Rio + 20
Sierra Leone: President Barroso and Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon Stress the Need for Global Partnership in Confronting 'Energy Poverty' - High-level representatives from the EU, the UN, developing countries, industry and civil society have today gathered in Brussels to attend the Sustainable Energy Summit for All initiative (SE4ALL) hosted by the European Commission. (Anthony Abdul Karim Kamara, Jnr., All Africa)
Rio+20: Ida Auken, Denmark Environment Minister, Says Summit Needs Stronger Targets - EU ministers must back clear goals to clean up oceans, tackle water shortages and conserve resources if the 27-member bloc is to be a credible leader of global efforts to make the world more sustainable, the Danish EU presidency said on Thursday. (Reuters)
Renewable energy
Energy Innovation for a Sustainable America Touted by Bill Gates and Bill Clinton - From Advanced Government Research, the makers of the internet, GPS technology, and America’s journey to the moon, comes the next great idea … a clean and sustainable energy future! (Brian A. Frankel, Living Green Magazine)
Wind power: new poll finds 66% of UK public in favour - Figures showing public support for wind energy published on the same day as the launch of a national anti-wind campaign (Adam Vaughan, The Guardian)
Sustainable energy policy
U.S. Caps Emissions in Drilling for Fuel - Oil and gas companies will have to capture toxic and climate-altering gases from wells, storage sites and pipelines under new air quality standards issued on Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency. (John M. Broder, New York Times)
Africa: Greening Continent's Future - The 4th Africa Carbon Forum (ACF), this year in Addis Ababa, opened its doors today to over 1,000 registered participants from across the globe to foster a discussion on climate change and carbon finance in Africa. (All Africa)
Green policy gloom? Not in the states - Hope may be lost on the national stage for the moment. But, in the states, there's plenty of action. (Adam Lashinsky, CNN)
Green businesses: Don't abandon Washington - Corporations interested in green energy may be frustrated with Washington, but their voices need to be heard in D.C., says former EPA administrator Cathy Zoi. (Shelley DuBois, CNN)
Energy efficiency
Vermont Is Helping to Lead the Nation in Transforming Our Energy System - We come from Vermont. We know our small state cannot reverse global warming on our own, but we can provide a model for America which helps lead our nation and the world to a more sustainable and secure energy future. (Sen. Bernie Sanders and Gov. Peter Shumlin, The Huffington Post)
Guiding Europe Toward Clean Energy - Three years ago, Germany lobbied hard to appoint one of its own nationals to the post of E.U. energy commissioner, a move partly designed to quell anxiety among giant German utilities about the Union’s environment and climate agenda. (James Kanter, New York Times)
Clean Tech Support Is About to Fall Off a Cliff. Here’s One Way to Save It - The last few years have been very good to the clean tech industry as a whole—and the clean tech industry has been pretty good to America as well. (Bryan Walsh, TIME)
Energy Access
Exhibition Special: Expo marks dawn of solar power industry - More than 2,200 companies from around the globe will convene in Shanghai on May 16 to showcase the latest solar power technology and chart the industry's future at the sixth SNEC International Photovoltaic Power Generation Conference and Exhibition. (Zhuan Ti, China Daily)
Ethiopia: Industrial Nations Should Back Developing Countries Carbon-Free Development – EPA - The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) said developed countries should assist developing countries in their effort to realize carbon-free industrial development. (All Africa)