Rio+20

Rio+20 summit asks our children: what environmental future do you want? - Panel including Leonardo DiCaprio, Linkin Park and Christiana Figueres to judge video competition for Rio+20 earth summit. (The Guardian)

Sustainable energy for all - It is extraordinary that in 2012 nearly 7 in 10 people living in sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to electricity or modern energy sources. (Tom Wallace, ONE)

Energy Access

Ban welcomes European Union’s energy access initiative for developing countries - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed a new European Union (EU) initiative designed to assist developing countries in providing access to sustainable energy to their populations. (UN News Centre)

EU makes €50m pledge for clean energy schemes in developing countries - The European Union (EU) has announced a €50m initiative for clean energy projects in developing countries as part of an ambitious UN plan to provide sustainable energy for all by 2030. (Mark Tran, The Guardian)

Investment in green technologies will benefit India, US: Sushilkumar Shinde - US companies investing in India's green energy market will have good prospects and it will be a "win-win" situation for both the countries, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said. (The Economic Times)

Sustainable energy policy

Roundtable on Sustainable Energy for All Initiative Highlights Civil Society Role - During the Roundtable Discussion between representatives of civil society organizations and members of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Group on Sustainable Energy for All, participants exchanged ideas and views on how to ensure the effectiveness and success of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, including the role of civil society. (Sustainable Development Policy & Practice, IISD)

No Longer a Day but an Age - Earth Day is coming.  April 22 to be exact.  How I know is my email inbox.  Every day for the past few weeks I get pitches to write about some company’s new eco product.  The words LEED certified, Eco, Green, Recycled, Renewable have become an endless blur in the subject line of in-bound emails.  This is now a spring ritual. (David Houle, Evolution Shift)

Energy efficiency

Denmark company has ambitious plans for Chinese market- "Thus, the market of energy efficiency is endowed with great potential here. And it is also in accordance with our business, since we specialize in providing energy-efficient solutions to our customers. That's why we decided to develop China as our second home market," Koniordos said. (Hu Haiyan, China Daily)

Will gas crowd out wind and solar? - Energy expert Daniel Yergin talks about the impact fracking will have on renewables.(Brian Dumaine, CNN)

Gaia-Wind wins US turbine order - Gaia will provide California-based Talco Electronics with up to 50 large-bladed 11kW turbines. (BBC)

Renewable energy

Nigeria: Dump Nuclear for Renewable Energy, Germany Tells Country - Nigeria should put more of its efforts on the promotion of renewable energy for power generation instead of nuclear energy, German Ambassador to Nigeria, Dorothee Janetzke-Wenzel said weekend. (Hamisu Muhammad, All Africa)

Exhibition Special: Solar power expo to draw industry leaders - More than 2,200 solar power technology companies from around the globe will gather in Shanghai for the world's largest photovoltaic power expo, which is scheduled to open on May 16. (Zhuan Ti, China Daily)