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cousinbirgco
Joined: 15 Aug 2008
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 Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 5:21 am Post subject: Germany’s Efficient Offices Called Best G-20 Green Policy by |
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Germany’s Efficient Offices Called Best G-20 Green Policy by WWF
By Alex Morales
Nov. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Germany’s program to subsidize energy-efficient buildings is the best policy among major economies for curbing greenhouse gases and creating jobs, the environmental groups E3G and WWF International reported.
The second ranking also went to Germany, for its guaranteed power prices paid to renewable-energy generators that has spawned development of solar and wind parks, according to the report that analyzed about 100 policies of industrialized and developing nations in the G-20 group.
The top 10-rated programs were also found in Mexico, the U.S., Brazil, Spain, Japan, India and the U.K. in the study released today at United Nations climate change talks in Barcelona.
As almost two years of climate-treaty talks have failed to produce a breakthrough on setting emissions cuts, environmental groups are looking to domestic policies of individual nations to stem heat-trapping gases scientists blame for climate change.
“There are measures out there that work, that create emissions reductions, that create jobs,” said Kim Carstensen, leader of the global climate initiative for Gland, Switzerland- based WWF. “The G-20 is the key international mechanism to discuss a green recovery,” said Kim Carstensen,
The findings should serve as a spur for G20 finance ministers meeting Nov. 6-7 in St. Andrews, the U.K., to ensure investment in transport, buildings and energy production is “green,” helping protect the climate and boost the economy, the environmental groups.
At the bottom of the table were policies including coal subsidies in Spain and Germany, Canada’s extraction of oil from tar sands and nuclear power efforts in France, Japan and South Korea.
Mexican Buses
A Mexican bus system was rated third-best policy, followed by the U.S. weatherization program that helps low-wage earners make their homes more energy-efficient. U.S. tax incentives for renewable-electricity generation, Brazilian programs to reduce deforestation, Spain’s efforts to boost solar power, and Japanese vehicle and appliance standards followed.
India came ninth with a program to use natural gas to fuel vehicles, and the 10th ranking went to a U.K. obligation for power and gas suppliers to increase energy efficiency in homes. They were rated ahead of the 27-member European Union’s flagship climate protection program, the emissions trading system. China’s mandatory reduction targets to its one thousand most energy-intensive enterprises ranked 12th.
To contact the reporters responsible for this story: Alex Morales in Barcelona via amorales2@bloomberg.net. |
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