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Climate Change & Energy: Renewable energy

Opinions

Here is a list of the latest articles

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

Latin America ‘must encourage low-carbon markets’

The challenge for Latin American and Caribbean governments is to combine an approach to development with low-carbon emissions, says Omar Vidal.

Source: El Universal

3 May 2010 | ES

African woman gathering firewood

Energy for all — a joined-up approach

Universal access to energy services is technically possible, but new approaches are needed, say Kandeh Yumkella and Morgan Bazilian.

14 April 2010 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

Wind turbine engineer, China

G20 must boost green spending

China and South Korea have become leaders in green spending — it's time for the G20 to follow suit, says Edward Barbier.

Source: Nature

13 April 2010 | EN | 中文

Solar power for the poor needs government support

Governments in South Asia must support solar power to make it affordable to the rural poor, says development expert Vishaka Hidellage.

24 March 2010 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

Africa: Time to go solar

Africa should follow China's lead, and foster solar innovation, production and demand, says UN-Habitat's Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka.

24 March 2010 | EN | ES | FR | 中文

water heaters on rooftop

China should support solar thermal energy research

China must support technological research on solar thermal energy, say Huang Ming and Yidong Gong.

24 March 2010 | EN | 中文

Poplars

Are new biofuels the ethical answer?

New biofuels offer a sustainable source of energy but we must consider the ethical and social implications, say Joyce Tait and Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka.

10 March 2010 | EN | 中文

Technology critical to China's low-carbon plans

China is considering a low-carbon road map to reduce emissions while preserving economic growth. Technology is crucial, says Gordon Conway.

Source: Financial Times

13 November 2009 | EN | 中文