World Energy Justice

The Charcoal Project: Green tech, clean fuels for the rich and wood, charcoal, and animal dung for the poor.

admin — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:41:41 +0000

In researching the cost to society of global biomass consumption using traditional technology, The Charcoal Project spoke with Dr. Lakshman Guruswamy about the Energy Justice project.

The mission of The Charcoal Project is to promote, facilitate, and advocate for the widespread adoption of clean burning technologies, sustainable fuel alternatives, and policies that support energy-poverty alleviation for those who depend on biomass as their primary fuel around the world.

Click here to read the full article.

Universities and Law Schools as Incubators: Energy & Environmental Problem Solving

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:44:19 +0000

The Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law & Policy Annual Distinguished Lecture will be given this year by CEES Director Dr. Lakshman Guruswamy.

This lecture is free and open to the public, with a reception to follow. Please join us!

When: April 14, 2010

Time: 5:30 – 6:30pm, reception to follow

Where: Wolf Law Building, University of Colorado at Boulder

Details: Dr. Guruswamy is an internationally renowned author, speaker, and sustainable energy expert and will speak on the following:

Why Law Schools should not be confined to training students to solve cases and controversies
Why and how Universities and Law Schools should become incubators for solving major local, national, and international energy and environmental problems
Why Law Schools are qualified to do so
Jeremy Bentham’s jurisprudential legacy
Examples of what can be done

Yale Environment360: World’s Pall of Black Carbon Can Be Eased With New Stoves

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:20:02 +0000

Lakshman Guruswamy, director of the Center for Energy & Environmental Security and driving force behind the CEES Energy Justice Project, was recently quoted in an article about black carbon in Yale Environment 360, a publication of the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.

“‘With a single, concerted initiative, says Lakshman Guruswamy, the world could save millions of people in poor nations from respiratory ailments and early death, while dealing a big blow to global warming — and all at a surprisingly small cost.’”

Please click here to read the full article.

New York Times: Using Soccer to Supplant Kerosene Use?

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:54:40 +0000

A recent New York Times article recognizes an novel approach to Energy Justice.

To deal with health problems related to relying on kerosene lamps for illumination, four Harvard students have developed to sOccket, a soccer ball that generates and stores electricity during normal game play. Later, the stored electricity in the ball can be used to light an LED lamp or charge a battery.

See the full New York Times article here.

“The Economist” Features CEES Biochar Conference

mariah — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:29:27 +0000

The Science and Technology Section of the August 27 issue of The Economist featured an article on the recently held CEES Biochar Conference. The Biochar Conference was a tremendous success, with approximately 325 registered attendees. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak’s gave a speech focusing on climate change and agricultural policy, as well as biochar. His remarks provided a very high-level perspective on biochar – something that had hitherto been lacking. The Secretary described biochar as the type of advancement in agriculture and energy that is in line with the President’s vision.

The issue of biochar is also closely related to the idea of Energy Justice. For example, efficient cookstoves that can save the lives of women and children by preventing indoor air pollution can also be used to create biochar. This biochar can then be used for agricultural purposes, to help poor soil get needed minerals and increase productivity. Biochar also traps CO2, which could then be used for Kyoto Clean Development Mechanism credits. Thus, carbon credits could potentially provide income to the energy oppressed poor.

For the full Economist article, please click here. Please note that Professor Guruswamy, director of CEES who will be speaking at the Energy Justice Conference, is quoted near the end.

Worldwatch Institute: Solar Photovoltaics (PV) Project in Rural India

mariah — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:19:13 +0000

Source: Worldwatch Institute

Relevant News: A solar photovoltaics (PV) pilot project in rural India has transformed the lives of approximately 100,000 people by providing several hours of uninterrupted lighting every night. The success of the project has inspired satellite programs to imrpove energy access in Algeria, China, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia and Mexico.

For the full article, please visit: Worldwatch Institute

Breakthrough Institute: New Windfarm Highlights Energy Poverty in Kenya

mariah — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:13:28 +0000

Relevant News: A new wind farm in Kenya highlights the extreme energy poverty faced in Kenya. The 1,200 MW of electricity that Kenya consumes represents the sum total energy use of the 40 million inhabitants of Kenya. This translates to merely 30 average watts of electrical power per Kenyan citizen.

For the full article, please visit: Breakthrough Institute

MIT Service Engineering

mariah — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:06:53 +0000

Source: MIT MechE

Relevant News: Amy Smith, a Professor of Engineering at MIT, has helped developed technology for the EOP in the developing world. One of her inventions includes a cleaner process for producing charcoal in Haiti. These types of appropriate sustainable energy technologies (ASETs) are extremely relevant to the concept of Energy Justice.

For the full article, please visit: MIT MechE.

The Guardian: Gore Calls on World to Curb Black Carbon

mariah — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:47:19 +0000

Relevant News: One of the concerns of CEES’ Energy Justice project and upcoming conference is the effects of black soot. Recently, former Vice President Al Gore called on the world to burn less wood and fuel and to curb “black carbon.” Gore argues that soot from engines, forest fires, and partly burned fuel is collecting in the Arctic and causing the North Pole to warm at an alarming rate.

For the full article, please visit The Guardian.

U.S. Senate: Carper, Inhofe, Boxer & Kerry Introduce Black Carbon Bill

admin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:56:00 +0000

Relevant News: One of the concerns of CEES’ Energy Justice project and upcoming conference is the effects of black soot. Black soot, or black carbon, emitted by imperfect combustion of biomass creates indoor pollution and causes the annual death of a million and a half persons, primarily women and children. In addition, black soot in the atmosphere has recently been identified as a significant source of global warming.

On April 22, 2009, bipartisan legislation was introduced to direct the EPA to conduct a comprehensive study on black carbon emissions, with the goals of improving worldwide public health and reducing global warming impacts. For more information about the legislation, please visit the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public works page.