http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate en chris.littlecott@e3g.org Copyright 2008 2008-07-15T12:12:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/john-ashton-in-korea-youtube-interview/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/john-ashton-in-korea-youtube-interview/#When:12:12:00Z E3G Founding Director John Ashton was recently visiting Korea in his role as Special Representative for Climate Change of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. A short interview with John has been posted on YouTube by the Foreign Office’s online team, and it is embedded here below. John highlights how decisions around the transition to a low-carbon economy will always be taken on the basis of an understanding of national interests, and don’t automatically flow from an international agreement. Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment 2008-07-15T12:12:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/carbon-capture-and-storage-letter-to-eu-energy-and-environment-ministers/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/carbon-capture-and-storage-letter-to-eu-energy-and-environment-ministers/#When:15:09:00Z The EU’s package of climate and energy measures will be top of the agenda when EU Energy and Environment Ministers meet in Paris from 3-5 July 2008. Ahead of their meeting, we’ve joined together with seven other organisations to write an open letter in support of EU action to secure the effective demonstration of carbon capture and storage. The text of the letter follows below, and a pdf version is attached for download. Joint Open Letter from Alstom, Bellona, E3G, Climate Change Capital, Fortum, Shell, Sintef and Vattenfall to EU Energy and Environment Ministers Informal Energy and Environment Council in Paris, 3-5 July 2008 Brussels, 30 June 2008 Dear Minister, European leadership on climate change, and in particular the targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions are laudable. We believe, however, that the needed reductions in CO2 emissions will not be achieved by 2030 without widespread deployment of CO2 capture and storage (CCS). Deployment of CCS on that time-scale requires CCS technology to be ready on commercial scale by 2015-2020. A well-constructed programme of demonstration projects starting early next decade is necessary to achieve this objective. The generally ambitious EU… Climate and Energy Security - Activities 2008-06-30T15:09:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/the-humanitarian-challenge-of-climate-change/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/the-humanitarian-challenge-of-climate-change/#When:15:53:01Z On the 5th June the University of Geneva Interdisciplinary Programme for Humanitarian Action hosted a one day conference entitled “Adapt or Surrender? The Challenges of Climate Change for Humanitarian Action”. The conference was intended to highlight the challenges and threats posed by climate change for humanitarian actors and highlight possible responses. Shane Tomlinson from E3G gave a keynote address highlighting the climate security challenge and the economic transformation which will be required to shift the world to a low-carbon development pathway. Unless nations understand the security implications of climate change it is unlikely to be prioritised in policy making. Debate on these issues needs to shift from narrowly focusing on apportioning the 0-2% of GDP global mitigation costs to managing the incidence of the 5-25% of global GDP damage costs which climate change could create. A pdf version of Shane’s presentation is attached for download, alongside the official conference flyer. Climate and Energy Security - Thinking 2008-06-05T15:53:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/eu-ccs-policy-financing-options/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/eu-ccs-policy-financing-options/#When:15:50:01Z The International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) hosted a workshop on 3rd June 2008 to discuss the financing options that would support the development and deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). E3G Associate Mark Johnston presented a technical working paper on the financing options. Mark’s presentation is attached here for download. It is also available on the IETA website, as are the presentations from Bellona, CEZ, and IETA. Climate and Energy Security - Thinking 2008-06-03T15:50:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/taming-king-coal-the-eus-energy-policy/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/taming-king-coal-the-eus-energy-policy/#When:14:39:00Z Europe has willed the end but not the means to deliver the CCS demonstration programme. Unless a way is found to rebuild momentum at EU level it is likely that companies will look to invest in other projects and other areas. In short, Europe has put itself between a rock and a hard place.  That’s the argument E3G Chief Executive Nick Mabey makes in a leader article published in Issue 3 of Carbon Capture Journal. The text of his article follows below. It’s also available in the pdf version of the full issue of the journal. Taming King Coal - the EU’s energy policy In March 2007 EU Heads of Government called for the deployment of technologies for the capture and storage of CO2 (CCS) in new European power plants by 2020, and welcomed the European Commission’s intention to establish a mechanism to stimulate the construction and operation by 2015 of up to 12 CCS demonstration plants.  The EU is now in the process of adopting legislation providing for the geological storage of CO2. So… Climate and Energy Security - Thinking 2008-05-28T14:39:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/eu-must-accelerate-ccs-demo-plant-development/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/eu-must-accelerate-ccs-demo-plant-development/#When:15:41:00Z EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes hosted a full-day seminar on Environmental Protection and Climate Change - Cost, Opportunities and the Role of Public Support on the 27th May 2008. E3G Chief Executive Nick Mabey was one of the discussants, and his remarks were subsequently reported by ENDS Europe Daily (subscription required): Nick Mabey of sustainability campaign group E3G told the conference that governments had “agreed on the end of developing CCS but not the means”. It would be the “biggest failure of EU policy” if they fail to agree a funding mechanism for the demonstration plants by the end of the year, he said. Funding could come from the proceeds of carbon permit auctions in the EU emission trading scheme, from EU agricultural subsidy “underspend”, or by creating a new EU low-carbon technology transition fund, he said. Policymakers must take more risks to develop potential emission-cutting technologies such as CCS and all stakeholders must be prepared to see some of these fail, he said. “Doing this… Climate and Energy Security - Activities 2008-05-27T15:41:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/clinton-mccain-obama-europes-opportunity-to-shape-a-presidency/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/clinton-mccain-obama-europes-opportunity-to-shape-a-presidency/#When:13:00:01Z Who will lead the USA back into a meaningful international engagement on climate change in 2009? And who can Europe work with best? Those are the questions raised by Stephen Boucher of the thinktank Notre Europe in his recent paper Clinton, Obama, McCain - Europe’s Best Hope for Fighting Climate Change. Now, as one of a number of responses to Stephen Boucher’s paper, E3G’s Jennifer Morgan gives her perspective on this crucial matter. A pdf version of Jennifer’s paper is available her for download. Clinton, McCain, Obama – Europe’s opportunity to shape a Presidency Stephen Boucher’s paper “Clinton, Obama, McCain – Europe’s Best Hope for Fighting Climate Change” provides a thorough assessment of the candidates’ positions in the field and a thoughtful set of actions that Europe should pursue to reengage the United States. I would like to make 2 key points in response – firstly the nature of the challenge we face, then secondly the question of Europe’s next steps. 1. The nature of the challenge… Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment, Climate and Energy Security - Thinking 2008-05-20T13:00:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/invitation-climate-change-and-security-the-geopolitics-of-tomorrow/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/invitation-climate-change-and-security-the-geopolitics-of-tomorrow/#When:10:37:00Z The reality of climate change will require fundamental changes to the practice of international relations. Impacting on strategic interests, alliances, borders, threats, economic relationships, comparative advantages and the nature of international cooperation, climate change geopolitics will extend far outside the environment sphere, and will link old problems in new ways. Managing the complexity of collective security will become an ever more important part of foreign policy. Climate Change and Security: The geopolitics of tomorrow The Centre and E3G invite you to a discussion on the security implications of climate change. Tuesday 20 May from 13:00 to 14:30 with a sandwich lunch served from 12:30 to 13:00 With: Nick Mabey (Chief Executive, E3G) and Steven Everts (Special Counsellor in the Cabinet of High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana), Chaired by Martin Porter Security sector actors must communicate the security implications and costs of uncontrolled and extreme climate change to political leaders and the public. The security sector has the vital - and expensively acquired - experience of how government can drive technological development and infrastructure deployment at scale. Climate change is also… Climate and Energy Security - Activities 2008-05-08T10:37:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/new-frameworks-for-delivering-global-climate-and-energy-security/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/new-frameworks-for-delivering-global-climate-and-energy-security/#When:20:00:00Z Until very recently Climate Protection and Energy Security have been viewed as largely contradictory or separate objectives. This week saw the Athens Summit on Climate Change and Energy Security strive to overthrow this zero-sum mentality. E3G Chief Executive Nick Mabey has been a member of the advisory board planning the summit, and also contributed a major presentation for the session “The Environment and Energy Communities Meet: Finding Common Ground for Energy and Climate Security”. Nick’s presentation “Beyond Zero Sum Politics: New Frameworks for delivering Global Climate and Energy Security” is attached here in pdf format for download. It outlines the need for closer cooperation between major energy consumers to secure energy and climate security; giving an agenda for collaboration to underpin and strengthen the UN climate change negotiations. Commenting on the unprecedented nature of the summit, Nick Mabey said: We need to create more coherence between energy and climate change policies. The fact that the Athens Summit has brought together the energy security and climate change communities for the first time at a major event shows how far we have to go in developing a… Climate and Energy Security - Thinking 2008-05-07T20:00:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/delivering-climate-security-nick-mabey-interview/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/delivering-climate-security-nick-mabey-interview/#When:16:02:01Z Following on from the publication of Nick Mabey’s report ‘Delivering Climate Security’, BusinessGreen.com have interviewed Nick on the topic, including discussion of the implications for business. The full interview follows below: “Climate Change represents an existential threat” Former senior advisor to the UK Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, Nick Mabey, warns that governments and businesses must begin to frame climate change as a global security issue James Murray, BusinessGreen, 07 May 2008 BusinessGreen.com: You recently wrote a report for the Royal United Services Institute warning that unless climate change is brought under control we could see a century long conflict on a scale of the two World Wars. What basis do you have for such a shocking prediction? Nick Mabey: The prediction is based directly on the Stern Report, although it is worth noting that Stern has said recently that he underestimated scale of the problem in that report. If you take Stern and the IPCC’s projections – that if we don’t control emissions then an increase in temperature… Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment 2008-05-07T16:02:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/invitation-eu-india-a-new-partnership-on-climate-change/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/invitation-eu-india-a-new-partnership-on-climate-change/#When:16:34:00Z The climate debate between Europe and India is stuck, with official positions limited by how far governments are willing to go in light of UNFCCC negotiations. Both the EU and India are falling far short of their potential. If we are to respond to the climate challenge effectively, fresh thinking is urgently needed. We are pleased to announce the first in a series of seminars in India and Europe, designed to ask hard questions of why the partnership is not working and what needs to be done to reinvigorate it. Across the EU and India new voices are emerging in response to the perceived failure of governments to deliver on climate change. This seminar series will bring many of them together to build new coalitions for action and work with governments to move official positions on. The series will culminate with a set of recommendations feeding into the EU-India Summit in Marseille on 29 Sept 2008. ‘EU-India: Towards a new partnership on climate change’ Tuesday 6 May 2008 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Speakers: Ms Malini Mehra, Founder & Chief Executive, Centre for Social Markets (India) Climate and Energy Security - Activities 2008-04-30T16:34:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/creating-a-secure-climate-the-g8-leadership-challenge/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/creating-a-secure-climate-the-g8-leadership-challenge/#When:12:50:00Z Climate change will be at the top of the agenda when leaders of the world’s major economies gather in Japan for the G8 Summit in July. The science is clear on the need for an ambitious and rapid response. Almost all heads of government now have a basic understanding that without climate security they will be unable to meet their economic or development goals. This makes reducing global greenhouse emissions a vital national interest and a core issue for international diplomacy. So writes E3G’s Jennifer Morgan, in a comment article published in the May 2008 edition of The World Today - the monthly magazine of Chatham House. A pdf version of the article is attached for download. Creating a secure climate BY 2050, THE WORLD WILL NEED to cut its emissions dramatically, to at least half of 1990 levels. The challenge is to agree how this will be shared between countries and create the political conditions for national leaders to sign up to a global climate deal. The starting point for the negotiations is the 1992 UN Framework… Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment, Climate and Energy Security - Thinking 2008-04-29T12:50:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/invitation-towards-a-global-deal-on-climate-latest-views-from-the-eu-china-/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/invitation-towards-a-global-deal-on-climate-latest-views-from-the-eu-china-/#When:10:07:00Z The last few months have seen mounting activity on the climate talks culminating in interesting positions emerging at Bangkok. The US, EU and emerging powers continue to be in the centre of the frame with bilateral and multilateral diplomacy stepping up several gears. Where are the talks going and what are the prospects for elements of a deal emerging in the coming months? Come and join us for some expert views from observers close to the issues - and bring your own insights and opinions. Towards a Global Deal on Climate? Latest views from the EU, China & India Monday 28 April 2008, 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Chatham House, St James’ Square, London As part of their series ’From Bali to Copenhagen – The Climate Briefings’, Chatham House, CSM, E3G and Chinadialogue invite you to a discussion on ’Global deal on climate? Latest views from EU, China & India’ with: Nick Mabey, Co-Founder & Chief Executive, E3G (UK) Ma Jun, Director, Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (China) Malini Mehra, Founder & Chief Executive, Centre for Social Markets (India) Chaired by… Climate and Energy Security - Activities 2008-04-23T10:07:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/delivering-climate-security-international-security-responses-to-a-climate-c/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/delivering-climate-security-international-security-responses-to-a-climate-c/#When:23:02:00Z The multiplying security implications of climate change were increasingly acknowledged during 2007. Now, E3G Chief Executive Nick Mabey has authored a report for the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) which sets out how the security sector can not only respond to the increasing threats, but also become part of the solution. Published as Whitehall Paper 69 and available from Routledge, the full paper runs to 137 pages and draws on Nick Mabey’s experience in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit where he led work on a variety of policy areas, including energy, fisheries, unstable states, and organised crime. Following below and attached as a pdf for download is an edited summary of the paper. Delivering Climate Security: International Security Responses to a Climate Changed World Edited Summary Food riots in Mexico City, environmental outrage from Osama bin Laden and Russian territorial claims in the Arctic: the past year has seen climate change emerge as a serious issue across the security agenda, from the abstraction of discussions in the UN Security Council to… Climate and Energy Security - Thinking 2008-04-22T23:02:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/climate-change-and-the-future-john-ashton-tv-interview/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/climate-change-and-the-future-john-ashton-tv-interview/#When:10:43:00Z E3G Founding Director John Ashton has been interviewed by British Satellite News in his role as Special Representative for Climate Change at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The interview focussed on the security implications of climate change and the continuing need to change from high carbon to low carbon economies. The video is hosted on the blip.tv site, and is also embedded here below. Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment 2008-04-16T10:43:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/crunch-time-for-carbon-ccs-in-the-uk/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/crunch-time-for-carbon-ccs-in-the-uk/#When:10:05:00Z Other nations will not take Britain’s commitment to tackle climate change seriously if we don’t recognise that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an imperative, not an option, argues Tom Burke in a comment article published in The Parliamentary Monitor. Crunch time for carbon Climate change is a bad problem that is getting worse. For the present, it remains a manageable problem. Quite soon it will become an unmanageable problem. If that happens the future prosperity and security of 60 million Britons, and the 6.5 billion on the planet with us, will be substantially undermined. Europe’s leaders have already defined their view of this threshold. A rise in global average temperature of more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels takes us into the realm of dangerous climate change. Jim Hansen, the doyen of climate scientists, has recently argued that even this is too high. As things stand, the odds are at best about even that we can stay below this threshold. Unless global greenhouse gas emissions peak within the next decade or so and then decline very rapidly, those odds will worsen considerably. To… Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment 2008-04-16T10:05:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/climate-elements-of-an-ambitious-agreement-in-copenhagen/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/climate-elements-of-an-ambitious-agreement-in-copenhagen/#When:20:26:01Z The Danish newspaper Politiken has published an international comment article written by E3G’s Jennifer Morgan on the necessary elements of an ambitious Copenhagen agreement. The text in Danish is available here from the E3G website. Here below follows an English version of the text, which is also attached for download in pdf format. Climate: Elements of an ambitious agreement in Copenhagen Jennifer L Morgan In Bali the world decided to embark on an unprecedented road – negotiate an immensely complex and vital issue to the economy and the planet – in just two years, during which the United States, Russia, Germany, India and many other key countries will have national elections.  While at first sight this might seem naïve or a bit crazy, it is clear that there is no choice. The science of climate change is telling us that the urgency of the problem requires an unprecedented, ambitious and rapid response. Gone are the days when a new IPCC report would be released without any attention. Almost all Heads of State now have… Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment 2008-04-09T20:26:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/klima-elementer-til-ambitis-aftale-i-kbenhavn/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/klima-elementer-til-ambitis-aftale-i-kbenhavn/#When:16:14:01Z The Danish newspaper Politiken carries an international comment article written by E3G’s Jennifer Morgan on the necessary elements of an ambitious Copenhagen agreement. The text in Danish follows below and is attached for download in pdf format. Klima. Elementer til ambitiøs aftale i København Jennifer L Morgan Ved klimakonferencen på Bali besluttede verden at slå ind på en helt ny vej – at indgå aftale om et yderst komplekst problem af afgørende betydning for økonomien og kloden. Det skal ske inden valg I USA, Rusland, Tyskland, Indien og en række andre centrale lande. Umiddelbart kan det forekomme som en naiv og nærmest vanvittig målsætning, men ved nærmere eftertanke står det klart, at vi ikke har noget andet valg, og forskning i klimaforandringer fortæller os, at der er tale om et uopsætteligt problem, som kræver en hurtig, ambitiøs og hidtil uset indsats. Næsten alle stats- og regeringschefer har i dag forstået, at uden klimasikkerhed vil de ikke kunne leve op til egne mål for økonomi og udvikling. Dette gør klimaforandringerne til et spørgsmål om national sikkerhed, og fra at være et punkt på dagsordenen, som ‘det… Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment 2008-04-09T16:14:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/eu-china-cooperation-support-for-low-carbon-economic-zones/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/eu-china-cooperation-support-for-low-carbon-economic-zones/#When:15:42:01Z Back in November, we launched the ‘Changing Climates’ report [4Mb pdf] we authored alongside Chatham House as part of our joint project on Interdependencies on Energy and Climate Security for China and Europe. Since then, a Chinese version has been launched in Beijing, and interest continues to grow around its innovative proposals. Senior Chinese economist Angang Hu has added his voice to the discussion, supporting key ideas from the report in an article published on the Changing Climates forum of ChinaDialogue. Starting with the view that “The extent to which China and Europe cooperate will be an important factor in determining the success or failure of global attempts to tackle climate change”, he states that There is strong political will in China—from the party and government—to achieve scientific green development and establish a harmonious society. Tackling… Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment 2008-03-26T15:42:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/eu-china-interdependencies-praise-for-low-carbon-proposals/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/eu-china-interdependencies-praise-for-low-carbon-proposals/#When:16:04:00Z The 28th February saw the Beijing launch of the ‘Changing Climates’ report from the EU-China Interdependencies project of which E3G is a member. Since then, interest has continued to grow in the specific proposals put forward. The journal Chemistry World has reported on the proposals, and includes quotes from our Chinese partner institutions: Pan Jiahua of CASS, a senior advisor to the Chinese government on climate policy, welcomes the report, saying that low-carbon economic zones and joint research and development (R&D) can help solve the high-cost problems faced by developing nations in the transfer of climate-friendly technologies. Jiang Kejun of the Energy Research Institute in Beijing, an author of part of the Chatham House report, points out that intellectual property right (IPR) issue poses a barrier to technology transfer from EU to China. ‘It is unrealistic to expect EU automobile companies to endow their technologies without reasonable charges,’ Jiang told Chemistry World. ‘But joint R&D between China and EU, both on public and commercial levels, towards the… Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment 2008-03-11T16:04:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/with-optimism-jennifer-morgans-proactive-approach-to-international-climate/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/with-optimism-jennifer-morgans-proactive-approach-to-international-climate/#When:16:13:00Z Jennifer Morgan’s contribution to the international climate negotiations is featured in the March 2008 edition of Eco@work Magazine, published by the Berlin-based Öko-Institute. The short portrait (in German) outlines the proactive work by Jennifer Morgan at the international climate negotiations. It explores her approach to building strategic coalitions between advisers of heads of state, who usually do not tend to cooperate much. This enables her to prepare adequate political climate solutions and feed them into the policy discussions. Jennifer Morgan Eco@work portrait Jennifer is also quoted, saying: We need to make countries see… Climate and Energy Security - Activities 2008-03-03T16:13:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/eu-china-interdependencies-beijing-report-launch/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/eu-china-interdependencies-beijing-report-launch/#When:16:39:05Z The Chinese version [2Mb pdf] of the E3G-Chatham House report, Changing Climates: Interdependencies on Energy and Climate Security for China and Europe, is launched today in Beijing. The report shows how China and the European Union (EU) must work together strategically to drive a global low carbon economy, and how collaboration between them has the potential to deliver economic, as well as environmental, benefits to both regions. The report is being presented to an audience of Chinese officials, business leaders and NGOs in Beijing, China, on Thursday 28 February 2008. Bernice Lee, Head of Chatham House’s Energy, Environment and Development Programme and co-author of the report said: Changing Climates is about the opportunities presented by the twin challenges of securing energy supply and addressing climate change. Our research identified pathways for strategic collaboration between China and the EU that will not only help both achieve their own targets but also unlock the potential of a low carbon economy.” The pathways for change cover three broad areas: energy efficiency, energy generation, and markets and investment. Overwhelmingly the report… Climate and Energy Security - Activities, Climate and Energy Security - Thinking 2008-02-26T16:39:05+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/eu-commitments-on-climate-strengths-and-weaknesses/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/eu-commitments-on-climate-strengths-and-weaknesses/#When:10:51:01Z Europe has been hailed as a leader in the fight against global warming, but are its policies really enough to prevent catastrophe? Jennifer Morgan assesses the EU’s recent policy proposals, in a new article published by ChinaDialogue. To comment on this article, head over to the ChinaDialogue bilingual forum. EU commitments on climate: strengths and weaknesses Jennifer Morgan February 20, 2008 “Responding to the challenge of climate change,” European Commission president, José Manuel Barroso, said last month, “is the ultimate political test for our generation.” He spoke as the European Commission released the specifics of an ambitious set of proposals that were first agreed last year, when European Union heads of state proposed a package of new policies on climate change and energy. The EU decided in March 2007 to unilaterally implement a target of cutting greenhouse gases to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, and reduce emissions further—to 30% below 1990 levels—if other major economies would also take on ambitious commitments. To back this up, a… Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment 2008-02-20T10:51:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/climate-change-and-health/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/climate-change-and-health/#When:08:50:01Z The Royal College of Physicians hosted a major conference on the theme of ’Climate change and its impact on health‘ on the 29th January 2008. E3G Founding Director Tom Burke gave the opening speech, which is follows below. It is also attached here for download as a pdf, as is the event agenda. Climate Change and Health Address to the Royal College of Physicians by Tom Burke CBE London, January 29th 2008 Thank you very much for inviting me to speak to you today. It is often said that climate change is the most serious problem facing humanity in the 21st Century. This is not an exaggeration as I and the other speakers will be making clear during the course of today. My task this morning is simply to set the scene, to layout the landscape of how climate change and health interact and to say something about the role the medical professions might play in helping the world tackle this problem. Climate change conferences are occurring with increasing frequency at the moment but I think this one is particularly important… Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment, Climate and Energy Security - Thinking 2008-01-29T08:50:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/too-chic-to-meter-nuclear-power-in-france/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/too-chic-to-meter-nuclear-power-in-france/#When:14:45:02Z Tom Burke explores France’s relationship with nuclear power, in this comment article published in The House Magazine. Too chic to meter? ‘Why can’t we be more like the French?’ is not a cry often heard from British politicians. But such is the capacity of nuclear power to confuse otherwise rational people, that this plea has been heard a lot of late as the energy debate in Britain took off. Ministers have looked across the Channel with bemused envy and wondered, perish the thought, if the French public might not be more sensible than our own. This sentiment reflects a number of misapprehensions. The first is an upshot of the short memory of most politicians. When the French nuclear programme began in the mid-Seventies, it was accompanied by large-scale protests of a rather French kind. Not for France the quiet calm – soon to be abolished here – of a public inquiry. The early days of the French nuclear programme were accompanied by widespread and occasionally violent demonstrations – leading to the death of a protester on at least one occasion. The tide… Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment 2008-01-28T14:45:02+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/towards-a-new-global-climate-deal/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/towards-a-new-global-climate-deal/#When:23:15:01Z So what actually happened in Bali? Why was the USA booed by delegates? What was the nature of the last-minute agreement? And where does the international process go next? E3G was represented in Bali by Jennifer Morgan, who has been attending the climate negotiations since 1994. In Bali, Jennifer was a senior spokesperson for the Climate Action Network. Jennifer has now prepared a briefing paper which analyses the main decisions of Bali and outlines the overarching politics of the meeting. It aims to serve as a guide to the wide range of decisions which were taken in a sometimes confusing political context. The briefing is attached here in pdf format for download. Climate and Energy Security - Thinking 2008-01-21T23:15:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/decoding-nuclear-nonsense-ii-the-real-evidence/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/decoding-nuclear-nonsense-ii-the-real-evidence/#When:17:55:00Z This week the UK Government will announce its plans for the future of the Nuclear power industry. In this new reader’s guide, Tom Burke highlights the 5 key claims being made in support of the Government’s position, and sets out the real economic, political and environmental evidence against each one. A pdf version is attached for download. Decoding Nuclear Nonsense II A reader’s guide to the Government’s announcement on the future of nuclear power in Britain. Summary The Government’s case for new nuclear build in Britain rests on two key propositions: that it is essential to maintain Britain’s energy security and that without it Britain cannot meet its climate change emissions. Neither proposition is valid. Nuclear power can do nothing to improve Britain’s energy security or help it meet the urgent challenge of climate change. even if an order were placed today there would be no new nuclear electricity before 2020; the capital cost of nuclear power has tripled in the past three years to $6,000/Kw; the world’s nuclear capacity increased by 2GW in 2007 compared to some 15GW for wind power alone; Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment, Climate and Energy Security - Thinking 2008-01-07T17:55:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/invitation-beyond-bali-discussion-forum/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/invitation-beyond-bali-discussion-forum/#When:20:31:01Z The Centre for Social Markets and E3G invite you to a Discussion Forum, organised in co-operation with Chatham House and the Worldwatch institute: Beyond Bali: Changing Role of the EU-US-China-India Towards a new global quad on climate change? Tuesday 18th December 2007, 3pm – 6.30pm Henry Price Room, Chatham House, London Taking place just a few days after the conclusion of the Bali UN climate meeting, this Discussion Forum will take stock of the conference and reflect on its outcomes for progressive leadership on climate change by the EU, US, India and China. Speakers Tom Burke, E3G Chris Flavin, Worldwatch Institute Bernice Lee, Chatham House Malini Mehra, CSM Prem Shankar Jha Ed McBride, The Economist Chair – Isabel Hilton Registration Details This is a free event but seats are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. To register, kindly use the online registration facility on the CSM website. Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment 2007-12-16T20:31:01+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/the-world-and-climate-change-all-together-now/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/the-world-and-climate-change-all-together-now/#When:11:18:00Z A planetary crisis calls for clear thinking and shared action towards a global deal, says Tom Burke, in an article featured on the new openDemocracy & E3G project Global Deal: the politics of climate change. The “global” problem of climate change is endlessly discussed, but rarely looked at in a cold light. The crux of the matter is that all of us, everywhere, share this same monumental problem. To prosper we need energy security; but if we persist in using fossil-fuels with current technologies, our prosperity will founder. Published at Global DealThe roadmap drawn up at the Bali climate-change convention on 3-14 December 2007 will show what we need to do to establish the post-Kyoto regime. But to get through the ferocious complexity of the process, we will need a change of mindset. Moving away from a focus on who is to blame and who should act first, we must gain a new political maturity. Four key messages The political torpor round climate change has left us with policies too weak to… Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment, Climate and Energy Security - Thinking 2007-12-12T11:18:00+00:00 http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/global-deal-the-politics-of-climate-change/ http://www.e3g.org/index.php/programmes/climate-articles/global-deal-the-politics-of-climate-change/#When:10:47:00Z Together with our friends at openDemocracy, and the support of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, we’re pleased to announce the launch of a new blog - Global Deal: the politics of climate change. Global Deal launched at the UNFCCC meeting in Bali in December 2007 with frequent reports and insider access from David Steven. Global Deal investigates new pathways in the international politics of climate change. It is a forum for in-depth analysis and debate, bringing together voices from many sectors and areas of expertise. It will will track international negotiations as they pursue a ‘global deal’ for future action over the next 2 years. Global Deal will explore the connections between international agreements and local actions, regional relationships and global responsibility. We will discuss business initiatives and civil society movements, technological solutions and political choices. Global Deal is a conversation. Join us! Head over to the Global Deal site to pick up our RSS… Climate and Energy Security - News & Comment, Climate and Energy Security - Activities 2007-12-12T10:47:00+00:00