Wind and solar benchmarks for a 1.5°C world
This report presents a detailed methodology for determining the amount of wind and solar capacity that is required for a country to align with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature goal. While the focus
Germany
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Nicotine-based pesticides kill bees
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COP-9 makes slow progress
the ninth meeting of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity concluded on May 30 in Bonn, Germany, with measures to protect ecosystems. The Conference of Parties (cop), the governing body of the convention, agreed on regulating the international biofuel sector. It also passed a moratorium on ocean fertilization
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Govt turns down German pharma firm's patent plea
Joe C Mathew India has rejected German drug major Boehringer Ingelheim's application for a pediatric form of anti-AIDS drug nevirapine bowing to objections from the country's civil society group and also to help local companies continue selling the medicine. The rejected patent application covers the syrup form of nevirapine, which is particularly important for children with HIV who are unable to swallow tablets. The rejection will allow generic drug companies like Aurobindo and Cipla to continue marketing low-cost versions of the medicine in the domestic market. BITTER PILL
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Atopic diseases, allergic sensitization, and exposure to traffic-related air pollution in children
To assess the relationship between individual-based exposure to traffic-related air pollutants and allergic disease outcomes in a prospective birth cohort study during the first 6 years of life.
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French-German deal on CO2 plan
France and Germany yesterday buried a disagreement over future European Union targets for car emissions, which had threatened a clash between the two partners just three weeks before Paris is to take over the EU's rotating presidency. Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Nicolas Sarkozy used a regular French-German cabinet meeting in Straubing, southern Germany, to announce the agreement on the measure - part of the EU's plan to cut CO 2 emissions by 20 per cent at least by 2020.
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Carbon emission offsets need to rise to $200 per tonne, says IEA
The cost of carbon dioxide emissions would need to be at least $200 per tonne - many times today's levels - to deliver the cuts scientists propose will be needed to avert the threat of global warming, the International Energy Agency said yesterday. The rich countries' energy watchdog warned that the cost of emissions, set by trading schemes or carbon taxes, would need to be that high to make investment in technologies such as hydrogen-fuelled vehicles commercially viable.
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Economic development and patenting behaviour
The capacity of countries to take advantage of the patent system bears a relationship with their stage of development. This paper explores the relationship between economic development and domestic and foreign patenting behaviour. The study uses a unique data set covering 55 countries and 24 years. It determines the association of domestic patenting with gross domestic product per capita and openness to trade, and the association of foreign patenting with these variables and with foreign direct investment as a proportion of gdp.
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UN decision puts brakes on ocean fertilization
Ocean-fertilization advocates suffered another setback last week as 191 nations agreed to a moratorium on large-scale commercial schemes to mitigate climate change. The agreement, adopted on 30 May at a meeting of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Bonn, Germany, calls for a ban on major ocean fertilization projects until scientists better understand the potential risks and benefits of manipulating the oceanic food chain.
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G-8 should tackle food, fuel prices'
Soaring prices at Europe's superMarkets and petrol stations require a coordinated response by the world's top eight economies rather than fiscal or monetary policy changes, EU finance ministers said on Tuesday. "We have to accept external shocks and we have to discuss (this) at a multilateral level," said Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia ahead of a monthly meeting of the EU's finance ministers.
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India urges G8 nations to take lead on climate
India has once again informed developed nations that it is ready to contribute to the global efforts against climate change in accordance with the principles of common "but differentiated responsibility'.