Technological and Environmental Leapfrogging in China
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Putting Clean Tech on a Path to Subsidy Independence
APRIL 2012 BE YOND BOOM & BUST PUTTING CLEAN TECH ON A PATH TO SUBSIDY INDEPENDENCE Jesse Jenkins, Director of Energy and Climate Policy, Breakthrough Institute Mark Muro, Senior Fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings Institution Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger, Cofounders, Breakthrough Institute Letha Tawney, Senior Associate, World Resources Institute Alex Trembath, Policy Associate, Breakthrough Institute APRIL 2012 BE YOND BOOM & BUST PUTTING CLEAN TECH ON A PATH TO SUBSIDY INDEPENDENCE Jesse Jenkins, Director of Energy and Climate Policy, Breakthrough Institute Mark Muro, Senior Fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings Institution Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger, Cofounders, Breakthrough Institute Letha Tawney, Senior Associate, World Resources Institute Alex Trembath, Policy Associate, Breakthrough Institute INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATIONS LISTED FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY APRIL 2012 CONTENTS 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY g CONTENTS f 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 Key Recommendations for a New Era of Clean Energy Policy 8g Key Recommendations for a New Era of Clean Energy Policy 8 PART 1: FROM CLEAN TECH BOOM TO FEDERAL SPENDING BUST 1g2 PART 1: FROM CLEAN TECH BOOM TO FEDERAL SPENDING BUST Methodology 1g5 12 Methodology 15 Analysis of Federal Clean Tech Spending, 2009 to 2014 1g6 Analysis of Federal Clean Tech Spending, 2009 to 2014 16 The Federal Clean Tech Funding Cliff 1g9 The Federal Clean Tech Funding Cliff 19 What’s Left After 2014? 2g2 What’s Left After 2014? 22 PART 2: CLEAN TECH MARKET IMPACTS 2g3 PART 2: Wind -
Biochar and Climate Change
Biochar and climate change Standard Note: SN/SC/5144 Last updated: 03 September 2009 Author: Oliver Bennett, Environment Specialist Section Science and Environment Summary • This note briefly introduces biochar as a measure to tackle climate change. • Biochar is created by burning organic material to produce a charcoal-like substance. • When buried in soil the carbon contained within biochar may be isolated from the atmosphere for long periods. • Some commentators believe that biochar will have an extremely important role in reducing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases—helping to avoid dangerous climate change and improving agricultural productivity. • Other commentators believe that the benefits are overstated and that there could be negative environmental impacts. • Some countries are seeking biochar mitigation to be included in the international climate change framework being negotiated in 2009. This information is provided to Members of Parliament in support of their parliamentary duties and is not intended to address the specific circumstances of any particular individual. It should not be relied upon as being up to date; the law or policies may have changed since it was last updated; and it should not be relied upon as legal or professional advice or as a substitute for it. A suitably qualified professional should be consulted if specific advice or information is required. This information is provided subject to our general terms and conditions which are available online or may be provided on request in hard copy. Authors -
MANUFACTURING AGENDA a National Blueprint for Clean Technology Manufacturing Leadership and Industrial Transformation CONTENTS
MANUFACTURING AGENDA A National Blueprint for Clean Technology Manufacturing Leadership and Industrial Transformation CONTENTS Executive Summary 2 Overarching Objectives 4 MANUFACTURING AGENDA 6 PILLAR 1: Invest at Scale in a New Generation of American Manufacturing 6 PILLAR 2: Innovate to Transform Industry 11 PILLAR 3: Responsibly Mine, Reclaim, and Recycle Critical Materials 14 PILLAR 4: Use Public Investment Wisely to Build a Strong, Clean, Fair Manufacturing Economy Across America 16 PILLAR 5: Change the Rules to Build a Clean Economy that Works for All 20 Glossary of Key Concepts and Terms 23 Endnotes iii Cover photo by: Sam VarnHagen, courtesy of Ford Motor Company EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction The U.S. can once again lead the world in manufacturing the technologies and products of the future. As an integral part of an aggressive strategy to address the climate emergency head on—and in line with achieving net zero emissions economy-wide by 2050—we have the opportunity to modernize and transform our industrial base to make it the cleanest and most advanced in the world, while spurring the creation of a new generation of good, safe jobs manufacturing clean technology. This industrial transformation can bring dynamic industries back to communities that have been left behind by deindustrialization and under-investment, and provide a starting point for broadly shared growth and prosperity. Last year, the BlueGreen Alliance—alongside our labor central role in the balance of U.S. imports and exports— and environmental partners—released Solidarity for and the jobs that go with them. Manufacturing also Climate Action, an ambitious, concrete platform to has the proven ability to provide pathways into the address the crises of climate change and economic and middle class for millions of workers and families, and to racial inequality simultaneously.1 support millions of high-skill, high-wage jobs. -
Fostering Clean Technology Innovation
The GEF UNIDO Global Cleantech Programme for SMEs Fostering Clean Technology Innovation in Emerging and Developing Countries “We are creating an innovative, global program supporting small- and medium- sized enterprises by leveraging the Cleantech Open’s global platform with UNIDO’s international network and resources.” — Dr. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility EntrEprEnEurial innovation is thE answEr to our most prEssing EnvironmEntal problEms, and thE kEy to Economic growth • Innovators are developing ingenious solutions to major challenges in energy generation, distribution and storage, air and water pollution, waste management, new forms of transport and construction techniques. • Entrepreneurship thrives in countries where there’s minimal red tape, strong rule of law, ready access to venture capital, and a vibrant support network for entrepreneurs. • Almost all net new jobs are created by growing small businesses. storage, air and water pollution, waste management, new forms of transport and construction techniques. gEF, unido and clEantEch opEn bring PROVEn EXpEriEncE • UNIDO and the Cleantech Open, with the support of the GEF, have joined forces to launch cleantech platforms and competitions in developing and emerging countries, based on the Cleantech Open’s proven accelerator model originally created in Silicon Valley. • UNIDO has been supporting SME’s in developing countries for over 20 years. • The Cleantech Open runs the world’s largest cleantech accelerator, supporting innovators and entrepreneurs through extensive training, mentoring, showcases and access to capital: • Over 720 startups have completed this process in the United States alone • Over 40% of reporting alumni companies have now raised capital totalling over $800M, creating thousands of jobs • Participating countries will have access to the UNIDO’s in-country resources and to the Cleantech Open’s events, training, materials and an online global platform connecting entrepreneurs to a global network of mentors, investors and experts. -
Mobile Leapfrogging and Digital Divide Policy Assessing the Limitations of Mobile Internet Access
New America Foundation Mobile Leapfrogging and Digital Divide Policy Assessing the limitations of mobile Internet access By Philip M. Napoli and Jonathan A. Obar1 April 2013 This paper examines the emerging global phenomenon of mobile leapfrogging in Internet access. Leapfrogging refers to the process in which new Internet users are obtaining access by mobile devices and are skipping the traditional means of access: personal computers. This leapfrogging of PC-based Internet access has been hailed in many quarters as an important means of rapidly and inexpensively reducing the gap in Internet access between developed and developing nations, thereby reducing the need for policy interventions to address this persistent digital divide. This paper offers a critical perspective on the process of mobile leapfrogging. Drawing upon data on Internet access and device penetration from 34 countries, this paper first shows that while greater access to mobile technologies suggests the possibility of a leapfrog effect, the lack of 3G adoption suggests that mobile phones are not yet acting as functionally equivalent substitutes for personal computers. Next, this paper puts forth a set of concerns regarding the limitations and potential shortcomings of mobile-based Internet access relative to traditional PC-based Internet access. This paper illustrates a number of important relative shortcomings in terms of memory and speed, content availability, network architecture, and patterns of information seeking and content creation amongst users. This paper concludes that policymakers should be cautions about promoting mobile access as a solution to the digital divide, and undertake policy reforms that ensure that communities that rely on mobile as their only gateway to the Internet do not get left further behind. -
Leapfrogging: Look Before You Leap
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT No.71 DECEMBER 2018 LEAPFROGGING: LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP New technologies, such as digital mobile communications, drones for precision agriculture and decentralized renewable energy systems that provide electricity in rural areas far from the grid, open up opportunities for leapfrogging. As developing countries have limited capabilities, opportunities for leapfrogging in these countries are presented primarily through the adoption of technologies. Innovation policies can help developing countries foster and facilitate the deployment of frontier technologies and their adaptation to meet their needs, to promote sustainable development.1 Frontier technologies and Potential for leapfrogging leapfrogging In large part, the experience of the ICT Discussions of the developmental dimension sector has brought increased attention to of frontier technologies, particularly digital leapfrogging. Rapid technological advances technologies, often highlight the possibility and cost reductions in ICT in recent decades have enabled some developing countries, POLICY BRIEF of “leapfrogging”, the concept of “bypassing intermediate stages of technology through notably in Africa and Asia, to skip the Key points which countries have historically passed development of landline infrastructure by 2 moving directly to mobile telecommunications. • Countries engage in during the development process”. The leapfrogging by bypassing traditional notion of “catch-up” refers For example, in the early 2000s, Cambodia, the imtermediate stages of to the narrowing of gaps in income and Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Nepal technology in a development technological capabilities between a late- and Timor-Leste had less than three fixed- process. telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, • Rapid technological advances developing country and a front-runner and cost reductions in country. -
Download the Book
critical currents Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation Occasional Paper Series Carbon Trading How it works and why it fails no.7 November 2009 critical currents no.6 October 2009 Contours of Climate Justice Ideas for shaping new climate and energy politics Edited by Ulrich Brand Edgardo Lander Nicola Bullard Tadzio Mueller With contributions by Kolya Abramsky Eduardo Gudynas Alberto Acosta Mike Hodson Walden Bello Enrique Leff Achim Brunnengräber Simone Lovera Ewa Charkiewicz Simon Marvin Anne Laure Constantin Alexis Passadakis Gopal Dayaneni Wolfgang Sachs Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation Uppsala 2009 critical currents 6 book_b.indd 1 09-11-05 11.17.56 The Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation pays tribute to the memory of the second Secretary General of the UN by searching for and examining workable alternatives for a socially and economically just, ecologically sustainable, peaceful and secure world. In the spirit of Dag Hammarskjöld’s Critical Currents is an integrity, his readiness to challenge the Occasional Paper Series dominant powers and his passionate plea published by the for the sovereignty of small nations and Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation. their right to shape their own destiny, the It is also available online at Foundation seeks to examine mainstream www.dhf.uu.se. understanding of development and bring to the debate alternative perspectives of often Statements of fact or opinion unheard voices. are those of the authors and do not imply endorsement By making possible the meeting of minds, by the Foundation. experiences and perspectives through the Manuscripts for review organising of seminars and dialogues, should be sent to the Foundation plays a catalysing role [email protected]. -
The Trajectory of the Anthropocene: the Great Acceleration
ANR0010.1177/2053019614564785The Anthropocene ReviewSteffen et al. 564785research-article2015 Review The Anthropocene Review 1 –18 The trajectory of the © The Author(s) 2015 Reprints and permissions: Anthropocene: The Great sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/2053019614564785 Acceleration anr.sagepub.com Will Steffen,1,2 Wendy Broadgate,3 Lisa Deutsch,1 Owen Gaffney3 and Cornelia Ludwig1 Abstract The ‘Great Acceleration’ graphs, originally published in 2004 to show socio-economic and Earth System trends from 1750 to 2000, have now been updated to 2010. In the graphs of socio-economic trends, where the data permit, the activity of the wealthy (OECD) countries, those countries with emerging economies, and the rest of the world have now been differentiated. The dominant feature of the socio-economic trends is that the economic activity of the human enterprise continues to grow at a rapid rate. However, the differentiated graphs clearly show that strong equity issues are masked by considering global aggregates only. Most of the population growth since 1950 has been in the non-OECD world but the world’s economy (GDP), and hence consumption, is still strongly dominated by the OECD world. The Earth System indicators, in general, continued their long-term, post-industrial rise, although a few, such as atmospheric methane concentration and stratospheric ozone loss, showed a slowing or apparent stabilisation over the past decade. The post-1950 acceleration in the Earth System indicators remains clear. Only beyond the mid-20th century is there clear evidence for fundamental shifts in the state and functioning of the Earth System that are beyond the range of variability of the Holocene and driven by human activities. -
Leapfrogging Technology
privateP UBLIC POLICY FORsector THE NOTE NUMBER 254 Leapfrogging Technology Masami Kojima FEBRUARY 2003 Masami Kojima is a lead Cost-Effective Solution for Pollution in Developing Countries? energy and environment specialist at the World Leapfrogging technology makes sense where technological advances Bank focusing on joint are driven by market demand, as in telecommunications and energy, environment, and transport policy issues, information technology. But technological advances driven by the especially fuel quality, need to deal with such externalities as pollution are more vehicle emission control, fuel pricing policy, and the complicated, for they do not inherently increase profitability or health impact of pollution. efficiency. Using air pollution by vehicles as an illustration, this Note She has worked on these issues in Bank programs examines the issues that need to be considered in deciding whether in Latin America, South leapfrogging technology is a cost-effective solution. Asia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. The pace of technological advance in the past ernment budget, removing one of the potential few decades has opened new possibilities. obstacles to implementation. Consider the technology for controlling emis- sions from cars, buses, and trucks. Government Danger of considering technology-based regulations have driven this technology as much regulations in isolation as the technology has driven regulations, result- The argument is appealing. If all else remained ing in vehicle emission standards in industrial the same, imposing stringent standards that PRIVATE SECTOR AND INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK countries that have become increasingly require the best available technology would stringent—far more so than those in developing indeed improve air quality, reduce illness, and countries. -
Sustainable Low-Carbon Transport Through the GEF
Advancing Sustainable Low-Carbon Transport Through the GEF A STAP Advisory Document Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel, administered by UNEP, advises the Global Environmental Facility Advancing Sustainable Low-Carbon Transport Through the GEF A STAP Advisory Document Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel, administered by UNEP, advises the Global Environmental Facility Advancing Sustainable Low-Carbon Transport Through the GEF Prepared on behalf of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) by: Holger Dalkmann (Transport Research Laboratory) and Cornie Huizenga (Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport)* Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank Lev Neretin of the Secretariat of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel of the GEF for the guidance provided in the drafting of the Advisory Document. The Document benefited greatly from the comments and suggestions received from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Environment Program, as well as the GEF Secretariat. A draft of the document was also circulated for comments to selected members of the Partnership for Sustainable Low Carbon Transport and comments were received from Axel Friedrich; Heather Allen (International Organization for Public transport); Andrea Lobo and Hilda Martinez (Center for Sustainable Transport Mexico); Sophie Punte (Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities Center); Sanjivi Sundar (The Energy and Resources Center); Eric Zusman (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies). Please use the following reference for this publication: GEF-STAP (2010). Advancing Sustainable Low-Carbon Transport Through the GEF, A STAP advisory document by Holger Dalkmann and Cornie Huizenga. -
Vertical Innovation Industry Development to Enable Leapfrogging, Superior Competitiveness and Innovation
BACKGROUND NOTE Vertical Innovation Industry Development to Enable Leapfrogging, Superior Competitiveness and Innovation René Rohrbeck, Olga Kokshagina, and Susann Roth DISCLAIMER This background paper was prepared for the report Asian Development Outlook 2020: What Drives Innovation in Asia? It is made available here to communicate the results of the underlying research work with the least possible delay. The manuscript of this paper therefore has not been prepared in accordance with the procedures appropriate to formally-edited texts. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. The ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this document and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by ADB in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or use of the term “country” in this document, is not intended to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this document do not imply any judgment on the part of the ADB concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. VERTICAL INNOVATION INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT To Enable Leapfrogging, Superior Competitiveness, and Innovation René Rohrbeck, Olga Kokshagina, and Susann Roth1 A. -
Sustainable Energy Solutions and Clean Technologies in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia
Sustainable Energy Solutions and Clean Technologies in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT Copyright © UNIDO 2018. All rights reserved. This document has been produced without formal United Nations editing. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or its economic system or degree of development. Designations such as “developed”, “industrialized” and “developing” are intended for statistical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgment about the state reached by a particular country or area in the development process. Mention of firm names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement by UNIDO. The opinions, statistical data and estimates contained in signed articles are the responsibility of the author(s) and should not necessarily be considered as reflecting the views or bearing the endorsement of UNIDO. Although great care has been taken to maintain the accuracy of information herein, neither UNIDO nor its Member States assume any responsibility for consequences which may arise from the use of this material. This document may be freely quoted or reprinted but acknowledgement is requested. For reference and citation, please use: UNIDO (2018). Sustainable Energy Solutions and Clean Technologies in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. Fresner, J., Krenn, C., Schoening, S. A report of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Vienna, Austria.