On my last trip through London Heathrow Terminal 5 BAA was (un)wise enough to ask me for feedback on the experience. I so much enjoyed writing down my thoughts that I decided to replicate them here. […]
BAA Terminal 5 Feedback
Category: Without category
How to Save the Planet: Be Nice, Retaliatory, Forgiving & Clear
Five years ago this week, I published a white paper entitled “How to Save the Planet: Be Nice, Retaliatory, Forgiving and Clear”. In it, I postulated that climate is a prisoner’s dilemma, but one one which will be played repeatedly, not just once. The difference is critical: instead of shooting for an unachievable top-down climate deal, we should focus on accelerating the inevitable emergence of domestic action on climate change. Since then we have seen the failure of Copenhagen, and the emergence of strong national responses. Is it time to look again at the game theory behind climate change? […]
Mail Online creates fake wind farm to make fake point
On 8 September the Mail Online carried an article entitled “Are wind farms saving or killing us? A provocative investigation claims thousands of people are falling sick because they live near them”, by well-known seeker of truth, James Delingpole, known to be “right about everything”. So why did he use a faked photo of a wind farm to make his point? […]
A customer enters a climate conference…
“Look, matey, I know a dead Protocol when I see one, and I’m looking at one right now.” “No, no he’s not dead, he’s, he’s restin’! Remarkable bird, the Copenhagen Blue, innit, eh? Beautiful plumage!”. Musings on the Kyoto Protocol, with acknowledgements to Monty Python.
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Opensource and crowdsourced data offer hope for developing world energy modelling
My second academic paper, which has been submitted for peer review, looks at the use of open-source software, open and crowd-sourced data to support the energy planning process, in particular in the developing world. OK, it’s not everyone’s idea of a page-turner, but eight other authors and I thought it was an important topic! […]
“Sunset Credits” – A Tool for Removing Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Sunset Credit schemes offer an innovative approach to removing fossil fuel subsidies, avoiding the risk of popular discontent, while at the same time attracting investment for renewable energy and energy efficiency. This White Paper describes an innovative approach to removing fossil fuel subsidies, without triggering popular backlash, while at the same time supporting the introduction of modern renewable energy technologies and building capacity in developing economies.
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The Emptiness of Doebbler – a Davos Conversation Misrepresented
During this year’s Davos meetings, I made sure to visit the Occupy WEF camp. There I met Curtis Doebbler, professor of law at Webster University in Geneva, Switzerland. At the time I did not know his rather colourful hsitory of anti-americanism. We had an animated and fascinating discussion: he supported the ongoing UNFCCC process, drawing on his knowledgeable of international law; I argued it needed reform, drawing on my knowledge of investment activity in climate solutions. So far so good. What was not good was that he went on to misrepresent my position in a piece entitled “The Emptiness of Davos” in Al Ahram newspaper. […]
Blogging Davos 2012
For five frantic days at the end of January the jeweled ski resort of Davos transforms itself into a fantasy concption of the centre of world influence. A five-year Davos veteran, this year I transformed myself into Davos Man, or rather Davos Blogger. I have tried to give some idea of what it’s actually like to attend: the rigid pecking order, the circles within circles, the transport chaos, the missing constituencies, the Occupy WEF movement, the Ukrainian presidential bodyguard who tried to manhandle me out of the toilets. Only problem is, it took so damn long to write each night that I didn’t go to a single party. So not that realistic after all… […]
Ya Basta: Stop the UN Climate Charade
In November 2011 it was Durban’s turn to host the annual Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This was the 17th such annual meeting. The following article, which first appeared on Bloomberg.com, explains why I think these annual meetings are counter-productive, and proposes a different approach. […]
United Nations: Time to reflect, refocus, reinvigorate
Michael wrote this piece about a year ahead of Rio+20, the 2012 Summit on Sustainable Development. He argued that Rio should focus on three things: making sustainability relevant to all by focusing it on resource efficiency; accelerating the transition that is anyway happening in the energy sector; and figuring out realistic ways to unlock large climate finance at scale. He knew he was whistling into the wind, but hey, he enjoys writing. […]
