Published Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 11:51
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1075 views and 0 comments)
What will the PES do to encourage a low carbon consumption
style in Europe?
How will Europe’s socialists and social democrats address the
challenge of climate change?
Where does the PES stand on nuclear energy?
These were some of the questions we received when we encouraged
Yourspace users to ask questions to Mona Sahlin, leader of the
Social Democratic Party of Sweden and responsible for the
manifesto theme Save our planet. Check out her answers in the video
below.
Tags: climate change, CO2, consumer, environment, fossil fuels, renewable energy
Published Monday, October 22, 2007 at 17:50
by
Editor
in Save our planet (971 views and 2 comments)
Mona Sahlin, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Sweden, has agreed to take part in the first PES Yourspace manifesto2009 YouTube debate, which will take place on Wednesday 24 October at 6pm!
How does it work? You submit your question to Mona Sahlin either in video on our Yourspace YouTube channel or as written question by e-mail. She will give her answers on Wednesday afternoon and we will put the videos online by Thursday.
Mona Sahlin is leading the discussion in the PES on the ‘Save our Planet’ manifesto theme. So she is looking for questions and comments on climate change, environmental protection, renewable energy, how to achieve a fossil-fuel free society and any other issue which you believe is important for her to take into account.
Tags: environment, manifesto
Published Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 11:01
by
Editor
in Save our planet (959 views and 2 comments)
Al Gore and the
United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have
been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel
Committee "for their efforts to build up and disseminate
greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the
foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such
change."
According to the Committee Chairman, "a peace price is a positive message and support to all fighting for peace in the world." The award highlights the potential of climate change to cause conflict between nations - and the potentially transforming impact of the co-operation needed between nations to tackle this challenge. Is encouraging international collaboration to fight climate change the EU's next big task?
Tags: climate change, environment, globalization, USA
Published Friday, October 12, 2007 at 10:55
by
Editor
in Save our planet (846 views and 3 comments)
The EU has
agreed to a very ambitious, binding EU-wide target of 20 percent
of their energy needs from renewable sources, for example wind
and solar power, by 2020. Now Member States are confronted with
the issue of setting national targets to achieve the EU goals.
In December the European Commission will make new proposals for better coordinate the efforts of Member States to introduce renewable energy. Burden sharing seems to be the keyword in current approaches where countries such as Denmark, which already meet a 9 percent figure, will contribute more while others with little potential like the Czech Republic will contribute less. Differing climatic and geographical conditions across the EU mean that some states will have difficulties meeting the targets. The different national situations will be taken into account in future decisions.
The EU is already behind and will probably not meet the 2010 target of 12 percent. Italy has recently stated that it will be unable to produce more than 15 procent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. Other countries push for more flexible ways of reaching the targets, including the use of nuclear power.
Being ambitious is often essential for success, but has the EU gone too far this... » read more ...
Tags: environment, renewable energy
Published Thursday, October 4, 2007 at 11:45
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1306 views and 10 comments)
A much
favored cure for global warming might be worse than the disease.
According to a new report the use hydrogen and other biofuels
will make energy prices more changeable, increase food prices and
even result in a higher emission of greenhouse gases.
The Round Table on Sustainable Development of the OECD has recently published a study (PDF) on the consequences of a massive increase of the use of biofuels. It argues that EU governments’ support for biofuels will cause food shortages and lead to the destruction of natural habitats - while making little impact on climate change. The OECD suggests that the EU plans to obtain 10 percent of its transport fuel from plants by 2020 will have little or no effect on climate change.
The OECD expresses doubts that the technical means exist to produce biofuels in ways that enable the world to meet demand for transportation energy in more secure and less harmful ways without compromising the ability to feed a growing population. This runs counter to studies like the... » read more ...
Tags: biofuels, environment, renewable energy
Published Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 10:51
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1110 views and 6 comments)
Sometimes solving one problem brings about another. A recent study by the European Trade Union Confederation looks into the relationship between climate change and employment. One of the conclusions of the report is that prevention of climate change bears the risk of increased unemployment: If economic activities are slowed down in order to reduce energy consumption many jobs will be lost. Especially the energy, construction and transport sectors are in risk of unemployment, if CO2 emissions are cut in a way that might benefit the environment, but not the job market.
The study underlines the need for a European strategy for smart, green growth. We need to consider how to reduce CO2 without loosing jobs. Here the report is optimistic and concludes that with the right political initiatives lowering our energy consumption can even create new jobs. The transport sector is highlighted as an example, where jobs in public transport and rail are expected to increase.
How do you think we can balance fighting climate change with economic growth and high employment?
Tags: climate change, CO2, environment, transport
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