Energy access
UN: Developing countries offer "staggering" clean tech opportunity - Green businesses can take advantage of new markets and help UN meet its goal of universal access to energy, says UN Foundation executive. (Will Nichols, Business Green)
Praising India’s economic progress, Ban calls for more inclusive development - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today praised India’s economic development and called on the country build on it by implementing policies that reduce inequalities among society and take into account environmental and social factors. (UN News Centre)
23 National Energy, Private & Public Sector Leaders Make UN Sustainable Energy for All Commitments - Gathering in London for the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), energy ministers, and secretaries, from 23 governments around the world joined UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon’s Sustainable Energy for All program (SE4All) in committing to promote improved energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies and increased energy access around the world. (CleanTechnica)
Rio+20
The road to Rio+20: how has the UN process developed? (video) - Sustainability pioneers reflect on the shift of focus from the environment to sustainable development and discuss how business has become an essential element. (The Guardian)
The leadership role of cities worldwide grows as Rio +20 nears - Washington Post Writers Group Columnist, Neal Peirce, recently wrote a piece highlighting the growing demand from cities worldwide to play a greater role in the decision making process with international governing bodies, such as the United Nations. (Neal Peirce, National Geographic)
Rio+20 talks 'too focused on techno fixes', UN hears - The conviction that new technologies will solve the world's environmental and social problems has overly dominated early negotiations leading up to the Rio+20 summit in Brazil in June, a UN General Assembly meeting has heard. (Aisling Irwin, SciDevNet)
Energy efficiency
City Council Is Set to Encourage Greener Buildings With Zoning Changes - The New York City Council is expected to vote on Monday to update the city’s zoning regulations to make it easier for builders to insulate walls, install solar panels and put gardens on rooftops. (Mireya Navarro, The New York Times)
Renewable energy
Suzlon bags wind power project from UK's Eoxis - Wind turbine maker Suzlon Group today said it has bagged a contract to set up a wind power project in Rajasthan from UK-based Eoxis group. (The Economic Times)
Shell says no to North Sea wind power - Oil company insists it can't make the numbers add up to justify offshore windfarms. (Terry Macalister, The Guardian)
Maharashtra to boost power generation with three new solar energy plants - In an effort to boost power generation, Indian state of Maharashtra is looking for land to establish three solar power plants. (REVE)
Invest in renewable energy: scientist - The promotion of sustainable alternate energy sources, fuels other than oil and energy-efficient equipment are among strategies initiated in the country to achieve energy security, P. Sivakumar, Director, Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), said on Thursday. (The Hindu)
Sustainable energy policy
Ministers Wrap Up Clean Energy Meeting - Their work is not sexy and generates little controversy or media coverage, but a group of energy and environment ministers from 22 countries and the European Union is claiming substantial progress in spreading energy efficiency and more affordable energy around the globe. (John M. Broder, The New York Times)
China Carbon Blockage Begins to Ease: Energy Markets - China is starting to approve emission credits after a seven-month freeze, stoking speculation a glut that’s contributed to an unprecedented decline in European carbon prices will keep growing. (Mathew Carr, Bloomberg)
Earth Negotiations Bulletin - On Thursday, 26 April, delegates continued informal negotiations on the draft outcome document for the UNCSD. WG1 completed its first reading on the thematic areas under Section V (Framework for Action) in morning and afternoon sessions. In the evening, WG1 discussed sustainable development goals (SDGs). WG2 continued discussions on Section IV (IFSD). A number of side events were also convened. (IISD Reporting Services)

Rio+20
Sustainable Energy For All - We are under 6 weeks away from Rio+20, a major global confab dedicated to sustainable development.  Late last week, Ban Ki Moon visited Washington, DC to give a keynote address to a series of panel discussions organized by Center for Global Development. (Mark Leon Goldberg, UN Dispatch)
Sustainable Energy For All: Action, not just an agenda - WWF welcomes the launch of the Global Action Agenda under the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. (WWF International)
How We Can End Energy Poverty & Bring Sustainable Energy to All - Perhaps more than anything else, access to reliably electricity is what defines civilization in the 21st century, and has for at least the past 60 years. (Mat McDermott, Treehugger)
Sustainable energy policy
Energy secretary takes a swipe at George Osborne over green economy - Ed Davey hits out at chancellor's 'burden' remarks and says green policies are 'unashamedly good for growth'. (Fiona Harvey, The Guardian)
Do Elections Matter In Energy? - Despite the high volume of attention paid to elections, national policies may matter less than raw economics and common goals applied in nationally customized ways as the energy sector becomes increasingly networked across the world. (Peter Gardett, AOL Energy)
A comprehensive energy plan is crucial - President Barack Obama told Congress he would “keep trying every new idea that works, and listen to every good proposal, no matter which party comes up with it.” Western Republicans have laid out a clear path to energy security and job creation. (Senator John Barrasso, Politico)
Energy efficiency
Climate Goals Require $5 Trillion Investment by 2020 - Five trillion dollars of investment is needed worldwide by 2020 in renewable power, energy efficiency and cleaner transportation to contain rising global temperatures, the International Energy Agency said. (Alex Morales, Bloomberg)
Essent and Tendril Partner on First-of-Its-Kind Smart Energy Application Crowdsourcing Project - Tendril, the provider of the cloud platform for the Energy Internet, has partnered with Essent N.V., the largest energy company in the Netherlands serving more than 2 million households, to collaborate on the first-of-its-kind smart energy application crowdsourcing project. (Dan O'Mahony, MarketWatch)
Energy access
Areva Solar Builds Giant Solar Farm In India - In a northwestern corner of India, rows of steel and glass are rising from the ground to form what will be one of the largest solar power plants in Asia. (Ucilia Wang, Forbes)
Renewable energy
We can have safe, sustainable energy - With renewables we can contain consumption – and climate warming at 2C – if the big users act now. (Maria van der Hoeven, The Guardian)

U.S. and India partner to research biofuel - The U.S. Department of Energy has announced that the University of Florida will be working with the Indian government on a new alternative energy project concerning biofuel. (John Max, Hydrogen Fuel News)

Sustainable energy policy
Cameron Urges ‘Financially Sustainanable’ Clean Energy - U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said wind and solar companies must focus on cutting costs and developing the most suitable sites to make their technology palatable to the public. (Alex Morales and Reed Landberg, Bloomberg)
White House Promotes a Bioeconomy - The plan would foster development of a bioeconomy that would include the use of renewable resources and replace harsher industrial methods. (Andrew Pollack, The New York Times)
Government may re-introduce sops for wind farms - The renewable energy ministry is planning to re-introduce incentives for the wind energy sector to allay fears that capacity addition could fall after the sops were withdrawn from April 1. (Rachita Prasad, The Economic Times)
Energy efficiency
UK to give £60m to developing countries to build CCS plants - Boost to carbon capture and storage technology as global partnership is formed to support energy efficiency projects. (Fiona Harvey, The Guardian)
Unpowered Dams: America's Hidden Clean Power Supply - The U.S. has more than 80,000 dams that produce no power at all — a neglected resource that could supply clean electricity to millions of homes in states where it is needed most, according to a new report from the Department of Energy. (David Ferris, Forbes)
Renewable energy
Green energy 'cheap within years', says 'passionate' PM - Renewables can be one of the cheapest forms of energy within years, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. (Richard Black, BBC)
Cameron to praise Britain's leadership over renewable energy – Prime Minister to tell meeting of 23 countries that UK is spearheading green revolution, as Tory divisions deepen over environment. (Fiona Harvey and Damian Carrington, The Guardian)
India sparks solar energy market: Report - India's ambitious national solar programme has catalysed rapid growth in the solar market driving solar energy prices low and demonstrating how government policy can stimulate clean energy markets, according to a new report. (The Times of India)
Energy access
Coalition of World Energy Ministers Commit to Improvements in Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Energy Access - Leaders from the 23-government Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and the UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative (SE4All) today outlined specific commitments by participating countries and private sector leaders which will promote improved energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, and increased energy access around the world. (U.S. Department of Energy)
David Cameron's remarks to Clean Energy Ministerial meeting - The UK is leading on renewable energy, the prime minister told energy ministers at a summit in London. (The Guardian)
Learning from emerging energy innovations in Asia: Contributing to the discourse on an institutional framework for sustainable development - This study has been undertaken by TERI and IGES supported by AEI, Energy for All Initiative and the ADB and it focuses on what Asia has to offer by way of practice in addressing energy access and expansion of clean energy to the international dialogue on an institutional framework for sustainable development (IFSD). (Energy for All)
Rio+20
Africa: Rio+20 Must Tackle Leaders' Economic Concerns - Climate Expert – The upcoming U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro could be more positive for the environment than recent international climate summits as long as it attracts enough world leaders and tackles economic concerns as well as environmental challenges, according to a top climate expert. (All Africa)
Swedish conference calls for action at UN Rio meet - A conference of international experts and environment ministers in the Swedish capital on Wednesday urged world leaders gathering later this year in Brazil to discuss world's sustainable development to "stop talking and start acting." (Louise Nordstrom, Bloomberg Businessweek)
Asia needs clean energy to power sustainable & inclusive growth - Balancing sustainable development with high rates of economic growth requires agreement on a new energy compact for Asia and the Pacific, the top United Nations Asia-Pacific official told a forum of sector policymakers in Singapore. (The Nation)

Energy efficiency
Intel Holds #1 Position for Corporate Renewable Energy Consumption - Intel ranks first in the nation for using renewable energy, holding onto its position since 2008. (Sustainable Business News)
GE Energy Launches the Fully Networked WattStation(TM) and WattStation Connect Software, a Complete Electric Vehicle Charging Platform - GE Energy's GE +2.26% Industrial Solutions business unveiled its new ecomagination(TM)-approved WattStation(TM) and WattStation(TM) Connect today at the SAE 2012 World Congress in Detroit, Mich. (Press Release, MarketWatch)
China may steal a march on Europe in fight against climate change - Long accused of inaction, the country has put plans in place to reverse its record on carbon emissions target. (Rob Elsworth, The Guardian)
Sustainable energy policy
Gray to unveil D.C. sustainability plan - The District could add 250,000 residents over the next two decades under a new vision for the city that Mayor Vincent C. Gray will unveil Tuesday, which includes vast long-term changes for how residents travel, eat and enjoy the outdoors. (Tim Craig, The Washington Post)
Clinton: Energy management is ‘good economics’ - Applauding a group of local high school students for their efforts to promote and participate in conservation and sustainability projects, President Bill Clinton on Monday said energy management is “good economics.” (Lorie Hailey, The Lane Report)
Renewable energy
China Seeks to Promote Development of Biofuels Industry Despite Production Difficulties - A spokesperson for the National Energy Bureau said that the Chinese government has set a goal of utilizing five million tons of ethanol fuel during the "12th Five-Year" period spanning 2011 to 2015, nearly double that set for the prior period (2006-2010). (Liu Yuanyuan, Renewable Energy World)
Wind energy can be cheaper than photovoltaics solar energy - Generating wind power is more than twice as cheap as solar power photovoltaic (PV) energy production, a study of alternative energy in six developing countries has found. (REVE)
China adds power to geothermal energy links with Iceland - China has expanded its geothermal co-operation with Iceland to include plans for electricity production. (Dominique Patton, RECharge)
Rio+20
Rio+20 Newsletter: Making it Happen, Volume 3, Issue 4 - We need to mobilize public support around the world for the vision of finally building a sustainable world that guarantees the well-being of humanity, while preserving the planet for future generations. (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development)
Time to Help Power the World with renewable energy at the 2012 Earth Summit - One in five people in the world live without electricity – or around 1.3 billion people – and one billion more live only with access to unreliable electricity. (Jake Schmidt, NRDC Switchboard)
Recent crises linked to finance, fuel, food and the environment pose serious threats to global development-Report - Successful initiatives to promote sustainable consumption and production are flourishing around the globe, but further efforts are needed to embed such practices in existing policy frameworks, according to a new Global Outlook Report published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with the European Commission. (Balkans Business News)
Energy access
Juwi Talking to Companies for Renewable Ventures in South Africa - Juwi Holding AG, a German renewable-energy developer, is talking to companies about partnerships to develop solar and wind power projects in South Africa, which is striving to cut its reliance on coal. (Louise Downing, Bloomberg)
Namibia: Windhoek Signs Up for Solar Power - The City of Windhoek has entered into an agreement with Invest Africa Energy Services for the provision of solar-powered electricity. (All Africa)
Unlocking the Gigawatts of Geothermal Power in Kenya - Kengen, GDC sign $700 million contracts for the development of geothermal power plants in the emerging region. (Peter Kahare, Renewable Energy World)
ADB to fund RPower’s solar project in Rajasthan - To help boost private investment in renewable energy, multilateral lending agency ADB has announced $103-million loan to Reliance Power for setting up a 100-MW solar plant in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. (The Hindu Business Line)