Rio+20

Rio+20's opportunity will be squandered without courage and vision - As Elders, we have been involved in public life for quite a long time. We know that change takes time and don't get too worried when progress seems slow. (The Guardian)

Environment: Will Rio+20 Spark a Green Revolution? - Think of Rio+20 as the hothouse to grow the green ideas and values humanity needs to thrive in the 21st century. (Inter Press Service, Scottrade)

Brazil readies 15,000 security forces for Rio summit - The Brazilian military will coordinate the deployment of 15,000 security personnel during next month's UN summit on sustainable development here, Defense Minister Celso Amorim said Monday. (France24)

Energy access

Access to Low-Cost Energy Vital to Eradicate Extreme Poverty - With more than a billion people continuing to live without access to electricity, the President of the UN General Assembly Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser today said making low-cost energy readily available is vital to eradicate extreme poverty. (Mina Fabulous, News Blaze)

Continental Geothermal Energy Project Receives US$ 11.5 Million Grant - Continental Energy Corporation, an emerging unconventional energy company concentrating its efforts in Southeast Asia, today announced that the Government Of Malaysia, acting through its Public Private Partnership Unit of the Prime Minister's Department, has awarded a grant of 35 Million Malaysian Ringgit (approximately US$ 11.5 Million) to Tawau Green Energy Sdn. Bhd. ("TGE"). (MarketWatch)

Namibia: Energy Reform Crucial for Private Investment - A "largely non-existent and partially outdated regulatory framework" for Namibia's energy sector is discouraging private players from entering the industry to help boost the country's power generation capacity. (Jo-MarÉ Duddy, All Africa)

Energy efficiency

Linkin Park aim for green on tour - Linkin Park has unveiled a Honda Civic Si Coupe and CBR250R motorcycle for the car brand. (Brand-m)

Let There Be Light: Clean Energy Innovation at Home Supports Stability Abroad - Last week, President Obama traveled to Newton, Iowa to visit TPI Composites, a provider of, among other things, wind energy composites. (Erin Mazursky, The Huffington Post)

Germany in 20 billon euro grid upgrade as it quits nuclear - Germany mapped out a 20 billion euro ($25 billion) plan on Tuesday to expand its power grid and avoid a "power gap" as Europe's largest economy switches away from nuclear to renewable energy. (Reuters)

Renewable energy

Status update of solar policies and allocations across India - Last summer, Ritesh Pothan blogged about India’s Central Government Policy as well as certain key state policies for solar power in Part 2 of his Indian Solar Saga series. In this latest piece, he updates us on the state of play of these policies across India. (Ritesh Pothan, Renewable Energy Magazine)

Guernsey renewable energy projects 'on right path'- Twenty-four undergraduates were in the island for 10 days to study the potential for renewable energy. Their initial findings were of "a vast wind, wave and tide resource" and "good potential for financial returns". (BBC)

Solar Power Plants in Kashmir - Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and Union minister for new and renewable energy Farooq Abdullah today inaugurated a 18-KW Solar Power Plant at Sub-District Hospital at Charar-i-Sharief in Budgam district. (Times of India)

Sustainable energy policy

Asia-Pacific region must adopt low carbon policies to sustain growth – UN - Asia-Pacific nations must adopt low carbon policies to reduce poverty and sustain their economic growth, according to a United Nations roadmap launched today, which puts forward a series of strategies to help developing countries in the region deal with shrinking natural resources and climate change and drive sustainable development. (UN News Centre)

Africa: Presidents Commit to Nurturing Africa's 'Natural Capital' - Until Africa's forests are valued for the oxygen they produce for the world's ecosystems, they will be worth more when they are dead than alive, said Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at a summit for "Sustainability in Africa" held in Botswana from May 24-25. (Sue Valentine, AllAfrica)