Spotlight on Renewable Energy U.N.’s IPCC Report

The spotlight is on renewable energy as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) releases a new breakthrough report that moves us closer to World Team’s vision for our future.  This report supports this unprecedented era with our earth and energy for transformation. The report on renewable energy announced in Abu Dhabi by the UN supported IPCC shows that a rapid transition is already underway as renewable energy technologies grow quickly.  It solidifies that renewable energy has enormous potential and still remains largely untapped.

World Team Now is about renewable energy demonstration projects around the world by global teams.  We plan to demonstrate how renewable energy can meet 100% of the world’s energy needs.  Our goal is to demonstrate the rapid transition from unsustainable sources of energy such as; coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear to these ideal renewable energy sources gifted to us:

• Earth with geothermal energy
• Air with wind energy
• Fire with the sun’s solar energy
• Water with wave,  and  tidal energy

World Team Now focuses on how these specific renewable energies sources can “team up” together to supply 100% of our energy needs with projects like solar desalinization, electric vehicle charging from renewable energy sources and net metering.

–       According to the IPCC report, renewable energy capacity grew in 2009 despite global financial challenges: wind by over 30%, hydropower by 3%; grid-connected photovoltaics by over 50%, geothermal by 4%, solar water/heating by over 20%, and ethanol and biodiesel by 10% and 9% respectively.

The electricity produced from these renewable energy sources combined with the transformation of building and transportation sectors, the storage and transmission of energy, and the emergent smart grid hold the key.

Click here to read the full story…

We want to rally to encourage all leaders in a position of influence to support renewable energy policy, and to read the IPCC member countries report’s Summary for Policymakers that shows what can be done and how to do it effectively, and inspires immediate action for the low-carbon transition. The report includes over 160 scenarios on six renewable energy technologies reviewed by global team of technological experts and scientists who underline the significant future role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and powering sustainable development.

We can solve the climate change crisis and have our economies grow simultaneously. Reminder of the “eco” or ecology and economy, Germany, Denmark, China, Brazil are the new leaders with thriving, vibrant economies geared up for the future. Projected investments in renewables are expected to create at least 20 million jobs in the sector – more than today’s fossil fuel industry.

The volume of newly installed renewable energy capacity in 2010 was almost the same as old-energy – the tipping point is predicted within a couple of years. 2010 was also the second year in a row where investment in renewables outstripped those going to new fossil fuel plants. This is not a specialist niche market – renewables are where the future lies, and the opportunities for growth and innovation are there now.

Private investors and businesses are going green. Major fund managers are diverting vast amounts of capital to projects in countries where governments are showing clean energy and climate leadership. The leaders in the clean energy race all have one thing in common: strong national policies. There is huge opportunity at this time, and with global policy frameworks, we do have the changes to transform our world.

We especially want to acknowledge the work of World Wildlife Foundation with their report that also reaches for 100% renewables like World Team Now, and the Energy [R]evolution campaign from Green Peace with their video and their work with the IPCC.  Our mission at World Team Now is to use teamwork to help build the environmental movement and each of the partners in the Tck, Tck, Tck campaign hold a key to our future.  We honor how each organization from different parts of the world can make the concept of a “World Team” work. The IPCC report confirms the fact that with infrastructure, technology, and policy we can re-invent our world.

Stimulus for Transformation?

What do you love for Valentine’s Day?  How about a possibility for the USA to move towards transformation?  It is hard to believe we may see some governmental support for Alternative and Renewable Energy & Technology: Green Building, Solar, Wind, Plug in Electric Vehicles, a Smart Grid, the fact that these are finally being recognized is a demonstration of love of our earth and humanity, consciousness growing– on Valentine’s Day in the USA. Here is what appears to be in the box of candy, but one never knows when you bite into it, what is on the inside….

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (H.R.1), passed by Congress today is expected to be forwarded, and signed into law shortly.

Highlights from the Stimulus Package are:

Renewable Energy Incentives

$20 billion in tax incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency over 10 years, including: extending tax credits for energy produced from wind, geothermal, hydropower and landfill gas; (This is very exciting!)
grants to build renewable energy facilities ;(hope many can benefit, this is great especially if policy comes into play to inspire people towards transformation)
tax credits for purchases of energy-efficient furnaces, windows and doors, or insulation;(NYSERDA co-generation, heat coolant geothermal?)
tax credit for families that purchase plug-in hybrid vehicles (finally incentives, the Electric Vehicle will indeed be resurrected, and with better batteries: A123 )

Energy
About $50 billion for energy programs, focused chiefly on efficiency and renewable energy, (ok, this gets us going!) including
$5 billion to weatherize modest-income homes;
$6.4 billion to clean up nuclear weapons production sites; (this merits further discussion later)
$11 billion toward a so-called “smart electricity grid” —Yes, it is so anitquated our Grid, it’s time to reduce waste;
$13.9 billion to subsidize loans for renewable energy projects (Elation!  World Team -Dream to Reality);
$6.3 billion in state energy efficiency and clean energy grants(NYSERDA’s deserves support for their programs)
$4.5 billion make federal buildings more energy efficient (“Got to be the change ….”)

Elated about most of this but,  we will discuss the nuclear waste issue when we are not in a mode of gratitude…

Science
$3 billion for the National Science Foundation for basic science and engineering research; (Yes, hopefully explore the ocean and more with Tidal Energy)
$1 billion for NASA;
$1.6 billion research in areas such as climate science, biofuels, high-energy physics and nuclear physics. .

Infrastructure
$46 billion for transportation projects, including $27 billion for highway and bridge construction and repair;
$8.4 billion for mass transit;
$8 billion for construction of high-speed railways and $1.3 billion for Amtrak;
$4.6 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers;
$4 billion for public housing improvements;
$6.4 billion for clean and drinking water projects;
$7 billion to bring broadband Internet service to underserved areas.

Expanded college credit
About $13 billion to provide a $2,500 expanded tax credit for college tuition and related expenses for 2009 and 2010. The credit is phased out for couples making more than $160,000.

It will be interesting to see what legislation actually goes into effect and becomes solid. We focused on the legislation that aligned with the core competencies of the work we have been focused on developing with World Team for almost two decades.  The other issues are significant as well but, and like cells of our body all contribute to the whole of this will become emergent.