Showing posts with label GREEN ECONOMY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GREEN ECONOMY. Show all posts
Sunday, September 11, 2011

New proposal aims to put more green shackles on developing economies

The meeting was meant to review the work done two decades after the famed Rio summit or the UN meet on Environment and Development at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. But the Rio+20 conference is turning into another global ground to put green fetters on developing economies.

A proposal floated in the run-up to the main meeting has suggested "sustainable development goals" along the lines of millennium development goals. But the goals could turn into green chains on growth in emerging economies with goals like carbon emissions and fixed renewable energy content in energy mix being forced down in the name of sustainable development.

The proposal mooted by Columbia in a recently concluded meeting in Brazil in the run-up to the big jamboree has stirred heated debate about new channels being found to break the principle of "common but differentiated responsibility" and imposing common standards and targets for greening the economy across developed and developing world.

While another meeting on the issue is slated to be held in China this month, a ministerial round to be hosted in Delhi will see the new "green" game play out more openly with India and other developing countries bringing forth counter proposals.

The proposal from Columbia, which is likely to slowly see support from European countries in the coming days, could also take forward the attempts of the developed countries at the UN climate change convention. At the climate convention too, the developed countries have been fighting hard to break or redefine the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities to impose mandatory carbon cuts on emerging economies.

At the Brazil meeting, India did put up a preliminary counter proposal pointing that sustainable development and poverty eradication were at the heart of the Rio summit and that they should remain the goals and other elements a via media only.

India too had commissioned three studies from non-government agencies on the issue which are likely to be in soon. The government will have to take a call on these studies as well as green benchmarking or accounting of the economy which have raised some concerns. Any national level accounting of green parameters could lend itself to a global regime with standards and targets, they have warned even at the climate talks.


Sunday, September 4, 2011

Indonesia's Green Economy Corridor Initiative

Mists swirl at 3,000 meters in the forest of Takengon, Aceh
The recent World Economic Forum on East Asia in Jakarta projected a transformation of Indonesia’s economy from its present levels to be in the top 10 economies in the world by 2020. The government recognizes this potential, but is equally conscious of the climate change challenges in pursuing a fast-paced growth. In the words of Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, “We need solutions that will make economic growth and technology not the nemesis but the ally of our climate stability. And we need solutions that will serve the practical needs to slow, stop and reverse the process of climate change… I believe Indonesia can implement green economy to achieve seven per cent economic growth and 26 per cent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from business as usual scenario in 2020.”

In an effort to translate this vision, the Presidential Unit for Development Monitoring and Oversight (UKP4), headed by Dr. Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, is collaborating with the United Nations and a cross section of stakeholders on the development of an action plan to facilitate a Green Economy transition and support the REDD+ Implementing Agency to achieve its mandate of reducing forest based greenhouse gas emissions in Kalimantan, specifically the pilot province of Central Kalimantan, while at the same time generating multiple benefits for people’s livelihoods, the economy and conservation.

As a first step, a panel of eminent and world renowned experts on climate change mitigation and sustainable development converged in Jakarta on 12-13 August at a workshop to discuss possible scenarios, review successfully operating models elsewhere and explore possibilities of adapting these to the advantage of Indonesia.

Setting the context was the review of Indonesia’s recently launched Economic Master Plan Framework (MP3EI) that rests on three pillars: Economic Potential; National Connectivity; and Capacity of Human Resources, Sciences and Technology. The plan outlines six region-specific activities in the form of economic corridors and 11 national priorities. Green Economy as a transformation goal would rest on the five pillars of Indonesia's REDD+ strategy: institutions and processes; legal and regulatory framework; strategic programs; cultural shift and stakeholder management. The challenges to the transformation goal include, unprepared capacity to handle the new concept; recognition of local and indigenous community rights; investment; strong regulations; and a paradigm shift.

The workshop was led by UKP4 and supported by UN-REDD Programme agencies, UNEP and UNDP, with participation from FAO, the UN's International Labour Organization, the World Wildlife Federation and other national and international organizations. It focused on the Threshold 21 (T-21) sustainable development model which is designed to support integrated long-term development planning using a variety of factors across sectors. T-21 works more effectively once a country identifies its vision and key goals and is customized to capture different elements critical to the country’s development and the consequences of the proposed strategies. The model has been applied with varying degrees of success in countries such as Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, Bangladesh and others. Although Kalimantan is the current focus the development of the model, the aim is to make it replicable across Indonesia.

The initial output of this exercise is to develop a “roadmap for transformation”, including process, timeline, budget, roles and milestones. The roadmap is expected to realize the transformation investment package, with pledges, institutional arrangements and capacity to deliver. The workshop succeeded in strengthening the enthusiasm participants have regarding the possibility of a green economy transition in Indonesia.

Participants in the recent Green Economy workshop in Indonesia included Pavan Sukhdev, McCluskey Fellow at Yale University, founder-CEO of GIST Advisory and head of UNEP’s Green Economy team; Mr. Andrea Bassi from the US-based Millennium Institute; representatives from UNEP, FAO, UNDP, ILO, WWF; several donor representatives; national experts from various sectors including academia, NGOs, CSOs and other key stakeholders. UN-REDD

Volkswagen Investing One Billion Euros in Wind Energy

Wind Farm in Neuenkirchen, Germany
In an attempt to hedge against future rising energy prices, Volkswagen announced last week that it will invest up to one billion Euros (US$1.45 billion) in renewable energy. The announcement follows the company’s decisions earlier this year to invest in other clean energy projects as well as to launch new electric vehicles.

According to the German language edition of the Financial Times, Volkswagen will become a large investor in two offshore windparks in the North Sea. The investment accomplishes two objectives:  to help the car manufacturer meet its renewable energy goals for 2020 as well as give a boost to Germany’s flagging wind power sector.

Borkum, Germany, soon to be neighbor to an offshore windfarm
Borkum, Germany, soon to be neighbor to an offshore windfarm
While Germany has been a leader in solar energy the past decade, wind power has been a different story. Ambitious projects to build wind power farms in the North Sea have suffered from the lack of investors who saw the proposed projects as too risky. Volkswagen had been in talks with wind power developers for several years but had hesitated to commit to the industry. But the moves of other companies, including the American private equity firm Blackstone, helped open the door to increased investment.  Blackstone closed a deal on one wind farm last month. Now WV is set to invest in two wind power farms, including one 60 miles (95 kilometers) north of Bokum (pictured left), an island off of Germany’s northwestern coast.

For Volkswagen, the investment goes beyond scoring a few corporate social responsibility (CSR) points. True, VW has pledged to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions 40 percent by 2020. But energy security is a concern for European countries, and companies, who have been rattled by volatility in the Middle East and North Africa as well as Russia’s shutdown of its gas supplies to Europe two years ago. And with Angela Merkel’s promise to phase out nuclear energy by 2022, the time for energy intensive firms like Volkswagen to find different sources of power is now.

To that end, the two wind energy projects to which Volkswagen has committed promise to provide about 400 megawatts of electricity of full capacity, or 40 percent of the capacity of a nuclear power plant. The upshot is that the quest to find sources of energy to complement what currently fuels most companies’ operations will be a long, painful one on both sides of the pond. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/volkswagen-investing-one-billion-euros-wind-energy

Indonesia could earn $100-$180 million from carbon trading

Indonesia says it hopes to soon see millions of dollars from carbon trading, reports the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) in its latest update.

Director General for Forest Protection, Hilman Nugroho, said that Indonesian forests could earn between $100 million and $180 million from carbon trading at $3 and $5 per ton under the clean development mechanism (CDM). In order to capitalize on the opportunity, Nugroho said the country would have to “shift its focus on forest development from timber to non-timber because the economic value of timber was only some 5% from the forest total economic value,” stated the ITTO.

“Non-timber economic value includes environment services such as water and hydrology services, climate protection through carbon absorption, and biodiversity protection,” it added.

Indonesia has the third most forest cover of any tropical forest country, but has the second highest deforestation rate due to logging, clearing for agriculture, and forest fires. The country has expressed interest in a proposal to compensate tropical countries that reduce their deforestation rate. http://news.mongabay.com/2007/0528-indo.html
Thursday, August 18, 2011

Biofuels are an alternative energy source for life

Biofuels are also a green energy source. It has been around for a very long time and lately, people are beginning to take notice.

Liquid biofuel which is the one used in cars is a natural and renewable domestic fuel that can only be used for diesel engines. This can be made from vegetable oils mostly soy and corn. 

The nice thing about it is that it contains no petroleum, is nontoxic and biodegradable.

By fueling up with biofuel, you decrease the pollutants in the air because it does not emit whatever thing. Right now, it is the only fuel standard by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), passed every Heath-Effects Test of the Clean Air Act and meets the requirements of the California Air Resources Enter (CARB).

One example of this is biodiesel which is made from alcohol like methanol and a chemical process that separates glycerine and methyl esters (biodiesel) from fats or vegetable oils. Aside from methanol, some countries have also experimented with corn and sugarcane to make their own version of biofuel.

Glycerine is a ordinary products and this is used in making toothpaste and soap. Since it is quite new, the process of converting it is quite expensive and right now, this is still much more expensive per gallon compared to petroleum.

But if you look at what you pay for it, the returns are huge because you get to do your share to preserve a cleaner environment, an improvement in air quality and a reduction of cancer-causing agents.

A cheaper and primitive way to make bio-diesel is by collecting cooking oil and then processing it. This may not excellent your cars engine so be careful if you choose to use it.
If you are skeptic about biodiesels, studies have shown that its routine on the road is just as excellent as petroleum in terms of power to efficiency, hauling and climbing. You can use this in its pure form or blend with petroleum fuel. The most ordinary mix in the market is 20/80 and is referred to as “B20.” This means that 20% is biodiesel and the remainder is 80%. 

Another version is the E85 which is fuel composed of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.

The best part about using biodiesel is that you only have to make a few changes in your engine to be able to use it. Aside from making the car run, it also helps clean the engine. If you are concerned that this will void the warranty of your vehicle should there be a problem, dont worry because it doesnt. In the US, B20 is the most ordinary one available but there are only a few gas stations that carry it.

When cars first rolled out in the beginning of the 20th century, Henry Ford plotted to make these vehicles especially the Model Ts run using ethanol. Tests have even shown that these may also run using peanut oil.

This never materialized because huge oil deposits were learned and diesel was cheap. It was only when our demand for oil increased in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and in the ahead of schedule part of this year that people started to realize that to reduce our demand for unknown oil that we should try using biodiesels and other forms of alternative energy.

Is it too late? Not yet because there is still time to use biofuels and others as green energy sources.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Isle of Man 'lagging behind' on green energy

google
The Isle of Man government is "lagging behind" in the race to reduce dependency on gas and oil, according to Friends of the Earth.

Head of Climate Policy Mike Childs said despite a huge potential for development, the island has made little advances in creating energy security.

Mr Childs has been visiting the island for a debate on climate change.

The government believes more research is needed before decisions can be taken.

Mr Childs said: "If you look to Scotland, the government is investing very much in renewables, they see it as a way forward.

"There doesn't seem to be that same forward thinking in the Isle of Man."

In January, Department of Energy, Food and Agriculture (Defa) Minister John Shimmin confirmed the government would make no firm decisions on renewable energy solutions until next year.

He said more research was required before his department could identify the right way forward.

Last year, the government commissioned an energy report from consultants which detailed various options for the Island.

The report underlined significant investment would be needed for the Isle of Man to achieve its target of having 15% of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2015.


Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Pennsylvania panel calls for fee on natgas drillers

* Fee proposed but tax ruled out on hydraulic fracturing
* No specific amount for free recommended
* Commission aims to create road map for regulation

By Edith Honan
NEW YORK, July 22 (Reuters) - Pennsylvania, home to the nation's richest natural gas deposit, released recommendations on Friday that included requiring drillers to pay an impact fee but ruled out a new state tax on extracting gas.

The long-awaited report from the governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission's aims to provide a road map for the state legislature to regulate the booming shale gas industry, balancing the need to generate revenue while also promoting more drilling.

The commission recommended charging an impact fee for costs incurred by municipalities as a result of drilling, such as for the upkeep of roads, but declined to propose a specific amount, saying that decision will be left up to the Republican governor and the Republican-controlled state legislature.

But the fees almost certainly would amount to less than $300 million that the previous, Democratic governor had hoped to raise through a wellhead tax that was rejected by Republicans in the legislature.

The commission also recommended doubling penalties for civil violations -- which in the more serious instances could involve leaks and spill -- from $25,000 to $50,000 and double daily penalties from $1,000 to $2,000.

Pennsylvania sits above the Marcellus shale formation, which could meet U.S. gas demand for decades, and has become the flash point for a U.S. debate on the extraction method hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. [ID:nN18229665]

Fracking involves blasting shale rock with chemical-laced water and sand to release trapped gas. Some environmental and public health activists say it taints drinking water supplies.

The 30-member commission was created by Governor Tom Corbett, who took office in January with a strong anti-tax stance and described the gas industry as an economic engine for the cash-strapped state.

Corbett, who according to the website Marcellus Money has received $1.6 million in industry campaign contributions, is opposed to a severance or wellhead tax on gas drilling. Pennsylvania is the only gas-producing state without such a tax.

Proponents of those taxes say they would raise needed revenue and help pay for the environmental costs of drilling.

The recommendations include increasing the distance between gas well sites and drinking water systems and training more Pennsylvania residents to work in the industry.

"Today, Pennsylvania is taking an important first step toward creating tens of thousands of jobs and leading the nation toward energy independence and doing so in an environmentally responsible way," said Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley, who led the commission.

A study by current and former Pennsylvania State University researchers -- released this week funded by the natural gas drilling industry -- said the state's economy will get a $12.8 billion boost from drilling this year, more than double the amount from 2009, while reaping nearly 140,000 jobs.

Pennsylvania, until recently a net importer of natural gas, could surpass Texas as the top exporting state within the next decade, the report said.

A well belonging to one of the state's largest drillers, Chesapeake Energy <CHK.N> blew out in the town of LeRoy in April, spilling thousands of gallons of toxic drilling fluid and causing anxiety among local residents.

For an index of shale gas companies, double-click on <TRSHALEGAS>. (Additional reporting by Edward McAllister in New York and Dave Warner in Philadelphia; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Lisa Shumaker) |reuters

Auto Mileage Proposals ‘Overly Aggressive’

Google

Michigan’s congressional delegation has warned in a letter to the White House that new automobile fuel economy and emissions standards being drafted by the Obama administration are “not reasonably feasible” given the state of current technology and consumer buying habits.

Weighing in as negotiations between federal and state officials and the major automakers are nearing a decisive point, Michigan’s two senators and 14 of its 15 House members said that the White House’s goal of a 56.2-mile-per-gallon fleet average by 2025 would drive up new vehicle costs by thousands of dollars and cost hundreds of thousands of auto workers their jobs.

The lawmakers said the White House program, which has not been officially announced and is likely to change somewhat, was “overly aggressive” and would deny consumers the right to buy medium- and heavy-duty pickup trucks. They also expressed concern that the proposed new regulations would set rules 14 years in the future, while previous mileage rules have had only a five-year life span.

They say that it is impossible to predict the shape of the vehicle market so far in advance and that the new rules should be limited to 2017-2021. Regulations for the model years 2012-2016 are already in place, setting an overall fleet average of 35.5 miles per gallon.
The letter reflects the concerns of the domestic automakers, which say they are at a disadvantage compared with Asian and European manufacturers, which do not depend as much on sales of trucks, crossovers and minivans and which can more easily meet the aggressive government targets. A coalition of automakers is planning a series of radio advertisements in states with significant auto industry employment criticizing the administration’s proposed mileage target. | Nytimes.com
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