Europe

Russia is warming at double the world pace

According to RIA Novosti – the Russian state-owned news agency – quoting the local emergencies ministry : ” Temperatures in Russia in the past century rose at twice the rate of warming in the rest of the world “ The article goes further : ” (…) In addition, as compared to the 100-year trend, the […]

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2011 in a nutshell : my selection of essential posts

With some delay I would like to propose you today my selection of the most important news of 2011. As I wrote close to 250 articles, selecting only 25 proved to be difficult. I have mixed topics so you will find stuff on climate change, cleantech, environmental issues and sustainable development. I have also mixed

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Germany is still adding a lot of solar PV capacity

To GreenTech Media : ” Germany installed more than 2 gigawatts of solar in the month of December alone. (…) Installations for the full year will be nearly 7 gigawatts according to the German Solar Industry Association (BSW).” The article goes further : ” According to the BSW, solar power contributes approximately three percent of the German electricity

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Record-breaking weather in America and Europe

This is getting truly worrying. To TreeHugger : “The first week of the new year has seen temperatures that are in some parts of the nation nearly 40 degrees (Fahrenheit) higher than average. Which is crazy. “ The situation on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean is similar as The Guardian notes : “The

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2011 rewrote the record books on climate

Here is a rundown of all the extreme weather we witnessed in the past few months around the world  and the numerous calamities that struck all continents without exception… To The Guardian : ” The year 2011 was another ecologically tumultuous year with greenhouse gases rise to record levels, Arctic sea ice nearly equalling 2007’s

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European Union unveils its Energy Roadmap 2050

Is Europe finally moving ? To the European Commission‘s official website : ” On 15 December 2011, the European Commission adopted the Communication “Energy Roadmap 2050. “ ” The EU is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050 in the context of necessary reductions by developed countries as a

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United Kingdom is committed to offshore wind

To Enerzine [Fr] the world largest offshore wind farm has gone online in the Irish sea. Walney 2 has a capacity of 367,2 MW, enough to power 320,000 British households. It was also the fastest ever installation. The farm will however quickly lose its title to other projects set to come online in the United

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China & the USA to ban incandescent light bulbs

Incandescent light bulbs are a relic of the past, a vastly inefficient past. Modern alternatives like CFLs and LEDs consume five to ten times less energy. For these reasons, the European Union or Australia have already phased them out. More countries will be doing the same, namingly the United States and China. The latter will

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Desertec first solar plant to start construction

Remember the Desertec project and how I was convinced ? Their goal is to build solar, wind and other renewable energies facilities to power North Africa, the Middle East and part of Europe. Well, I am not the only one as their first plant will start construction next year. With a capacity of 500 MW

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Global emissions need to peak before 2015-2020

As TreeHugger reports : ” emissions must peak by 2020 and be reduced “well below” 1990 levels by 2050, if we are to have a “likely” (greater than 66%) chance of keeping temperature rise below 2°C by 2100. “ ” If emissions peak at 2030, we may be able to hold temperature rise to 3°C.

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