Search Results for: Climate change

BY PETER DA COSTA

The European Commission has proposed a historic adjustment to its research and innovation policies by plunging whole-heartedly into pro-business mode for the European Union’s (EU) 2014-2020 research and development activities. Under the so-called Horizon 2020 programme announced this week, Brussels has set out budgets totalling Euro 80 billion to push forward the EU’s scientific and research strategies against the background of a difficult and dramatically changing economic environment.…

BY DAVID HAYHURST

HOPES and expectations run high among leading European green energy lobbyists and environmentalist ahead of Denmark’s assumption of the presidency of the European Union (EU) Council of Ministers for six months from in January.

The country is a world leader in wind energy, a long-time proponent of other renewables, a founding member of the North Seas Offshore Grid Initiative (NSOGI), and a trailblazer in electric vehicle (EV) use and infrastructural investment.…

BY GEOFF MEADE

THE EUROPEAN Commission has threatened to take "radical" measures against most European Union (EU) countries unless more is done to deliver a ‘Single European Sky’ for air traffic control services. It has warned this could include proposing new EU legislation to force member states to do more in forging a unified and efficient EU ATC system.…

BY EUGENE VOROTNIKOV

RUSSIA is planning to invest more than Russian Roubles RUB470 billion (USD14 billion) in reforming the country’s air traffic management system, bringing it into the line with European Union (EU) standards, according to November 25 statements made by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at a transport policy meeting in the city of Horki.…

BY RAGHAVENDRA VERMA

The Indian government may have allowed foreign companies to enjoy a majority holding in organised retail chains, but other restrictions remain which will hinder nationwide operations by major global players. The central government has allowed foreign companies to open stores in 53 cities exceeding 1 million residents.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE DEVELOPMENT of smart networks will be a priority for research budgets worth billions of Euros proposed by the European Commission that can be tapped by innovative utilities seeking to boost their research and development spending. The money will be part of the new proposed Euro EUR80 billion European Union (EU) research programme called Horizon 2020 – which will run from 2014 to 2020.…

BY ALICIA YANG and MARK GODFREY

A GROUNDBREAKING and high profile Chinese book chain has closed, brought down by high accommodation costs, online competition and physical store competitors who adopted their western-retail formula. All of O2 Sun’s 30 stores nationwide closed in late October, (bar three of the seven Beijing stores which are franchised operations and are expected to change their names soon).…

BY MJ DESCHAMPS

IN the event of a mining accident, first responders trying to rescue trapped miners are usually thrown into dangerous – and sometimes deadly – situations. With this in mind, robotics engineers worldwide are beginning to develop both remotely controlled and autonomous machines to help eliminate some of the dangers of mining operations and rescues.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

UTILITIES seeking biomass supplies for renewable energy plants may benefit from production subsidies made available for farmers in a reformed European Union (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) from 2013. Formal proposals to change the CAP, to be formally released October 12, will orientate some of the EU’s EUR55 billion agricultural subsidies to energy crops.…

BY ALAN OSBORN

THIS is the year when the European Commission plans long-term in its energy policy. Its directorate general for energy is drafting a long term energy strategy looking ahead to 2050, called its Energy Road Map 2050, with the twin aims of decarbonisation and promoting self-sufficiency.…