Saving the rainforests

The U.N.'s forest carbon scheme which has formed part of the negotiations at the climate talks in Copenhagen has been one of the few areas where countries are broadly in agreement.

The U.N.'s REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries) program is a collaboration between the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Environmental (UNEP) and Development (UNDP) programs.

Yemi Katerere, head of the U.N.-REDD program explained to CNN how the REDD program proposals would work.

"In theory REDD is a system to provide incentives for countries not to cut their forests," Katerere said.

"The incentive system is essentially that your trees are worth more standing than they are cut. You get a reward for not cutting your forests."

The idea is straightforward; If the function of rainforests -- capturing carbon, water catchment, weather regulators and biodiversity -- is recognized their value will rise.

The destruction of the world's rainforests is estimated to contribute to as much as 20 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.

REDD envisages a situation whereby "different services can be marketed and paid for, boosting the incomes of other wise marginalized communities". Many pilot schemes are already underway.

Back in 1997 when the Kyoto Protocol was adopted, the part rainforests play in carbon storage wasn't recognized. Proposals to reduce emissions from deforestation were first introduced by the governments of Papua New Guinea in December 2005 at the COP11 talks in Canada. Talks at Copenhagen are hoping to build on the progress made since.

REDD say that more than 30 models of how the program should work have been put forward by countries, groups of countries and NGOs. Katerere wouldn't be drawn on the outcome of negotiations at Copenhagen when CNN spoke to him on Thursday.

Critics of the REDD program argue that it allows richer countries to meet -- to buy essentially -- some of their emissions obligations without cutting them at all. Others argue trying to measure what is being preserved and how much carbon is being stored will prove incredibly hard to quantify.

But Katerere said an imperfect program which can be improved is better than none at all.

"We should stop focusing on the negatives issues of REDD and start looking at the positives. In the short term, REDD offers use the greatest mitigation potential at an affordable price and is the most cost effective."

World Future Energy Summit 2010

World Future Energy Summit, the world’s platform for sustainable future energy solutions, provides an ideal networking event for industry leaders, investors, scientists, specialists, policymakers and researchers to discuss the challenges of rising energy demand and actions to achieve a cleaner and more sustainable future for the world

In April 2006, Abu Dhabi took a bold and historic decision to embrace renewable and sustainable energy solutions. As the first major hydrocarbon-producing nation to take such a step, it established its leadership position by launching Masdar, a global cooperative platform dedicated to finding and deploying solutions to some of the mankind’s most pressing issues: energy security, climate change and truly sustainable human development.

Under the patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Masdar hosted the inaugural World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi from January 21 to 23, 2008. The highly successful debut edition paved the way for an even larger and better attended World Future Energy Summit 2009, also held in Abu Dhabi

The World Future Energy and Environment exhibitions, along with the Summit, covered an area of nearly 40,000 sqm, housing more than 600 exhibitors from 44 countries. Together, the Summit and Exhibitions have created one of the world’s must-attend events in future energy, an unmissable networking and business opportunity for the energy and environment communities.

Reed Exhibitions and Elsevier, the world’s largest exhibitions company and the leading publishers of science information, are proud to announce the World Future Energy Summit 2010, in AbuDhabi from January 18 to 21. The four-day summit will build on the successes of its predecessors, with more than 30 individual conference sessions and more than 200 international influencers addressing future energy strategies, policies and technologies.

Copenhagen climate deal meets qualified UN welcome

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a US-backed climate deal in Copenhagen as an "essential beginning".

But he said the accord, reached with key nations including China and Brazil, must be made legally binding next year.

After intense wrangling, delegates passed a motion simply taking note of the deal, without formally adopting it.

The pact did not win unanimous support, amid outrage from some developing nations who said it lacked specific targets for reducing carbon emissions।

US-LED COPENHAGEN DEAL

• No reference to legally binding agreement
• Recognises the need to limit global temperatures rising no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels
• Developed countries to "set a goal of mobilising jointly $100bn a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries"
• On transparency: Emerging nations monitor own efforts and report to UN every two years. Some international checks
• No detailed framework on carbon markets - "various approaches" will be pursued

Clearing the road for eco-cars in Moscow

As Moscow's streets almost literally crack under the pressure of the moving masses, local government says that new, environmentally-friendly public transport is almost ready to hit the roads.

Moscow's roads are full to the bursting point with cars, busses, and trucks all pumping out fumes harmful to both the environment and people.

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As representatives from all over the world gather in Copenhagen to discuss climate change and debate its origins, the scientific and industrial department of the Moscow government seems ready to recognize man's hand in the warming of the Earth and is trying to find a way to tackle it.

“It has been established that global warming is a direct consequence of pollution, and automobile transport or car fuel emissions are the main pollutants in big Russian cities – about 80 percent,” said Evgeny Balashov, Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Industrial Policy. “The only remedy to this problem, as I see it, is a transition to alternative, ecologically clean fuels.”

The plans are ambitious. The city’s government is hoping to make 25% of public transport emission free by 2012. The first vehicles to hit Moscow streets powered by clean fuel will be mini-busses – “marshrutkas,” as they are called in Russia. Some will be solely electric but others will be testing out a new hydrogen fuel cell, which could revolutionize the way people travel round the city.

Balashov outlined the plan: “First of all we are planning to start off this program in Moscow, and hope to spread it to the rest of Russia by the years 2013-2015.”

The revolutionary new engine that is going to be powering the emission free vehicles was created by the Kompomash Corporation in Russia.

“We’ve developed an engine of a new generation which consists of a motor wheel and impulse condensers which first consume the braking energy and then set the engine in motion. That makes the whole cycle much cheaper,” explained the company’s General Manager, Anatoly Dolgolaptev.

As good as the plan sounds to have zero emission vehicles on Moscow's roads, the reality is that recycling and green policies aren't popular among Russians. But while Muscovites might soon be able to breathe more easily, may they also end up paying more. Balashov believes that better education is needed if Russia is to cut its emissions.

“The people, their leaders and the country should have the will to change this approach,” he said. “Society hasn’t yet woken up to this problem. It hasn’t yet realized that we can drive nature to a state when some ecological processes will become irreversible. There is such a will in Moscow. Of course that is not enough in proportion to the rest of Russia. But at least we have a chance to model green technologies in a big city such as Moscow.”

Nina Korobova from the Russian Academy of Sciences notes that the project will require investment into new cars and special stations to recharge the engines. However, the end result may well be worth the price.

“This problem must be tackled,” she said, “because Moscow is one of the most polluted cities.”

With the Russian capital choking under car emissions at the moment, it seems hard to believe that in under just two of years its citizens might see a massive drop in the amount of fuel being put into the air. But if this project goes as planned, this might become a reality.

Finland’s First Solar Energy Plant to Start Producing in 2011

Construction is expected to begin on Finland’s first solar energy plant next year. According to Juha Attenberg, CEO of Sunvoima Oy (Sun Power Ltd), energy production will begin in the spring of 2011.

Energy output from the plant has been set at a modest one megawatt, but capacity can be expanded to meet demand.

The company is currently surveying different coastal areas to determine which has the best exposure to the sun – Kotka is one location that seems to have catching enough rays to attract the plant owners.

Sunvoima officials have begun to sell shares in the plant's output to businesses and households, which can then either be used by the purchasers or sold onwards.