Energy

By Juan Cole | — The Russian annexation of Crimea and heavy interference in the Ukraine has had a significant consequence for its hydrocarbon industry. President Vladimir Putin has been forced to cancel a planned natural gas pipeline that would bring the fuel to southern Europe, because of European Union pressure for boycotting Russia. Moscow […]

Climate Change

Why it makes Economic Sense for Universities to Divest from Fossil Fuels

contributors

By John Quiggin, The University of Queensland The controversy ignited by the Australian National University in October, when it decided to sell its shares in seven resources companies, has raised two important questions about divestment from assets such as fossil fuels. The first is whether divestment is an economically prudent choice, and the second is […]

Climate Change

20% Efficiency gain through Printing Blu-Ray Disc Patterns on Solar Panels

contributors

Northwestern University News | — Megan Fellman writes: “An interdisciplinary research team [from Northwestern University] has discovered that the pattern of information written on a Blu-ray disc — and it doesn’t matter if it’s Jackie Chan’s “Supercop” or the cartoon “Family Guy” — works very well for improving light absorption across the solar spectrum. And […]

Climate Change

What is Climate Change? World Bank Cartoon on E. Europe impact for your GOP Friends

contributors

World Bank | — “Romania is committed to moving towards a greener and more competitive low carbon economy that makes efficient use of resources and is resilient to climate risk. Therefore, the Government of Romania, through the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, has requested the World Bank to provide advisory services to help meet […]

Featured

Oil Price Fall: Saudi Arabia targets US Shale Oil, Iran, Iraq, Russia

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole It is clear that among the major losers in the fall in the price of Brent crude petroleum from $115 a barrel last summer to about $75 a barrel today are Russia, Iraq and Iran. Petroleum sales are 50% of Russia’s income, and are also central for Iran and Iraq. But the […]

Climate Change

Crescent Dunes NV solar Plant Works Day & Night w/ Molten Salt Storage

contributors

Solar Reserve | — “Take an exclusive look at this revolutionary solar energy plant that works day and night.This is the world’s first 110 MW solar thermal power plant with advanced molten salt energy storage, The Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project located in Tonopah, NV.” Solar Reserve: “The Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project – a […]

Energy

Iran Leader Khamenei: We are not Opposed to Nuclear Talks, Will Accept Just Deal

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | — Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the clerical Leader of Iran, told an assemblage of volunteer paramilitary (Basij) forces on Thursday that he is not opposed to nuclear talks with the P5 +1 and would accept a just and reasonable deal. I said that a breakdown in the talks, which have been extended […]

Climate Change

Thanksgiving was always about Climate and Adaptation: Let’s Make it Green Again

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | — The popular story about Thanksgiving is an environmental parable that we would do well to remember today. It was a harvest festival in 1621, participated in by the 50 (out of 100) survivors at Plymouth Plantation and 90 Native Americans. Some of these latter, such as Squanto, had shared with […]

Climate Change

Global Warming brings extreme Floods and Drought: World Bank

contributors

By Andrea Germanos, staff writer (Commondreams.org) “Even very ambitious mitigation” can’t change the fact that the world has already “locked in” mid-century warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial times, a new report from the World Bank Group finds. This warming brings increased threats to food and water security and jeopardizes poverty-reduction efforts, the study states. It […]