
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a global switch to LEDs is one of the most actionable and ready-to-implement technologies for cities to transition to a low-carbon economy. This is especially important given that lighting accounts for nearly 6 pct of global CO2 emissions, with outdoor street lighting accounting for 25-50 pct of a city's entire electricity use.
With LED lighting, cities and municipalities can expect to make energy savings of between 50-70 pct, alongside reduced maintenance costs. (Source: The Climate Group, PR, DEC., 2019)
Contact: Signify, www.signify.com/en-gb; The Climate Group, Toby Morgan, LED Program Manager, LED@theclimategroup.org, www.theclimategroup.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News LED Light, Energy Efficient Light,
For Canada to reach its emissions reduction targets and transition to a low-carbon economy over the next decade it is essential that existing buildings achieve significant energy efficiency improvements. One of the barriers to meeting these goals is the current lack of publicly available data on commercial building performance in Canada.
While energy bench-marking regulations are in effect in Ontario, the Challenge marked the first time Canadian real estate owners have voluntarily disclosed their Canada-wide portfolio data. These five participants publicly disclosed available data for over 11 million square meters of space in buildings spread across the country from Victoria to Halifax including offices, warehouses, residential apartment buildings and retail shops. Insights from the Disclosure Challenge show:
View the full Canada Green Building Council Disclosure Challenge HERE.
(Source: Canada Green Building Council, PR, Dec., 2019) Contact: Canada Green Building Council, Thomas Mueller, Pres. and CEO, (866) 941-1184, info@cagbc.org, www.cagbc.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Canada Green Building Council, Energy Benchmark, Energy Efficiency, Building Eddiciency,
World Bank bonds support the financing of sustainable development projects and programs designed to promote strong governance of marine and coastal resources to support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, reduce pollution in waterways and oceans and address climate change. The World Bank issues $50-$60 billion in the global capital markets every year.
"Absorbing approximately 30 pct of the CO2 created by humans and generating 50 pct of the world's oxygen, yet significantly underfunded from a private capital perspective, ocean health is critical," according to Marisa Drew, CEO of the Impact Advisory and Finance Department at Credit Suisse.
(Source: World Bank, Credit Suisse, The Asset, Nov., 2019) Contact: World Bank International Finance Corporation, www.ifc.org;
Credit Suisse,
www.credit-suisse.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Credit Suisse, World Bank, Low-Carbon Economy,
Climate Transparency is an open global consortium with a shared mission to stimulate a 'race to the top' in climate action through enhanced transparency. For this purpose, comprehensive, comparable and credible information about government climate action is spread by bringing together the most important actors in assessing and communicating climate action for the benefit of key influencers and decision makers.
According to its website, he Climate Transparency consortium produces the Brown to Green Report every year, providing a comprehensive overview of how the G20 countries are doing on the transition to a low-carbon economy. The report draws on the latest emissions data and covers over 80 indicators on decarbonisation, climate policies, finance, and vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. Providing country ratings, it identifies leaders and laggards of climate action in the G20. Additionally, a country profile is produced for each of the G20 countries.
(Source: New Climate Institute, Nov., 2019) Contact: New Climate Institute, www.newclimate.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change, Carbon Emissions, Climate Institute,
Under the new policy, which takes effect January 01, 2020, AXIS will not provide new insurance or facultative reinsurance for the construction of new thermal coal plants or mines, oil-sands extraction and pipeline projects, and their dedicated infrastructure, nor insure companies that generate 30 pct or more of their revenue or generate 30 pct or more of their power from thermal coal, or hold more than 20 pct of their reserves in oil sands.
AXIS Capital is the first US insurer to restrict insurance for both coal and oil sands -- a move that won praise from environmental advocacy groups. (Source: AXIS Capital, Insurance Business America, Oct., 2019) Contact: AXIS Capital Holdings, Albert Benchimol, CEO, www.axiscapital.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Coal, Climate Change, Oil Sands, Carbon Emissions ,
The fund will invest in companies that derive revenues from goods and services that address climate change mitigation and adaptation, and companies aligning their business models with a warmer, low-carbon world.
It will not invest in stocks exposed to coal, unconventional fossil fuels, Arctic oil and gas production, or thermal coal electricity generation.
(Source: Aviva Investors, City Wire, 12 Sept., 2019) Contact: Aviva Investors, Euan Munro, CEO, www.avivainvestors.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Aviva Investors, LowCarbon Energy,
According to the report, Taiwan should follow the mindset of the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project (DDPP), a global consortium formed in 2013. Although Taiwan is not a member of the DDPP, it could study the various open-source research and policy recommendations to reduce annual carbon emissions per person to 1.7 metric tons by 2050, which is also a goal set by the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
Based on the progress of Taiwan's Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act, it is likely that the country will only be able to reduce carbon emissions per person to 5.4-6 metric tons by 2050, which is far higher than the figure set by the DDPP, the white paper cautioned.
The study also recommends the government should revisit related government-led strategies concerning carbon trading, energy taxes and draft better incentives for industry and consumers.
The government should also push a more comprehensive climate act to serve as a national guideline, an create an open and transparent platform so that stakeholders from the public and private sectors can exchange climate change related information.
Academia Sinica, headquartered in Nangang District, Taipei, is the national academy of the Republic of China. It supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from mathematical and physical sciences, to life sciences, the humanities and social sciences. (Source: Academia Sinica, Focus Taiwan, June, 2019)
Contact: Academia Sinica, +886 2 2782 2120, www.sinica.edu.tw/en; Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project, www.deepdecarbonization.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change, Low-Carbon Economy,
Approximately 60 pct of the sector is rented, creating barriers to improve energy efficiency due to complex contracts between landlords and commercial tenants which often clash with the ownership, maintenance and long lifetimes of technological improvements.
The Ministry notes its Clean Growth Strategy includes a "package of measures" to support business to improve energy efficiency and productivity by at least 20 pct by 2030 and lead to the establishment of an Industrial Energy Efficiency scheme to help large companies cut energy use and bills in commercial properties.
BEIS estimates that the 20 pct target will significantly cut energy costs for businesses and, to that end, has also launched a £315 million Industrial Energy Transformation Fund to support high energy consumption businesses with the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Elsewhere, the UK Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) came into effect in April 2018, imposing new rules on both domestic and commercial properties within the private rental sector. The rules prohibit landlords from granting a tenancy to new or existing tenants if the property has a sub-standard Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating.
(Source: BEIS, edie Newsroom, 25 April, 2019) Contact: BEIS, Ben Golding, Director of Energy Efficiency and Local Department, +44 0 20 7215 5000, enquiries@beis.gov.uk,
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy
More Low-Carbon Energy News Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ,
To that end, the B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources is considering what actions to take to meet these targets, including support for the commercial production of renewable and low-carbon fuels in the province, reducing B.C.'s reliance on imported feedstocks and expanding B.C.'s existing renewable fuel production industry. In order to meet the CleanBC renewable fuels targets, significantly more renewable feedstocks will need to be sourced from within B.C. and more renewable fuels will need to be produced here.
To achieve this renewable fuel production commitment and help B.C. transition to a low-carbon economy, BC Bioenergy Network (BCBN) and the ministry are seeking a contractor to undertake a biorefinery market analysis outlining specific conditions required to attract major fuel producers to invest in building biorefineries in the province.
The contractor will provide a comprehensive report on the economic, technical, social and environmental factors that will be necessary to accomplishing the aforementioned objectives, and will include a biorefinery market analysis of all relevant products for the North American and global market -- identification of the opportunities and potential barriers to their development. Analysis should include discussions on how the availability of feedstocks required in biorefinery production affect the economics of establishing the facilities.
BC Biorefinery Investment RfP information and details HERE (Source: BCBN, 28 Mar., 2019) Contact: BCBN, Dr. Scott Stanners,
Executive Director
(604) 889-4549, Scott.Stanners@bcbioenergy.ca, www.bcbioenergy.ca
More Low-Carbon Energy News BC Bioenergy Network ,
The new group aims to lower the costs of renewable energy procurement through combined purchasing power, solicit new renewable energy opportunities and projects, promote the development of a "green" low-carbon economy, and support the state's commitments to source 50 pct of New York's energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030. The consortium will also focus its efforts on projects that will be ready for operation no later than 2020. (Source: NYCARES, CleanTechnica, Feb., 2019) Contact: SUNY, Kristina Johnson, Chancellor, www.suny.edu
More Low-Carbon Energy News SUNY, Renewable Energy,
The projects will be supported as part of Citi's 2015, $100-billion (€87.6 billion) environmental finance goal which aims to lend and facilitate $100 billion over 10 years towards environmental activities leading to a low-carbon economy.
Citigroup owns or leases over 57 million square feet of real estate in over 7,900 properties including its new NYC global headquarters currently under construction to LEED Platinum energy efficiency certification standards. (Source: Citigroup, Renewables, 29 Jan., 2019) Contact: Citigroup Inc., www.citigroup.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Citigroup, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Green Bond,
"The message is loud, clear and undeniable: climate impacts are here and growing. The tragic Camp Fire in California serves as a stark illustration of how climate change is loading the dice for more extreme events that devastate people, homes and the economy. We should trust what we're seeing with our own eyes: more intense wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, and heat waves. This is what climate change looks like and it will become far worse unless we rapidly shift to a low-carbon economy.
"Climate change is already taking a toll on U.S. agriculture, health, tourism, fisheries, energy, transportation, infrastructure, businesses and more. For example, $1 trillion dollars of public infrastructure and private property along the U.S. coastline are at risk due to rising seas, increasing storm surges, and tidal flooding. No region of the country and no sector of the economy is immune. We must use all tools and pursue all policy levers to turn the tide. The NCA report makes it clear that we need a rapid and decisive shift to a low-carbon economy to achieve inclusive, long-term economic prosperity across the United States." WRI concluded. (Source: World Resources Institute, PR, 23 Nov., 2018) Contact: World Resources Institute, Dan Lashof, U.S. Director, World Resources Institute, www.wri.org
Download the National Climate Assessment 4 report HERE
More Low-Carbon Energy News World Resources Institute, Climate Change,
The bill aims to bring about a social, business and government dialogue to formulate and drive the concrete plans, policies, and investments needed for a fast and fair transformation to a low-carbon economy.
The Green Party initiative
follows Bord na Mona's announcement of job cuts in its peat harvesting business by 2025.
The Bill proposes that funding currently used to sustain peat-fired power plants be diverted to support job transition, peatland restoration and social protection for those who may lose their jobs in fossil fuel related industries.
"The Bill is about moving from a fossil-fuel economy to a sustainable, climate-friendly economy as quickly and as fairly as possible," according to Green Part Leader Eamon Ryan. (Source: Green News ie, 8 Nov., 2018) Contact: Green Party Ireland, Eamon Ryam, Leader, www.greenparty.ie; Bord na Mona Plc, Mike Quinn, CEO, Patrick Madigan, Bioenergy Division, +353 45 439000, www.bordnamona.ie
More Low-Carbon Energy News Bord na Mona, Low-Carbon Economy, Peat, Bord na Mona,
The program, which is reportedly the first line of credit exclusively dedicated to promoting energy efficiency investments, could support 494 SMEs.
El Salvador is promoting energy efficiency and supporting renewable energy as a way of implementing a low-carbon economy, reducing the country's dependence on oil derivatives and lowering its greenhouse gas emissions.
The IDB financing is for a 20-year term, with a 5.5-year grace period and a 0.75 fixed interest rate.
(Source: IDB, PR, 26 July, 2018) Contact: IDB, Juan Pablo Bonilla, Climate Change and Sustainability Sector Manager, Therese Turner-Jones, GM Caribbean Country Department, www.iadb.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Inter-American Development Bank , Energy Efficiency,
The Company has a partnership and received endorsement from the UNOPS, the operational arm of the United Nations dedicated to implementing projects for the United Nations System, to support low-carbon economy development by establishing digitalized carbon, aiming to improve education, awareness-raising and social impact on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning among different governments and organizations.
Xarbon launched the first Digital Carbon Credit "OCO", on top of the New Economy Movement Blockchain, which aims to future proof the carbon economy. The team believes that by applying blockchain technology to the carbon credit market, that OCO can improve transparency of carbon credit transfer, simplify user verification process, and incentivize individuals to uphold behavioral change. (Source: Xarbon Sustainability Limited, PR, Across Asia Communications, 18 July, 2018) Contact: Xarbon, http://xarbon.com/en; nited Nations Office for Project Services, www.unops.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Xarbon Sustainability , Low Carbon Economy, Carbon Credit, Carbon Credit Trading,
The report recommends: establishing a bioenergy heating Feed-In Tariff (FIT) scheme;
new coal-fired power plants be co-combusted with biomass;
biomass fuels be sourced from domestic forest resources and preventing wood resources from deteriorating, and utilizing waste such as rice husk/paddy straw and unused wood products, such as bamboo in the agricultural sector.
(Source: Japan Renewable Energy Institute, 12 July, 2018) Contact: Japan Renewable Energy Institue, www.renewable-ei.org/en
More Low-Carbon Energy News Bioenergy news, Biomass news,
The NGO Global Witness, known for its campaign against "blood diamonds", is calling for robust regulations to curb the excesses of financial deregulation which have driven global deforestation and other abuses that contribute to climate change.
The EC says it aims at becoming a global leader in fighting climate change and achieving the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions agreed at the COP21 Paris Climate accord meeting in December 2015. The impact of climate change already threatens financial stability and leads to major economic losses through floods, land erosion or droughts, the EC acknowledged.
To achieve the EU's 2030 climate targets, approximately €180 billion per year of additional investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy would be needed. Mobilizing private capital to fund sustainable investment is essential, the EC added. (Source: EC, Brussels Times, 27 May, 2018) Contact: Global Witness,
www.globalwitness.org;
European Commission, Miguel Arias Canete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, https://ec.europa.eu
More Low-Carbon Energy News European Commission, Climate Change, Deforestation, ,
The new Guide follows the Eurostat Guidance note on the revised treatment of Energy Performance Contracts in government accounts, issued in September 2017, and explains its practical application, making use of technical assistance resources from the European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH).
The Guide explains in detail how Energy Performance Contracts work and gives a clear overview of the potential impact on government finances. This will help Member States and other stakeholders to better understand the impact that the different features of these contracts have on the classification of the investment undertaken, on or off government balance sheet.
A major priority is energy efficiency as a part of a low-carbon economy. Here, so-called Energy Performance Contracts, or EPCs for short, can help mobilise private investment and expertise in energy efficiency in public sector buildings. Energy Performance in buildings is part of the legislative package "Clean Energy for all Europeans" -- a key element for achieving a resilient Energy Union and a forward-looking climate change policy.
The Practitioner's Guide on the Statistical Treatment of Energy Performance Contracts is available HERE. (Source: EuroStat, European Commission, PR 8 May, 2018) Contact: European Commission, Sara Soumillion, sara.soumillion@ec.europa.eu; EIB, Tim Smit , t.smit@eib.org, www.eib.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency, Energy Performance, Energy Management, European Investment Bank,
"We must find a smooth transition to a low-carbon economy. Because what is the meaning of our life, really, if we work and live destroying the planet, one sacrifices things for the future of our children. What is the meaning of our life if our decision, our conscious decision, is to reduce the opportunities for our children and grandchildren."
The French President also said he hoped the US would "one day re-join the landmark Paris climate agreement." -- French President Emmanuel Macron addressing a joint session of the USA Congress last week in Washington.
(Source: Various Media, UN Environment, 26 April, 2018)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change, Paris Climate Agreement,