Energy Efficiency: a look at the US, China and India
Energy efficiency is arguably the most promising strategic area to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By decreasing energy demand, energy efficiency initiatives help reduce: The pressure on our energy system The amount of installed clean energy capacity required to substitute current fossil fuel production Our dependence on foreign fossil fuels, thereby increasing energy independence and stability […]
The Carbon Capture and Storage Debate: Are we “Locking Out” the low carbon energies of the future?
As explained in a previous post, Government policy can have enormous impact in shaping our technological base in the future by promoting the “locking in” or “locking out” of certain technological innovation. Just as Governments can help incentivize the “lock in” of renewable energy technology into our energy future, their decisions can also play a […]
The EU Emissions Trading System and the Complexities of Incentivizing a Clean Energy Future
The European Union has been working diligently to promote the expansion of a low carbon economy. They have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, passed a relatively rigorous energy strategy for 2020, and created the largest Carbon Cap and Trade System in the World: the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). To briefly explain how the EU […]
Frustrations from the World’s Youth at the UN Climate Conference
For the past two weeks, leaders from over 190 countries have been negotiating the future of climate change at this year’s UN Conference on Climate. The negotiations have taken place between member countries of the UN international treaty titled the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The treaty was ratified at the Earth […]