Rhein on Energy and Climate

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Energy security has re-appeared on the agenda of European energy policy. More than half of European energy needs are covered through imports, with most of them coming from a few countries like Russia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria. Under the impact of the Ukraine crisis, the EU has launched efforts to diversify its gas imports to other… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

The offer by General Electric to take over Alstom or parts of it, one of the three European manufacturers of electric power equipment, has raised protests from the French government. Happening simultaneously with a Chinese participation in Peugeot-Citroen, it shows the precarious state of French and European manufacturing industries. It is therefore not surprising for… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

On 2 October 2012 Vladimir Putin published an article, entitled “A new Integration Project for Eurasia” in which he set out his visions for the future of Russia and the former Soviet Republics. His vision was simple and optimistic. He hoped to establish a powerful association of independent states capable of becoming one of the… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

In the fall of 2015 the international community is set to adopt a comprehensive action plan to combat climate change. Paris having been chosen as the meeting place the French government is showing more interest in climate issues and trying to mobilise the EU on a rapid agreement of its 2030 climate objectives. The UN… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

While the international community is due to finally take serious action against climate change it is worthwhile having a look at Denmark, Sweden and, to a lesser degree, Finland and Norway that have succeeded to generate two thirds of their electricity from renewable sources, mostly from wind and water. But despite intensive efforts and favourable… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

The debate over Ukraine has essentially been centred on Russia’s shrewd and illegal take-over of the Crimea and the risk of Russia destabilising the eastern parts of Ukraine with a large share of Russo-phone citizens. Crimea having formally become part of the Russian Federation there is no point shedding tears. Crimea will not come back… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Urban mobility is bound to become one the most pressing global issues in the coming decades. By 2050, three quarters of Humanity are expected to live in urban regions, with detrimental consequences for mobility, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Europe scores substantially better than most other regions on earth; but even in Europe mobility and… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

President Obama will enter history as the most committed and successful US President in the fight against Climate Change. His goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent from 2005 to 2020. He will do essentially by exploiting the executive powers of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), against tenacious resistance of the… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

China has a long reputation of a country severely plagued by air pollution. In 2013 China registered its worst record on air pollution; Beijing is considered the second most polluted city in the world. The air pollution has been the consequence of two decades of super-rapid economic growth without the government addressing its negative by-effects… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

The two front-runners for EU Commission President plead for a leaner Commission focusing on more political missions and less on technical paraphernalia. To that end, the number of Commissioners should have been reduced from 2014 onwards to only 21 (two thirds of the number of member states), in conformity with Article 17 of the Lisbon… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein