As of January 2012, the EU will formally include aviation into its emission trading system. From that date onwards all airline companies, domestic and foreign, will require allocations for C02 emissions, no different from power, steel or chemical companies, for operating in the EU. The allocations for 2012 will be equal to 95 percent of… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
May 23, 2011
In a declaration published May 20th , the Governing Board of the “International Energy Agency”, which represents the 28 major energy consuming countries, has expressed serious concerns about rising oil prices affecting global recovery by reducing household incomes and putting pressure on inflation and interest rates. This declaration, which represents a call upon OPEC countries,when… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
The international community is once again preparing for an international climate conference, the 17th meeting of the contracting parties of the UNFCCC to take place in Durban (South Africa) in December. Like the two preceding ones in Cancun (2010) and Copenhagen (2009) it will hardly produce more than declarations. The preparatory meetings held so far… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
During the past 10 years the international community has witnessed a bizarre spectacle of two parallel negotiating processes. The negotiations on the Doha Development Round that have started in 2001 as a reaction to the terror attack on the World Trade Centre in New York. These negotiations, involving all the 150-odd WTO member countries, aim… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
No other country on earth has reacted with a such hectic to the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe as Germany. It has shut off the seven oldest of its 17 reactors, for a three-months` moratorium. Nobody expects any of these to ever go back to the grid. In addition, the government has launched a comprehensive safety check… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
On May 3rd, the UN decided to allow EU representatives to participate in the debate at the General Assembly and present oral proposals or amendments in the name of the EU. This decision follows eight months of intensive discussions with other UN member states, in particular those of the Caribbean Common Market. It will turn… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
May 3, 2011
The third biggest European oil and gas company, TOTAL, has decided to buy a majority stake in Sun Power, the second US manufacturer of solar panels. This follows earlier engagements in solar ventures, including research, but it is the biggest investment so far ($ 1.4 billion). The acquisition reflects rising tensions in the energy markets… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
Thoughts on energy and climate, the Mediterranean and whatever comes to mind.
