http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news en chris.littlecott@e3g.org Copyright 2008 2008-07-02T13:23:57+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/new-e3g-office-visitor-directions/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/new-e3g-office-visitor-directions/#When:13:23:57Z Our transition from our old home in the Science Museum is now almost complete, and right now we’re busily unpacking boxes at our new office in Borough High Street. Attached here in pdf format for download are our updated directions for visitors. E3G Address Details E3G Office: Visitor Directions Visiting E3G The new E3G office is located at 210 Borough High Street, just 20 metres from Borough Tube Station. E3G Location Map If arriving by Tube, turn right upon exiting the station. The E3G office can then be found at ‘In Tuition House’, just after ‘The Trinity’ Public House and next to ‘Café Chantilly’. Press the buzzer on the right hand side of the door to speak to the E3G office and gain access to the building. In the event that no one is present, please contact the main reception of In Tuition house. The E3G office is on the fourth floor - the lift and stairs are straight ahead… News and Announcements 2008-07-02T13:23:57+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/christian-science-monitor-fuel-prices-in-the-uk/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/christian-science-monitor-fuel-prices-in-the-uk/#When:12:42:00Z “At $9 per gallon, British driving habits change” is the title and theme of an article by Mark Rice-Oxley in Christian Science Monitor. Rice-Oxley explores the links between high petrol prices and the environment – particularly carbon emissions, and includes quotes from E3G’s Tom Burke: Many environmentalists have quietly rejoiced that the high cost of fuel is apparently achieving what governments have largely failed to: a reduction in carbon emissions. But not all subscribe to this logic. Tom Burke, an environmental scientist and former government adviser, says high pump prices “inevitably fall hardest on people who can least bear them, instead of on governments who took wrong decisions.” “You can’t just say it’s a good thing that prices go up and people will do more sensible things,” he says. “Older people, people already at the bottom of the pile, will find it harder ... to live and anyone who welcomes that has lost their humanity.” Mr. Burke adds that the British government should have started upgrading public transport a long time ago so that a… E3G in the Media 2008-07-01T12:42:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/e3g-office-move-1st-to-3rd-july-2008/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/e3g-office-move-1st-to-3rd-july-2008/#When:16:54:04Z E3G is moving! After 3 years in the Science Museum, we’ve grown to such an extent that we need more room. So, our long-awaiting office move is now imminent. Painters and carpet-layers are currently preparing our new space, and we’ll be migrating en masse next week to our new location on Borough High Street. The days of Monday 1st to 3rd July will be the key moving days, and there may be some disruption to email and phone contact. Once we are safely in our new abode, we will provide full details of how to contact and visit us. Our new office address is: E3G, Third Generation Environmentalism 4th floor, In Tuition House 210 Borough High Street London SE11JX telephone: +44 (0)20 7234 9880 fax: +44 (0)20 7234 0851 News and Announcements 2008-06-25T16:54:04+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/cnncom-g8-summit-preview/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/cnncom-g8-summit-preview/#When:15:46:00Z With the 2008 G8 summit fast approaching, CNN.com has looked ahead at the possible outcomes on climate change. Included in their interviews with “world leaders working at the sharp end of combating climate change” was E3G’s own Tom Burke. The environmental policy advisor: Tom Burke Tom Burke is a British environmental policy advisor to Rio Tinto plc, one of the world’s largest mining and resource companies. He is also the founding director of E3G, a not for profit organization that works to promote sustainable development. As well as chairing numerous environmental forums, he was formerly the executive director of Friends of the Earth. CNN: What do you expect from the G8 summit? Burke: Unless the developing world see the developed world as being serious about climate change then it’s going to be very hard to get agreements in Copenhagen [UN climate change conference in 2009] and right now China, India and other countries look at what we’re doing rather than what we’re saying and they quite correctly come to the conclusion that we’re not serious. The… E3G in the Media 2008-06-20T15:46:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/press-release-carbon-capture-and-storage-critical-for-eus-climate-change-ob/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/press-release-carbon-capture-and-storage-critical-for-eus-climate-change-ob/#When:15:31:00Z E3G has joined together with Alstom, Bellona Foundation, Climate Change Capital, and Royal Dutch Shell, to form a CCS Leadership Coalition. The Coalition members aim to collaborate on the accelerated development of CCS by supporting and building on current proposals for European climate & energy legislation. Full details follow below. Accelerated deployment of carbon capture and storage critical to achieving Europe’s climate change objectives Press release: CCS Leadership Coalition calls for EU action starting in 2009 on the eve of a Parliamentary workshop on CCS. A new coalition of industry and NGOs today is calling for accelerated deployment of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) as part of wider EU efforts to prevent run-away climate change and to reduce global CO2 emissions. CCS is an essential and pragmatic solution in a world that by 2050 will need to have cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% from current levels and yet will remain dependent on fossil fuels due to rising energy demands. The critical contribution of CCS has been identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for its potential to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Global energy scenarios which… Press Releases 2008-05-27T15:31:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/newsnight-the-end-of-green/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/newsnight-the-end-of-green/#When:15:22:00Z What do rising fuel prices and the credit crunch mean for environmental concerns? With some commentators suggesting that the environment will now have to take a back seat as consumers worry about their wallets, BBC Newsnight explored the topic with a major feature on 27th May. Tom Burke on Newsnight E3G Founding Director Tom Burke was interviewed for the report, and he gave a good kick to the lazy misconception that the solution is a cut in fuel price: I think this whole idea that you are on a seesaw – that you have got the environment on the one side and the economy on the other side and you can only do one well by one by doing badly by the other, completely… E3G in the Media 2008-05-27T15:22:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/climate-security-report-covered-by-new-security-beat-blog/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/climate-security-report-covered-by-new-security-beat-blog/#When:16:29:00Z For a while now, one of the top places for forward thinking on today’s new security context has been the ‘New Security Beat’ blog maintained by staff of the Environmental Change and Security Program (ECSP) at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. As their blog banner proclaims: Population growth. Water scarcity. Degraded ecosystems. The resource curse. Pandemic disease. Forced migration. Often linked to civil conflict and war, these problems are today’s new security threats. New Security Beat editor Rachel Weisshaar today published an overview of Nick Mabey’s RUSI report ‘Delivering Climate Security’. E3G in the Media 2008-05-01T16:29:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/reuters-russian-climate-plans-show-tough-path-to-un-treaty/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/reuters-russian-climate-plans-show-tough-path-to-un-treaty/#When:16:43:00Z Alister Doyle of Reuters looks at the importance of recent reports that Russia would not accept new binding caps on emissions under a new global climate deal: His article includes insights from climate scientist Bill Hare and the view of the European Commission, as well as this pithy statement from our own Nick Mabey: Analysts say Moscow’s position may be an opening salvo. “You have to take the Russian position with a pinch of salt,” said Nick Mabey, head of London-based environmental think-tank E3G. “They have a falling population so the pressure on emissions is much lower than in the United States where population is rising,” he said. “And the Russians still have a lot of potential for energy savings.” E3G in the Media 2008-04-30T16:43:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/daily-telegraph-climate-security-report-makes-the-front-page/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/daily-telegraph-climate-security-report-makes-the-front-page/#When:16:24:01Z The publication of Nick Mabey’s climate security report makes front page news in the Daily Telegraph. Environment editor Charles Clover focuses on the threat to international security that could stem from runaway climate change. The article is titled Climate shift ‘may put world at war’, and the introduction focuses on the nub of the problem: Climate change could cause global conflicts as large as the two world wars but lasting for centuries unless the problem is controlled, a leading defence think tank has warned.” Clover goes on to highlight that: the world’s response to the threats posed by climate change, such as rising sea levels and migration, had so far been “slow and inadequate,” because nations had failed to prepare for the worst-case scenario.” He then quotes Nick directly: “We’re preparing for a car bomb, not for 9/11,” said Nick Mabey, author of the report Mr Mabey, a former senior member of the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit who is now chief executive of the environmental group E3G, said leading economies should… E3G in the Media 2008-04-23T16:24:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/news-release-rusi-report-security-response-to-climate-change-slow-and-inade/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/news-release-rusi-report-security-response-to-climate-change-slow-and-inade/#When:23:01:00Z Today sees the publication of ‘Delivering Climate Security: International Security Responses to a Climate Changed World’, written by E3G Chief Executive Nick Mabey and published by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) as the latest in its series of ‘Whitehall Papers’. The official publication press release follows below. RUSI report: Security response to climate change ‘slow and inadequate’ The international response to climate security threats has been ‘slow and inadequate’ and nations need to integrate climate change into their security policy to prepare for worst case scenarios, according to new research from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Warning that a failure to acknowledge climate change security threats is as dangerous as neglecting the risks of terrorism or nuclear weapons proliferation, the new report - published today (Wednesday 23 April 2008) - also stresses climate security concerns will drive ‘fundamental changes’ to the geo-political landscape, alter how international relations are conducted and force a radical rethink of UK interests. Climate Security Whitehall Paper The RUSI Whitehall Paper, Delivering Climate Security: International Security Responses to a Climate Changed World, calls for… Press Releases 2008-04-22T23:01:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/nick-mabey-joins-eco-towns-challenge-panel/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/nick-mabey-joins-eco-towns-challenge-panel/#When:09:43:00Z E3G Chief Executive Nick Mabey is one of 12 experts who will provide advice on the development of a series of new eco-towns in the UK. The panel’s role will be to recommend potential improvements to each developer for their eco-town proposals. The panel will not be responsible for assessing proposals or judging their relative merits. The Government will be responsible for assessing the proposals and Ministers will make the final decision on locations for Eco-town development based on the quality of bids and with reference to the criteria set out in the Eco-town Prospectus. The Eco-town Challenge will run from April until July 2008. Full details follow below in the official news release: Twelve experts sign up for eco-towns challenge Twelve experts from the worlds of design, the environment, transport and sustainability have signed up to join the Eco-towns Challenge and play a key role in shaping the future of the biggest new towns programme in the UK for forty years. The panel of leading figures announced today by Housing Minister Caroline Flint will provide expert advice and support to developers whose proposed locations were announced in last week’s shortlist… News and Announcements 2008-04-09T09:43:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/bangkok-climate-talks-japan-usa-and-agreement-on-an-agenda/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/bangkok-climate-talks-japan-usa-and-agreement-on-an-agenda/#When:15:07:01Z Three months after the landmark agreement on a road map towards strengthened international action on climate change reached in Bali, Indonesia, the latest round of negotiations shifted to the neighbouring country of Thailand and its capital, Bangkok. The talks took place between 31 March to 4 April 2008 at the United Nations Conference Centre of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Jennifer Morgan, E3G’s Director of Climate and Energy Security, was in attendance, and helped the media to interpret the negotiations as they reached crunch point. Speaking to the AP agency, she firstly highlighted the impact of the Japanese negotiating position: The U.S. and Japan are playing hard ball”, said Jennifer Morgan with the E3G environmentalist group. “Because Japan has been so aggressive in its stance, it’s creating a very negative mood”, she said. Later, once a final agreement had at last been reached, she then drew attention to the key role that the USA would play going forward: Jennifer… E3G in the Media 2008-04-04T15:07:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/g20-chiba-summit-gleneagles-dialogue-concerns-over-climate-finance/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/g20-chiba-summit-gleneagles-dialogue-concerns-over-climate-finance/#When:15:19:00Z As part of the Japanese Presidency of the G8, the 14-16 March saw a gathering of the G20 group of nations in Chiba for the 4th Ministerial meeting of the Gleneagles Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development. E3G’s Jennifer Morgan was in attendance, and featured prominently in media reporting of the ministerial discussions. Firstly, in advance of the meeting concerns were already being raised about the nature of new climate funds proposed by the UK, Japan and USA, as reported by Reuters: “What seems to be happening is that you have three announcements from Japan, Britain and the U.S. that have now been combined into a World Bank special strategic climate fund,” said Jennifer Morgan of environmental institute E3G. But she said the multi-billion dollar scheme did not appear to have much new money, had left developing countries out of negotiations on how the money would be used until very recently, and had quite a number of conditions attached. “It’s been used by the Bush administration to promote their own… E3G in the Media 2008-03-20T15:19:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/bright-spark-leading-the-way-john-ashton-interview/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/bright-spark-leading-the-way-john-ashton-interview/#When:16:03:00Z The Irish Independent today carries an extensive interview with E3G Founding Director John Ashton. Focusing mainly on the political challenges John deals with as Special Representative for Climate Change at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, journalist Brendan Keenan starts his article by referring to John’s role here at E3G: Mr Ashton has a double qualification for the job, being a rare example of a professional diplomat with a science degree. He was an advisor to the last Hong Kong governor, Chris Patten, and later formed E3G, a “change agency”, which has brokered deals on climate and energy between developed and developing countries. The interview proper starts with John’s overview of the scale of the challenge we face: He does not go in for diplomatic niceties when it comes to climate change, arguing that the threat it poses to countries’ futures is on a par with the gravest security dangers, or even full-scale war. “This is as big a political challenge as any we have ever faced,” says Ashton, who spoke at the Irish Government’s major Energy Forum in Dublin… E3G in the Media 2008-03-13T16:03:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/media-brief-new-eu-climate-change-package-fails-to-tame-king-coal/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/media-brief-new-eu-climate-change-package-fails-to-tame-king-coal/#When:12:02:00Z This week the European Commission publishes a package of proposed measures to drive forward Europe’s response to the climate change threat, implementing the March 2007 European Council committments to 20% emission reductions, 20% improvement in energy efficiency, and 20% more renewable energy by the year 2020 compared to 1990 levels. Central to this must be the effective encouragement of carbon capture and storage technology as a part of a strategy for the transition to a low carbon future. A new E3G media brief outlines the current failings of the package on offer, and proposes 5 key improvements that must be made now. The text of the briefing follows below and is attached as a pdf download. New EU Climate Change Package Fails to Tame King Coal Media Brief from E3G London, 22nd January 2008 The European Commission has retreated from its ambition of making the EU the first advanced economy to decarbonise its power sector by scaling back plans for developing and deploying carbon capture and storage technology. Even if the EU meets its new, ambitious renewable energy targets, around 70% of new… Press Releases 2008-01-22T12:02:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/asahi-shimbun-jennifer-morgan-interview/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/asahi-shimbun-jennifer-morgan-interview/#When:13:55:00Z In the aftermath of the Bali Climate Conference, E3G’s Jennifer Morgan has been interviewed by Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. A pdf of the interview (in Japanese) is attached for download, and an image follows below the fold… Asahi Shimbun Interview E3G in the Media 2007-12-24T13:55:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/der-tagesspiegel-european-climate-diplomacy/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/der-tagesspiegel-european-climate-diplomacy/#When:14:16:01Z The Berlin-based daily newspaper Der Tagesspiegel reports on why the USA gave in to international pressure at the UN climate negotiations in Bali. The article (in German) includes the thoughts of German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who claims success was only achieved thanks to the EU following a risky but shared negotiation strategy. E3G’s Jennifer Morgan is quoted in support of this perspective, saying: it was precisely the combination between the political will in Europe as well as major developing countries which proved to be the decisive factor in bringing down US opposition.” E3G in the Media 2007-12-18T14:16:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/sueddeutsche-zeitung-altering-traditional-climate-diplomacy/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/sueddeutsche-zeitung-altering-traditional-climate-diplomacy/#When:13:28:01Z The Munich-based daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reports on the political and diplomatic dynamics during the last hours of the UN climate negotiations on Bali. The article (in German) outlines the dynamics during the last hours of the Bali negotiations. As traditional diplomacy no longer seemed able to produce results, the Bali strategy became a game of “name and blame.” E3G’s Jennifer Morgan was quoted in this regard, saying: There exists a whole gang of states eager to slow down the process of reaching an agreement wherever they possibly can. Will President Bush really risk being blamed for its failure? Probably not. The international community must therefore isolate those who continue to sabotage climate protection.” E3G in the Media 2007-12-14T13:28:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/new-arrivals-new-adverts-and-a-goodbye/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/new-arrivals-new-adverts-and-a-goodbye/#When:13:29:00Z Our batch of job adverts back in August resulted in a huge response - we received over 100 applicants for the researcher position alone. We’ve now completed hiring for those positions, and new staff members will be joining us shortly, starting later this week. Biographies will follow just as soon as the new arrivals are through the door. We’re also now starting recruitment on 2 programme leader positions to contribute to our Climate and Energy Security work. The roles will be focused on delivering our activities in Europe (particularly relating to Carbon Capture and Storage technology), and on efforts to achieve a ‘global deal’ on climate change in 2009-10. Individual job adverts will provide full details shortly. And we’d like to take this opportunity to thank our former researcher Marina Brutinel for all her hard work, insights, persistence, and flair over the last 2 years. Marina has now moved back to France to study a Masters in the Economics of Sustainable Development in developing countries. The course is organised jointly by Cerdi (CNRS Research Centre on Development Economics) and the AFD (Agence Française de Développement), and includes a… News and Announcements 2007-10-30T13:29:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/guardian-letter-on-the-eu-reform-treaty/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/guardian-letter-on-the-eu-reform-treaty/#When:00:21:00Z E3G Chief Executive Nick Mabey was a signatory to a letter to The Guardian in support of the EU Reform Treaty, published on 19th October 2007: As supporters of the Coalition for the Reform Treaty, we encourage successful negotiations on the European treaty currently being negotiated by Gordon Brown and other heads of government (Leaders, October 17). The measures in the treaty are not only in the EU’s interest but in Britain’s interests too. They propose various changes which have been made necessary by the policy of enlargement. The EU’s membership has almost doubled from 15 members to 27 members since 2004. Enlargement to eastern Europe, while being one of the most spectacular foreign-policy success stories of recent times, has meant that the EU needs to reform its institutions. Reading some of the coverage of the treaty, one could be forgiven for missing the fact that it actually increases the UK’s voting weight in the European Council by 45%, and other institutional changes make it more likely that the UK can accelerate reform in priority areas. Furthermore, we welcome an agreement because it brings… E3G in the Media 2007-10-19T00:21:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/reuters-carbon-price-is-poor-weapon/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/reuters-carbon-price-is-poor-weapon/#When:14:42:00Z The practical value of a carbon price comes under scrutiny in an analysis article by Jeremy Lovell of Reuters. Lovell contrasts the theoretical role a carbon price could play in driving forward technological changes with the realities of its limited influence to date. The article features extensive quotes from E3G founding director Tom Burke: The policy instrument of choice pretty well everywhere is a price for carbon, and it is not going to work,” said Tom Burke of environment lobby group E3G. “To stop climate change moving from a bad problem getting worse to a worse problem becoming catastrophic, you have to make the global energy system carbon neutral by 2050—and that will not happen just using carbon pricing.” Burke said what was urgently needed were strict technical standards and investment incentives to achieve the transition. “You have got to drive the carbon out of the energy system and then keep it out forever,” he said. “In the first part of that you are making serious step changes. They are not going to be accomplished by marginal changes in price.” … E3G in the Media 2007-09-25T14:42:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/living-on-earth-climate-diplomacy/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/living-on-earth-climate-diplomacy/#When:13:55:01Z With climate negotiations in Bali fast approaching, and a conference of Major Emitters scheduled for next week in Washington D.C., E3G’s Jennifer Morgan provided an international perspective for National Public Radio’s Living on Earth program. A copy of the transcript follows below. You can listen online from the Living on Earth website. Climate Diplomacy CURWOOD: Now for an international perspective we turn to Jennifer Morgan, who is an advisor to the German government and director of the Climate Change Program for the British advocacy group E3G. The United States and China are the largest emitters of global warming gasses so a lot of the upcoming negotiations are focused on those two countries—the U.S., which repudiated Kyoto, and China, which has ratified Kyoto but is not bound under it to cap emissions. I asked Jennifer Morgan to explain the position of China, and its president, Hu Jintao. MORGAN: My understanding of the Chinese position is that they very… E3G in the Media 2007-09-22T13:55:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/radio-open-source-congenitally-buoyant-nick-mabey/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/radio-open-source-congenitally-buoyant-nick-mabey/#When:11:48:00Z The Radio Open Source blog carries an article looking at the 10th annual Symi Symposium event organized by the Andreas G. Papandreou Foundation. The article reports that this year, the conversation took place in Paros, Greece and explored “the consequences of climate change to policies on the environment, development, energy security, and international governance”. Blog author and radio show host Christopher Lydon posted his reflections on the symposium’s conversations, including that: Nick Mabey, a congenitally buoyant “change agent” from London, threw up his hands at the conversions required in domestic and global alliances, in public and private investments, in universal definitions of justice — all unprecedented in human history. “Money and technology are not the real constraints,” Mabey observed. “We do not have the politics.” E3G in the Media 2007-07-22T11:48:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/bbc-john-ashton-profile/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/bbc-john-ashton-profile/#When:09:12:00Z The BBC website has published a profile of E3G Founding Director John Ashton, reflecting the attention garnered by his recent TV and radio interviews regarding China’s emergence as the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide. The profile sets out details of his role as Special Representative for Climate Change of the UK Foreign Office, and mentions his role with E3G. It’s just a pity that their description of what we do doesn’t quite capture our approach… E3G in the Media 2007-06-28T09:12:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/reuters-carbon-price-wont-push-power-sector-away-from-coal/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/reuters-carbon-price-wont-push-power-sector-away-from-coal/#When:08:08:01Z The San Diego Union Tribune carries a Reuters story looking at the lucrative use of coal by power generators in Europe. To reach Kyoto targets, European countries have set up carbon trading schemes, which allow industries to buy permits to emit carbon dioxide. But the recent rises in oil and gas prices mean that coal still one of the cheapest options to produce energy. This issue is highlighted by a quote from Nick Mabey, E3G chief executive: Energy price rises have driven more investment into coal and coal to liquids than into renewables, and have swamped carbon prices” E3G in the Media 2007-06-27T08:08:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/iht-europe-must-move-on-global-warming/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/iht-europe-must-move-on-global-warming/#When:12:54:01Z The International Herald Tribune carries an article looking at the draft of the European Commission’s Green Paper “Adapting to Climate Change in Europe - Options for EU Action”. The article reports that the draft is mainly focused on European government’s responsibilities to take real actions to curb global warming. It highlights how economic and social systems could be affected if nothing is done. Indeed, the report examines the EU’s approach to adaptation to a changing climate. It underlines that the need to adapt could provoke significant changes in the EU’s global policies. In addition, the report explores new climate challenges for EU. It says that taking actions to tackle climate change could be a real opportunity for European governments to provide leadership. The article features the comments of E3G Founding Director Tom Burke; who stated: What we are seeing now are the early signs of climate change as a result of the emissions produced in the 1960s and 1970s...There is a 40 year lag between carbon entering the atmosphere and its effects starting… E3G in the Media 2007-06-25T12:54:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/gulf-times-g8-climate-statement-leaves-industry-in-a-policy-vacuum/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/gulf-times-g8-climate-statement-leaves-industry-in-a-policy-vacuum/#When:10:21:00Z The online version of the Gulf Times newspaper carries an article looking at the decisions of the 33rd G8 summit hosted by Germany. In particular, it underlines the G8’s difficulties in setting clear emissions targets which empower business to fight climate change. E3G founding director Tom Burke was quoted in the article, and criticised the G8 governments for not setting a framework within which business can act, saying: Business understands the scale of climate risk and just wants to get on with it. This isn’t getting on with it” Tom also advanced the view that only business could deliver the scale of investment needed to fight climate change, and stated that: Governments haven’t delivered a reliable and robust enough framework to allow that. This G8 statement just leaves them in as much uncertainty as before.” E3G in the Media 2007-06-09T10:21:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/the-independent-earths-natural-defences-against-climate-change-beginning-to/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/the-independent-earths-natural-defences-against-climate-change-beginning-to/#When:13:22:00Z In the run up to the G8 summit at Heiligendamm in Germany, The Independent carries an article looking at the concern expressed by scientists over the fast rise of atmospheric CO2 levels. A new study ‘Saturations of the Southern Ocean CO2 sink due to recent climate change’, published in the journal Science, suggests that stabilization of carbon emissions is even more difficult to achieve than previously thought. The article states that the Earth’s natural defence systems are beginning to fail, in particular referring to the ability of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica to absorb CO2. The Independent looks at the potential political implications of this, and quotes E3G founding director Tom Burke, who stated that: This is a timely warning in advance of Heiligendamm and the G8 that the climate clock is beginning to tick faster.” E3G in the Media 2007-05-17T13:22:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/invitation-tom-burke-lecture-on-nuclear-power/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/invitation-tom-burke-lecture-on-nuclear-power/#When:10:05:00Z The Environmental Law Foundation annual lecture for 2007 will be given by E3G Founding Director Tom Burke on Thursday 17 May at 6.00 pm. The lecture will be entitled is ‘Nuclear inevitable? Policy and politics for a carbon constrained world’, and will take place at the Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL. The evening will be an important opportunity to examine the issues surrounding the UK energy supply and its relevance to the challenge of climate change. Tom Burke will consider the possible ways forward that will best deliver the most sustainable approach to securing long-term energy needs for the UK. The lecture is sponsored by Themba Technology and supported by the Law Society. It will start promptly at 6.30pm, and will be followed by a reception. Tom Burke is a hugely engaging and thought-provoking speaker. He has been a professional environmentalist for 30 years, having been the statutory advisor to the Government on biodiversity from 1999-2005, the Special Advisor to three Secretaries of State for the Environment from 1991-97, and formerly the Director of the Green Alliance and Executive Director of Friends of… News and Announcements 2007-05-11T10:05:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/npr-climate-connections-tom-burke-interview/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/about/news-articles/npr-climate-connections-tom-burke-interview/#When:13:13:00Z Throughout 2007, National Public Radio in the USA is running a regular series profiling individuals who are making a difference on climate change. Yesterday saw E3G Founding Director Tom Burke in the spotlight. Interviewed by Richard Harris, there is an article on the NPR site to accompany the audio report of their journey around London. NPR Webpage Image Both versions of the profile chart Tom’s career from ‘firebrand environmentalist’ to his senior advisory roles in the UK Government and at mining company Rio Tinto. The interview also discuss Tom’s love for the paintings of Alan Rankle, his pragmatic approach to making change happen, and his firm conviction of the political nature of the climate change challenge. E3G in the Media 2007-05-04T13:13:00+00:00