Sustainable Energy News: 02/03/12

Friday, February 3, 2012

GEF raises $160M for African Forestry Fund

Environmental Finance | News | Global Environment Fund beats target for Africa forestry fund

Global Environment Fund (GEF) has raised $160 million into its Africa Sustainable Forestry Fund, exceeding its target of $150 million. The Maryland-based fund manager claims the fund is the first private equity fund to focus solely on sustainable forestry in sub-Saharan Africa.

Smart Grid Is The Key To Sustainability

Smart Grid | How Smart Grid Empowers Sustainability | Sustainable Plant

The second annual Enterprise Smart Grid conference, organized by Groom Energy, played to a packed room at the Logan Airport Embassy Suites hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. Held in November 2011, the event was preceded by a half-day ISO 50001 overview.

Republican's Going After EPA's Carbon Safeguards

Toxic Trio Attacks EPA's Carbon Pollution Safeguards | David Doniger's Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC

In their latest attack on vital clean air safeguards, three senior House Republicans are trying to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from doing its job under the Clean Air Act to protect Americans from dangerous carbon pollution from new power plants – pollution that threatens our health and drives our increasingly extreme weather.

Indian airlines give emissions number to EU

Indian carriers have provided carbon emission data: EU | TwoCircles.net

New Delhi : Despite the government's appeal to airlines to refrain from submitting carbon emission data to the European Union (EU) for a new tax, EU climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard Friday said Indian carriers have submitted data to them.

Farming Sustainability In Zimbabwe

allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: Sustainability in Agro and Farming Business

THE history of Zimbabwe's economy cannot be separated from its past agricultural successes in Africa in the 1980s and 1990s. While today things have changed, the future of farming now lies in the presence of sustainable agricultural processes. Of course, farming faces risks of climatic change associated with rising temperatures, droughts, siluattion and excessive rainfall. For 2012, the UN predicted rising food prices in Africa due to poor food production. For farmers in Zimbabwe, their ability to produce faces various challenges such as finance, electricity supply and modern farming equipment etc.

Rio 2012: working towards a sustainable fashion industry

Rio 2012: what can the fashion industry do to become more sustainable? | Guardian Sustainable Business | guardian.co.uk

Until the late 80s, fashion retailers and brands would typically have two main collections a year: spring/summer and autumn/winter. Then, in the 90s things changed dramatically. Increased competition saw retailers incentivising customers to visit their stores more frequently. To do this they expanded their product ranges. The latest fashions seen on runways and celebrities began to rapidly populate high-street retailers' ranges. Designers and trend seekers would turn a garment around from drawing to shop floor in just two weeks. The era of "super cheap and super fast" took off.

Sustainable business coalition re-established for Rio+20

Business coalition re-established in run-up to Rio+20 | Guardian Sustainable Business | guardian.co.uk

The temporary coalition of the Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD) has been re-established to coordinate the participation of the private sector to Rio+20 and enhance its contribution to sustainable and inclusive markets. Business is willing to step up its efforts to raise more awareness about its existing commitments and achievements already made. At the same time, industry will continue to broaden and deepen its thinking towards Rio+20 on key themes of the conference.

Publication of Africa's Green City Index

WUC partners events calendar_African Green City Index

Siemens African Green City Index

The "Smartest" City In The World is Vienna followed by Toronto and Paris

Vienna, Austria Ranked As the Smartest City | Sustainable Cities Collective

We previously wrote about the most livable cities in the world and the most innovative solutions to make cities more livable. Now we bring you the smartest cities in the world, courtesy of Boyd Cohen of Co.EXIST. Cohen explains that some people choose a narrow definition for smart cities, but he prefers a broader definition, encompassing cities that use information and communication technologies to be more efficient in the use of resources. This can be a result in energy or cost savings, improved service delivery or quality of life, or reduced environmental footprint.

India to have first carbon neutral state by 2020

HP first carbon-neutral State by 2020

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Thursday claimed that Himachal Pradesh will become one of the first carbon neutral States of the country by year 2020 by undertaking “carbon smart growth” and will be setting up State centre for climate change. Dhumal was speaking at the 12th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit organised by The Energy and Resource Institute on “Protecting the Global Commons; 20 years Post Rio” at New Delhi.

Can India and the EU break the stalemate over airline emissions?

India, EU try to break logjam over airline carbon tax | Reuters

(Reuters) - The European Union EU.L is willing to consider whether India's efforts to reduce carbon emissions could qualify for waivers under an EU law that charges airlines for polluting, the 27-nation bloc's climate chief said on Friday.

EON Illinois Wind Farm Gets $122.2 Million From Two U.S. Banks

EON AG, Germany’s biggest utility, got $122.2 million in equity financing from JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC) for a wind farm it developed in eastern Illinois.
EON Climate & Renewables North America didn’t say how large a stake the two banks acquired in the 150.4-megawatt Settlers Trail Wind Farm in Iroquois County in a statement today.

India Hits $10.3B In Clean-Energy Investments

India Clean-Energy Investments Reach $10.3 Billion in 2011: BNEF - Bloomberg

Investment in clean-energy projects grew faster in India than in any other major economy last year, rising 52 percent to $10.3 billion, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

The largest increase came from the solar industry with $4.2 billion of funding for sun-powered plants connected to the grid, a seven-fold increase from 2010 and about par with the $4.6 billion that went to wind projects, according to a statement today from the London-based researcher.

EU Wants To Double Global Clean Energy

EU Climate Chief Seeks Doubling of Global Clean Energy at Rio - Bloomberg

European Union Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said countries meeting at a conference in June should pledge to double the share of renewable energy they use by 2030 and give all citizens access to sustainable power. The nations also need to double the world’s energy efficiency, Hedegaard told reporters today in New Delhi.