Rhein on Energy and Climate

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Searching for Effective Results at Copenhagen

November 30, 2009

10 days before the start of the Copenhagen climate negotiations the outcome seems slightly more open than a few weeks ago. · The scientific community has just in time presented new evidence about the extremely risky acceleration of climate change, thereby putting negotiators under heavy pressure to come to substantive agreement now, rather than accepting… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Business & Climate Change, Energy Efficiency, English, Environment, Uncategorized

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The EU needs an effective Foreign Service Lisbon Treaty should upgrade EU foreign Policy

November 24, 2009

The appointment of a new High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, who is also Vice-President of the Commission, is a valuable the major innovation in the future EU institutional setup. But tTo make the best benefit of it fully successful, the EU will have to undertake three major important changes of its present external… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

English, EU Treaty & Institutions, Uncategorized

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Korea must become serious on climate policy

For the first time ever, Korea has announced green house emission targets. On November 17th President Lee has proudly announced that his country is willing to reduce its emissions by 4 percent below 2005 levels. He has called this a historic decision and a paradigm shift for Korea becoming an advanced country. From a European… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Business & Climate Change, English, Science & Research, Sustainable Dev., Uncategorized

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Schools should must introduce basic courses on climate science.

November 17, 2009

Climate change is bound to dramatically impair the living conditions of our children and grandchildren. To mitigate the extent of climate change robust action willaction will have to be undertaken by all countries, but in particular by OECD countries, in the course of the coming 20 years. Without such action happening, then it will be… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Climate change, Education, English, EU Priorities and Opinion, Innovation and Growth, Uncategorized

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Who should be afraid of higher oil prices?

In its 2009 World Energy Outlook the International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned of rising oil prices having a negative impact impacting on the global economy in the coming years.. According to the IEA the dramatic rise of oil prices to almost $ 150 /b in mid-2008 has been one causes of the global recession.The… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Business & Climate Change, Energy Efficiency, English, Environment, Uncategorized

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Copenhagen Climate Conference: one month to go

November 12, 2009

After two years of preparation intense diplomatic activity humanity does not seem to ready be up to the task of for taking the necessary action for the dramatic substantial reduction of green houses gases that is necessary to preserve the decent livingclimatic conditions on our small planet earth. As things stand, Formally speaking, tthe Copenhagen… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Climate change, Energy Efficiency, English, Environment, Sustainable Dev., Uncategorized

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EU Regional Policy needs an Overhaul

November 11, 2009

Regional policy is about to become the EU`s major European policy area, measured by the volume of expenditures. By 2013 its annual expenditures are set to exceed those from agricultural policy, which had been the undisputed queen of EU spending for the past 50 years. It is therefore timely to have a closer look at… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

CAP Reform, English, Enlargement & Neighbours, EU Treaty & Institutions

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The EU must return to Fiscal Orthodoxy

November 10, 2009

The EU Commission has just published its economic outlook for 2010/2011.It is a sobering document. The economic situation in 2010 is expected to stabilise, after a 4 percent GDP decline in 2009, the deepest Europe has ever experienced since the end of WW II. Europe, except the new member states, must learn to get used… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Business & Climate Change, English, Environment, Taxation, Uncategorized

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Desertec Advances One Step Further

November 6, 2009

12 European industrial and financial companies have carried the Desertec project one step further by setting up “Desertec Industrial Initiative” GmbH (DII). The object of the company is to clarify the legal, technical and economical issues for the construction of solar power plants in the Sahara from which to supply North Africa and Europe with… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

English

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Rhein on Energy and Climate

Thoughts on energy and climate, the Mediterranean and whatever comes to mind.

Eberhard Rhein has devoted most of his life to European and global issues. During the 1980s and  1990s,  he served successively as chef de cabinet to the Commission VP in charge of external relations and director responsible for the Mediterrranean and Arab world.

For the past 10 years he has focused more on global environmental issues.

He also gives a course on economic  policy at the "Mediterranean Academy for Diplomatic Studies" in Malta. He is the author of many articles on EU, Mediterranean and international subjects


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