Showing posts with label energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label energy. Show all posts

Saturday, June 7, 2008

He Who Laughs Last, Laughs Best...

From the NY Times:
In his first major economic speech since becoming president, Dmitri A. Medvedev said Saturday that the world might be in the throes of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and that a newly revived Russia could offer solutions to a systemic crisis that underscored the United States’ economic shortcomings. He opened with an indirect dig.

“Today, the center of our attention will be global changes in the financial systems, on commodities and food markets,” he said in an address in which he focused on the recent unnerving jump in international food and energy prices. “And, likewise, economic relations between various countries, including relations between the former leaders of international development, which are showing losses, and new players that are ensuring growing rates of economic growth.”

To paraphrase President Medvedev, regardless of the complexity of your financial systems and the ability of your government to borrow money, you eventually have to pay for your food and electricity. You can only hide your losses so much. I wonder what type of help Medvedev is offering?

Friday, June 6, 2008

It's Only 45 Trillion Dollars

According to an International Energy Agency report, the world needs to invest $45 trillion in renewable energy projects to reduce carbon emissions 50% by 2050 and still maintain economic growth. Bringing emissions back to 2005 levels by 2050 would require $17 trillion. Under both scenarios, the most inexpensive gains will come from reducing end-user waste, from energy efficient buildings to solar heating. The most expensive gains will come from transition from coal for carbon friendly sources like nuclear, clean coal, and natural gas.