May 15, 2012
- At its 67th meeting, the CDM Executive Board considered various regulatory matters and adopted a measure aimed at extending the simplified modalities for demonstration of additionality for small-scale CDM project activities, in order to make small-scale projects more attractive. The Board also addressed the sustainable development co-benefits of projects.
May 9, 2012
- The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) Chair's Summary reviews the events and outcomes of the meeting and notes key interventions made by participating Ministers and observers in sessions on clean energy, energy for all, energy efficiency, and cross-cutting topics. An appendix also outlines initiatives announced at the CEM.
- Transport Ministers at the International Transport Forum (ITF) Annual Summit agreed to a Declaration importance of sustainable transport systems for economic prosperity, environmental protection, safety and security of society, as well as effective connections between the transport system and renewable and sustainable energy sources.
May 8, 2012
- The 30th Session of the Executive Body for the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) adopted amendments to the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone (Gothenburg Protocol), which aim to reduce particulate matters, including black carbon. Black carbon, as a short-lived climate forcer, has a strong warming effect than carbon dioxide.
May 7, 2012
- SBSTTA 16 adopted 16 recommendations, including: a package on marine and coastal biodiversity, covering criteria for EBSA identification and prioritization, environmental assessments in marine and coastal areas, marine spatial planning and human impacts; and a package on biodiversity and climate change, covering biodiversity safeguards for REDD+, biodiversity considerations into climate-related activities, and geo-engineering.
- The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) held meetings of their trust fund committees and sub-committees to review the programmes carried out to promote climate resilience, renewable energy and forests. Participants approved new projects and reviewed progress on existing initiatives in Tonga, Dominica, Yemen, Ethiopia, Chile, Nigeria, India and Brazil.
- The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, successfully raised US$500 million to finance climate friendly projects, including energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, in emerging markets using a new green bond in the US.
April 27, 2012
- The commitments and initiatives have been made specifically on energy efficiency, renewables, CCS, universal energy access are the outcome of the Third Clean Energy Ministerial and address the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy deployment, and global energy access.
April 24, 2012
- The Joint CEB Statement on Rio+20, dated 17 April 2012, calls for, inter alia: adopting sustainable development goals (SDGs); reinvigorating Agenda 21’s global partnership for sustainable development and significantly scaling up our achievements to date; quickly reaching a binding agreement to limit greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions to prevent mass migration and displacement from climate change impacts; and using far fewer energy and resources for growth in the 21st Century.
April 20, 2012
- In the statement, North American Leaders pledge to introduce regulatory measures to enable innovation and growth in four sectors: emission standards for specific vehicle types; railroad safety; the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Workplace Chemicals; and aligning principles regulatory approaches to nanomaterials. It also indicates the importance of regional energy cooperation to end energy poverty and expand renewables uptake, and pledges to advance a lasting global...