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Dear friends and colleagues,

Today’s geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe vividly illustrate how our growing addiction to methane gas is anything but sustainable. As war fears drive up energy prices, producers and traders profit off our continued fossil fuel dependence – leading to more consumer pain and a worsening climate crisis.

The situation is even more disappointing given that mature, scalable, and truly renewable energy solutions already exist.

In this edition, our authors interview technology experts from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and explore the benefits of fostering circular economies. We also look at mobility developments in Poland, the need to extend green energy development throughout the region, and Russian reactions to the European Union’s proposed extension of carbon tariffs.

Continuing the Romanian Power Move series on this nations’ contentious energy transition, we look at initiatives to retrain coal miners, the vital role of NGOs in ensuring a just transition as well as Bucharest’s nuclear ambitions.

Across the planet, we also review how South Koreans are pushing back on what many there see as a weak solar energy policy. And we also discuss the ongoing tragedy of irresponsible coal development in Zimbabwe.

We hope you find new information and inspiration within. Happy listening and reading!

Your Global Energy Transition Blog Team, Martin Keim, Lisa Tostado, Michael Buchsbaum, Joan Lanfranco and Leona Schmitt

 
 

Romania part 2 | The Global Energy Transition Podcast – Episode 4
In this episode, host Michael Buchsbaum continues his Romanian Power Move series focusing on the nation’s rocky energy transition, evolving plans to construct a fleet of experimental nuclear units, and how shifting from burning coal to biomass may worsen illegal logging. As workers start retraining, Bucharest is scapegoating NGOs for higher energy prices. Listen for interviews with campaigners from Beyond Coal Europe, researchers from NGO 2Celsius, and Bankwatch Romania’s National Director, Ioana Ciută who recounts her experience testifying before Parliament. You can play the episode on our website or stream it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Romanian Power Move: Retraining for a Just Transition from coal, Decarbonizing to burning wood instead of coal, and Building a Fleet of Uncle Sam’s Nukes
Over three blogs in this ongoing series, author Michael Buchsbaum reviews Romania’s plans to ensure a “Just Transition” through new worker retraining programs, strategies to convert coal plants to burning biomass instead as well as Bucharest’s surprise decision during COP26 to partner with the United States on a new fleet of nuclear reactors to replace its aging coal-fired infrastructure. Read more

Get Eastern Europe In On the Green Deal
Until now, non-EU Eastern Europe has been largely left out of the Green Deal. But advocates in Ukraine and elsewhere want that to change – in the very near future. Civil society should take the initiative, they argue. Paul Hockenos has the story. Read more

How a Circular Economy Can Help Hit Climate Targets
A new initiative shows how Germany can adopt a closed-loop, no-waste economy, saving material resources, cutting emissions, and decreasing energy consumption. Paul Hockenos reviews how a German Circular Economy could become a roadmap towards a cleaner future. Read more

Why are farmers against solar panels in Korea?
South Korea’s recent rise in solar power capacity has earned the country plaudits. But many, including environmentalists, are criticising Moon Jae-in’s solar policy, arguing that it does not go far enough. Yi hyun Kang explains why. Read more

Rapid coal mining sabotages Zimbabwe’s energy transition plans
Anger, sorrow and fear were some of the feelings triggered on November 30 as online news platforms reported that an eight-year-old girl from Hwange had died from third-degree burns sustained from a coal seam fire, three weeks earlier. Author Kennedy Nyavaya reviews coal mining’s ongoing toll. Read more

 
 

energytransition.org

 
 

Photos: Podcast, CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. Romanian Power Move, ©, Michael Buchsbaum. Eastern Europe Green Deal, CC BY-NC 4.0, Aksonsat. Circlar Economy Helps Climate Targets, CC-BY- 4.0, Matt Seymour. Solar Panels Korea, CC BY-SA 4.0, Parucom. Zimbabwes Energy Transition, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, Kris Griffiths.

Sender: Heinrich Böll Foundation, EnergyTransition.Blog@eu.boell.org, Editor and responsible according to German press law: Martin Keim.

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