Event - Operating Specialist Wind Vessels Summit 2015

This event will take place on Wednesday 17 June 2015 - Thursday 18 June 2015 at Norwood Hall Hotel, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, UK. It will focus on the growing need for specialized vessels to instal and service wind farms.

With a drive towards renewable forms of energy, the last few years has seen huge investment on a European wide scale in creating large wind farms off the coast of a number of European countries. The result has been the need for a specialized fleet of vessels to install and service these wind farms. The need to transfer both equipment and manpower in a safe and efficient manner has led to calls for more stringent health & safety guidelines and industry wide debate on how best to apply existing IMO instruments on operational activities. This conference will give a special focus to operational techniques used within this specialised area, highlight the developments in IMO regulation and consider contractual and financing options for new vessels.

Keynote Presentations

Regulations for a Developing Industry
Ensuring Crew Safety: How is This Best Accomplished?
Heavy lift vessels servicing wind installation
Improving Turbine Access in Harsh Deep-water Conditions
Highlighting the need for High-Speed Vessels within the Offshore Wind Industry
Operational Experiences in New Installations

Speakers

David Matthews, UK General Manager, Fred Olsen Windcarriers
Paul Crowthers, Managing Director, Atlantic Marine & Aviation
Nere Skomedal, Vice President, Engineering- Umoe Mandal AS
Xavier Jurado Cojo, QHSE Manager- Igeotest
Thomas Ankele- KFW- Ipex
Steve Gobbi- CEO- Port of Ardesier
Bruce Craig, Managing Partner- Makinnons
Kerrie Forster- Fleet Safety Officer- Workships Contractors B.V.
Paul Duffield, Director, Powerboats & Yachts Ltd.
Alex Gauntt- BDM- Siem Offshore Contractors GmbH
Jorrit-Jan Serraris, Project Manager- MARIN

Who Should Attend

ACI’s meetings are strictly end-user focused. Delegates will be drawn from Vessels Owners, Managers and Operators, Shipbuilders, Shipyards, Designers, Energy Companies, Charterers, Naval Architects, Engineers, Classification Societies, Brokers, Repairing Companies and Vendors

To register contact Anna Zasada
Tel: + 48 616 46 9780
Email: azasada@acieu.net

Companies can gain direct access to our senior level audience and have an increased level of visibility through branding and networking at the conference. For information on available sponsorship and commercial opportunities, please contact Jean-Jacques Hermans
Tel: + 44 (0)20 3141 0608
Email: jhermans@acieu.net

Event - Green Bonds 2015 Conference

The 5th annual Green Bonds conference will take place on June 22 June 2015, at the Hilton Tower Bridge Hotel, 5 More London Place, Tooley Street, London, UK.

This event is presented by Environmental Finance proud supporters of the green bond market since its inception. The conference has long been the home of movers, shakers and vital discussions in this growing market. Indeed, the seed of the Green Bond Principles was sown at our 2013 conference, when two influential bankers began a conversation about how to add some standardisation to the market.

Book your place for this year's event and influence the green bond market's next steps.

Click here for the agenda, here for the speakers, and here to register.

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Event - World Ocean Power Summit

The 2nd World Ocean Power Summit will take place on Wednesday 24 June 2015 - Thursday 25 June 2015 Edinburgh, UK. This two day event will explore the progression from technological concept to commercial deployment. The Summit will bring together key industry stakeholders to address the need to progress ocean energy from technological concept to commercial deployment. Given the right political and financial frameworks, ocean technology have the potential to play a crucial role in meeting renewable energy targets.

Exclusive Site Visit

We also have the exciting opportunity to visit FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility during the afternoon of Tuesday 23rd June 2015 as part of the event. Only a limited number of attendees will have this opportunity. The University of Edinburgh’s FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility houses a 25m diameter circular pool containing more than 2 million litres of water and is designed specifically for testing marine renewable energy technologies. The fist of its kind in the world, this unique facility is able to accurately replicate real-sea conditions of waves and currents at scale for normal, challenging and extreme events for any offshore location. Enabling industry and academia to refie concepts, improve performance, and de-risk designs in a fully controllable and safe way at relatively low cost, FloWave will be a vital tool to help engineers harness the power of the sea.

Key Topics Include
  • Policy & Regulation of Ocean Energy
  • Global Ocean Energy Markets
  • Finance: Funding Future Developments
  • Improving Infrastructure & Connectivity to the Grid
  • Technology Case Studies: Wave Energy Streams
  • Technology Case Studies: Tidal Energy Streams
  • Overcoming Barriers to Commercial Deployment
  • Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

Panel Members
  • Phil Gilmour, Head Of The Marine Renewable And Offshore Wind, Marine Scotland
  • Andrew Smith, Head of The Renewable Energy Investment Fund, Scottish Enterprise
  • Brian Carroll, Head of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Division, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
  • Simon Grey, Chief Executive, AWS Ocean Energy (Conference Chair)
  • Simon Cheeseman, Sector Specialist, Wave & Tide, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
  • Ted Johnson, Senior Vice President and Executive Director, Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation
  • Stuart Brown, CEO, FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility
  • Ana Brito E Melo, Executive Director, WavEC - Offshore Renewables
  • Neil Davidson, Public Affairs Manager, Aquamarine Power
  • Jose Joaquin Hernandez-Brito, Manager, Plataforma Oceanica De Canarias - PLOCAN
  • Jean-François Daviau, President, SABELLA SAS
  • Jonathan Hodges, Senior Consultant, Marine Energy Matters
  • Stuart Bradley, Offshore Renewables Strategy Manager, Energy Technologies Institute
  • Tim Sawyer, CEO, CWE UK & Carnegie
  • Richard Parkinson, Managing Director,Mojo Maritime
  • Brendan Corr, Chief Commercial Officer, OpenHydro
  • Clément Weber, Director, Green Giraffe Energy Bankers

Who Will Attend

Leading power generating companies, utilities, marine technology providers, financial stakeholders & investors, research institutions, academia, service providers, government officials and regulators from various positions, encompassing heads & junior staff of: marine energy, ocean power, wave & tidal technology, technology development, marine renewable energy, offshore power generating and renewable strategy.

For further information or to register your attendance contact Claire Taylor-Payne
Tel: + 44 (0) 203 141 0601
Email: claire@acieu.net

Glossary of Sustainability Acronyms and Abbreviations

It is difficult to keep abreast of all the terms used in the fast changing realm of sustainability. Here is a comprehensive alphabetized summary of sustainability acronyms and abbreviations.

Agenda 21 A non-binding, voluntarily-implemented action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development.

AODP The Asset Owners Disclosure Project survey of investors on climate actions

BCI The Better Cotton Initiative, guidance on fair labor and sustainable cotton production

B Corp, or B Corporation, is a business certification from B Labs. Sometimes people call Benefit Corporations “B corps,” too. A benefit corporation is a legal business construct, like an LLC or C Corp, except it has sustainability at its core.

BREEAM Building Research Establishment Global’s Environmental Assessment Method for green building

BSR is a global nonprofit organization with member companies and a widely attended annual conference.

CCS Carbon capture and storage (or sequester) projects

CDP Formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project (now just CDP); issues corporate surveys on climate change, water and forestry, with additional supply chain reporting guidance.
CDSB Climate Disclosure Standards Board; provides guidance on climate reporting, and proposed stock exchange listing rule on climate emissions reporting

CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

CO2e Carbon dioxide equivalent — frequently used in emissions reporting

COP Communication on progress — a reporting requirement of being a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact

CSR or CR Corporate social responsibility or corporate responsibility, commonly used interchangeably DFPRW Declaration on fundamental principals and rights to work 

DJSI Dow Jones Sustainability Index EEIC

Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition: a code of conduct for the electronics supply chain

EPD Environmental product declaration 

ESG Environment, social and governance disclosure. Used interchangeably with CSR.

FiT Feed-in tariff, the price renewable energy generators are paid by utility companies for their energy

FLA Fair Labor Association 

FSC Forest Stewardship Council, creates standards for sustainably-harvested woods and fibers.

FT Fair Trade

G3/G3.1 Global reporting initiative’s third generation of sustainability reporting guidelines

G4 Global reporting initiative’s fourth generation of sustainability reporting guidelines

GEP Gender equality principals 

GHGP Greenhouse gas protocol for emissions reporting

GIIRS Global impact investing rating system; third-party ratings for impact investments

GISR Global Initiative for Sustainability Ratings

GRI Global Reporting Initiative

ILO International Labor Organization core labor standards

IR/IIRC Integrated reporting framework of the International Integrated Reporting Council

ISO 14001 International Standards Organization’s Environmental Management System

ISO 26000 ISO social responsibility standard
ISO 31000 ISO risk management standard KPI Key performance indicator

LCA Lifecycle assessment or Lifecycle analysis

LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for green buildings

MDGs United Nations Millennium Development Goals

OSHA U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration, provides standards for workplace safety

RECs Renewable Energy Credits — similar to carbon offsets, but just for renewable energy

REDD Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation, a U.N. forestry program

RSPO Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

SASB Sustainability Accounting Standards Board; offers sustainability reporting standards by industry

SFI Sustainable Forestry Initiative 

SDGs U.N. Sustainable Development Goals 

SRI Socially responsible investing

ULE UL Environment, a standards board

UNDHR United Nations Declaration on Human Rights

UNGC U.N. Global Compact; companies endorse and report on their progress in meeting 10 CSR principals 

USGBC U.S. Green Building Council; responsible for the LEED standard for green building

VCS Verified carbon standard, carbon offset certification body

h/t to Tracey Rembert who shared a version of this list with Ceres participants

Electric Bikes: 11 Climate Friendly e-Bikes

Due to their low price points and minimal operating costs, electric bikes are an increasingly popular way to travel. All around the world, we are seeing growing consumer interest in low carbon hybrids and emissions free electric bikes. Many of these bikes are being designed and built in the US to meet increasing domestic demand.

Some studies have shown that a family can save as much as $2,500 per year by using bikes as a primary source of transportation.

According to Pike Research, sales of electric bikes grew to 158,000 units in 2013 and they are expected to keep growing. A wide range of electronic bikes are providing consumers with a wide selection to choose from. Here are 9 options:

One of the more interesting electric bikes is what is known as the INgSOC hybrid bike. This aerodynamic carbon fiber-reinforced polymer bike runs in three modes: battery-powered, battery assist, and battery charge mode, where the user powers up the battery by pedaling. The battery powers the motor as well as a headlight and rear tail lights. The bike even includes an iPhone charging dock.

The carbon fiber reinforced Audi e-bike prototype known as the Wörthersee is powered by a lithium-ion battery. This high-performance e-bike has an electronic control system that helps the bike perform tricks. Weighing only 24 pounds, the compact frame has a low center of gravity to make it very agile. The innovative wheels known as the “Audi ultra blade” have broad flat spokes for an optimized transmission of pedal power. Cyclists have access to five cycling modes and a touchscreen. The bike can reach speeds of up to 50 mph and have a range of 31-44 miles.

Ford has also produced electric bike prototypes. One is called the MoDe:Me, which is designed for commuters and the other is the MoDe:Pro, which is designed for those who need carrying capacity. A 9-hour battery allows for extended travel time between charging sessions and it can attain a maximum speed of 25 mph. Both of these e-bikes are foldable and designed to work with the Apple iPhone6.

Another highly functional bike from designer Antoine Fritsch, known as the T2O Trotinette Bambou, features a sturdy yet flexible bamboo frame and electric motor. The bike has a cruising speed of 21 mph and a range of 24 miles.

A unique electric hybrid bicycle from M55 Bikes called the Beast can help riders scale steep hills. This bike's hefty price tag is justified by the detailed design and the materials used. It is made from CNC, titanium and carbon fiber. The top speed of the bike is 40 mph and the range is 75 miles on a single charge.

A far more cost effective and utilitarian electric bike is the Wave, dubbed the "world's most affordable electric bike." The Wave ebike has a top speed of 28 MPH and a range of 50 miles. This is a bike that does it all and is designed to last without need for maintenance. There are a number of available options including solar panel charging, bigger batteries, more seat options, LCD, and cruise control.

Another electric bicycle prototype has been produced by Faradion. It is powered by a sodium-ion battery pack which stands out from the lithium ion batteries currently in use. The sodium-ion battery ostensibly has more electricity storage capacity, decreased charging times and lower costs. It also does not require lithium which, is an increasingly scarce resource. The sodium ion battery is also safer and more environmentally benign.

Another option enables cyclists to add an electric motor to their existing bikes. The MIT designed Copenhagen Wheel turns any bike into a hybrid electric vehicle. Designed in 2009, this simple design went on sale in 2013. It got its name from being sponsored by the Mayor of Copenhagen at the 2009 COP15 climate change conference. The small motor is charged through a regenerative braking system that then uses the power to provide an electric boost while you ride. It can easily help riders achieve speeds of 20 mph. It can also be linked to a smartphone app that collects stats and enables users to configure how it works. The wheel also serves as a locking device preventing the bike from being used without the owners permission.

Source: Global Warming is Real

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US States Show Carbon Pricing Works

The experience of several US states lends credence to the belief that carbon pricing can lower emissions and reduce energy prices without doing economic harm. Some form of carbon pricing scheme has already been adopted by a number of American states as well as countries like China, Japan and 28 European nations. In the European Union carbon pricing has already helped to reduce emissions.

Federal carbon reduction initiatives in the US including a limit on emissions from power producers and China's coal reductions are helping to build momentum for global action. Now that energy prices are lower this is an ideal time to implement a price on carbon. As reported by the Financial Times, declining energy prices enhance the value of carbon pricing.

Republican opposition in the US, make the prospects of national carbon pricing legislation impossible, however, individual states are getting on-board and polls suggest that Americans support the idea. A 2015 poll found that more than two thirds of Americans support a revenue neutral carbon tax.

In addition to the action of US corporations, individual state governments have assumed a leadership role on carbon pricing. US states that have adopted carbon pricing show that they are able to reduce emissions without undermining growth. California's cap and trade program has seen the economy grow by 2 percent while cutting emissions of participating companies by 4 percent.

California’s carbon cap-and-trade program “"brings together the best aspects of regulation and using the market to drive flexible mechanisms," added Stanley Young of the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Resources Board (CARB).

As CARB explains on its website, "Market forces spur technological innovation and investments in clean energy. Cap-and-trade is an environmentally effective and economically efficient response to climate change."
California has now been joined by the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario

Cap and trade in the North East's nine-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, (RGGI) has cut the greenhouse gas emissions of participating states 2.7 times more than non-RGGI states, while growing their gross domestic product 2.5 times more than non-RGGI states. In addition, retail electricity prices across the region have declined by an average of 8 percent. 

New Clean Drinking Water Rules Supported by Business

Clean water is important to both the public and business and thanks to a new rule drinking water is now safer in the US. The new rule came into effect on Wednesday May 27, 2015. It expands protection of areas not clearly covered under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. The new clean water regulation, formally known as the The Waters of the United States rule, was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers.

The new ruling will make it easier for the EPA to regulate water pollution in "isolated wetlands." It addresses a 2001 Supreme Court decision that challenged the EPA's authority. The net result is that an additional 2 million miles of streams and 20 million acres of wetlands will now be protected. This helps business and 33 percent of Americans whose drinking was not previously protected.

This is a science based approach that addresses the interconnected reality of waterways. The increased clarity about what constitutes a tributary give the EPA the authority to do more to combat pollution and go after polluters.

The EPA adopted the new rule after a year long period where the public was invited to comment. It has the support of both business and environmental groups. According to various polls at least 80 percent of voters and small business owners support the move.

Although there was some predictable push-back from the usual suspects. Legal challenges are expected and congressional Republicans are already hard at work to undermine the rules. The House has already passed a bill that would deny these waters the protections they are now afforded.

The implications extend beyond drinking water. These rules protect wetlands which mitigate climate change by moderating cycles of drought and flooding.

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Course - A Guide to Wind Farm Performance

This one day training course by DNV GL’s Energy Academy will take place on May 28, 2015. It is designed for developers, operators, lenders and other professionals. The actual performance of a wind farm can vary compared to budget expectations. Reasons for this variation can include: wind resource, availability, power performance, curtailments and uncertainties in the long term energy forecasts.

Each of these factors will be covered in this course. The turbine supplier will usually provide a guarantee of power curve and availability levels. Performance verification procedures and power curve warranties are defined in the turbine supply and service and maintenance contracts. During operation the verification test procedure can be used to demonstrate that the turbines are within the acceptance levels and to quantify the uncertainties. The course will review typical approaches, including those defined in the IEC 61400-12-1 and 12-2 standards.

To complement the warranties and formal procedures, the wind farm performance may be optimized and tracked through live operations monitoring and periodic detailed analysis. The SCADA data continuously recorded by each turbine and met mast on the wind farm can be interrogated to track performance and monitor the health of turbine components.

The course will explain the value of SCADA data and how to leverage this to proactively manage performance. The course also includes live and interactive demonstrations of tools used to monitor and optimize the performance of turbines. The course allows attendees to benefit from DNV GL’s extensive experience of project due diligence, performance optimization and wind farm operation, and avoid common mistakes and misconceptions.

On completion, delegates should understand the most significant factors affecting wind farm performance and how to measure them. Specifically: how an operational wind farm’s long term energy yield is assessed; what performance factors appear in contracts; how turbine performance is measured; how wind farm performance can be optimized and monitored.

For more information and to register contact Andrew Brown, Training Manager
E-mail: training.era@dnvgl.com
Tel: +44 117 972 9718

Corporate Actions Buoy US Carbon Pricing

All responsible companies are targeting reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and many see carbon pricing as the best way to achieve this. Most companies are reducing their emissions and those reductions are increasingly significant. As part of these efforts carbon pricing has the support of a growing number of corporations.

GM has indicated that they will reduce the carbon intensity of their manufacturing plants by 20 percent, UPS has stated that it will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent and Wells Fargo is looking to achieve a 35 percent emissions reduction. While each company must assess its own capabilities, it is important that emissions reductions strive to be large enough to meaningfully address a science based understanding of what is required to tackle climate change.

Talking about their emissions reduction efforts, Mary Wenzel, head of environmental affairs at Wells Fargo, said:
"The target was developed by modeling what was relevant and possible in our current business; conversations with multiple internal and external groups, including Wells Fargo business leaders and team members, NGOs, and customers; an understanding of the scientific consensus of required GHG reductions; and our desire to demonstrate leadership in managing our own environmental footprint."

According to an analysis of 100 global companies almost half (49) are on track to reduce carbon emissions "in line with scientific targets to avert dangerous climate change".

Last year Ceres claimed that the appetite for a carbon tax is growing even in the US. A number of companies have signed the Climate Declaration which characterizes climate change as both a threat and an opportunity. A subdivision of Ceres known as BICEP is calling for a carbon tax and a number of mainstream companies have signed on including General Mills, Kellogg's and Nestle.

Last September more than 350 institutional investors called for a carbon tax (this includes BlackRock, CalPERS, PensionDanmark, Deutsche, South African GEPF, Australian CFSGAM, Cathay Financial Holdings and others) Together these investors represent over $24 trillion in assets. They are also asking that plans be developed to phase out subsidies for fossil fuels.

Major companies across many industries have indicated their support for carbon pricing, including GE, Fujitsu, IKEA, Alstom, Unilever, Swiss Re, Skanska and many others. Companies like American Electric Power, Xcel Energy and Pacific Hydro are among the utilities that are already pricing carbon as part of core business strategy.

A CDP report shows how Dow Chemical Company, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft and ExxonMobil are among the 29 major public companies in the US are incorporating an internal carbon price into their business decisions. The same report indicates that there are 150 companies using internal carbon pricing globally . According to the report there is a global corporate consensus that carbon will be priced. This puts large public companies ahead of their governments in planning for climate change risks, costs and opportunities.

Alstom and Bayer and Canadian Tire Corporation will soon be pricing carbon on a mandatory basis. A total of 638 companies see carbon disclosure regulations as an opportunity for their businesses. Many major US companies are participating in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme and as such are already operationalizing a carbon price on a mandatory basis. A total of 212 companies said that they have adopted a corporate position that supports carbon pricing and they are directly engaging with policymakers on legislation. Many companies use carbon pricing to guide their internal and external capital deployment to maximize return on investment.

More than 1,000 companies, and 70 countries have signed the World Bank Price on Carbon. The World Bank is also considering guaranteeing sales of greenhouse gas credits in support of the United Nations carbon markets.

Even the president and CEO of Suncor Energy Inc., Canada’s largest oil company recently said that he wants to see a carbon tax.

"We think climate change is happening," Steve Williams said at a May, 2015 Ecofiscal Commission event in Calgary. "We think a broad-based carbon price is the right answer."

Cenovus is also one of the energy-sector companies in favor of a carbon tax. “We support a price on carbon and we’ve been saying that as a firm since we launched over five years ago,” Judy Fairburn, executive advisor at Cenovus, told the Ecofiscal event.

To help provide guidance on carbon pricing in business the UN has published a useful document (click here to access it).

The Climate Trust predicts that we will see increased focus on carbon markets by 2020, the year that the hoped for global climate agreement comes into effect.

Floating Electric Car

There are a diverse range of electric vehicles from the mundane to the wildly esoteric. Some of the more exotic electric craft can actually navigate on the water. There is an electric car that actually floats on the water in the case of an emergency. Built by Japanese venture campany FOMM the vehicle is called the Concept One.

Hideo Tsurumaki, the president of FOMM says the car was constructed in response to the devastating Japanese tsunami of 2011. He invented the car because his hometown is prone to tsunamis.

In addition to tsunamis the vehicle is meant for people who live in areas that may experience sudden inundation from flash flooding. The target market for this vehicle is in Southeast Asia where flooding is commonplace.

In addition to being a floating electric car the Concept One is also the smallest four seater electric vehicle in the world at only 8 feet long. The lightweight car weighs in at just over 1000 pounds and it is powered by two in-wheel electric motors. These motors have an output of 5kW with a range of approximately 62 miles.

In the event the car ever finds itself in deep water the Concept One uses a water jet generator for propulsion. The tires provide buoyancy while acting like fins. However, the car will need maintenance to revert back to a street worthy vehicle.

In some respects the small size of the vehicle make it more like a motorcycle than a car. In fact, instead of a steering wheel the Concept One has motorcycle like handlebars, brakes and throttle control.

The Concept One is scheduled for mass production sometime this year.

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Texas a Study in Climate Contrasts

The state has experienced epic droughts now it is awash under a deadly flood. It is an oil state with high levels of climate denial yet it is one of the worst impacted by extreme weather associated with global warming. After protracted period of drought in much of Texas that dates back to 2011 parts of the state are now being inundated by flooding. This most recent extreme weather induced tragedy is in stark contrast to the Governor's climate denial.

Republican Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state of disaster in 24 counties and compared the deadly flood to a tsunami. Heavy rainfalls have breached the Bastrop dam and tornadoes have killed at least 13 people. Many homes have been destroyed and surviving residents are stranded on their rooftops. Roads have been washed out and thousands of people are without electricity. "This is the biggest flood this area of Texas has ever seen," Abbott reportedly said. "It is absolutely massive."

Over the last four years Texas has had more than 60 federal disaster declarations. Despite the spate of extreme weather, Abbott has rejected the scientific consensus on climate change.

An analysis from the Center for American Progress Action Fund indicates that when he was the state's attorney general he sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Obama administration over clean air and water issues.

While Texas has a number of wind farms many in the state actively work to undermine renewable energy. Utility companies have worked to turn public opinion against rooftop solar. A trade group from Texas known as CEA, work to support the interests of fossil fuel companies. They have taken their support for fossil fuels and resistance to renewable energy nationwide, most notably to the state of Wisconsin.

Incredibly the Texas State Board of Education has even tried to push creationism and exclude evolution and climate change from textbooks.

As reviewed in the Risky Business Report Texas will suffer from climate change more than almost any other state. This will cause higher mortality, lower labor productivity, reduced crop yields, higher energy costs and property losses due to flooding. Higher temperatures are expected to make Texas the state with the highest climate related death tolls

The chief reason why Texas is virulently anti-climate science and pro fossil fuels is because the state's congressional representatives have received almost $13 million in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry.

A Compelling Argument for Carbon Pricing

Carbon pricing is the most powerful tool we have to reduce climate change causing emissions. The momentum for carbon pricing is building as we surpass 400 ppm of atmospheric carbon. The need to find workable carbon reduction mechanisms is great as we head towards a hoped for climate agreement at COP 21 in Paris at the end of this year.

Although there was a bit of a slowdown in the rise of carbon emissions after the recession of 2008, they continue to grow at unacceptable levels. We know that fossil fuels are the primary sources of carbon and their use must be priced to drive down consumption. Integrating financial incentives and disincentives associated with carbon is a quick and efficient way to curtail emissions.

Simply put, given the current configuration of the global economy carbon pricing is the best mechanism we have to reduce emissions and stave off the worst impacts of global warming. A New Climate Economy report shows that carbon pricing can reduce emissions without harming the economy.

Global warming is also linked to extreme weather which is both costly and deadly. According to the Center for American Progress, there were 25 extreme weather events in the US with damages of more than $1 billion during the time period of 2011-2012. These events left more than 1,100 people dead and the economic costs reached nearly $188 billion. Much of the extreme weather in 2013 was attributed to climate change.

Carbon pricing will also improve public health by cutting pollutants, it can also create jobs by encouraging the development of cleaner, safer technologies.

In addition to health and employment benefits, a carbon scheme could also produce revenues known as climate dividends. According to a book by Peter Barnes' titled "With Liberty and Dividends for All." such revenues could "could rise to about $5,000 per person per year, or $20,000 per year for a household of four." These climate dividends could help to make the issue attractive to the American public.

A 2013 CDP paper outlines how carbon pricing benefits both companies and the US economy. Whether to reduce regulatory risk or deal with the potential of stranded assets, there is a powerful logic driving carbon pricing.

Carbon Emissions Keep Climbing

Our current carbon dioxide trajectory gives us very little hope that we can keep temperatures within the internationally agreed upon upper threshold limit (2 degrees Celsius below pre-industrial times). Extrapolating from the current trend we are at the upper end of CO2 emissions scenarios. This could translate to temperature increases of more than 10 degrees C. by the end of the century.

According to the International Energy Agency the world emitted 32 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere in 2014. Globally, 1.1 trillion metric tons of carbon dioxide have been released to the atmosphere since 1965.

There were 5,404 million metric tons of carbon from energy-related sources in 2014 and energy-related CO2 emissions are projected to increase in both 2015 and 2016. Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement production grew 2.3 percent to a record high of 36.1 billion tonnes CO2 in 2013. In 2014 emission increased 2.5 percent, which is 65 percent above the level of 1990.

Even as President Obama makes bold emissions reduction pledges (28 percent) CO2 emissions keep rising. US emissions increased 2.9 percent in 2013. Chinese emissions grew at 4.2 percent in 2013. China now emits more carbon per capita than Europe. Indian emissions grew at 5.1 percent in 2013 and the nation's economy is growing in carbon intensity.

In much of the world it appears that growth continues to be roughly commensurate with increasing emissions. However, in the US the amount of energy consumption per unit of GDP (energy intensity) is improving. In 2014, the US required 13 percent less energy than in 2005 per unit of GDP. Carbon intensity, or the amount of CO2 emissions per unit of energy consumption, declined in total by 8 percent during 2005-14, with an average annual decline of 0.9 percent.

Carbon emission keep rising as we head ever closer to irreversible tipping points that will augur a climate catastrophe.

Event - Grid Scale Energy Storage

ACI's 2nd Grid-Scale Energy Storage will take place on Tuesday 16 June 2015 - Thursday 18 June 2015 in Los Angeles, California. Bloomberg News said, "Annual investment in storage is currently about $2.6 billion…that’s set to grow to $9.2 billion in 2015 and then to $25 billion by 2021. Energy storage (is expected) to generate $500 million to $1 billion in annual revenue by 2020."

Key Topics
  • Energy storage as a long term resource in commercial energy management plans, storage project models, and energy procurement plans to support and compete with conventional generation, transmission and distribution resources.
  • Integrating energy storage with renewable power and connecting to the grid to help operators and utilities turn intermittent unpredictable sources of energy into a reliable resource.
  • Energy storage solutions to create growth in the market for renewable energy by enabling its use in greater volumes and in new applications; reducing costs so new technologies can compete on economic terms.
  • Integrating energy storage with solar and wind and connecting to the grid.
  • Standards, modeling, software integration and cybersecurity awareness.
  • New business models to make, apply, and operate storage assets to allow the gird to work more reliably and cost-effectively while decreasing negative environmental impacts.
  • Developing standards for modeling and regulatory reform and financing grid-scale storage technology in an uncertain marketplace.
  • Grid-scale storage as a regulation service to provide fast and flexible response systems to deal with unmanaged variation due to power plant failures and transmission outages.
  • Determining energy storage solutions while taking into consideration safe technologies, life cycles, cost effectiveness, maintenance requirements, size, efficiencies, discharge rate and depth of discharge.
  • Deploying substation-sited storage, co-locating with renewables, as well as in domains such as community energy storage and residential energy storage.
  • Lessons learned from energy storage pilots and initial commercial deployments; technological and financial case studies.

Who Should Attend

Energy industry executives, policymakers, energy consultants and engineers, legal and regulatory professionals, academics, non-profit and community leaders, consumer advocates and other interested stakeholders.

This Conference is Researched and Designed for the Following Professionals
  • Chief Utilities Officers and Executives
  • Engineers and Operations Specialists
  • Federal, Municipal, and Public Policy Government and Agencies
  • Utility Industry Regulators (Regulatory, Policy and Standards, Utilities and Power Generation Companies Administrators, Grid Operators and Network Planners, Academic and Research & Development Professionals, Renewable Energy Project Developers)
  • Industry Consultants, Solutions Providers, and System Integrators
  • Investor Community and Industry Stakeholders
  • Equipment and Software Vendors (Smart Grid/Soft Grid Developers, Energy storage equipment manufacturers and technology providers, Energy storage service providers and integrators, Transmission and distribution equipment suppliers, Battery manufacturers and component providers, Renewable energy developers and technology providers)
To register contact Contact Steve Eck
Phone: 312-780-0700
Fax: 312-780-0600
Email: seck@acius.net

Climate Change Technology Conference (CCTC 2015)

The fourth Climate Change Technology Conference (CCTC 2015) will take place on Monday May 25 to Wednesday May 27, 2015, at the Omni Mont-Royal Hotel, Montreal, Quebec. This Canadian and international forum will offer engineering solutions for dealing with the impacts of climate change.

Participants at the event will exchange ideas for dealing with climate change. It is also an opportunity to keep abreast of emerging techniques and technologies for the mitigation of, and adaptation to, the impacts of climate change.

The Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC) and ten of its member societies are organizing the event. The event is supported by the City of Montreal and the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development.

For more information click here.

Event - Energy Storage Association Conference and Expo

The 25th Energy Storage Association (ESA) Conference will take place on May 27 - 29 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, 300 Reunion Blvd., Dallas, Texas. This is the energy storage industry's premiere event. It will gather the most influential leaders and decision makers along with global experts. This event will help to shape the future of the energy storage industry.

The ESA Conference and Expo is designed for companies and individuals who are positioned for expansive growth in energy storage. This applies to those who are engaged and understand the dynamic market and policies that are driving future opportunities.

This event is immensely valuable event for all energy industry stakeholders. The Energy Storage Association Conference and Expo is attended by diverse segments of the industry including thought leaders and decision makers from:
  • Marketers: RTOs, ISOs, NERC
  • Policy: Government Representatives, Regulators
  • Utilities: IOU, Municipal, Coop, Public Power Authorities
  • Products: Storage OEMs, Storage Components, System Integrator
  • Projects: Developers, EPC, Contractors
  • Investors: VC, Private Equity, Public Equity/Debt
  • Services: Legal, Financial, Insurance, Real Estate
  • Users: Industrial, Commercial, Institutional, Residential

To register click here.

Event - Carbon Expo 2015

The 12th edition of Carbon Expo will take place on May 26 - 28, 2015 at the Downtown Montjuic Venue, in Barcelona. Since 2004 this has been the world's largest multi-sectoral climate finance and carbon market Conference and Trade Fair.

This is the premiere professional trade fair and summit for intelligence gathering, discussions and business development on carbon markets and pricing systems, climate finance and technology incentives. This premier global event on the Road to Paris Advancing Carbon Pricing Leadership

With the evolution of the carbon markets over the years, it has become the leading platform for progressive businesses, finance and governments, facilitating innovation, promoting enhanced understanding of new policy instruments and identifying ways to access and leverage climate finance, especially between countries facing comparable challenges.

As part of the global effort to mobilize climate change action and ambition – at midway between COP20 in Lima and COP21 in Paris – governments, along with progressive business leaders, civil society and other stakeholders from around the world, will be at the 2015 Carbon Expo.

The 2014 edition had 2,000 participants from 90 countries, 220 speakers, 100 exhibitors, 36 side event sessions, 27 workshops and 9 plenaries.

For more information or to register click here.

3 Electric Tricycles: Raht Racer, Adventure Vehicle, Kylad-e (Videos)






For a more detailed overview of these electric tricycles and 15 other e-trikes click here. To check out three wheeled tadpole electric vehicles click here.

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Santa Barbara Oil Spill 1969 and 2015 Redux (Videos)

On May 19th a pipeline ruptured off the coast of Santa Barbara California and spilled more than 100,000 gallons of crude oil into the pacific ocean. This spill has is deadly to wildlife. Anyone who sees oiled wildlife in the area can call 877-823-6926 to get help from the UC Davis Wildlife Care Network.

As reported in the Los Angeles Times, Plains Pipeline, the company responsible for the spill has amassed a lamentable rap sheet of violations. In less than a decade they have been been found guilt of a total of 175 safety and maintenance infractions. Plains All American Pipeline is one of the worst pipeline operators in the country (out of 1,700 pipeline operators, that had the fifth most infractions). In 2014 Plains All American Pipeline earned $43 billion in revenue.



Sadly the 2015 event is not the first time that an oil spill has contaminated this part of California's coastline. This is the second time there has been a major spill in the area. Another spill off the Santa Barbara Coastline in 1969 fouled the water and killed scores of wildlife.


These two spills call us to reflect on the cost of oil. The 1969 spill helped to consolidate public opinion and advance the environmental movement. The 2015 spill may help to galvanize public opinion about the dangers of oil. It is a statistical certainty that pipelines will leak over time and no matter how they are transported fossil fuels are not safe. In addition to concerns about spills it must be understood that fossil fuels are the primary driver of climate change and as such we need to rethink our dependence on oil.

Summary of 18 Electric Trike Vehicles

An electric tricycle has all of the advantages of a two wheeled bike with the extra stability provided by a third wheel. Many electric trikes can be propelled with the motor or through pedal power or a combination of both. Unlike four wheeled electric golf carts many of electric trikes have virtually no restrictions in terms of where they can be ridden. Most of these trikes can travel at least 30 miles on a single charge. Many of them come with an abundance of bells and whistles including things like turn signals, speedometer and a suspension system. Some cruise at typical bicycle speeds while others are capable of driving at highway speeds. Despite their functionality they can be hard to find.

There are some wildly innovative trike designs but none is more innovative than Nils Ferber‘s EX vehicle which is propelled by screwdrivers. The ultra-light racing trike harnesses two 18-volt screwdrivers as engines, allowing it to accelerate up to 30 km/h. This trike it neither recumbent nor upright as the driver lies in a face down position just a few inches above the pavement. The throttle and brakes operate like a motorcycle, and a custom-built joint allows the rear section to tilt as the driver leans into curves.

Green Lite Motors has developed a hybrid trike prototype that balances efficiency, comfort, and safety with a unique chassis. It is propelled by a hybrid gas/electric motor which can propel the vehicle up to 85 mph. The vehicle can handle the speed and different driving conditions. It gets as much as 100 miles on a single gallon of gas. The two front wheels are offset from the chassis to provide natural roll when cornering. This three wheeled vehicle has cornering characteristics of a motorcycle with the stability of a car. The two front wheels utilize Green Lite’s "smart stand up" technology – a hydrolic suspension that keeps the car standing up when parked. As the vehicle approaches a turn, the wheels tilt the chassis into the turn like a motorcycle. This allows for great stability and handling and allows the driver and the passenger to sit upright. The vehicle can be driven in one of three modes: all-electric, hybrid, or gas only. Wrapped in a full shell, drivers do not need to wear motorcycle gear and they can enjoy the comfort of climate control.

Here is a comprehensive summary of electric tricycles divided into recumbent and upright trikes.

Recumbent Electric Trikes

Some of these e-recumbent trikes are designed for everyday commuting while others “amplify” your pedal power up to highway speeds. As reviewed in the Electric Trike Report and Guide here are 9 e-trikes as well as kits, trailers and concept vehicles.

Organic Transit Elf Electric recumbent trikes are lightweight 3 wheeled pedal/electric vehicles. They are partially enclosed so they offer weather protection. They have cargo & passenger capacity, full suspension, comfortable seats, lights & mirrors. One of the more interesting features is a rooftop solar panel to aid in recharging the batteries while cycling. They can go 20 mph, with a range is 20+ miles, it can carry 350 lbs, and the base price is $5,000.

Hase Klimax e-trikes offer partial weather protection. Currently Hase offers their Klimax 2K series e-trikes with the Shimano Steps mid drive and their Klimax speed trike (up to 45 km/h or 28 mph) with a front hub motor.

HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 S-Pedelec is a full suspension speed pedelec (pedal assist only) that can go up to 45 km/h (28 mph) with a 500 watt rear hub motor.

RunAbout Cycles make custom electric recumbents and other types of custom e-bikes in Fort Collins Colorado.

ICE Trikes offers some of their recumbent trikes with the SunStar mid drive motor kit, however they are only available in the UK.

Como Trikes feature an aluminum frame with suspension and other high quality components. They use the Falco E-Motors system.

Outrider USA makes high performance “adventure vehicles” designed for power and speed. The 2015 Alpha has an astounding range of up to 80 miles. There is even a feature that allows users to add two more batteries to extend the range to 160 miles. It also has a purpose-built air-shock front and rear suspension, as well as increased seat size for an incredibly comfortable and stable riding experience. The cost is around $13,000. They offer a total of 4 different models ranging in speed from 20 mph to 40+ mph, and ranges from 45 miles to 165 miles. The price range starts at $6,000.

The Raht Racer is an enclosed electric trike that “amplifies” your pedal power to assist you up to highway speeds. It is still in the prototype stages but they are working on a production vehicle.

Planet Rider e-trike is not available for sale right now because it is still in the prototype/development stage. It will also offer highway speeds with the intent of replacing a car.

Electric recumbent bike kits include the Terra Trike Rambler with E-BikeKit, EcoSpeed kit and NuVinci N360

Electric trailers that carry some cargo and push your bike include the RideKick, RoadRACE Power Pod.

ECO FUV is a yet to be released electric bike from a designer who is building a complete urban vehicle that marries function and technology.

An electric trike concept from industrial designer, George Cooper is intended to encourage more people to cycle. The goal is to "benefit the rider’s health and financial situation while at the same time improving the environment by reducing pollution and the consumption of finite resources.”

Upright Electric Trikes

This summary of upright e-trikes guide will focus on upright electric trikes. As reviewed in the Electric Trike Report and Guide here is a summary of tilting trikes and traditional upright e-trikes.

Butchers & Bicycles MK1 Electric Trike is a tilting three wheeler that can transport cargo. It has a high tech mid drive e-bike system.

Kaylad-e Electric Trike concept is a tilting electric trike with a mid drive similar to MK1 above

Trikke Electric Carving Vehicle is a trike that uses your leg power from a carving motion (like skiing) along with an electric motor in the front wheel.

Worksman Trike with EBikeKit is an economical trike that retails for $1,200.

eZip Tri-Ride Electric Trike is made by Currie Technologies and provides an upright trike with seat back. The eZip Tri-Ride retails for $1,399.


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Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Goals

The abundance of life on Earth is declining due to human activity. Our growing understanding of the interconnectedness of nature adds additional importance to all the life forms that comprise the world's biodiversity. This includes animals, plants, micro-organisms and the ecosystems within which they live and interact.

Each year on May 22, the United Nations celebrates the International Day for Biodiversity (IBD) which is an opportunity to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. Most importantly IDB is an opportunity commit to global action to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss.

In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

In 2015 IBD falls right in the middle of the decade of Biodiversity. In 2010 at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP), the United Nations revised and updated a Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets for the Decade on Biodiversity that runs from 2011 to 2020. This plan provides an overarching framework on biodiversity for the entire United Nations system and all other partners engaged in biodiversity management and policy development. This overarching international framework was revised and updated in 2012 and in the fifth national report in 2014 the focus was on implementation.

The theme for this year's IDB is “Biodiversity for Sustainable Development,” The theme reflects the importance of efforts made at all levels to establish a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which replace the Millennium Development Goals for the period of 2015-2030. This year's IDB focuses on the relevance of biodiversity for the achievement of sustainable development.

The selection of this years IDB theme also underlines the adoption of the Gangwon Declaration at the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Gangwon Declaration welcomed the importance given to biodiversity in the outcome documentof the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals and called for the further integration and mainstreaming of biodiversity in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. 

At the Rio+20 Conference in 2012 member countries of the United Nations embarked on a new path to achieve poverty eradication, economic development, social priorities and a healthy environment, building on the work of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). One of the core elements of the “post-2015 development agenda” is a set of ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which provide for an integrated approach to achieving sustainable development. SDGs will operational as of January 1, 2016.

The SDGs establish a set of universal goals and targets, to be achieved through the collective action of member countries and partners. The SDGs Goal 13 focuses on the need to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Sustainable Development Goals are being explored by a number of UN and non UN organizations. They were addressed by the business community at last years World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

17 Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all
Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation • Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

To see more information about translating Universal Sustainable Development Goals to country action click here.

To find out more about Biodiversity and the Post-2015 Development Agenda, click here.

To explore Biodiversity as the foundation for sustainable development click here.

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Climate Change is a National Security Issue

The US military has acknowledged a diverse assortment of risks from climate change. One of those risk involves infrastructure. The Pentagon currently manages more than 555,000 facilities and 28 million acres of land including 704 coastal installations and sites that are vulnerable to flooding. Other military bases and installations are susceptible to a wide range of climate impacts.

On May 20, 2015, the President gave a commencement address to the Coast Guard at Cadet Memorial Field in which he called climate change a National Security issue. The President delivered his address as more than 100,000 gallons of crude oil were spilling into the Pacific Ocean and contaminating beaches and killing wildlife along the Californian coast near Santa Barbara. Around the same time as he was speaking the Coast Guard was actively surveying the extent of the spill.

During his address the President cited a host of climate related corollaries that impact national security from rising sea levels and drought to the increased risk of terrorism and violence due to poverty, social tensions and political instability. He talked about wildfires, melting permafrost in Alaska and how extreme weather can increase the number of climate refugees and exacerbate conflicts over scarce resources like food and water.

He also made it clear that we must do more than adapt to climate change we must actively mitigate it by slowing down the warming of the planet. As explained by the President:

"Climate change constitutes a serious threat to global security, an immediate risk to our national security, and make no mistake, it will impact how our military defends our country. And so we need to act—and we need to act now... In Miami and Charleston, streets now flood at high tide. Along our coasts, thousands of miles of highways, roads, railways and energy facilities are vulnerable. It's estimated that a further increase in sea level of one foot—just one foot—by the end of this century could cost our nation $200 billion."

As reported by Rolling Stone, climate change poses a serious threat to US military bases. Norfolk Virginia is home to the biggest naval base in the world and the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Atlantic fleet. The its spectacular assemblage of American military might and seventy-five thousand sailors and civilians that work there cannot stop the rising seas that could cause the base to vanish into the Atlantic Ocean. Already storm surges flood the base and wreak havoc on 29 other military bases (including Langley Air Force base home of the Air Combat Command), shipyards and installations in the area. Other bases will also vanish like the naval base on Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean.

"Military readiness is already being impacted by sea-level rise," says Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine. In less than half a century many of these bases are expected to be under water. Moving these bases will cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

Rear Adm. Jonathan White said, "When you see what's going on down there [in Norfolk], it gives you a sense of what climate change means to the Navy — and to America. And you can see why we're concerned."

Outgoing Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel recently called climate change "a threat multiplier" that "has the potential to exacerbate many of the challenges we are dealing with today — from infectious disease to terrorism." His comments are but the latest in a long string of climate warning coming from the US military.

In October 2003, the Pentagon published a report titled "An Abrupt Climate Change Scenario and Its Implications for United States National Security." The report warned that threats to global stability posed by rapid warming vastly eclipse that of terrorism. The report was authored by Peter Schwartz and Doug Randall who concluded, "this report suggests that, because of the potentially dire consequences, the risk of abrupt climate change, although uncertain and quite possibly small, should be elevated beyond a scientific debate to a U.S. national security concern."

Adm. Samuel Locklear III, who is in charge of all US armed forces in the Pacific said, "The political and social upheaval we're likely to see from our rapidly warming planet...is probably the most likely thing that . . . will cripple the security environment, probably more likely than the other scenarios we all often talk about.''

"When oceans rise, instability follows," says Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.

A 2013 study by analysts at Princeton found that in some parts of the world, global warming could lead to a 50 percent increase in conflict by mid-century. Even the conflict in Syria has a climate change connection. As reported by Grist, a March 2015 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Colin Kelley, a geographer at the University of California-Santa Barbara, found that" a multiyear drought as severe as the one that hit Syria from 2007 to 2010 was made two to three times more likely because of climate change, compared to natural variability alone."

The DoD report titled, "2014 Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap" describes how global warming will bring new demands on the military. The report clearly states that climate change poses an immediate threat to national security, with increased risks from terrorism, infectious disease, global poverty and food shortages. It also predicted rising demand for military disaster responses as extreme weather creates more global humanitarian crises.

Speaking about the Pentagon's October 2014 report, Hegel said: "We have already seen these events unfold in other regions of the world, and there are worrying signs that climate change will create serious risks to stability in our own hemisphere," he said.

Pentagon officials said the report would affect military policy. "The department certainly agrees that climate change is having an impact on national security, whether by increasing global instability, by opening the Arctic or by increasing sea level and storm surge near our coastal installations," John Conger, the Pentagon’s deputy under secretary of defense for installations and environment, said in a statement. "We are actively integrating climate considerations across the full spectrum of our activities to ensure a ready and resilient force."

A May 2014 CNA Military Advisory Board report indicated that climate change is already threatening both our national security and economy. The Board is composed of 16 former military Generals and Admirals. Retired Vice Admiral Lee Gunn (President of the CNA's Corp. Institute for Public Research) pointed out that the U.S. military is the single largest consumer of oil in the U.S., and highlighted the necessity for the military to transition towards renewable energy in order to improve its operational efficiency and flexibility.

"The bottom line is, what we’re trying to show is that these trends are due to the climate change signal," Kelley said. "There’s no natural signal for that."

Climate change is a far greater global threat than terrorism. As explained by the Princeton research, a case can be made suggesting that climate change can actually cause terrorism. However, Republicans appear to be transfixed by terrorism and utterly disinterested in climate change.

It is an oxymoron that Republicans are at the forefront of climate denial yet they are also strongly supportive of the military.

Republicans are doing their utmost to misinform the public about the strong connection between climate change and national security. In 2009, then-CIA director Leon Panetta started the Center on Climate Change and National Security. However, thanks to Republican pressure it was disbanded.

Last spring almost all Republicans in the House voted for an amendment sponsored by Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) that south to prevent the Department of Defense from using funding to address the national security impacts of climate change. Specifically they did not want to allow the DoD to spend any money on expenses arising from the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, The UN's Agenda 21 sustainable development plant or the Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis Under Executive Order 12 12866.

Nonetheless, the “DOD expects climate change to challenge its ability to fulfill its mission in the future.”

Republicans have disavowed reams of climate research because they are beholden to big oil. Last September, in New Orleans, Russel Honore, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General, said that the oil and gas industry, “have hijacked our damn democracy. They lobby, they write the laws.” Fossil fuels are “the energy we use,” Honore said. “But it does not give the industry the right to destroy where we live.”

President Obama said in his May commencement address that the evidence for climate change is "indisputable" and he flatly refuted so called climate skeptics saying, "Denying it or refusing to deal with it undermines our national security." He went on to say, "We need to act and we need to act now."

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The Importance of Cultural Diversity for Sustainable Development

Cultural diversity is an integral part of sustainable development. In fact it has been called the fourth pillar of sustainability. The UN General Assembly has declared that May 21 is the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. This day is an opportunity to deepen our understanding and appreciation of each others cultures. This helps us to build a more inclusive society based on common civic values. Although it may seem paradoxical, encouraging cultural diversity can help us to find the common ground for living together. When people are secure in their right to live their lives according to their cultural values, they are better able to enter relations of dialogue and co-operation.

According to the 1982 Mexico City Declaration on Cultural Policies, culture is "the whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize a society or social group." This definition espouses the fundamental human right to practice the distinctive way of life of their tradition. This is the meaning of Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as other articles that affirm everyone's right to freedom of expression and opinion, association, and choice of education for one's children.

Article 13 of UNESCO's Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions states that Parties shall endeavor to integrate culture in their development policies at all levels for the creation of conditions conducive to sustainable development.

Despite the importance of cultural diversity, the recognition of their role in sustainable development is not well designed in the international community. World Day for Cultural Diversity strives to address this problem alongside a number of forums, events and papers.

As part of the May 21 activities UNESCO and the UN Alliance of Civilization launched a grassroots campaign called ‘Do One Thing For Diversity and Inclusion’. This activity encourages people and organizations to take concrete action to support diversity and raise awareness about the importance of intercultural dialogue, diversity and inclusion. This effort combats polarization and stereotypes to improve understanding and cooperation among people from different cultures. People are encouraged to share their experiences through posts and videos on their Facebook page.

On May 18 and 19, 2015, Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan held the 3rd World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue around the theme, “Sharing Culture for a Shared Security".

At the Rio summit in 2012 there was a discussion about the role cultural diversity as the 4th pillar of sustainability. The main objective of this side event was to characterize and to highlight the role of culture and cultural diversity as the 4th pillar of sustainable development.

The event discussed the environment and sustainable development from a multidisciplinary perspective. It incorporated Brazilian, global case studies and good practices that demonstrate the interlinkage between culture and nature, cultural diversity and sustainable development as well as the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability.

The discussion showed how culture and cultural diversity may help in the decrease of the driving forces of unsustainability. It also highlighted how the multilateral agreements on culture and cultural diversity may be considered as tools to achieve the sustainable development and integrated into policy.

The Bahia Cultural Foundation explained that cultural diversity plays an important role in sustainable development. Culture fosters economic growth, helps individuals and communities to expand their life choices. It is important to adapt to change and raising the resilience of social-ecological systems. As the cultural diversity creates a rich and varied world, which increases the range of choices and nurtures human capacities and values, and therefore is a mainspring for sustainable development for communities, peoples and nations.

A 1995 report from UNESCO's World Commission on Culture and Development, titled Our Creative Diversity, stated that any national policy of "nation-building" that seeks to make all groups homogeneous - or to allow one to dominate - is neither desirable nor feasible. A nation that believes in creative diversity needs to create a sense of itself as a civic community, freed from any connotations of ethnic exclusivity.

At the 1995 Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development, in Stockholm, Canada was recognized for its cutting-edge policies promoting cultural diversity. One example of this is the effort of the Canada Council for the Arts to bring Aboriginal artists into the mainstream of its programmes. See "The Power of Culture," Final Declaration and Plan of Action.

Also in 1995 the International Forum For Solidarity Against Intolerance and for a Dialogue of Cultures, was held in Tbilisi, the Republic of Georgia. This event alerted the international community to the urgency of counteracting and eliminating aggressive intolerance in its various manifestations.