U.S. Department of Defense Spending on Renewable Energy
Energy is the lifeblood of
the U.S. military. The various branches of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
combine to form the single largest consumer of energy in the world, surpassing
the consumption totals of more than 100 nations. Driven by a combination of
legislation, national and international policy, strategic imperatives, and
operational requirements, clean technologies are moving into the mainstream of
DOD spending, and the DOD is now one of the most important drivers of clean
energy markets in the United States. According to a new report from Pike
Research, a part of Navigant's Energy Practice, U.S. military spending on
renewable energy programs, including conservation measures, will increase
steadily over the next 12 years, reaching almost $1.8 billion in 2025. To read
this article in full click
here
European companies look to tap India renewable energy
market
EU companies are looking forward to
have tie-ups with Indian companies in the clean energy segment at the two-day
conference on renewable energy in Mumbai on September 25-26. "Energy
security, energy efficiency, reduction of carbon emissions are the areas of
co-operation between India and European Union," said Joao Cravinho,
Ambassador and head of delegation of the EU to India. The list of European
companies which would be participating in the conference is long, he said. EU
is the world's largest promoter of solar and renewable energy. EU companies are
extremely keen on bringing in clean and green technology to India, Cravinho
said. To read this article in full click
here
100 mln will die by 2030 if world fails to act on
climate-report
More than 100 million people will die and global
economic growth will be cut by 3.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by
2030 if the world fails to tackle climate change, a report commissioned by 20
governments said on Wednesday. As global average temperatures rise due to
greenhouse gas emissions, the effects on the planet, such as melting ice caps,
extreme weather, drought and rising sea levels, will threaten populations and
livelihoods, said the report conducted by humanitarian organisation DARA. It
calculated that five million deaths occur each year from air pollution, hunger
and disease as a result of climate change and carbon-intensive economies, and
that toll would likely rise to six million a year by 2030 if current patterns of
fossil fuel use continue. To read this article in full click
here
$400m carbon bill for Stanwell
Queensland'S largest electricity generator, Stanwell
Power, will be hit with a carbon tax bill of $400 million, the government-owned
corporation's annual report revealed on Friday. The power company has controlled the lion's
share of the state's electricity generators since the State Government
restructured the sector from July 1 last year. Its annual report marks the first official
reporting since the restructure and reveals the corporation's carbon liability
will be more than $400 million in 2012-13 on current emissions estimates. To
read this article in full click
here
UK Logistics firms unaware of carbon reporting
obligations
Companies may be failing to meet reporting obligations
under the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), according to a
survey of 50 UK logistics professionals. The research from law firm Thomas
Eggar LLP, shows that three quarters of respondents are either aware of the EU
ETS, but find it difficult to understand, or not aware of it at all. The System
is designed to combat emissions, and covers power stations and industrial sites
across 30 countries, whose carbon emissions make up almost 50% of Europe’s
total. It caps the total emissions allowed, and allowance certificates adding
up to the cap are issues to the companies regulated by the scheme. Those companies that exceed their allowance
must purchase extra certificates, and those that fall short of the allowances
are allowed to sell surplus certificates, creating a financial incentive. To
read this article in full click
here
You Are Better Off Investing in Sustainability Than
Stocks
It is surprising just how big
is the "sustainability" opportunity is. In just the energy efficiency (EE) field
McKinsey & Company estimates that $2 trillion can be invested in EE by 2020
with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 17 per cent. To put that into
perspective: that rate of return is better than investing in the stock market
or in real estate over the long-term -- the two investments we're always told
give the best long-term returns. The net
effect would be equivalent to cutting the need for 64 million barrels of oil a
day -- about one and a half times today's entire U.S. consumption. In a separate
study, 40 per cent of the CO2 emissions reduction strategies are highly
profitable. Jon Creyts, the US McKinsey partner in charge of the study, notes
that if these profits were re-invested in the next least-cost solutions, the
U.S. would achieve all of its Kyoto reductions at no cost to society! To read
this article in full click
here
