The GREEN MARKET ORACLE

Event - International Conference on Sustainability (IMESH 2013)

2013-05-19T10:18:00.001-04:00

The International Conference on Sustainability (IMESH 2013) will be held on 2th –3th Jun, 2013 at the St. Regis Hotel in Abu Dhabi under the headliner called, “Enhancing the concept of sustainability in governmental and private institutions.”

The concept of Sustainability in governmental institutions and private companies is considered to be a key index for identifying the significance of the institutional work and its ability to secure development and sustainable systems. IMESH 2013 will exhibit speakers joined by top experts, academics and pioneers in the field of sustainability and its varieties. In addition, leaders from the public and private sectors will be presented. The conference will be covered by the multimedia, locally, regionally and internationally.

The conference will also feature an exhibition that demonstrates the most recent practices and innovations in sustainability presented by governmental institutes and private companies.

For more information click here.

Event - 2013 ACEEE National Conference on Energy Efficiency as a Resource

2013-05-19T08:20:00.016-04:00

2013 ACEEE National Conference on Energy Efficiency as a Resource will take place on September 22, 2013 in Nashville, TN. ACEEE’s (American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy) National Conference on Energy Efficiency as a Resource, a biennial event first held in 2001, is widely recognized as the premiere event for examining energy efficiency as a strategic and critical utility system resource. This conference draws together leading experts from a broad spectrum of energy industry stakeholders---including utilities, regulatory commissions, state government, consultants, manufacturers, environmental organizations, consumer groups and research institutes.

Energy efficiency’s importance as a utility resource has never been greater than it is now. The utility industry faces high power plant construction costs and growing cost recovery risks; high and volatile fuel costs; a new wave of environmental compliance costs; mounting concerns about system reliability, and increasing calls for action to address global warming. Energy efficiency is the least-cost response to each of those challenges. Moreover, improving energy efficiency in our homes, businesses and industries reduces energy costs, creates jobs and improves the environment.

As a result of all of these factors, many states have now established aggressive energy savings goals, pushing programs to achieve and sustain unprecedented savings. With these new requirements and goals come a variety of new challenges.

The ACEEE National Conference on Energy Efficiency as a Resource is specifically designed to focus on the issues related to utility-sector energy efficiency policies and programs. We will be bringing together industry leaders once again to discuss the latest developments in the use of energy efficiency as a key resource for meeting customer and utility system needs and for addressing other critical economic and environmental objectives. This conference will highlight important advances being made in the design and delivery of customer energy efficiency programs, and in the regulatory mechanisms that help make them possible. We will address the many issues facing utilities as they acquire and integrate this resource into their planning and operations.

Objectives

To provide the latest information on significant state policy initiatives to incorporate energy efficiency as a utility system resource.
To present a range of examples of highly successful energy efficiency programs from around the nation.
To review and present leading examples of regulatory mechanisms that facilitate, encourage and reward successful utility energy efficiency programs.
To examine utility sector energy efficiency as a crucial tool in helping states to respond to high utility bills faced by consumers.
To highlight the important role of energy efficiency in pursuing environmental objectives.
To share the latest experience on the role of energy efficiency in addressing reliability problems and reducing peak demand.
To explore and share experiences regarding the prospects for energy efficiency and the smart grid, especially its relationship to demand-response.
To examine the potential for energy efficiency to help address local reliability issues, including transmission and distribution constraints.
To explore new and emerging issues associated with energy efficiency, such as water resource conservation, economic development and job creation.

For more information or to register click here.

Video - International Day Of Protest Against Monsanto & GMO Foods MAY 25, 2013

2013-05-18T10:57:00.005-04:00

An international protest is planned for May 25, 2013 against biotechnology company Monsanto in more than 250 cities in six continents and demonstrations are planned in tens of countries. Monsanto, a titan of the emerging biotech industry, has come under attack from environmentalists, agriculturalists and average consumers over the company's conduct in the realm of genetically-modified organisms and genetically-engineered foods. Monsanto has lobbied hard in Washington and around the globe to be able to continue manufacturing lab-made foods without the oversight that many have demanded. This protest comes in the wake of the passage of the "Monsanto protection act" that will protect GMO companies from assuming any liability.

Video - The Passage of the "Monsanto Protection Act"

2013-05-18T10:57:00.004-04:00

A new law protects GMO companies from liability and takes away American's right to know what is on their plates. Congress approved and President Obama signed a bill that gives Monsanto and other GMO companies immunity from liability against the deleterious effects of the foods that they provide. The Protect Interstate Commerce Act (PICA), is an amendment inserted into the 2013 Farm Bill passed by the House of Representatives' Agriculture Committee. It revokes the ability of individual states' lawmakers to pass GMO-labeling laws.

The amendment, introduced by Rep. Steve King, a California Republican, protects companies that make genetically modified and genetically engineered seeds, which grow into GMO crops and find their way into an estimated 70 percent of processed foods in American grocery stores.

Video - Renewables to Eclipse Fossil Fuels in Europe, GE Wind Turbine, BP getting out of Renwables and Efficient Lithium Batteries

2013-05-18T10:57:00.003-04:00

Europe's share of renewable energy will increase between 40 and 50 percent by 2020. Oil and gas will decline over that period which will enable renewable energy to eclipse fossil fuels in Europe by 2020.
New highly efficient GE wind turbine is using the internet to generate power more effectively.
BP is getting out of solar and wind to focus on oil and gas.
Vancouver based Perfect Lithium has developed highly efficient battery processing technique that can reduce energy storage costs by as much as 50 percent.

Video - The Tar Sands Give Canada the Worst Climate Record in the Western World

2013-05-18T08:48:00.001-04:00

Due in large part to the tar sands, Canada's climate performance is worst in the Western world. If Prime Minister Stephen Harper has his way, it will get worse, far worse. As the debate on the Keystone XL pipeline rages in the US, Canada's fossil fuel industry is planning to triple production of the tar sands. This video provides facts that refute the spin coming from Canada's ruling Conservative party.

Guide - Green City Philosophy

2013-05-17T18:00:00.000-04:00

There has never been a greater need for the people planning and running our cities, as well as the residents themselves, to understand the critical significance of green space in our urban environment. Working with green is a way to respond to the true needs of people when designing buildings, the public realm, transport and communications infrastructure. This is a goal to which every professional can apply themselves.

These guidelines are a starting point so interested parties can come together internationally and discuss techniques for urban development. What this set of guidelines shows is that the knowledge is already there. The theory, substantiated by empirical scientific research, proves that green infrastructure is a key element in constructing living spaces that work. This is powerful information at a time when budgets are being cut and every cost scrutinised. This set of guidelines and techniques will demonstrate to practitioners that investment and maintenance in green infrastructure is not a cost but brings value from a social, economic and environmental point of view – in summary the ‘Green City Philosophy’.

A group of leading researchers and practitioners have contributed to this volume and it is to be used as a stimulus for the global adoption of the Green City Philosophy. This book is the beginning of a process that could see green infrastructure responses fully incorporated into policy and practice – in effect become a ‘universal green city standard’. The authors and contributors hope that you will be part of that process. The ‘guidelines’ project has been made possible with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation (EL&I) and with the active support and co-operation of the Dutch nursery stock industry, Plant Publicity Holland (PPH), the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and Niek Roozen bv landscape architects.

To access the Green City Guidelines (PDF) click here.

Guide - Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS)

2013-05-17T12:53:00.000-04:00

This guideline on Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) was prepared by International Finance Corporation (IFC) and World Bank Group. The health and well being of a workforce is a key part of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and it is crucial to the wider issue of sustainable development.

Research by Nuffield Health and Ashridge Business School asserts that “companies need to develop a strategic approach to health and well being and concentrate on building a ‘sustainable workforce’ if they are to remain competitive.” The UK-based report, Developing a strategy for employee wellbeing: a framework for planning and action, calls on companies to focus on improving employee well being as a way of strengthening an organization and reducing risk.

At a 2012 briefing in London, Nuffield Health chief executive David Mobbs said, “We already worry about the sustainability of the environment, but in the future it’s going to be about the sustainability of the health of your workforce. Health and wellbeing will become the new CSR,” said Mobbs.

The IFC Environmental Health and Safety Guide addresses the following key issues:

Water Quality and Availability
Structural Safety of Project Infrastructure
Life and Fire Safety (L&FS)
Specific Requirements for New Buildings
L&FS Master Plan Review and Approval
Specific Requirements for Existing Buildings
Other Hazards
Traffic Safety
Transport of Hazardous Materials
General Hazardous Materials Transport
Major Transportation Hazards
Disease Prevention
Communicable Diseases
Vector-Borne Diseases
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Communication Systems
Emergency Resources
Training and Updating
Business Continuity and Contingency

To access the PDF click here.

Complimentary Webinar - Who Cares About Sustainability?

2013-05-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Environmental sustainability has been a recurring topic in the corporate world for the past few decades. Whether from internal or external pressure, organizations are being held accountable for their impact on the environment and the community in which they operate.

Join Greg Scandrett, VP of Product Development for Enviance in this groundbreaking webinar, where he discusses the current approach many organizations take on corporate environmental sustainability and why it is a failed model.

By comparing the similarities between the current corporate environmental sustainability model and the quality movement from the 20th century, you will be challenged to question some of your concepts on what organizations should be doing to achieve corporate environmental sustainability.

In this complimentary webinar, you will also learn more about:

• The biggest challenges to improve corporate environmental sustainability
• Changes organizations can make to achieve corporate environmental sustainability
• How innovation plays a central role in achieving corporate environmental sustainability

Click here to sign up to download the webinar.

Genetic Engineering: The Dark Side of Climate Ready Crops

2013-05-16T16:06:00.000-04:00

Climate change is already affecting food supplies around the world as heat waves and drought reduce grain harvests and food prices soar. For every 1˚ C rise above optimum growing season temperatures, farmers will likely experience a 10 percent decline in their yields. And with a growing global population expected to hit 9 billion by 2050, 80 million more people need to be fed each year.

Between 2008 and 2010, at least 261 patents were filed or issued related to “climate-ready” crops—seeds supposedly able to withstand extreme conditions like droughts and floods; of these patents close to 80 percent were controlled by just six agribusiness giants, (DuPont, BASF, Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer and Dow). This represents an exclusive monopoly and control over the world’s plant biomass.

These large agrochemical and seed corporations are developing “climate-ready crops” and have filed almost two thousand patents for genetically engineered (GE) plants with high tolerance for drought, heat, cold and salinity, As of 2010, almost 366 million acres around the world were planted with GE crops, with the most acreage in the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, India, Canada, and China. Increasingly we are seeing developing countries increasing their using GE crops.

In the US GE soybeans make up 93 percent of the US soybean crop, and GE corn is up to 70 percent of the corn crop. Most of these are used for animal feed but as there is no labeling requirement we just do not know for sure.

As much as 80 percent of US processed foods contain GE crop ingredients such as corn starch, high fructose corn syrup, canola and cottonseed oil, soy flour, etc.

Very few benefits have been found to be associated with GE crops. Some research shows that GE crops do initially reduce the use of herbicides and pesticides. However, the use of GE crops have led to the growth of super-weeds which are resistant to herbicides and pesticides and therefore require more of these toxins. The notion that GE crops increase yields does not appear to be borne out by the research.

There is some evidence to suggest that mammals fed with GE soybeans and maize are more prone to develop liver and kidney problems.

The effects of GE crops on biodiversity are also of concern. Allergens from GE crops can be transferred across crop species, and transgenes can drift from GE crops to organic and non-GE crops. This gene drift could give some plants a selective advantage, allowing them to drive out other varieties. In addition, the Bt toxin in GE crops may harm species not specifically targeted that ingest pollen or plant debris. And because the giant agrochemical and seed companies can make more money from their GE seeds, they will likely stop selling conventional seeds, eventually limiting the variety of seeds available to farmers.

The bottom line is that there is still a lot we don’t know about GE crops. The agro-giants in control of the seeds make it impossible to do the research as to gain access to GE seeds, a buyer must sign an agreement that specifically forbids research.

There are also far reaching socio-economic impacts associated with GE seeds because they are proprietary, farmers must pay royalties to use them and new seeds must be purchased every season. Failure to adhere to these stipulations can result in legal action. As of 2007, Monsanto had filed 112 lawsuits against farmers for patent infringement, including against organic and conventional farmers whose crops were inadvertently contaminated with transgene seeds that blew into their fields.

GM crops need more study, but at present we can say they offer few if any proven benefits. What is known is the fact that they jeopardize biodiversity and threaten global food sovereignty.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Organic Produce and Sustainable Seafoods

2013-05-16T12:09:00.000-04:00

Organic and certified sustainability seafoods are increasingly popular, they are also healthier and environmentally less damaging than traditional foods. Organically grown foods are less destructive to the land, and because they do not require chemical fertilizers and they have a lower greenhouse gas profile.

According to a recent United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report titled Green Economy and Trade-Trends, Challenges and Opportunities, The global market for organic food and beverages is projected to grow from $62.9 billion in 2011 to $105 billion by 2015.

The total value of seafood that has been farmed according to certified sustainability standards is forecast to increase to $1.25 billion by 2015, up from $300 million in 2008, according to the report.

In order for consumers to make informed decisions, labeling on all seafood should indicate:

• the exact species name
• place of origin of catch and processing
• whether the fish is farmed or wild
• the fishing method used.

Making choices about sustainable seafood is difficult as they are commonly mislabeled. Here are Here are six tips for buying sustainable seafood:

1. Choose fish that feed low in the food chain (ie Sardines, mackerel, dab, pouting, herring, tilapia)

2. Know your fishing methods: Choose hook-and-line, pole-and-line, handpicked, trap-caught Avoid: Trawls, dredges, drift nets

3. The good, the bad and the ugly of aquaculture: Choose cultivated oysters, cultivated mussels, farmed tilapia, and fish farmed in recirculating or closed systems. Avoid: Farmed shrimp, farmed salmon, and other fish species farmed in open-net pens and cages

4. Use guidelines and tools available: Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise App is a great tool to help you make sustainable seafood choices.

5. Support local markets and restaurants that are providing sustainable options: Use the Ocean Wise website and app which has a great location finder for shops and restaurants that provide certified sustainable products.

6. Ask Questions Find out if the seafood you want to buy is wild or farmed, what fishing methods were used, and in which country it was caught. Also ask is the species in trouble where the animals were caught? Does fishing for the species damage or alter ocean habitats? Is there a large amount of by-catch taken with the target species?

In 2011 The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has reported that seventy–eight percent of US families say they purchase organic foods.

“In a time when the severity of the economy means making tough choices, it is extremely encouraging to see consumers vote with their values by including quality organic products in their shopping carts,” said Christine Bushway, OTA’s Executive Director and CEO. “Nearly half – 48 percent – of parents surveyed revealed that their strongest motivator for buying organic is their belief that organic products “are healthier for me and my children. Other motivators for purchasing organic included concern over the effects of pesticides, hormones and antibiotics on children, and the desire to avoid highly processed or artificial ingredients.”

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Insects are a Sustainable Food Choice

2013-05-16T09:51:00.002-04:00

As the impacts of climate change worsen, extreme weather including drought will make it harder to grow enough food to feed the world. In addition, rising population levels, particularly in urban centers, will put added pressure on already constrained food resources.

By 2030, over 9 billion people will need to be fed, along with the billions of animals raised annually for food and as pets. Meanwhile, land and water pollution from intensive livestock production and over-grazing are leading to forest degradation, thereby contributing to climate change.

A new book released today by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) says insects like beetles, wasps and caterpillars are an important potential source of nutrition that can help address global food insecurity.

The book, Edible Insects: future prospects for food and feed security, stresses not just the nutritional value of insects, but also the benefits that insect farming could potentially have on the environment and on addressing the rapidly increasing demand for food worldwide.

There are numerous health benefits associated with insects as a food source. Insects are high in protein, fat and mineral contents. They can be eaten whole or ground into a powder or paste, and incorporated into other foods. Insects already supplement the diets of some 2 billion people and have always been part of human diets in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In cities such as Bangkok and Kinshasa, and there is high demand for insects from urban consumers.

Of the 1 million known insect species, 1900 are consumed by humans. Some of the most consumed insects include beetles, caterpillars, bees, wasps, ants, grasshoppers, locusts and crickets.

One of the offshoots of this initiative could be insect farming. Another benefit of insect farming is that their greenhouse gas profile is much lower than that of livestock. (eg pigs produce 10-100 times more greenhouse gases per kilogram than mealworms). Insects also feed on bio-waste, use significantly less water than livestock, and can be farmed more easily.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Why Oil Prices Matter for Renewable Energy

2013-05-15T16:38:00.001-04:00

The long-term prospects of solar, wind and other clean sources of energy are tied to the cost of fossil fuels. The artificially low price of oil makes it harder for renewable sources of energy to compete. Subsidies drive down the price of petrochemicals, but the true costs are not reflected in crude oil prices.

Investors are also driving up prices. Not too long ago oil was a commodity that traded principally on the actual or the anticipated forces of supply and demand. However, new strategies are increasingly driving investments in petrochemicals which are designed to cash in on the economic recovery. (The simple logic being that coming out of recession the demand for oil will increase as the economy improves.)

Increased supply will also put downward pressure on oil prices in 2013. Although this increased production will be offset by increased consumption, particularly in the developing world.

With oil expected to hover slightly above $100 per barrel by the end of this year, the question is how can renewable energy overcome the competitive pricing of fossil fuels? A powerful first step would be to end petrochemical subsidies, the next step involves some form of cap-and-trade on carbon emissions.

The faster that renewables can be price competitive with oil the sooner we can leverage the markets to wean ourselves off of dirty sources of energy.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

The EIA's Emissions Analysis by US States

2013-05-15T12:06:00.000-04:00

In May, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released an analysis titled, State-Level Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions, According to the EIA's assessment, between 2000 and 2010, CO2 emissions fell in 32 states and rose in 18 states. However, from 2009 to 2010, only 14 states saw a decrease in emissions. This increase is attributable to the fact that the US was emerging from recession. The greatest percentage decrease in CO2 emissions occurred in Delaware at 27.9 percent, (4.5 million metric tons). The greatest absolute decline was 58.8 million metric tons in Texas (8.3 percent). New York experienced a decline of 38.6 million metric tons (18.3 percent). The greatest percentage increase was in Nebraska at 16.0 percent (6.6 million metric tons), while Colorado experienced the greatest absolute increase (11.8 million metric tons or 13.9 percent).

A state's emissions profile is largely determined by the types of fuels they use. Coal, petroleum and natural gas are the primary causes of CO2 emissions.

The differences in emission profiles are illustrated by a comparison of Vermont and Hawaii. In Vermont the largest share of emissions in 2010 came from the transportation sector (58.7 percent), predominantly from petroleum. Electric power sector has a low emissions profile (0.1 percent) because of Vermont’s reliance on nuclear power. However, because of the cold climate Vermont’s residential sector share was 22.1 percent because petroleum is the main heating fuel. Conversely in Hawaii the residential share is the lowest (0.3 percent) because of minimal heating and cooling requirements. Like Vermont, the transportation sector accounted for the largest share of emissions (49.3 percent). But unlike Vermont, Hawaii’s electric power sector share nearly as high (40.1 percent). The dominant fossil fuel for the generation of electricity in Hawaii is petroleum.

In terms of emissions per capita, 2010 CO2 emissions in Wyoming were 118.5 metric tons per capita, which is the highest in the U.S. In 2010, This is largely due to Wyoming relatively small population (less than 600 thousand people), low population density and cold climate. Wyoming is also the second largest energy producer in the US after Texas which does not fare as badly on the per capita metrics due to the state's population of 25 million,

The state of New York, with a population of 19.6 million people, had the lowest per capita CO2 emissions—8.8 metric tons per capita largely due to the population density in New York City and an effective mass transit system. Further New York's economy is oriented towards high-value, low-energy-consuming activities such as financial markets.

The carbon intensity of energy supply (CO2/Btu) is reflective of the energy fuel mix within a state. Sates with high carbon intensity of energy supply tend to be the states with high per capita emissions. The top five states in 2010 for the energy carbon intensity as measured in kilograms of CO2 per million Btu (kg CO2/MMBtu)—West Virginia (81.7 kg CO2/MMBtu), Kentucky (77.2 kg CO2/MMBtu), Wyoming (76.8 kg CO2/MMBtu), Indiana (75.1 kg CO2/MMBtu) and North Dakota (73.6 kg CO2/MMBtu)—are all states with coal as the dominant fuel.

The states with lower carbon intensity tend to be those states with relatively substantial non-carbon electricity generation such as hydropower or nuclear. These states include, for example, Vermont (34.5 kg CO2/MMBtu), Washington (37.4 kg CO2/MMBtu), Oregon (39.1 kg CO2/MMBtu), Idaho (41.2 kg CO2/MMBtu) and New Hampshire (41.5 kg CO2/MMBtu).

The states with the highest carbon intensity of their economies as measured in metric tons of CO2 per million dollars of state GDP (mt CO2/million dollars of GDP) are also the states with the highest values of energy intensity and carbon intensity of that energy supply. In 2010 these states included: Wyoming (1,886 mt CO2/ million dollars of GDP), West Virginia (1,767 mt CO2/ million dollars of GDP) North Dakota (1,681 mt CO2/ million dollars of GDP), Louisiana (1,145 mt CO2/ million dollars of GDP), and Montana (1,098 mt CO2/ million dollars of GDP). The 2010, U.S. average is 430 mt CO2/ million dollars of GDP. The states with the lowest carbon intensity of economic activity are also states that appear on the lower end of both energy intensity and the carbon intensity of that energy supply. These states include: New York (167 mt CO2/ million dollars of GDP), Connecticut (175 mt CO2/ million dollars of GDP), Delaware (209 mt CO2/ million dollars of GDP), Massachusetts (213 mt CO2/ million dollars of GDP), and California (214 mt CO2/ million dollars of GDP).

This analysis does not account for electricity trade, if this were factored in it can influence a state’s CO2 emissions profile. Over half of the 10 states with the highest per capita emissions the states are net exporters of electricity in at least some years. In particular, Wyoming, North Dakota, West Virginia and Montana are large electricity exporters of power produced predominantly with coal. .

Four of the 10 states with the lowest per capita CO2 emissions are consistent importers of electricity: Idaho, California, Massachusetts and Florida.

Click here to see the EIA's monthly estimates of nationwide CO2 emissions from the consumption of energy Click here to see short-term projection reports and here to see projection reports of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions through 2040.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

World Bank President Advocates Putting a Price on Carbon

2013-05-15T08:24:00.002-04:00

Many believe that putting a price on carbon is the best way to combat climate change. Now the chorus of those calling for just that has been joined by World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. He recently urged the world’s environmental ministers to implement a five-point plan that includes putting a price on carbon dioxide emissions, improving agricultural practices and ending fossil fuel subsidies.

Kim urged more countries to roll out price mechanisms either through a tax on carbon, indirect taxation, regulation or creation of a carbon market. Kim made the remarks to 30 of the world's environment ministers gathered in Berlin for informal talks on a new global climate deal to take effect in 2020.

The European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme is struggling with low prices and may require action from EU policymakers. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the EU should take action on a plan to postpone the supply of permits.

Conversely, the Easter Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is doing much better than their European counterparts. California’s recent carbon auction fared well and the addition of five Canadian provinces has rejuvenated the Western Climate Initiative (WCI). The five Canadian provinces replace six US states (New Mexico, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Utah) that abandoned the WCI making it the biggest North American carbon trading market by value.

Overall the North America carbon trading market doubled in 2012 with the inauguration of carbon markets in California and Quebec.

A Large and Growing Chorus is Calling for an End to Fossil Fuel Subsidies

2013-05-14T13:29:00.000-04:00

As we move past the threshold of 400 parts per million of atmospheric CO2, fossil fuel subsidies appear even more unconscionable. These subsidies could be used to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy. In addition ending subsidies could decrease carbon pollution by 13 percent.

A number of prominent organizations including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the United Nations (UN) are calling for an end to fossil fuel subsidies.

In March, 2013, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released a report that called for an end to fossil fuel subsidies. The IMF report titled, Energy Subsidy Reform: Lessons and Implications, indicates that these subsidies account for almost nine percent of all annual country budgets, amounting to a staggering $1.9 trillion.

In April 2013, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim has urged the world’s environmental ministers to implement a five-point plan that includes ending fossil fuel subsidies.

A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report titled Green Economy and Trade-Trends, Challenges and Opportunities, recommended eliminating subsidies that encourage unsustainable production and establishing pricing policies that take account of the true environmental and social costs of production and consumption.

Support for ending fossil fuel subsidies comes from a wide range of sources including:

President Obama has repeatedly called for an end to more than $4 billion a year in subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, arguing that these “inefficient fossil fuel subsidies… impede investment in clean energy sources and undermine efforts to address the threat of climate change.”

At a recent meeting in Bonn of more than 600 government officials and NGOs US negotiators pushed nations to end coal, gas and oil subsidies by 2020, a step they said could cut emissions 10 percent under business-as-usual levels by mid-century.

American support for ending fossil fuel subsidies is strong across the political spectrum. In a 2011 survey titled Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies Yale researchers found that 70% of Americans opposed federal subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, including Republicans, Independents, and Democrats. 70 percent of Americans say global warming should be a very high (12%), high (25%), or medium (33%) priority for the president and Congress, including 44 percent of registered Republicans, 72 percent of Independents and 85 percent of Democrats. Opposition to federal subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, include 67 percent of registered Republicans, 80 percent of Independents, and 68 percent of Democrats. Further, 54 percent of Americans oppose subsidies to the ethanol industry.

A fact sheet by 350.org lists the money that would be saved by eliminating fossil fuel subsidies:

$14 billion saved by eliminating the intangible drilling deduction
$12 billion saved by repealing a 2004 law that allows fossil fuel corporations to take deductions aimed at helping American manufacturers by claiming they are manufacturers
$6.8 billion saved by closing the loophole that allows corporations like BP to deduct money they spend cleaning up their own oil spills and paying damages
$2.4 billion saved by stopping fossil fuel companies from investing through Master Limited Partnerships, an option not available to clean energy businesses
$3.7 billion saved by shutting the federal Office of Fossil Energy
$10.6 billion saved by recouping lost royalties for offshore drilling in public waters

The Department of the Interior has given almost $30 billion in government handouts to the coal industry through its coal leasing program. Through noncompetitive “auctions,” the Department sells the rights to publicly-owned coal to coal companies for a fraction of their worth. And there’s almost four billion more tons of this coal that the DOI could give away in the coming years.

Greenpeace has initiated a campaign to tell Interior Secretary Sally Jewell "put an end to these coal industry handouts for good." and keep them from "ramping up efforts to export federally-owned coal abroad....I call on you to put an immediate moratorium on new federal coal leasing and to bring the federal coal leasing program in line with President Obama's call to respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations."

WWF Global Energy Policy Director Stephan Singer says industrialized countries are responsible for the lion’s share of fossil fuel subsidies and should act now to stop them.

“If they were to abolish those subsidies and reform towards renewables and energy efficiency investments, it would more than triple present global investment into renewables,” said Singer. “And that is what is needed for a world powered by 100 percent sustainable renewables.”

A 2012 analysis shows that fossil fuel subsidies in rich countries are, on average, five times greater than those same countries’ pledges towards climate finance.

Other sources say that fossil fuels are subsidized at almost six times the rate of renewable energy. From 2002 to 2008, the US federal government gave the fossil fuel industry over $72 billion in subsidies while the renewable industry only received $12.2 billion.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Investing in the Green Economy: Leveraging Significant Private Investment through Modest Public Finance

2013-05-14T11:27:00.000-04:00

Wide spectrum public investment is the key to growing the green economy. This augers three important questions: How can we attract adequate amounts of private investment to unleash the full potential of the green economy? What do we invest in? How do we scale-up finance from developing economies?

Investment in clean energy has increased, with global spending on renewable energy rising six-fold since 2004. Despite ongoing economic weakness around the world, much more needs to be done.

As much as $100 trillion is required by 2030 to finance global infrastructure needs if we are to avoid an unsustainable increase in global temperatures. A total of $140 billion annually is required just to green the estimated $15 trillion investment in energy generation by 2020.

A recent United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report titled Green Economy and Trade-Trends, Challenges and Opportunities offers some valuable insight as to how we can generate the vast sums needed. This report indicates that public investments in key areas (economic infrastructure, technical assistance, education, training and sustainable resources like renewable energy) can help developing countries benefit from the green market.

To generate this level of funding governments can use tax dollars as seed money. We have repeatedly seen how modest amounts of public finance can leverage significant private investment. This includes development banks which have been crucial catalysts of private investment, as have feed-in tariffs, green bonds, and publicly sponsored insurance schemes that cover political and currency risk.

According to Simon Zadek, Visiting Scholar at Tsinghua School of Economics and Management, and Senior Fellow of the Global Green Growth Institute and the International Institute for Sustainable Development, each tax dollar can be leveraged to yield 3-8 dollars in private investment.

As suggested by Zadek, modest levels of public finance can radically increase public investment in the green economy..

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Survey of Executives Views on Sustainable Supply Chains

2013-05-13T16:26:00.002-04:00

Here is an overview of PwC‘s 2013 global supply chain survey, Next-generation supply chains: Efficient, fast and tailored. From May to July 2012, PwC surveyed 503 supply chain executives. Some 44 percent of them hold senior management positions, while 34 percent hold C-level posts. Here is a breakdown starting with the 42 percent of respondents who rated sustainability as highly important:

87 percent named optimizing their carbon footprint as their top priority for green adherence in their supply chain,
87 percent said that it’s best to reach an agreement with their suppliers on adhering to the highest ethical standards.
81 percent favor collaborating with suppliers to create a responsible supply chain footprint and procurement framework.
71 percent say effective track-and-trace capabilities are important.
67 percent said sustainability will play a more important role in the supply chains of the future.
48 percent said sustainability is highly important to their company’s supply chain,
38 percent of respondents from the industrial sector rated sustainability as an important or very important value driver influencing decisions about its supply chain.

The pharmaceuticals and life sciences industry is the sector most concerned with sustainability in its supply chain. The survey results showed that 67 percent of respondents from that industry named sustainability as an important or very important value driver influencing supply chain decisions. For this sector the two most important factors are delivery performance (100 percent) and cost minimization (94 percent).

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Global Wind Energy at a Glance (China, EU, US)

2013-05-13T12:05:00.004-04:00

Wind energy is one of the most significant renewable energy sources for electricity generation worldwide. Led by the EU, North America and China wind is one of the fastest growing clean energy sectors. In these three markets wind energy is expected to triple in the next ten years and in two decades it is forecast to grow 8 fold over current installed capacity (that does not include wind energy in other regions).

World wind generation capacity more than quadrupled between 2000 and 2006, and this capacity has doubled every three years. Worldwide there are now over two hundred thousand wind turbines operating, with a total capacity of 282,482 MW as of end 2012

According to a report titled "The Critical Decade: Global Action Building on Climate Change," in 2012 global wind capacity increased by 21 percent.

China

China Wind power generation increased almost 50-fold between 2005 and 2012. The growth of Chinese wind power is unparalleled in the world. At the end of 2011, China accounted for 62 gigawatts (GW) of electricity generating capacity. It is estimated China has about 2,380 GW of exploitable capacity on land and 200 GW on the sea. China aims to “have 100 gigawatts (GW) of on-grid wind power generating capacity by the end of 2015 and to generate 190 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of wind power annually”. Researchers from Harvard and Tsinghua University have found that China could meet all of their electricity demands from wind power through 2030.

EU

Led by Germany and Spain a total of 11,895 MW of wind power was installed in the EU in 2012 alone, representing 11.4 percent of new power capacity. A European Environment Agency report, entitled "Europe's onshore and offshore wind energy potential," confirms wind energy could power Europe many times over. The report highlights wind power’s potential in 2020 as three times greater than Europe’s expected electricity demand, rising to a factor of seven by 2030.

US

In the US, the cumulative installed capacity of wind power is more than 60,007 MW. The US Department of Energy’s report, 20% Wind Energy by 2030 envisioned that wind power could supply 20 percent of all US electricity, which includes a contribution of 4 percent from offshore wind power. The Obama administration is moving to increase support for offshore wind. According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), the generating potential of offshore wind equals the entire generating capacity of the US electric system.

With almost every country on earth investing in wind energy it can be expected to keep growing. Wind will continue to garner investors because it is a proven technology that is cost competitive.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Prodigious Growth Predicted for the Global Green Economy

2013-05-13T08:43:00.002-04:00

Over the next seven years the global green market will grow by almost one and a half trillion dollars. According to a new UN report the green market will be worth 2.2 trillion by 2020. This represents a threefold increase from where we are today. Trade in certified products and in environmental goods and services is on the rise but nowhere near where it is expected to be in the coming years.

According to a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report titled Green Economy and Trade-Trends, Challenges and Opportunities, the green market is destined to be a major driver of economic growth.

This growth is forecast to take place in reduced carbon technologies, energy efficiency and renewable energy.The report specifically identifies six economic sectors where green trade opportunities exist: agriculture, fisheries, forests, manufacturing, renewable energy and tourism.

This is good news for countries investing in the green economy and companies engaged in green trade. This is particularly good for nations and companies who are investing in renewable resources.

The surge in green growth is also a boon for developing countries with renewable energy. With the right leadership and a combination of public and private investment, these nations can jump ahead so that sustainable development becomes a very significant driver of economic growth.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Event - Solar Energy & Technology 2013

2013-05-12T13:24:00.001-04:00

Solar Energy & Technology 2013, will take place on Sunday August 25 to Thursday August 29 in California. Solar Energy + Technology 2013 is part of SPIE Optics + Photonics. At this event attendees can gain access to a focused program of 200+ technical presentations and courses on photovoltaic cell technologies plus R&D of solar concentrators, solar hydrogen and other illuminations systems. Hear leaders in the field address barriers and solutions for commercialization of solar-generated products.

In a world where interdisciplinary collaboration is the rule rather than the exception, the scope of the Solar Energy + Applications technical program gives you opportunities to collaborate across disciplines that no other event can. Don't miss the Solar Energy + Applications plenary and technical events.

For more information or to register click here.

Event - International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Remediation

2013-05-12T08:14:00.002-04:00

The 3rd International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Remediation (ICEPR) will take place Monday July 15 to Wednesday Jul 17, 2013, in Toronto, Ontario. The International Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (International ASET Inc.) is proud to present the 3rd International ICEPR.

ICEPR is a series of international conferences held yearly. These conferences focus on all aspects of Environmental Science, Engineering, and Technology. After successfully holding the second ICEPR in Montreal (Canada), International ASET Inc. will be hosting this conference in Toronto this year.

The aim of ICEPR'13 is to bring together the Canadian and International community working in the field of environmental sciences, engineering, and technology, and to foster an environment conducive to present advances in this field.

This conference will also provide a golden opportunity to develop new collaborations and gather world experts on the different topics including pollution detection, environmental remediation, and pollution prevention.

Through the 3rd conference a great opportunity to share knowledge and expertise will be created taking advantage from the synergy of the 1st and 2nd conference. The ICEPR'13 program will include invited keynote talks, oral presentation sessions, and poster sessions.

For more information or to register click here.

Calling on Minister Oliver to apologize for denying climate change and its impacts

2013-05-11T17:07:00.000-04:00

When is Minister Oliver Going to Listen to Experts on Climate Change

2013-05-11T13:41:00.000-04:00

In this video from Canada's Parliament, the minister of Natural Resources is asked when he is going to stop making embarrassing statements denying the dangers of global warming.

Video - Advanced Energy Legislation (AEL) Tracker

2013-05-11T07:41:00.002-04:00

Created by Colorado State University's energy policy center, Center for the New Energy Economy, the Advanced Energy Legislation TRACKER database contains information for clean energy legislation across all 50 states for free to any user. The TRACKER database provides current legislative language, recent actions, bill sponsor information, and policy trend analyses.

For more information about the Advanced Energy Legislation Tracker click here.