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)

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)

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)

Rio+20

UN Secretary-General Welcomes European Commission's Commitment to Sustainable Energy for All - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the European Commission's Energizing Development Initiative to assist developing countries in providing access to sustainable energy for their populations. The initiative will seek to provide energy services to 500 million people by 2030. (Jean-Luc Onckelinx, Barron’s)

The Road to Rio+20: Houston is a city leading by example - Houston's sustainability strategy is impressive, an example of the key position cities have in driving the green economy forward, says Jason Hartke. (Jason Hartke, The Guardian)

Americas summit backs Rio+20 - Leaders from across the Americas on Sunday expressed their support for the United Nations- sponsored sustainable development conference also known as Rio+20, to be held in Brazil from June 20-22. (Xinhua, People’s Daily Online)

Energy efficiency

Energy efficiency – This article summarizes the key points from the February 2012 Guardian Sustainable Business Quarterly’s energy efficiency discussion group. (The Guardian)

Plant to convert kitchen waste into biogas inaugurated in city - With a little help from an Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) scientist, residents of a colony in Gun Rock are turning their kitchen waste into biogas using a 'modular digester'. (The Times of India)

Cuba upgrades hydroelectric plant with Chinese tech - Cuba was renovating its oldest hydroelectric plant with Chinese parts and technology, local media said Sunday. (Xinhua, China Daily)

Renewable energy

A 360 degree view of the South African solar industry – The second window of the IPP programme, which closed in March, saw 79 new bidders join the race to develop South Africa's new era of renewable energy projects. (Amber Williams, RenewableEnergyWorld)

US Exim to fund Reliance Power's solar expansion - Betting big on growing renewable energy investments in India, the US Exim Bank has approved a $80 million (over Rs 400 crore) direct loan for Anil Ambani's Reliance Power to fund acquisition of solar power technology from American companies. (The Times of India)

Advocates for renewables need to change their messaging, BNEF founder says - Before Michael Liebreich established New Energy Finance in 2004, those who were deeply interested in renewable energy were essentially typecast into two distinct folds -- either they were engineers and scientists or Birkenstock-wearing granola eaters. (Dan McCue, Renewable Energy Magazine)

Energy access

"Energising Development": Commission's new initiative to help achieve energy access for all by 2030 - A new EU energy initiative will provide access to sustainable energy for an additional 500 million people in developing countries by 2030 was today announced by European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso. (Press Release, European Commission)

Uganda: New, Easy Method to Access Solar Energy - Like much of East Africa, Uganda is emerging out of an energy crisis that at one time saw load shedding hit an unprecedented 24-hour schedule. (Jerome Mukasa, All Africa)

Yavatmal to get solar energy project - Yavatmal has been selected for setting up a solar energy project to generate 125MW electricity. Preliminary procedure has almost been completed. (The Times of India)

Sustainable energy policy

Green deal under fire from climate change sceptics - The green deal, the government's big policy initiative for fighting climate change, is supposed to plug one of Britain's biggest sources of carbon emissions – draughty, fuel-poor homes. (Fiona Harvey, The Guardian)

Preparing For The Energy Generation: What You Need to Know – As industries remain confined to their respective space, there is one big elephant stomping its way into each and every board room. (Joelle Zerillo, Forbes)

Eritrea: Implementation Process of Energy Policies As Regards Economic and Social Service Advancement Described Effective - The Ministry of Energy and Mines said that the implementation process of various energy policies adopted so as to ensure economic advancement and social services at reasonable price was effective. (All Africa)