Ecology

She was one of the best known personalities during the 1980s; an icon of the global ban-the-bomb and peace movements and a protagonist for ecology and human rights. But all this is not just history - it is worth reflecting on what has remained valuable until the present day. Extracts from original texts, six essays on her life and work and many photographs trace the most important stations in her life.

No less than a week after presenting its ‘Communication on the Arctic Region’, the European Commission’s attempts at forging a coherent Arctic policy have already taken a knock back. On 25 November 2008, Greenland has voted in favour of further self-rule away from Denmark with 75% voting ‘yes’ in a vote that had a 72% turnout.

Climate change is real, it is happening already, and its impacts on people are not gender-neutral.  It is affecting men and women all over the world differently, especially in the world’s poorest countries and amongst the most vulnerable people and communities.

In the face of the current multiple crisis (financial, economic, social, environmental), the need for sustainable policies is self-evident. The Green New Deal is the integrated policy approach that Greens in Europe are putting forward as a solution to the crisis. The current report by the Wuppertal Institute analyzes in depth the climate, environment and energy aspects of this proposal.

There is a centrist idea of a Green New Deal that is being discussed worldwide as a response to the dual economic and environmental crises. As different as these two concepts may be, they share a common core: both first require a great leap toward a sustainable economy.

The report examines ways in which the current economic downturn is an opportunity to fight climate change while creating quality jobs.

What europe must understand is that its real leadership ambition should concentrate on being the first to create a low carbon economy. the real breakthrough for climate policy will not come through diplomacy. Rather, the breakthrough will come as countries learn to understand that saving the climate will help save their economies and safeguard their security.

Plans to increase the penetration of renewable electrical generation into the United States face a number of challenges. The country needs a super-grid which overlays the existing high voltage transmission system, connecting the country from coast to coast and allowing thousands of MW to be transferred over hundreds of miles. A single authority, in this case federal, needs to assert overall control of transmission line siting in the United States.

It is now well established that action to avoid dangerous climate change must take place according to the principles of ‘responsibility and capability’, and the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) subscribes to this view. Morally and in political terms developed countries should lead global mitigation by making significant domestic emissions reductions.

Niklas Höhne and Sara Moltmann from Ecofys compares the distribution of emission allowances under the GDRs framework with other well established proposals.