By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Fri, 2009-04-10 13:55
Lotta Bångens, Föreningen Sveriges Energirådgivare, Sweden
In December 2005, the Swedish Government appointed a commission to draw up a programme to reduce Sweden’s dependence on oil. The main reason for this was the climate change. Other reasons were the effect of oil prices on Sweden’s growth and employment and the fact that oil still plays a major role for peace and security throughout the world.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Thu, 2009-03-12 16:04
Sarah Darby, Lower Carbon Futures, Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Centre for the Environment
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By Sergio Ferreira / Published on Thu, 2008-11-13 16:34
EU’s energy future has a new steering mechanism. The European Commission has proposed today its Second Strategic Energy Review, a wide ranging package aiming at strengthening energy security in Europe and supporting the 20-20-20 climate change proposals.
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By Sergio Ferreira / Published on Thu, 2008-10-02 10:50
Energy Efficiency Industrial Forum Position Paper
In a move to support and give further momentum to the European Commission efforts towards energy efficiency, the Energy Efficiency Industry Forum has put forward a position paper highlighting the role of energy efficiency in energy security.
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By Angelo Baggini / Published on Mon, 2008-08-04 09:00
Year: 2007
Policy Status: Superseded
On 19 January 2007, the Danish government released a policy statement, "A Visionary Danish Energy Policy 2025", which contains proposals for the cost effective fulfilment of overall energy policy objectives for security of supply, environmental impact and competitiveness. The initiatives in the proposal combine political regulation and market mechanisms.
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By Angelo Baggini / Published on Sun, 2008-06-08 09:00
Year: 2007
Policy Status: In force
In August 2007, the cabinet of the German government decided on an Integrated Energy and Climate Change Programme to underpin the aims of the coalition treaty and the results of the EU Spring Council meeting of 2007 which had set the parameters for an integrated European climate and energy policy.
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By Hans Nilsson / Published on Sun, 2008-05-04 14:17
For a long time, the dominanting has been that taking action against climate change is a risky business for a country and its industry, an idea underpinned by some economic thinking saying that unilateral action is at best useless and that policy measures must be strictly targeted. One problem requires one measure only, otherwise, measures will be diluted and even counterproductive. Nowadays, both politicians and their advisors have a different tune. Actions may not be as costly, early actions may give an advantage and policies may be mutually supportive. Could it be the Stern Review that has turned into a Stern Tsunami?
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By Hans Nilsson / Published on Fri, 2007-08-10 07:00
The connection does not seem obvious, at least not until you read a report from the U.S. CNA Corporation, a think-tank with close relations to the U.S. Military Forces. They have conducted a report on "Security and Climate Change" under the supervision of an advisory board with a dozen generals and admirals. They concluded (in four findings) that climate change could add tensions to several places in the world that are of importance to national security, and give five recommendations on suggesting the U.S.
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Fri, 2007-04-27 07:30
The IEA assesses interactions
Energy security and climate change are two major public concerns. Most governments are intervening with policies aimed at ensuring a continuous energy supply and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. But how are those two objectives related? And which policies can maximise both goals?
The International Energy Agency (IEA) studied these questions and published its findings in the book Energy Security and Climate Policy/Assessing Interactions, released on 28 March 2007. The book does not take positions on what actions should be taken. Its merit lies in the fact that it offers governments quantitative tools to assess policy choices.
Concerning energy security, the book focuses on the danger of market concentration of fossil fuel resources. Other energy security issues (supply disruptions due to extreme weather conditions, short-term balancing problems, etc.) are not discussed since they have no direct link with climate change mitigation.
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By Hans Nilsson / Published on Mon, 2007-02-05 06:30
Bush is moving closer to Gorbachev!
The former USSR president Michel Gorbachev has for quite some time stressed the security aspect of alternative and renewable fuels, in particular photovoltaics. Now it seems as if President Bush is moving in the same direction, At least using the same argument, that energy security will be improved with use of less energy and more of renewable energy. His solution is however primarily focused on automotive fuels, but covers also several other applications.
It is often said that extremes meet so please carry on Mr. Bush; you are heading in the right direction! The message from his state of the union address was however no news to the careful reader of this blog?!
But seriously, it might be that the concept of energy security is real opener for a discourse with the world leaders on the advantages of a sustainable energy system! In the Davos-meeting recently the German chancellor, present G8-chair and leader of the European Union, Angela Merkel also drew attention to energy efficiency and its implications for energy security.
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Thu, 2006-05-18 05:39
The Conference Board of Canada published last month a briefing paper "Sustainability and Energy Security - Wrestling with Competing Futures" (paper freely available after registration), describing how policy makers around the world struggle to 'keep the lights on and the air clean', while facing 3 tensions:
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Sun, 2005-12-04 17:46
A report by DPG reviews 15 years of climate policy in Germany (1990-2005) and looks 15 years ahead (2005-2020). Germany's emissions are only 3-4% of global emissions, hence Germany's climate policy only makes sense in the context of setting a leadership example on the international scene while developing an export sector for business. Germany has already failed to meet its much publicised 2005 target of 25% reduction compared to 1990, and is on course to miss its 2020 target of 40% reduction.
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