Rhein on Energy and Climate

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

50 days ahead of the Copenhagen Climate Conference a new theme re-enters the debate between developed and developing countries: free transfer of green energy technologies to developing countries. India and China are particularly vociferous in demanding such technologies to be made accessible to their companies free of license fees, citing the example of anti-retroviral drugs… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

China and India have signed a five-year agreement for strengthening their cooperation on energy conservation and efficiency and also taking the lead of developing countries in the run-up to Copenhagen. This is excellent news. Developing countries should put their hand together in Copenhagen for obtaining maximum concessions from developed countries for both emission cuts and… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

At their last preparatory meeting for the Copenhagen Climate Conference the EU environment ministers, October 20-21, have agreed to offer a 95 percent reduction of their green house gas emissions until 2050. This is praiseworthy; but it remains void of meaning unless the EU comes up with answers on three critical questions: What concrete steps… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein