At COP21, commonly referred to as the Paris Climate Accord, nations sent representatives to pledge greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) reduction targets (also known as Nationally Determined Contributions). At the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),...
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A sustainable town, Vauban, Germany | leading the world in plus-energy green buildings Vauban, Germany is a sustainable town for every other city in the world to emulate. Vauban is a “zero-emission” district in Freiburg, Germany. Energy for buildings in Vauban is mostly sourced...
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Latest trends in global wind turbine technology Wind farms now provide the least expensive form of energy, renewable or non-renewable; once the wind farm is fully constructed and operational. Among energy sources used to power a municipal grid, wind farms also have the lowest greenhouse...
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Solar - the most abundant renewable energy on the planet | Recently there have been dramatic breakthroughs in solar energy that will help advance the mainstream use of photovoltaic (PV) technology, as well as solar thermal technologies (CSP towers, solar parabolics, solar water heaters). Breakthroughs...
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International Shortfall in NDCs There is a substantial shortfall between pledges that almost 200 countries, both independently [and internationally all member-nations of the UNFCCC* have recommended targets] (nationally determined contributions {NDCs}- [UN recommendations]), have made in the Paris Climate Accord; compared to the reality of...
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Economic growth does not have to come at the expense of the environment. Sustainable technologies (such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable mass transit, electric vehicles) are also extremely beneficial to the economy. For example, the renewable energy industry employs over 500,000 people in the...
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Defining effective carbon taxes A carbon tax is a levy in countries and regions on: fossil fuel power plants, oil refineries, and/or industries, and/or companies; that use fossil fuels (tax applies directly), or on those that consume energy-intensive goods and services that depend on fossil...
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