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July 25, 2014
The 2014 Annual Evaluation Review released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) puts pressure on Asia’s governments to provide affordable energy to power the region’s growing economy and population while also meeting pressing environmental objectives.
Vinod Thomas, Director General of Independent Evaluation at ADB, noted that governments in Asia are under significant pressure to keep energy prices from rising, and renewable energy can seem like an unattractive option due to high start-up costs.
“Fortunately, the cost of renewables is starting to fall, which is easing tensions between vital environmental objectives and those of an affordable and renewable energy supply,” said Thomas.
“The emerging trend presents countries with an opportunity to step up policies and investments for switching to a low carbon path. This is the right time for governments to put in place policies to encourage investment in renewables”.
Read more at Eco-Business.
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July 22, 2014
On behalf of the German Federal Government and in cooperation with ICLEI ? Local Governments for Sustainability, KfW Development Bank has produced a Toolbox detailing how to include aspects of sustainability in public procurement procedures for Financial Cooperation projects. The guide places a particular focus on water infrastructure, energy with the focus on renewables, information and communication technologies, buildings and road construction. The concepts outlined are broad enough to be adapted to circumstances faced by any kind of procuring authorities in the field of Financial Cooperation.
More to read at ICLEI Europe.
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July 14, 2014
Government agencies across the country will be required to purchase more “green” cars under a plan released yesterday that has been hailed as a big step forward in the fight against pollution and the promotion of the new-energy vehicle market.
Under the plan, drawn up by five central government ministries and departments, at least 30 per cent of all cars purchased for official use in the 2014-16 period must be new-energy. After 2016, the requirement will be increased year by year.
New-energy vehicles include electric, plug-in hybrids, fuel-cell and solar-powered models, according to the plan.
Read more at Eco-Business.
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July 3, 2014
As South Korea and Europe lead the way on sustainable procurement, cost and a lack of unity means many countries are lagging; a new program encourages a shift
Erica Gies
The guardian.com, Wednesday 25 June 2014 15.41 BST
Governments' purchasing decisions can have huge consequences for markets.
During the US Civil War, the Defense Department required clothiers to manufacture uniforms in small, medium, and large sizes, a new innovation in a world that knew only bespoke clothing and one-size-fits-all, and one which changed the way clothes are made and sold.
In the 20th century, US government contracts for energy-efficient appliances and computers led to more efficient machines, marked by the Energy Star label. Now in the 21st century, governments large and small are throwing their buying power behind efforts to transition to lower carbon, resource-efficient, greener economies.
“The state has a power to transform markets,” said Farid Yaker, the Paris-based program officer for sustainable public procurement at the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep).
Read more at The Guardian.
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