Rhein on Energy and Climate

Archives for Sustainable Dev.

Hundreds of thousands Brazilian citizens have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest against high public transport fares, publicly financed football stadiums, inadequate investments in education and health and, last not least, rampant corruption. High transport fares have been the detonator of these unprecedented demonstrations in one of the most successful emerging countries;… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

The EU suffers from the highest unemployment ever since its start half a century ago. Its political leaders have been unable to respond with appropriate medicines. But they are also increasingly unable to explain their citizens what the EU is all about, what it can do and where it is not competent. They are lost… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

More than any other nation Germans have been seduced by the prospect of solar power generation since it has been possible to generate electricity through photovoltaic cells in the 1980`s. Behind this enthusiasm were scores of committed pioneers, tens of thousands of households eager to generate their own roof-electricity and governments setting high hopes on… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

The EU is in the process of defining its energy/climate policy beyond 2020. This is timely for two reasons: European business needs to be fixed on the policy framework for their long-term investments related to energy, transport, buildings, grids etc. The EU must have advanced on its medium-term climate strategy before engaging in the negotiations… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

At the last meeting of the UNFCCC in Doha in December 2012 the contracting parties have pledged to finalise negotiations on an international climate compact before the end of 2015 that should enter into force by 2020. This pledge will only become reality if the international community is prepared to adopt a radically new approach… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

2012 has seen new records in newly installed solar and wind power capacity. Globally installed capacity has now reached almost 400 GW, of which 300 GW wind and 100 GW solar PV. In the last 10 years solar PV has expanded more rapidly than wind power, essentially due to a steep decline of module prices… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

Smog has been a familiar phenomenon in Western capitals, starting with London in the 1950`s and ending with New York, San Francisco, Mexico, Sao Paulo and Singapore in more recent years. But since 20 years it has ceased to be a serious health issue in most countries, China being one of the major exceptions. Its… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein

North Dakota, the emerging US shale gas/oil paradise, and northern German wind energy regions are learning similar lessons: Both produce more new energies than they are able to sell, due to inadequate pipeline and grid systems. The consequence is a waste of energy, through gas flaring in North Dakota and temporary over-supply of wind and… » read more

Posted by Eberhard Rhein