Tiempo Climate Newswatch

A report on the 3 Country Energy Efficiency (3CEE) Project concludes that China, India and Brazil will more than double their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions within a generation if energy efficiency efforts are not successful. In contrast, "improving energy efficiency for existing buildings and other infrastructure could cut current energy consumption by 25 per cent or more in India, China and Brazil, amounting to millions of tons in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and hundreds of millions of dollars in energy savings," according to Robert Taylor, World Bank energy specialist and project leader. The project is a joint initiative of the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme and partners in Brazil, China and India.

Since 2001, the 3CEE Project has worked to promote energy efficiency projects in the target nations by easing typical investment requirements of financial institutions. "Many energy efficiency projects quickly pay for themselves, with typical returns on investment of 20-40 per cent," says Chandra Govindarajalu, World Bank environment specialist. "Despite the demonstrated benefits, though, companies often cite other, more immediate investment and borrowing priorities", he continued. "Meanwhile, commercial banks in these countries are generally unfamiliar with financing projects designed to achieve cost savings, rather than develop new product lines or other tangible assets." The way forward is to foster corporate awareness, support catalyst energy efficiency practitioners and enlighten commercial banks to ease access to local financing for such projects.

More information

• ENS
• SciDevNet
• Terra Daily
• Reuters

• Press release, 3CEE
• Executive Summary, 3CEE
• Country reports, 3CEE

The European Commission has launched a campaign to encourage Europeans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Amongst other things, the campaign, You Control Climate Change, promotes 50 practical tips aimed at halting climate change, ranging from turning off lights to not using cars. School children are being asked to sign a pledge to reduce their emissions and then monitor their progress.

Noting that action against climate change is a priority for the European Commission, President Jose Manuel Barroso said that the "campaign complements and reinforces our political and legislative efforts. It makes clear to which extent we all are responsible for climate change and what individuals can and need to do to limit this threat." Every European citizen is responsible for eleven tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year.

More information

• BBC
• ENN
• Press release, UNFCCC

• Comment, WorldChanging
• DIY Guide, Tiempo Climate Cyberlibrary

China has announced that it has reduced the rate of desertification. The rate has dropped from about 10,400 square km a year towards the end of the 20th century to 3,000 square km a year at present. The Chinese government admits, however, that the problem remains serious. "Disadvantageous climatic reasons, especially the influence of drought on speeding up desertification, cannot be underestimated," said Zhu Lieke of the State Forestry Administration. "Over-planting, over-grazing and over-use of water are also issues yet to be totally resolved."

It has been estimated that desertification affects around 27 per cent of China's territory and causes economic losses of US$6.75 billion a year, afflicting around 400 million people. The Chinese government is investing US$250 million a year in combating the problem. It is planned that, by 2020, anti-desertification schemes will recover half of all land destroyed by desertification. A 5,700km green wall is being built from Beijing through to Inner Mongolia to protect lands degraded by human activity. Domestic animals are being banned from fragile soils and efforts are being made to improve irrigation. Tree fences and grass belts are being used to keep blown sand off oases and farmlands.

More information

• Reuters
• New Zealand Herald
• Xinhua

• Guardian
• Terra Daily