Internationaal Nieuws

Innovation commissioner backs EU 3% research target

goedele — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:59:53 +0100

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, the EU's commissioner for research, innovation and science, believes that the bloc's target of spending 3% of GDP on research and development (R&D) must remain in place if Europe is to put itself firmly on the road to economic recovery.

The new commissioner acknowledged current debates surrounding the 3% R&D objective but insisted that now is the wrong time to make cutbacks in a sector that is underperforming in many EU member states.

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West worries about Russia turning to coal

goedele — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:44:05 +0100

European efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions could be undermined by Russian plans to dramatically increase energy production from coal, Western experts said in Brussels.

Background

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin recently said that for his country to continue exporting gas while satisfying growing domestic demand, it must turn to other fuels such as coal or nuclear energy.

Consequently, a new Russian energy strategy foresees coal consumption rising from 130 million tons per year now to 300 million in 2020.

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Commission adopts biomass sustainability report

goedele — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:39:03 +0100

The Commission adopted a report on sustainability requirements for the use of solid biomass and biogas in electricity, heating and cooling. The report makes recommendations on sustainability criteria to be used by those Member States that wish to introduce a scheme at national level, in order to avoid obstacles for the functioning of the internal market for biomass.

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Smart grids to enable renewables at 'moderate' cost

goedele — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:49:09 +0100

The EU could be powered almost entirely by renewable energies in 2050 without power disruptions by adding intelligence to its existing grids and building new cross-border connections, according to a study by Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC), an industry group.

The report, published 4 February 2010, argues that with the right political framework, existing grid infrastructure can be upgraded to handle a green energy supply system where 90% of electricity comes from renewable sources by 2050.

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Report: 38 per cent of land faces desertification

goedele — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:40:23 +0100

Source: Danny Bradbury, BusinessGreen

Over a third of the world's land could be turned into desert, according to a new report published in the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment that warns increased rates of desertification could have a huge impact on global food and water supplies.

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Even Low Levels of Lead are a Concern

goedele — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:30:49 +0100

A new study from Johns Hopkins Children's Center shows that very low levels of lead may be having an adverse impact on children's kidney functions. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood as the level of concern, but this new report shows even lower levels are hazardous.

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Smart grid could reduce emissions by 12 percent

goedele — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:46:50 +0100

A smart electrical power grid could decrease annual electric energy use and utility sector carbon emissions at least 12 percent by 2030, according to a new report from the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

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Carbon management becomes key part of corporate supply chain strategy for major global companies

goedele — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:28:12 +0100

Suppliers are now expected by some of their global customers to demonstrate greenhouse gas emissions management, awareness and action, in order to maintain business relationships, a Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) report shows.

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EU ministers to ignite debate on electric cars

goedele — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:06:51 +0100

EU ministers will trigger a debate on an EU strategy for electric cars this week amid warnings by green groups that the electricity used to charge the vehicles could prove as polluting as the fuel engines they are supposed to replace.

Spain, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, will table a document assessing challenges facing the electric vehicles industry at an informal meeting of EU competitiveness ministers 9 February.

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Europe: Focus on the economy

goedele — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:36:25 +0100

The EU's economic strategy, climate change and aid to Haiti will be the three topics on the agenda at an informal meeting of Heads of State or Government in Brussels on 11 February convened by the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy.

On the economic front, this informal European Council should examine how to meet the short-term challenges, press ahead with the necessary structural changes to secure recovery and sustain future growth and job creation.

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Energy performance of buildings: photovoltaic systems to become a standard product in new buildings

goedele — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:48:26 +0100

At the Energy Council the Swedish Presidency was congratulated for the agreement reached on the new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Any new European building will have to be "nearly zero energy" by 2020, meaning that a very large share of energy consumption will be provided by renewable energy. Solar photovoltaic technologies are amongst the best suited to be integrated in buildings. However no target has been set for existing buildings which currently represent about 99% of the building stock.

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European offshore wind power market grew 54% in 2009

goedele — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:27:07 +0100

In 2009, a total of eight new wind farms consisting of 199 offshore wind turbines, with a combined power generating capacity of 577 MW, were connected to the grid in Europe. This represents a growth rate of 54% compared to the 373 MW installed during 2008. For 2010, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) expects the completion of 10 additional European offshore wind farms, adding 1,000 MW and equivalent to market growth of 75% compared to 2009.

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Carbon tariffs resurface in Copenhagen aftermath

goedele — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:25:46 +0100

The idea of a carbon tax at the EU's borders is gaining momentum after the Copenhagen climate talks, with French President Nicolas Sarkozy leading calls for a tariff on imports from China and other nations with less stringent environmental protection rules.

The European Commission is due to present its analysis of the outcome of the negotiations at an informal environment ministers' meeting on 15-17 January to assist the bloc in formulating its strategy for moving forward.

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EIB and MAN agree EUR 300m loan for environmentally friendly technologies

goedele — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:23:21 +0100

The Luxembourg-based European Investment Bank (EIB) and MAN Group Munich have entered into a EUR 300m loan contract to promote research in the commercial vehicle sector. The funds are intended for the development and launching of reduced-emission and fuel-efficient powertrains for trucks and buses.

The loan forms part of a programme to provide financial support for research, development and innovation projects aimed at reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency in the European transport sector.

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Climate change and international governance are the focus of the environment EU ministers' meeting

goedele — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:23:40 +0100

Monitoring the results of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference and international environmental governance are “the two main fields” of focus for the working sessions of the informal environment ministers' meeting, held on Saturday 16 January in Seville.

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Oettinger and Hedegaard urged to step-up involvement of local and regional level in tackling climate change

goedele — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:33:08 +0100

Luc Van den Brande, President of the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR), has called on the Commissioners-designate for energy and climate action to acknowledge the key role played at the local and regional level in reducing energy consumption and tackling the causes and effects of climate change.

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European ministers aim to set energy targets

goedele — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:30:57 +0100

The Energy Action Plan for 2010-2014, which includes sections on sustainability, the fight against climate change and security in energy supplies, among others, as well as the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan, will be the focus of the discussions at the Informal Council on Energy, which will begin this Thursday in Seville, in parallel with the council meeting of the European Ministers of the Environment also being held there.

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Les acteurs des technologies propres optimistes pour 2010

goedele — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:36:31 +0100

par Dominique Pialot - 5 January 2010 - La Tribune

Soutenues par des investisseurs confiants, les perspectives sont au vert dans les cleantechs , avec toutefois des variantes selon les secteurs.

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Commission to tackle 'chemical cocktails'

goedele — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:21:49 +0100

EU environment ministers have asked the European Commission to assess the need for EU legislative action to protect human and animal health from exposure to multiple chemicals.

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Nitrogen needs to be taken into account when forecasting climate change

goedele — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:41:20 +0100

Source: Asian News International

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Minimal compromise in Copenhagen

goedele — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:30:23 +0100

The Copenhagen climate summit fell far short of expectations. The only substantial result was the Copenhagen Accord, which was worked out by the heads of state of the most important countries and merely 'taken note of' by the remaining community of states. Neither the much-hoped-for new forms of global cooperation nor internationally binding commitments towards reducing levels of greenhouse gases were achieved, not to mention the setting of a new course for the transition to a low-carbon world economy.

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Greenhouse gases distribution & sources: EDGAR emissions in Google Earth

goedele — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:05:18 +0100

The JRC's IES has developed a high resolution digital view of manmade greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for any 10 x 10 km area in the world.

Using this work on emissions and Google Earth as a basis, the new tool allows the visualisation of the levels of emissions and their local distribution from 1970 to 2005 and the identification of the main sources through an add-on layer to Google Earth.

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Turn climate action into Apollo mission, says leading MEP

goedele — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:58:39 +0100

The United States succeeded in bringing people to the moon: a dream that nobody thought would be realised. Perhaps we should think of climate protection as the new Apollo programme, the vice-chair of the European Parliament's delegation in Copenhagen, Karl-Heinz Florenz, told EurActiv in an interview.

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Canada to ratify treaties on pollution from shipping

goedele — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:31:34 +0100

The federal government has signalled that it will ratify a number of international conventions related to marine pollution and maritime safety.

"Ratifying these conventions will demonstrate Canada’s commitment to adopting uniform international standards for maritime safety and protecting the marine environment," said Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Canno

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European Investment Bank funds for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects across South Africa

goedele — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:37:25 +0100

The European Investment Bank (EIB) today agreed to provide a EUR 40m loan to FirstRand Bank to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across South Africa. The package marks the first dedicated energy efficiency loan in South Africa made by the EIB. The funding will enhance South Africa’s contribution to combating climate change and facilitate economic development through improving the reliability of electricity supply in the country.

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Copenhagen conference must produce global, ambitious and comprehensive agreement to avert dangerous climate change

goedele — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:33:53 +0100

The European Commission underlined the crucial importance of reaching a global, ambitious and comprehensive climate agreement at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen on 7-18 December.

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Business frets about growing 'water gap'

goedele — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:40:34 +0100

Business frets about growing 'water gap'

Published: Friday 27 November 2009

Emerging economies such as China and India should adopt strict policies to curb their water use in key sectors such as agriculture, argues a new report by McKinsey & Company, warning that increasing scarcity threatens the stability of countries in which companies operate.

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Waste management: Commission calls for better implementation of EU waste law by Member States

goedele — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:13:28 +0100

The European Commission adopted two reports which reveal that EU waste law is being poorly implemented and enforced in many Member States. The assessment highlights the need for significant efforts by Member States to ensure that waste management meets the standards set by EU legislation. These efforts are crucial to protect the environment and human health.

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Waste water treatment: Commission takes France to court; sends warning to Belgium

goedele — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:15:45 +0100

The European Commission is taking France to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for not complying with EU legislation on urban waste water treatment. Some 60 large towns and cities have been listed as not having waste water treatment up to EU standards. The list includes Arles, Avignon, Bordeaux, and Lyon. The Commission is also sending a first written warning to five Member States for inadequate waste water treatment in smaller towns. The five are Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, France and Germany.

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Brussels readies plans for EU '2020 strategy'

goedele — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:50:23 +0100

The European Commission will propose plans for a wide-ranging strategy to lift the EU out of recession next week, inviting member states to lead Europe towards a green, knowledge-based economy by 2020, according to a draft paper seen by EurActiv.A consultation on the strategy will be launched next week (24 November), with a final proposal to be released in January next year once the new European Commission is in place, EurActiv has learnt.

The new strategy is due to replace the EU's flagship Lisbon Agenda for growth and jobs, which was adopted in the Portugue

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Utilisation des cyanobactéries pour remédier à la désertification

goedele — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:28:07 +0100

Après 8 ans d'efforts, les chercheurs de l'Institut d'hydrobiologie de la CAS (Académie des sciences de Chine) à Wuhan (Chine) ont réussi à aménager en zone verte un désert de sable d'une superficie de 2000 hectares en utilisant une nouvelle technologie : celle-ci consiste à créer une croûte algale artificielle fabriquée à partir de cyanobactéries du désert.

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'Transition fuels' to pave way for carbon-free cars

goedele — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:21:42 +0100

Alternative fuels could bridge the transition to low-carbon road transport as electric cars remain a thing of the future, a roundtable at the European Parliament heard yesterday (18 November).

The shift from fossil fuels to a sustainble transport model for Europe's roads will take decades, MEP Vittorio Prodi (S&D, Italy) told policymakers and car-industry representatives.

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Poland’s first Green Investment Scheme agreed with Spain

goedele — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:35:50 +0100

Poland and Spain agree on a €25 million emissions trading contract, the first transaction of this kind for Poland under the Kyoto Protocol. Ministers from Poland and Spain, along with representatives of the EBRD and EIB were present for the signature of the agreement facilitated by the EBRD-EIB’s Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund. The transaction will allow significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions through the associated greening programme, known as the Green Investment Scheme (GIS).

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Up to £1.4 billion in new loans for onshore wind farms

goedele — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:33:20 +0100

Three UK-based banks will start offering new loans to eligible onshore wind farms today. Wind farm developers and the banks will have an opportunity to start brokering the deals at a forum in the city hosted by Ed Miliband and Chancellor Alistair Darling.

The scheme - supported by HMTreasury and Department of Energy and Climate Change - could enable around £1.4bn of onshore wind projects to move to construction over the next 3 years.

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Merkel calls for strong deal on climate change

goedele — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:23:30 +0100

German Chancellor Angela Merkel marked the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall by exhorting the world in a speech to Congress on Tuesday to "tear down the walls of today" and reach a deal to combat global warming.
Frequently interrupted by robust applause, Merkel reiterated her country's commitment to fostering security in Afghanistan and also said that a nuclear bomb in the hands of Iran "is not acceptable."

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Climate; clear signal to the world on continued EU leadership

goedele — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:57:48 +0200

“The EU is now sending a forceful and clear signal to other countries in the run-up to the climate meeting in Copenhagen. We are prepared to show the political leadership necessary to save the climate and reach an agreement in Copenhagen that will keep global warming to under two degrees Centigrade.” This was the statement made by Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren on Wednesday after the EU environment ministers agreed on Council Conclusions in the area of climate ahead of the meeting in Copenhagen.

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European decision on ship recycling

goedele — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:44:32 +0200

At the Environment Council in Luxembourg on 21 October, the environment ministers adopted Council conclusions on the Commission Strategy on Ship Recycling. The Council of Ministers thereby send a strong signal to minimise methods for ship recycling that are unsafe and harmful to the environment and for workers. The conclusions also aim to set tougher requirements regarding ships that are scrapped on beaches, a phenomenon known as ‘beaching’.

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The Commission and 22 world leaders explore ways for the viability of Carbon Capture and Storage

goedele — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:01:12 +0200

The European Commission, along with leaders from 22 world countries, explored today the best ways to accelerate the commercialisation of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) at the 3 rd Ministerial Meeting of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) in London. Carbon capture and storage is a technology that allows reduction of fossil fuel emissions by capturing CO2 from large emitters (such as coal or gas power plants and the steel industry) and store it underground.

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Deadlock on climate change continues

goedele — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:31:10 +0200

The stalemate over carbon emission cuts continues with the developed countries failing to deliver on issues like setting concrete targets for reduction even after the latest round of negotiations in Bangkok, according to a UN Climate Change team.
"Little progress was made on the core political issues such as mid-term emission reduction targets for industrialised countries," Janos Pasztor, head of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's climate change support team, told journalists here.

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Accounting for Climate Success

goedele — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:38:54 +0200

According to a new position paper from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the global body for professional accountants, global economic instability could lead to a decline in direct environmental investments and reduce the rigour of future climate change legislation.

The report includes recommendations for governments, policy makers and businesses ahead of December’s Conference of the Parties (COP15) U.N. Climate Change Conference 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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EU moves to tackle carbon trading fraud

goedele — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:13:58 +0200

The European Commission has presented measures to fight VAT fraud in carbon permits to regain the credibility of its emissions trading scheme ahead of crunch climate talks in December.

The EU executive proposed on 29 September an express solution to stop "carousel fraud," which has seen criminals steal billions from EU governments by means of VAT receipts for items like mobile phones and computer chips. These criminals have recently moved to the EU carbon market.

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If Not in Your Backyard, Where?

goedele — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:28:46 +0200

Many agree that the United States would benefit from greater energy independence, but there is no consensus on how to achieve that goal. A variety of approaches are currently being discussed. Perhaps due to concerns about global warming, however, the unprecedented investment in "green" technology that will result from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act or even the interest being "bought" by The Pickens Plan (the wind energy effort of billionaire T.

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Can the EU pave the way for electric cars?

goedele — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:41:43 +0200

Electric cars grabbed the headlines at the annual Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this month. But industry players are now looking to the EU to work through major challenges in battery technology, electricity infrastructure and consumer acceptance, EurActiv has learned.

Despite scepticism, there is a growing sense at industry and government levels that the planets are now aligned in a way that will bring electric vehicles from novelty concept cars to mass production.

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Study shatters myth that population growth is a major driver of climate change

goedele — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:26:24 +0200

There is at most a weak link between population growth and rising emissions of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change, says a study published in the journal Environment and Urbanization.

The paper contradicts growing calls for population growth to be limited as part of the fight against climate change and shows that the real issue is not the growth in the number of people but the growth in the number of consumers and their consumption levels.

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EU biodiversity protection faltering, say auditors

goedele — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:34:26 +0200

The European Commission must do a better job to make sure that the nature projects it co-funds in member states deliver sustainable results regarding environmental protection, argues a new report from the European Court of Auditors.

Despite the EU's LIFE-Nature projects having made a "huge contribution" to the conservation of targeted habitats and species, a number of shortcomings reveal that there

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Council adopts new legislation against ship-source pollution

goedele — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:39:29 +0200

The Council adopted today a directive improving current rules on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements (3664/09). The new provisions aim at improving maritime safety and enhancing protection of the marine environment from pollution by ships.

According to the new law, ship-source discharges of polluting substances, including minor cases of such discharges, are regarded a criminal offence if committed with intent, recklessly or with serious negligence.

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Energy security: prevent future disruption and expand gas storage capacity

goedele — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:52:29 +0200

More needs to be done to prevent future disruption and early-warning mechanisms (which proved ineffective in the 2009 Russia-Ukraine energy crisis) need to be reviewed, MEPs told the European Commission in a resolution adopted Thursday. MEPs also say that gas storage capacity needs to be expanded and interconnections improved.
Parliament also reiterates its call for a common European external energy security policy.

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EU to promote clean energy with 'smart cities'

goedele — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:18:39 +0200

The EU's bid for leadership in green technologies will focus on developing a network of "smart cities" to demonstrate renewable and other low-carbon energies in Europe, according to draft European Commission proposals seen by EurActiv.

The recommendations are featured in a draft communication setting out funding for the EU's Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan).

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Barroso II must turn carbon cuts into growth

goedele — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:08:31 +0200

Green jobs and competitiveness will feature high on the incoming European Commission's agenda as it takes on the challenge of delivering on pledges to lead the world in combating climate change.

As the global community prepares to meet in Copenhagen in December to hammer out a new international climate treaty, the next Commission will have to translate tougher climate commitments into policies while resuscitating

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New targets for Copenhagen

goedele — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:08:57 +0200

New targets for Copenhagen

No deal in Copenhagen might not be a disaster for the global climate, as long as the UN climate conference reaches agreement on important issues leading to a deal in 2010, says Head of the Climate Panel at Aarhus University in Denmark.

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