Finding Win Wind solutions for Europe

The times of recession are turning and the world can go back to efficient production. Unpublished estimates from the International Energy Agency state that greenhouse gas emissions are increasing again, faster than ever, hitting records last year. Fatih Birol, chief economist of the IEA note that the United Nations-led negotiations on a new global treaty on climate change have stalled, showing also that the significance of climate change in international policy debates is much less pronounced than it was a few years ago.

At the same time the Fukushima catastrophy makes minds turn about nuclear power. Germany’s decision to shut all nuclear reactors by 2022, makes the situation on greenhouse gas emissions even more interesting. How is Germany planning to reach its ambitiously set goals on CO2 reduction? Ac-cording to Reuter, Angela Merkel’s ruling Coalition has planned to cut power use by 10 percent by 2020 and further expand the use of renewable energy such as wind and solar power. This is a piece of good news! Europe’s biggest economy has opened the doors to suppliers of renewable solutions, showing example also to others who will be affected by the closure of nuclear stations. In yesterday’s news a representative of a Finnish Wind Power provider happily expressed his enthusiasm to stand in the first row to sell their solutions around Europe.

What about the German-Russian natural gas pipeline that was completed earlier this month, and the second that is being built? Nord Stream Joint Venture is enjoying favourable times. Fukushima came just on time for a German decision on nuclear power, and a more easily accepted transition into lighting German houses through the Natural Gas pipeline that has awoke much mystification especially in the states between Europe’s two power poles. John Sauven, the executive director of Greenpeace UK, reminds about the ways politicians and other actors in the world’s great powers are eyeing up extraordinary and risky ways to extract the world's last remaining reserves of fossil fuels – even from under the melting ice of the Arctic.

Indeed, Germany is showing example on what kind of energy source is desirable to be used to reach goals on emissions reduction. I hope that the Finnish Wind Power provider will make it to the first row and has a clear throat when selling his solutions. There seems to be a somewhat bigger actor on the playground, with a stronger voice. It will not be easy to convince decision makers on the “Win Wind situation”, when gas is soon to be provided directly from underneath the surface of the Baltic Sea.

Foto: City of turku

AFP:
YLE Uutiset

The Guardian: Fiona Harvey

Summer School: Climate change in cities and city regions – Time to adapt?

I know what I'll be doing next summer - attending the interesting Summer School '''Climate change in cities and city regions - Time to adapt?''', which will take place at HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU) as part of the BaltCICA project.

The summer school will address the impact of climate change with the focus on the resulting responsibilities for the urban and rural areas at Elbe estuary. It consists of two modules, the first being a Metropolitan Adaptation Lab and the second a Scenario Workshop.

The summer school is an exciting opportunity for practitioners, students and young researchers of most diverse specializations and branches, ranging from urban and regional planning, environmental sciences, geography, social sciences, ecological sciences, technical engineers with interest in climate change and climate adaptation.

During the week the participants will attend seminars and experience the impacts of climate change in Hamburg and how the latest scientific knowledge is transferred into innovative adaptation measures. In line with that, the attendees will study many aspects of climate change and the role of planning in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. Finally they will develop innovative solutions to adapt to a changing climate.

The Summer School will take place organized at the HafenCity University Hamburg from September 26th to 30th 2011 in Hamburg. How will you spend your summer?

See the agenda for the Summer School here and register here by May 31st!
Pictures: Stefanie Lange

A livable city – it can depend on so little.

Image source: http://blogs.lanacion.com.ar/ecologico/files/2011/03/entrada-549x435.jpg

Royal Philips Electronics launched in May 2010 an innovation contest Philips Livable Cities Award to find new solutions for improving health and well-being in cities. 2010-2011 has been the first year of the contest and it drew 450 ideas from 29 countries, eight of which were selected as finalists. Sabrina Faber's "Rainwater Aggregation for Yemen" was chosen as the overall winner at a ceremony two weeks ago in Amsterdam. She was granted €75,000 to start working with local contractors and associations to begin implementing the idea on the city of Sana'a buildings in Yemen.

The competition attracted innovative people to create new ways of making a difference in people’s lives. Out of the top ideas, one can find solutions in the fields of: Rainwater aggregation, Shelter from extreme weather conditions, Recreation on the streets, Sports in the city, Virtual elderly care, City re-generation, Neighbourhood and Education.

Second-place winner Manuel Rapoport's project “Plaza Movil Street Park” will create safe, portable recreational areas in Buenos Aires, Argentina, by temporarily closing streets to motorized traffic on weekends and during public holidays. These recreational facilities can be moved from one place to an-other, wherever and whenever needed.

Exactly, Why not closing one or two cross streets for Friday night moonlight Milongas? As we know also Finns are great tangueros, so bring the tango to the streets! It is possible to let the bon vivant out even within a modest Finn, it just requires space, a space meant for enjoyment, denuded of noise and distraction. Enjoying life is about those few moments; they depend on so little.

Just as important as the wellbeing of the environment, is the social wellbeing that also increases the quality of life. There are the corners in the world, where it is enough to get basic needs such as drinking water fulfilled each day, while somewhere else the recreational perspective has a bigger value. Combining these two one can bring recreation to a very simple and fundamental level, for example in the heat of dancing in an open public space – the street.

For 2011-2012 Philips is committed to building on the Livable City program’s strengths to further recognize meaningful innovations which make a real difference to people’s lives