Archive for The Politics
June 21, 2007 at 11:30 am · Filed under Green Tech, Bio Fuel, The Politics
I am in the market for a new car. To my surprise there is no alternatives in Denmark to gasoline and diesel cars. It is possible to order a Prius, but no dealers has a model home I can test. It is also possible to import a hybrid, electric or plantoil/biodiesel ready car but theres is not one single place in this country I can go and see and have a spin in such a car.
Importing a car is a difficult task, there will be doubt about the tax until the car is imported and I would prefer to have a local salesman to address for service and if something goes wrong.
I do not understand why this is. All major car manufacturers have electric cars, hybrid and plant oil ready cars and they are on the market in several countries, why not here? Why do they not test the Danish market - they would find me and possible a lot of others potential buyers.
Some months ago the tax on new cars were differentiated, so it makes environment friendly cars a lot cheaper. This is said to have increased the sale of small gasoline cars - but so far no new products have been introduced. Thats a shame, now I’ll buy a Hummer instead…
June 2, 2007 at 12:03 pm · Filed under Ecology, The Politics
The European Parliament has adopted a report, which seeks to strengthen proposed new regulation on organic production and the labelling of organic products. The parliament has called for stricter rules for importations and certification bodies, better labelling with the possibility to keep national organic logos, integration of non-food products and extension of the scope of the legislation to catering and restaurants.Following the vote, Vice-President Marie-Helene Aubert from (Greens) said: “The EP has today voted for much stronger rules for organic production and product labelling in the EU. Following the active role of the Parliament on this regulation some of the changes proposed in the EP report have already been accepted by the Council. These include: a better framework for controls, inspections and certification of imports of organic products from third Countries, which did not have similar legislation and controls in place; clearer rules for processing, certifying and labelling of organic products, while preserving the existing specific national and regional labels of the private organic organisations. We also welcome that regular consultation of the stakeholders in organic farming is now agreed,” writes www.neurope.eu.
April 30, 2007 at 12:23 pm · Filed under The Politics, hybrids
Taxes on new cars here in Denmark was readjusted last week. The new idea is that kilometer pr. liter gasolin/diesel directs the tax. Popular gas guzzlers like Porsche Cayenne and Hummer H2 will from now on cost about 25.000 euro more while a new Toyota Prius will cost 5.500 euro less. Thanks!
March 31, 2007 at 7:26 pm · Filed under The Politics
One of the major problems with the Koyoto agreement is that CO2-pollution now can be traded between power companies and countries. A direct consequence for me as a consumer who wants lower my households emissions is that my spared emissions is a product that my regional coal based power supplier owns!
In the old days before Koyoto I could save CO2 by remembering to turn the lights off and buy low power consuming products. But not anymore. Every time I save a bit CO2, that amount goes into the calculations that shows how much CO2 Danish companies can sell on the world market. The more CO2 -quotas that are available on the market the cheaper it is for power plants to buy the right to keep on burning coal.
At the moment the Danish Minister of Environment is running a campaign to make people take a personal responsibility. Again and again it is mentioned that we should be concerned about our use of power and turn off stand by devices etc. but the fact is that it has absolutely no influence on the CO2-emisisons. Instead we are making the (coal burning power companies) richer and fulfilling our ministers political project of lowering Denmark’s total emissions. But what does it really matter if the quotas just are sold to Germany?
Actually we would be better off with a greater individual approach and no Koyoto protocol at all. Koyoto is a mistake because it eliminates the personal responsibility and makes environmentalism and passion for the wellbeing of the planet a good that can bought and sold on a market place.
One more wind generator here means more CO2 emitted somewhere else.
February 20, 2007 at 9:12 pm · Filed under The Politics
Just change your light bulbs, says Australian Prime Minister John Howard. In an effort to reduce his country’s carbon emissions (and to simplify his party’s environmental policy) Howard’s government will outlaw the antiquated incandescent light bulb by 2010. Australians will have to use more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, which are about five times more energy efficient and last much longer than standard bulbs.
Similar ideas have recently been suggested in California. Link
February 13, 2007 at 8:12 pm · Filed under The Politics
The third round of six-nation talks on North Korea’s nuclear program should end later today with the parties expected to reach a general agreement on all controversial issues. What is interesting is that massive aid in forms of establishing and alternative energy sector in North Korea seems to play a lead role in the negotiations.
The five countries negotiating with North Korea to end its nuclear program have agreed to provide Pyongyang with alternative energy equivalent to one million tons of heavy fuel oil each year if it “disables” its nuclear facilities within the next two months, writes the South Korean newspaper Yonhap News.
The head of the Russian delegation said to the Russian Ria Novosti that Russia stands for destroying the Yongbyon nuclear reactor rather than simply closing it down because the facility would not seriously affect North Korea’s energy security:
“We support the suspension of activities [at the Yongbyon Nuclear center] as a first step, but it would be even better to dismantle it and provide North Korea with alternative energy sources instead,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said. Link.
What kind of alternative energy sources the parties have in mind is still an uanswered question.
February 7, 2007 at 11:54 am · Filed under The Politics
priceofoil.org writes: “No surprises here really. The European Commission has missed a vital chance to impose tough curbs on CO2 emissions from cars after fierce lobbying from the car lobby, especially German manufacturers. Instead the Commission will opt today for a blueprint on emission limits that avoids placing the maximum burden on car-makers. The decision comes after months of lobbying by the car lobby, and the intervention of Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor. It has seen an open feud between the Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas and his counterpart with responsibility for industry. More here: Link
January 22, 2007 at 8:50 pm · Filed under The Politics
The government will cut the use of fossil fuels by making it easier for Danes to go green. Whether by issuing credits for energy efficiency, cutting registration fees on hydrogen-powered cars or increasing expenditures on clean fuel research, the government will make it easer for people to contribute to the national goal of 30 percent renewable energy by 2025.
The plan, presented Friday, would require a doubling of the amount of renewable energy currently used in Denmark. At the same time, fossil fuel use would be reduced by 15 percent.
The plan has critizised for not beeing ambitious enough since the targets will be more than met if continuing the path allready chosen.
January 4, 2007 at 10:11 pm · Filed under Green Tech, The Politics
I heard it mentioned that in Norway it is common knowledge that Norway is world-famous for having invented the cheese knife. I don’t know if it is so or even if they did invent the cheese cutter, but I know that I have never heard anyone say: ” Hey did you know that a Norwegian genius invented this?”
The story is good to remember when politicians use the the trick of comparing our own state of things with other countries.
Very often in the energy debates in Denmark it is noted that Denmark is in the absolute front when it comes to research, biofuels, windpower etc. But when digging through the international mediascape for news about cutting edge green technologies, how come the genius in the class never speaks out?
Right now we are having a fierce debate about how not to meet the EU-Commissions regulations on biofuel. Politicians can´t agree on wether we should invest taxpayers money in first- or second generation ethanol plants while the americans and are building new high tech plants with help from our experts today. We thought that windmill business belonged to Denmark, and it has due to historical reasons, but the huge US-companies, Siemens and others are also in the business now. I am afraid the truth is that we are dreaming.
Today´s top energy story from NBC was that Sweden now has reached consensus that the country should outphase fossil fuel by 2020. Link.
January 3, 2007 at 4:58 pm · Filed under The Politics
For oil traders returning to trading pits on Wednesday, the new year begins with something that hasn’t preoccupied them in years: OPEC production cuts. After years of maintaining an open-taps policy, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has started restraining production to keep oil prices high in the face of a faltering global economy and an unseasonably warm winter in the Northern Hemisphere. With a military confrontation with Iran and other geopolitical concerns receding to the back burner, analysts say the extent to which OPEC complies with its output restraint will go a long way in determining whether oil prices stay above $60 a barrel this year after ending last year flat for the first time in five years. More
·
Next entries »
