Rio + 20

U.N. Foundation's Wirth discusses challenges ahead of Rio+20 conference (video) - As developed nations continue to struggle economically, how will financial tensions shape the United Nations' upcoming Rio+20 conference? During today's OnPoint, former Sen. Tim Wirth, president of the U.N. Foundation, previews the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development and weighs in on the key issues that will be considered at the conference. (Monica Trauzzi, E&E TV)

Governments must stop short-term outlook, warns UN development head - A lack of political will has meant the sustainable development ambitions of the Rio Earth summit two decades ago have not made enough progress, the head of the UN's development programme has warned. (Simon Day, The Guardian)

What the UNFCCC’s Christiana Figueres is Looking to Get Out of Rio+20 - You have probably heard, by now, of Rio+20.  This is a major conference on sustainable development being hosted by the United Nations in Rio de Janeiro on the 20th anniversary of the historic “Earth Summit.” (Mark Leon Goldberg, UN Dispatch) 

Stockholm+40 Conference to Mark 40th Anniversary of the First UN Conference on the Environment - From the 23rd to the 25th of April, 2012, the Swedish Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will host an environmental conference to commemorate the first UN Conference on the Human Environment  held in Stockholm in 1972. (Michael Denney, Global Environmental Governance Project) 

Challenge to Young Thought Leaders: Can You Silence the World at Rio+20 this June? - I’ve blogged extensively about why my generation has a crucial stake in the outcomes of Earth Summit 2012 this June. (Michael Davidson, NRDC Switchboard)

Energy access

New partnership between EU and UN Women to enhance gender equality worldwide - A new partnership between the EU and UN Women set up to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations on their work on empowering women and gender equality, was today signed by High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/ Vice President of the Commission Catherine Ashton and Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs, with Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Bachelet. (Online Editor, Pacific Island News Association) 

UN forum notes effectiveness of documentaries in telling stories of sustainability - A two-day conference at United Nations Headquarters focussed on developing a better global future through the power of storytelling and documentary film ended today, with a call for filmmakers to help bring sustainability issues to life in a compelling manner. (UN News Centre)

Pay As You Go Sunshine: How Solar Energy and Mobile Phones are Powering the Developing World - Every night, something unusual happens in Samuel Kimani’s home on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. Samuel, 48, lives with his wife Mary and their three children. (Ken Banks, National Geographic)

Renewable energy

Is Morocco the Mediterranean's Green Energy Savior? - Amid the eager and often conflicting discussions about what it’s going to take to develop a real, tangible green economy in North Africa – one that makes the most of a seemingly endless supply of solar and wind – one conclusion keeps rising to the surface. (Christopher Coats, Forbes)

Exclusive interview with CEO of Solar Reserve - Last week Solar Reserve made headlines with their new 200MW CSP project announcement in Colorado. (Heidi Hafes, RenewableEnergyWorld)

Africa: Five Renewable Sources of Energy for Farmers in Developing Countries - According to the United Nations, access to reliable and sufficient sources of energy will be critical to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing poverty and hunger by 2015. (Isaac Hopkins and Jenny Beth Dyess, All Africa)

Rwanda: Local Firm to Construct Rwf6 Billion Hydro Power Plant - A local entrepreneur, Gregory Tayi, has embarked on the construction of another mini-hydro-electric plant estimated to cost Rwf 6 billion ($10m). (Bosco R. Asiimwe, All Africa)

Lower wind, solar prices to usher speedier adoption - Rapid recent solar and wind price falls are likely to bring new markets and mass adoption a step closer over the next decade and raise the prospects of mergers. (China Daily)

Energy efficiency

UNECE Launches Green Economy Seminar Series With Discussion of Green Homes - The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) discussed residential energy efficiency at the first seminar in a series launched to promote actions towards a regional green economy. (Sustainable Energy Policy & Practice, IISD)

EU lights up another sustainable energy initiative - The European Union will be working on another initiative that will address the developing world’s hunger for energy — the missing Millennium Development Goal. (Jenny Lei Ravelo, Devex)

America could power a city on all the small-scale hydroelectric power we’re not harvesting - Every year, America misses out on 1.2 million megawatt-hours of electricity, enough to power a small city. (Christopher Mims, Grist)

Sustainability 24: setting the agenda for sustainable business - Join Accenture and Guardian Sustainable Business on Wednesday 23 May from 7am (BST) for 12 hours of live debate that will help set the agenda for sustainable business. (The Guardian)

Sustainable energy policy

EPA Fracking Rules On Emissions To Be Finalized - U.S. environment regulators are expected to finalize long-delayed rules Wednesday that aim to slash smog-forming emissions from hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, at oil and natural gas wells. (Reuters)

Africa: The First African Forum On Science, Technology and Innovation Issues Ministerial Declaration - The First African Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) concluded in Nairobi on Tuesday April 3rd by issuing the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration, which announces a range of resolutions to promote and strengthen science, technology and innovations. (All Africa)

Nigeria: Jonathan on Three-Day Visit to Germany - Briefing State House Correspondent on the visit in Berlin, Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Abdu Usman Abubakar, said talks between the two leaders will focus on economic development especially in the area of renewable energy and manpower development. (Abdul-Rahman Abubakar, All Africa)