Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
•Solar for All •Energy-Efficient Mortgages now widely available in the US •EDF asks would you do the washing when the wind is blowing? •Energy Co-ops Bring Energy by the People, for the People Through Social Innovation •Why councils could be the answer to the energy crisis
Recently Karen Rybold-Chin interviewed Nate Hagens, former editor of The Oil Drum and former Lehman Brothers vice president, questioning him about a future economy without growth and an environment suffering climate change. Nate Hagens asks whether ultimately – contrary to our animal nature – we are willing and able to plan for future generations by reducing our own energy consumption and economic growth.
•Coming soon: 100% renewable power – Chris Nelder •How Data and Social Pressure Can Reduce Home Energy •Use Fatih Birol: Energy efficiency is one of last options after Kyoto •Solar Mamas – movie trailer
Flood myths are common to human culture. Swollen rivers, tidal storms, and tsunamis make their appearance frequently in literature. But Hurricane Sandy, which has drawn newly etched high-water marks on the buildings of lower Manhattan (and Brooklyn), has shifted the discussion from storytelling to reality.
•Cornucopia of Prosperity Can Flow From Carbon Tax [Craig Comstock]•The economics of carbon taxes Beyond carbon policy: A national feed-in tariff [Chris Nelder]•The economics of carbon taxes [Video presentationts]
•Germany Has Built the Clean Energy Economy That U.S. Rejected 30 Years Ago •The German nuclear exit
The end of the US election season and a return of the incumbent Barack Obama saw oil markets turn their attention back to the economy. Despite much talk of upside the picture remains bleak with the US showing a huge deficit, and the EU still unresolved on how to deal with its highly indebted members. Oil prices showed their steepest decline of the year on Wednesday before recovering slightly to around $107/barrel for Brent.
Watch the recording of ‘Power From the People’ author Greg Pahl’s presentation from Friday November 16, 2012.
Can big cities like New York or Washington protect against storm surge and rising seas?
Many indigenous territories have tremendous wind, solar, biomass and geothermal resources, and there are varying opinions as to whether energy-related climate change mitigation activities are having a positive or negative impact on local and indigenous communities.
The US Presidential campaign in which the issue of climate change has been avoided for the first time since 1988 got a last minute shake-up this week as the Northeastern seaboard was hit by superstorm Sandy. The storm which also hit the Caribbean and Canada, might just end up forcing the climate issue back onto the political agenda.
We now face an incredibly important juncture in human history where a choice must be made…
