May 4, 2009

May 4, 2009

Brighter future for the CTF?

The World Bank is taking steps to fund a concentrated solar power program in the Middle East and North Africa. Matt Hoffman, Joel Meister and I look at some of the details of the proposal, in "A Transformational North Africa/Middle East Solar Power Program: Bright Prospect for the Clean Technology Fund."

Doing conservation right

How do you preserve forests and biodiversity in developing countries? One successful initiative in Uganda holds clues for policymakers concerned about deforestation and CO2 emissions. Read more in "Nathalie’s Story: Saving the Mountain Gorillas, and the Planet".

Missouri outpacing DC

Policymakers in DC haven't made much progress on climate, but their inaction isn't holding things up in my home state, where residents voted for a renewable energy portfolio standard. Read "Yada Yada...Washington Talks While Missouri Acts on Climate Change."

My thanks to Robin Kraft for his help in preparing this letter.

Best wishes,

David Wheeler
Senior Fellow
Center for Global Development

News

S.Africa sets tariffs to boost renewables investment (Reuters)

China low-carbon path hard but doable -study (Reuters)

A Potential Breakthrough In Harnessing the Sun’s Energy (Yale 360)

Study Says Warming Poses Peril to Asia (New York Times)

China studying carbon tax ideas -report (Reuters)

World Bank raises $300 mln climate bond finance (The Guardian)

China Details Incentive Plan for Electric Cars (New York Times)

Power Plant News:

Inside CARMA


Germany

For all its green credentials, Germany's heavy dependence on coal puts the carbon intensity of its power sector on par with that of the United States. But German power companies making plans to replace aging coal-fired power plants with new ones are facing public opposition.