3E Intelligence

Archives for sustainable development

Another study questions coal reserves

21 June, 2007

A new report by the National Academy of Sciences in the US has raised serious questions marks about America’s coal reserves, according to an article in the International Herald Tribune today. The report recommends the federal government to undertake a serious study to “determine the size and characteristics of the nation’s recoverable coal, with the… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

coal, energy security, resource depletion, sustainable development

Why the US is ahead on climate/energy policies

17 June, 2007

I promised to come back to the Transatlantic session held in the EU’s Green Week. This session, organised by Brussels think-tank Friends of Europe, had two parts: one on a possible Transatlantic joint agenda to tackle climate change and one on the policies of biofuels. I only attended the first part which was all in… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

Climate change, energy security, European Union, Global Warming, Peak oil, sustainable development, US climate policy

Of waves and tsunamis. Another Green Week story

Danish Mogens Peter Carl, the boss of the Commission’s Environment Directorate-General is said to be an excellent manager and a tough negotiator. But there are two things which he is certainly not as we were able to see during the closing session of Green Week. First, he is not a good communicator. The way he… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

China, Climate change, European Commission, European Union, Global Warming, sustainable development

Green Week Day 2: A tale of one city and a bunch of technocrats

13 June, 2007

Today’s Green Week session on the role of cities and regions for climate change policies and sustainability turned out to be a huge disappointment. This is all the more unfortunate if one agrees (like I do) with Margot Wallström’s remark made yesterday that the “fight for sustainability will be lost or won in the cities”.… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

Climate change, European Commission, European Union, Green cities, sustainable development

Sarkozy’s first surprise: a superministry for sustainable development

18 May, 2007

French President Nicholas Sarkozy today presented his new cabinet. One of the positive surprises is the nomination of former Prime Minister Alain Juppé to lead a superministery for ecology and sustainable development including environmental, energy, transport and land planning policies. One of Mr Juppé’s main priorities will be to work towards an international agreement to… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

Climate change, sustainable development

Failure of UN sustainability summit bodes ill for future climate deal

14 May, 2007

The European Union should be applauded for refusing to sign a very weak compromise text at the 15th annual session of the United Nations’ Commission on Sustainable Development on Friday 11 May. The fact that the environment minister of Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe was elected to chair the UN’s sustainability body – much to the dismay… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

Climate change, European Union, sustainability, sustainable development

News Alerts: IPCC agrees on 3rd report; Commission applauds its environment policy

4 May, 2007

In Bangkok, climate change scientists and country delegates have reached on deal on the third IPCC report for this year. The 35-page report describes the urgent actions needed to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases to acceptable levels and the costs this would incur on the global economy. More in International Herald Tribune and CNN.… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

Climate change, Dimas, European Commission, European Union, Global Warming, sustainable development

News Alert: German climate change plan, green Pope

27 April, 2007

Germany’s environment minister Sigmar Gabriel announced a new 8-point plan to reduce his country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40% before 2020 (compared to 1990). Energy efficiency, renewables, modernising coal and gas power plants and CHP (combined heat and power) are the key solutions put forward in the plan. Social-Democrat Gabriel sees no chances for a… » read more

Posted by Willy De Backer

Climate change, European Union, Global Warming, Population growth, sustainable development

3E Intelligence

News, analysis and comments on energy, environment and sustainability policies


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