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Climate Change & Energy: Renewable energy

Opinions

Here is a list of the latest articles

Sewing machine

Focus on Gender: Small-scale tech can transform women's lives

Small-scale technology can help women to raise their status and increase their income and education, says Henrietta Miers.

28 February 2013 | EN

Selling solar photovoltaics in Kenya

Building support for locally relevant climate tech

Climate Innovation Centers can promote clean technologies but need backing with a coordinated effort, says policy specialist Ambuj Sagar.

3 January 2013 | EN | FR

Asia–Pacific Analysis: The slow road to green energy

More AsiaPacific countries need to embrace renewable energy and follow the first tentative steps of some governments, says Crispin Maslog.

28 September 2012 | EN

Women installing solar panels

Putting human rights principles into practice

Looking through a 'human rights lens' can improve S&T programmes, while S&T can help strengthen human rights work, says lawyer Jessica Wyndham.

26 September 2012 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

Girls reading with solar lights

Climate change policy should pass a 'human rights test'

Using the human rights framework to tackle challenging ethical questions can guide climate policy, argues political philosopher Simon Caney.

26 September 2012 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

Africa Analysis

Africa Analysis: Directing technology transfer from China

Technology transfer is a priority for a new phase in China–Africa cooperation — but it needs the right direction, says Linda Nordling.

2 August 2012 | EN | FR

A wind turbine in Maharashtra, India

Green tech cost assessments must be country-specific

Country-specific costing of scaling up renewable energy technologies can help allocate climate funds efficiently, says Michael Jakob.

Source: Nature

4 July 2012 | EN | ES

'Algal biofuels are no energy panacea'

Algal biofuels, like crops, demand land, water, fertilisers, pesticides and inputs that are costly for India, says Hoysall Chanakya.

11 June 2012 | EN

Asia-Pacific Analysis: Go green not nuclear

Crispin Maslog says the region should follow the Philippines' lead and focus on renewable, not nuclear power.

29 March 2012 | EN

Protest in Yemen

Arab countries need green economies rooted in science

Reforms in the Arab region should focus on transitioning to a green economy, argues award-winning environmental advocate Najib Saab.

28 March 2012 | EN

Indian farmer and wind turbines

Creating an 'energy Internet' for the poor

Jeremy Rifkin says the developing world could leapfrog into a new energy era by merging communication and renewable energy technologies.

Source: OurWorld 2.0

13 March 2012 | EN

Men setting up solar panels in rural village

Affordable solar power for the poor is within reach

Business models that pair up cheap solar technologies with cell-phone services can provide the poor with renewable energy, says Carl Pope.

Source: Yale Environment 360

10 January 2012 | EN | ES

Islam Analysis: Solar energy project must be more open

Desertec, an ambitious solar power project in the Middle East and Africa, should be more transparent and participatory, argues Athar Osama.

13 October 2011 | EN

Europe–Middle East energy partnership is essential

The two regions have much to gain from coordinating research and enhancing scientific cooperation on solar energy, says Frank Lehner.

Source: Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy

15 September 2011 | EN

Micro hydro plant in Afghanistan

Small hydro could add up to big damage

Environmental engineers Tasneem Abbasi and S. A. Abbasi warn that widespread adoption of small hydro could repeat a history of environmental damage.

20 June 2011 | EN | FR

Wood stove

Invest in 'green' biomass fuels

Biomass fuels are often branded dirty but can be harnessed in 'greener' ways through new technologies, says Duncan Macqueen.

Source: IIED

15 March 2011 | EN

Solar panel in Lukla, Nepal

Tailor renewable energies to local culture

To make an impact, small-scale renewable energy systems must fit social expectations and cultural norms, argues Benjamin K. Sovacool.

23 February 2011 | EN

Mini canal surrounded by paddy fields to channel water from the river to the micro hydro power generator in Cibuluh, Indonesia

Small hydropower deserves more support

With the right support, small-scale hydropower could be a cheap and clean fuel for development, says energy advisor Teodoro Sanchez.

15 December 2010 | EN | ES | 中文

Darling wind farm

South Africa must strengthen green tech transfer

South Africa must get better at acquiring green knowledge and technology transfer — or be left out of global markets, says Radhika Perrot.

3 November 2010 | EN | 中文

Jatropha nursery in Senegal

Maximising Africa's bioenergy potential

African bioenergy projects must focus on new technologies and receive stronger political support, says biofuel expert Emile van Zyl.

1 September 2010 | EN | FR