Issue No.3
Contents:
1. NEWS
A. EU CLOSE TO UNITED FRONT ON GLOBAL WARMING
B.
2. THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
1. NEWS
There will be a face-to-face meeting of persons interested in this statement during the conference from 27-28th July 1999 in Stuttgart described in greater detail below. Please express your interest to the editor.
Other typical topics would address the relative merits of computerized controls to boost power plant efficiency as compared with communications technology for populations in developing countries. When will climate change negotiations advance to the point of recognizing such innovations as abatement measures? Is the Clean Development Mechanism merely an enticement to get developing countries into the regime or the beginning of recognition of ICT innovations as steps toward sustainable development? What corporate ASIS members will come forth to begin together collecting measurements predicting the impact of these innovations on the environment, on sustainability? See also "2. The Climate Challenge" below in this issue.
A. EU CLOSE TO UNITED FRONT ON GLOBAL WARMING
The European Union is continuing to implement its policy priority to further integrate the areas of environment and energy, while maintaining the separate Directorate General XI "Environment" and DG XVII "Energy". The latter stated in its _Work Programme 1999_ , where the integration priority is explained, that it "will contribute to the Commission Communication on a European Union global strategy on climate change to be presented at the [European] Summit in June" in Cologne, Germany (http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/workpg99.htm).
DG XI is advised by the European Consultative Forum on the Environment and Sustainable Development, which is an "environment consultation body under the fifth action programme on the environment created by the European Commission in 1997." The Forum has prepared a recommendation "as its input to the preparation of the European Union Climate Policy Strategy, to be discussed by Heads of State and Government at the European Summit in Cologne in June 1999"
(http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg11/press/bio99146-1.htm). The more detailed printed version refers to the importance of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) for cost-efficiency in abatement, and to the role of the private sector as "a major vehicle for technology cooperation". However, it goes on, the CDM should remain a "complementary tool to strong domestic action", and "environmental NGOs and local populations should be involved in the international design process of the CDM and in all CDM projects. .. A central issue pertaining to developing country participation is that of equity". The recommendation also touches upon Europe's potential for "moral and technological leadership in the climate change field."
Despite the optimistic tone of the recommendation, doubts arose this Spring as to whether agreement among the member states could be reached in time for the European Summit on June 4-5th in Cologne. Two weeks later, the G-7 countries meet in the same city, where the EU hopes to persuade the other Kyoto signatories to support its position. Now in early May, "European Union environment ministers are near agreement on a common front for international talks next month on controlling emissions of greenhouse gases, German officials said Sunday [May 9, 1999]. Diplomats from the 15 EU states will next week finalize the bloc's negotiating position after ministers -- meeting over the weekend in Weimar, Germany -- found a formula to satisfy the Netherlands and Sweden, who had rejected an earlier proposal. ...
_Dutch, Swedish problems solved_
The Netherlands and Sweden were leading calls for the Commission's tough approach to be watered down, but have now agreed to support the commission's line, officials said. This makes it unlikely that ministers will be summoned to Brussels for a special meeting May 18, as had been planned." (May 10, 1999, Reuters, http://europe.cnn.com/NATURE/9905/10/environment.europe.reut/)
2. THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE TO INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
The market for solar electricity is growing rapidly, and the technology is poised to play a major role in bringing telecommunications services to developing countries. That is one of the conclusions of the new 162-page report, Power Play: Solar Electric Technologies, Markets, and Vendors, published by Photovoltaic Insider's Report and marketed by Datacomm Research (http://www.datacommresearch.com/pvpr.html).
The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) has a project bringing solar power to Nepal. Siemens AG is supplying solar modules for it, as portrayed in its _New World_ magazine (http://w3.siemens.de/newworld/PND/PNDB/PNDB02/PNDB02C/PNDB02CA/pndb02ca_e.htm). Likewise Siemens Solar describes the application of solar power to telecommunications in its _Sunscape_ magazine (http://www.solarpv.com/sunscape.html).
15.08.99