Inside China’s shift to a low-carbon economy

Monday, July 27, 2015 – 2:00am

Monday, July 27, 2015 – 2:00am

Greenbiz – China’s announcement of how it plans to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions represents the clearest signal to date that a major structural shift away from carbon-intensive development is underway in the world’s second-largest economy.

The direction outlined by the Chinese government — to peak the country’s carbon-dioxide emissions around 2030 or likely earlier — is ground-breaking, both in the scale of proposed emissions reductions, and when viewed within the wider trend of substantial GHG reductions pledged by major economies. Tiếp tục đọc “Inside China’s shift to a low-carbon economy”

Economic benefits from climate change mitigation far outweigh the costs

Global-net – The paper published by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy at London School of Economics and Political Science suggests that individual countries have large incentives to make ambitious reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and to agree to strong collective action at the United Nations climate change conference in Paris in December.

The author of the paper, Fergus Green, says the vast majority of emissions cuts needed to decarbonize the global economy this century can lead to domestic economic benefits that outweigh the costs for individual countries, even before the avoided risks of dangerous climate change are taken into account.

Self Interest Pays

“All things considered, I conclude that there is a very strong case that most of the mitigation action needed to stay within the internationally-agreed 2°C limit is likely to be nationally net-beneficial,” he writes.

Domestic economic gains from action to tackle climate change include improved air quality, increased energy efficiency, and clean technology innovation ‘spillovers’.
Tiếp tục đọc “Economic benefits from climate change mitigation far outweigh the costs”

Climate threat as grave a risk as nuclear war

Climate threat as grave a risk as nuclear war

Climatenewsnetwork – An international scientific report commissioned by the UK government says the risks of climate change are comparable to those posed by nuclear conflict.

LONDON, 18 July, 2015 – The UK government says that climate change poses risks that demand to be treated as seriously as the threat  of nuclear war.

Scientists from the UK, US, India and China say in a report commissioned by the UK that deciding what to do about climate change depends on the value we put on human life, both now and in years to come. Tiếp tục đọc “Climate threat as grave a risk as nuclear war”

The Energy Implications of a Nuclear Deal between the P5+1 and Iran

Report July 14, 2015

Author: Meghan L. O’Sullivan, Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School

Belfer Center Programs or Projects: Middle East Initiative; The Geopolitics of Energy Project

On June 23 and 24, twenty five experts met at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government under the auspices of the Geopolitics of Energy Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. The group, which included experts from academia, the financial sector, government, and the energy industry, spent an evening and the following full day discussing and debating the possible energy implications of a nuclear deal between the P5+1 and Iran. Each individual brought a different perspective and expertise—from those focused on the state of the Iranian oil sector to those specializing in U.S. sanctions. The deliberations were held behind closed doors and on the basis of Chatham House rules. The Geopolitics of Energy Project thanks the Middle East Security Project, the Iran Project, and the Middle East Initiative for providing additional resources to hold this workshop.

Read the full report:

For more information about this publication please contact the Belfer Center Communications Office at 617-495-9858.

For Academic Citation: O’Sullivan, Meghan L. The Energy Implications of a Nuclear Deal between the P5+1 and Iran. July 14, 2015.

Japan’s Long-term Energy Plan Shoots for Ultimate Balance in Economics, Environment and Safety

July 9, 2015

What is 3E + S? It is neither a mathematics problem nor chemical equation. It is Japan’s latest long-term energy plan, which was released by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on June 1stf for review. The draft plan aims to establish an optimum energy mix by the year 2030.

The three Es stand for the first letters in Energy Security, Economic Efficiency and Environment and the letter S stands for Safety. Safety is crucial to the energy plan in the wake of the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl when the devastating tsunami and earthquake hit northeast Japan in 2011. Since the disasters, Japan’s electricity generation mix has drastically changed. Tiếp tục đọc “Japan’s Long-term Energy Plan Shoots for Ultimate Balance in Economics, Environment and Safety”

Rising fossil fuel energy costs spell trouble for global food security

Date: July 1, 2015

Source:Oregon State UniversitySummary:In an analysis of food preservation and transportation trends, scientists warn that new sustainable technologies will be needed for humanity just to stay even in the arms race against the microorganisms that can rapidly spoil the outputs of the modern food system.

FULL STORY

Sciencedaily – Ongoing efforts to feed a growing global population are threatened by rising fossil-fuel energy costs and breakdowns in transportation infrastructure. Without new ways to preserve, store, and transport food products, the likelihood of shortages looms in the future.

In an analysis of food preservation and transportation trends published in this week’s issue of the journal BioScience, scientists warn that new sustainable technologies will be needed for humanity just to stay even in the arms race against the microorganisms that can rapidly spoil the outputs of the modern food system. Tiếp tục đọc “Rising fossil fuel energy costs spell trouble for global food security”

The Impact of Lower Gas and Oil Prices on Global Gas and LNG Markets

OIES – The aftermath of warmer than normal 2013/2014 winters in Europe and Asia, evidence of slowing Asian LNG demand growth through 2014 and the collapse of the oil price in late 2014 has resulted in a painful ‘new normal’ for key players in the global gas system, specifically LNG project investors and Russia/Gazprom. Although this paper has used a similar approach to previous work by the author relating to global LNG interactions, the context in mid 2015 has changed markedly and while the gas industry has in the past experienced and weathered periods of low prices, this time ‘it really does feel different’. At one level we can rationalise the slowdown in Asian LNG demand and stagnant European gas demand as having a direct causal impact on European hub and LNG spot prices. The oil price fall has in parallel brought oil – indexed gas and LNG contract price levels down to levels unimaginable just two years ago. With project economics challenged and cashflows crimped, investors in new gas supply projects, especially LNG, will inevitably hold back, cut costs and await a more positive market outlook.At a more fundamental level however, what we may be about to witness is a significant disruption to regional gas equilibria as a wave of new (Australian) LNG supply meets a slowing Asian market and a significant regional component (US/North America) re-connects with the global system in the form of 77 bcma (and counting) of new LNG export projects. Europe will be a passive recipient of excess supply at a time when its gas demand growth is at best tepid, but its import requirement may be rising due to declining domestic production.
This paper has addressed the following questions:

Tiếp tục đọc “The Impact of Lower Gas and Oil Prices on Global Gas and LNG Markets”

Asia takes the lead on sustainable energy but many still have none

Eco-business – Although Asia has done well on ensuring electricity access for people and using renewable energy, there is room for further improvement on energy efficiency and access to clean, smoke-free cooking. CSR Asia chairman Richard Welford outlines how the private sector can help.

Asian countries are making a vital contribution to achieving global sustainable energy goals, according to a new World Bank report. However, while the region performs strongly on ensuring electricity access for people and using more modern renewable energy, there is room for further improvement on energy efficiency and access to clean, smoke-free cooking, particularly for poor people. In total 1.1 billion people still have no access to adequate energy. Tiếp tục đọc “Asia takes the lead on sustainable energy but many still have none”

Germany Gives Dirtiest Coal Plants Six Years for Phase Out

July 2, 2015 — 9:24 AM BST Updated on July 2, 2015 — 3:03 PM BST
A Coal-Fired Power Plant
A coal-fired power plant in Janschwalde, Germany. The government’s coal plans would mean immediate closures of lignite mines and power stations, RWE AG Chief Executive Officer Peter Terium told shareholders on April 23. Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg

Bloomberg – Germany’s main political parties worked out a compromise plan to cut power-industry pollution by handing a six-year lifeline to some of the dirtiest coal-fired plants. Tiếp tục đọc “Germany Gives Dirtiest Coal Plants Six Years for Phase Out”

The End of Coal: Ontario’s coal phase-out

Melissa Harris, Marisa Beck, Ivetta Gerasimchuk

IISD – Ontario has successfully implemented its policy to put an end to coal use in 2014. This energy transition has become “the single largest GHG reduction measure in North America”: since 2007, when coal accounted for about 25 per cent of its electricity generation, Ontario has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 34 Mt or 17 per cent.

What lessons can be learned from Ontario’s coal phase-out experience? How can its success be replicated in other parts of the globe? This paper explores this question for all those around the world who may draw inspiration and lessons learned from Ontario: policy-makers, campaigners, entrepreneurs and others interested in transitioning to a low-carbon future.

We rely on the concept of the “window of opportunity” and suggest that all elements critical to a sustainable energy transition can be clustered within the four “panes” of this “window”: context, champions, concerns and complementary policies. These “panes” provide the basis for the structure of this paper. This analysis has been informed by a comprehensive review of existing literature and semi-structured interviews with high-level experts from Canadian political and academic circles, industry and civil society.

 

 

Năng lượng hạt nhân: một dạng “đô hộ” mới

Người Đô thị – 02/07/2015 – 22:55 PM

Đây là nhận định và thông điệp của cuốn sách “Mệnh lệnh năng lượng bắt buộc: 100% tái tạo ngay bây giờ”. Cuốn sách vừa được một nhóm bạn trẻ Việt Nam đang học tập và làm việc ở nước ngoài dịch hoàn tất (có bản quyền).

Tác giả cuốn sách là Hermann Scheer, người Đức, vừa là một chính trị gia vừa là một trong những người khởi xướng hàng đầu thế giới về năng lượng tái tạo.

Cho rằng điện nguyên tử không phải là giải pháp giải quyết khủng hoảng năng lượng, trong cuốn sách Mệnh lệnh năng lượng bắt buộc: 100% tái tạo ngay bây giờ, tác giả Hermann Scheer nhận định: phát triển điện nguyên tử chỉ mang lại nguy cơ sạt nghiệp cho quốc gia nghèo, ảnh hưởng tiêu cực rất nhiều lên kinh tế, môi trường, xã hội.

Đặc biệt, Hermann Scheer có nhắc tới Việt Nam trong cuốn sách. Ông viết: tất cả đều tỏ ra quen thuộc với khái niệm điện hạt nhân, không có ai nhìn thấy bất kỳ vấn đề cơ bản nào với điện hạt nhân, và tình trạng kiến thức của họ về năng lượng tái tạo ở một mức độ điển hình của những năm 1970.” Tiếp tục đọc “Năng lượng hạt nhân: một dạng “đô hộ” mới”

Năm 2015: Việt Nam ‘đi ngược’ thế giới

Tuanvietnam – Từ nước xuất khẩu, từ năm 2015 VN phải nhập khẩu than. Thế giới chuyển sang phát triển năng lượng tái tạo, từ bỏ nhiệt điện than, điện nguyên tử, thì VN lại thúc đẩy.

Phần 1: Luật cũng không ngờ sự ‘táo bạo’ của con người
Phần 2: Không thể lấy tiền thuế dân đền quyết sách sai

Tuần Việt Nam giới thiệu phần cuối toạ đàm: “Tận thu tài nguyên đất nước” cùng ông Đào Trọng Tứ, GĐ Trung tâm Phát triển bền vững Tài nguyên nước và thích nghi biến đổi khí hậu; bà Ngụy Thị Khanh, GĐTrung tâm Sáng tạo Phát triển xanh Green ID và ông Nguyễn Minh Thuyết, nguyên là ĐBQH khoá XI, XII.

Play Tiếp tục đọc “Năm 2015: Việt Nam ‘đi ngược’ thế giới”

China pushes ahead with high risk, high cost nuclear

Paul Dorfman 20.05.2015

Chinadialogue.net – China accounts for almost half of the world’s new-build of nuclear reactors but recent delays, cost overruns and safety scares are challenging the country’s plans for atomic energy, writes Paul Dorfman

article image
The Qinshan nuclear power plant under construction in Haiyan County in China’s eastern province of Zhejiang. China could have around 50 such stations hooked up to the grid by the end of the decade (Image by baike)

Nuclear power has had a makeover. What was once seen as a futuristic source of limitless energy has been reframed as a response to global warming, an ideal solution for countries looking for a continuous source of low-carbon power. But who are these countries? Tiếp tục đọc “China pushes ahead with high risk, high cost nuclear”

How should we address nuclear risks in Asia?

CSIS.org – While North Korea would appear to be the most prominent nuclear risk in Asia, the United States faces a more complex web of nuclear challenges as it works to build secure and sustainable relationships in that region. More than ever, a strong U.S. role in nuclear energy and nonproliferation in that region will be crucial for reducing emerging nuclear risks.

Without a doubt, nuclear energy will grow fastest in Asia, given the ambitious construction plans of China and South Korea, and the tremendous energy needs of other emerging economies and exploding populations. This contrasts with Europe and the Americas, which are likely to see little growth or perhaps even decline in nuclear energy. Unlike in the 1970s when U.S. Nuclear exports dominated the global market, the nuclear power plants that will be constructed in Asia are much more likely to be “homegrown”—that is, built by Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean nuclear vendors. In all three cases, there is a tremendous learning curve in nuclear governance, for domestic and export programs.In China, the rapid pace of nuclear power plant construction (16 operating and 29 under construction) is placing strains on a relatively small regulatory system, prompting outside concerns that China needs more resources (financial and human) for nuclear regulation. After the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan, China halted construction for a year although targets for growth have not changed. Tiếp tục đọc “How should we address nuclear risks in Asia?”

Ảnh hưởng của nhà máy điện hạt nhân của Trung Quốc và sự an nguy của tổ quốc

Tiến sĩ Bạch X. Phẻ
Tiến sĩ Trần Tiễn Khanh

Boxitvn – Nhân duyên chúng tôi, một người học môi sinh và một người học hoá, gặp nhau trên đất Thái trong dịp thuyết trình hai đề tài liên quan đến Môi sinh và cách thức lãnh đạo bằng chánh niệm tại Đại Lễ Phật Đản Vesak 2015 – Tam Hiệp của Liên Hợp Quốc. Sau những ngày tâm sự và làm việc chung, cũng như trước những băn khoăn và ưu tư hướng về Tổ quốc. Chúng tôi quyết định viết bài ngắn này để cho người dân nhận thức được những diễn biến có thể xảy ra liên quan đến sự an nguy của đất nước.  Trong năm 2015 này, có hai nhà máy điện hạt nhân của Trung Quốc đưa vào hoạt động mà có thể ảnh hưởng trực tiếp đến Việt Nam.

Trường hợp 1 –  Cảnh báo về Nhà máy điện hạt nhân ở Quảng Tây

Một nhà máy điện hạt nhân đang được hoàn thành ở gần thành phố Qinzhou thuộc Quảng Tây. Nhà máy mang tên là Fangchenggang, được khởi công xây dựng năm 2010 và sẽ bắt đầu hoạt động vào năm nay 2015. Trong giai đoạn 1, nhà máy có hai lò với công xuất 2000 MW và vốn đầu tư là $3.7 tỉ USD.  Còn có thêm 4 lò với công suất 4000 MW và tổng số đầu tư là $10.4 tỉ USD.  Với công suất rất cao này sự thiệt hại, nếu bị rủ ro tại nạn rảy ra thì de doạ đến tính mạng và đời sống của nhiều người dân.
Tiếp tục đọc “Ảnh hưởng của nhà máy điện hạt nhân của Trung Quốc và sự an nguy của tổ quốc”