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IGPN NEWSLETTER [Issue 20]
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The IGPN Newsletter is a free email newsletter to keep you updated with the latest development on Green Purchasing around the world. If you find the IGPN Newsletter useful, please forward it and tell your friends and colleagues to visit http://www.igpn.org/newsletter/ for free subscriptions.
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HEADLINES
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- Light goes out for incandescent bulbs
- Japan puts forward strategy to eliminate nuclear power by 2030
- P&G and ADB invest in waste-to-energy project
- UNEP, Cities Alliance, UN-Habitat, World Bank launch the Knowledge Centre on Cities and Climate Change
- Singapore begins pilot for public house eco-homes
- Arctic ice melt ‘like adding 20 years of CO2 emissions’
- Blustery week generated record wind power for South Australia
- New report demonstrates business’ positive impact on ecosystems
- European Parliament votes for ambitious energy efficiency push
- Europe considers suspending airline emissions charge
- Kyoto carbon credit glut is far larger than expected, warn analysts
- Beyond energy savings: How green buildings can cut labor costs
- Japan aims to abandon nuclear power by 2030s
- Walmart bags title of top US solar power user
- Ford cuts rare earth consumption with new hybrid system
- Japan drops plans to phase out nuclear power by 2040
- Air pollution still at dangerous levels in Europe, report finds
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GREEN PURCHASING NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
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Light goes out for incandescent bulbs
An EU directive aimed at reducing energy use of lighting prohibits retailers to sell 40W and 25W incandescent bulbs with similar bans came into effect for 60W and 100W incandescent bulbs over the past three years. The restrictions are predicted to save 39 terawatt-hours of electricity across EU annually by 2020.
Japan puts forward strategy to eliminate nuclear power by 2030
Japan’s Environment Minister Goshi Hosono unveiled a new strategy to boost power generation capacity of four primary renewable energy sources ? offshore wind, geothermal, biomass and tidal power by 2030.
P&G and ADB invest in waste-to-energy project
ADB and P&G invests in the Philippines to be the testing ground for new “waste-to-worth” energy plants to generate power from collected solid waste.
UNEP, Cities Alliance, UN-Habitat, World Bank launch the Knowledge Centre on Cities and Climate Change
Knowledge Centre on Cities and Climate Change (K4C), is an online repository of information on climate change that advocates decision-making in local governance.
Singapore begins pilot for public housing eco-homes
Singapore’s first public housing blocks built to be environmentally sustainable have become the testing ground for future projects, according to a CNN report.
Arctic ice melt ‘like adding 20 years of CO2 emissions’
The loss Arctic ice is effectively doubling mankind’s contribution to global warming, ice scientist Professor Peter Wadhams told BBC Newsnight.
Blustery week generated record wind power for South Australia
The southern regions of Australia have experienced such windy conditions that wind generated over half of South Australia’s power.
New report demonstrates business’ positive impact on ecosystems
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) launched a series of concrete sustainable solutions from some of the largest companies in the world with “Biodiversity and ecosystem services: scaling up business solutions”.
European Parliament votes for ambitious energy efficiency push
A wave of new energy efficiency policies are set to be adopted as the European Parliament voted in favor of demanding new energy efficiency legislation that will require large businesses to undertake energy use audits.
Europe considers suspending airline emissions charge
European officials signaled that they may recommend the suspension of the continent’s carbon emission fees for airlines to avert trade war with major economic powers such as China and the United States.
Kyoto carbon credit glut is far larger than expected, warn analysts
The giant surplus of carbon credits currently in the global carbon market may never recede, reducing any hope of global emissions without significant increase in national emission reduction targets.
Beyond energy savings: How green buildings can cut labor costs
Many sustainability-minded businesses realize that green buildings usually have lower energy costs but that may not be the most significant reason to incorporate sustainable design in facilities.
Japan aims to abandon nuclear power by 2030s
apan’s government intends to stop using nuclear power by 2030s, marking a major shift in policy goals set before last year’s Fukushima disaster that sought to increase the share of atomic energy to more than half of electricity supply.
Walmart bags title of top US solar power user
Retailers Walmart, Costco, Kohl’s, Ikea and Macy’s have been named as the largest corporate users of on-site solar energy in the US.
Ford cuts rare earth consumption with new hybrid system
The auto-manufacturer announced that it’s new third generation hybrid system, Fusion Hybrid and C-MAX Hybrid models, replaced its nickel-metal-hydride batteries with lithium-ion alternatives.
Japan drops plans to phase out nuclear power by 2040
Japan has effectively abandoned a commitment to end its reliance on nuclear power by 2040 amid pressure from the country’s business lobby, dropping the deadline recommended by a cabinet panel.
Air pollution still at dangerous levels in Europe, report finds
European Environmental Agency (EEA) report reveals that microscopic particles, among the most harmful forms of air pollution, are still found at dangerous levels in Europe.
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We hope you have enjoyed the IGPN Newsletter. We will be delivering more information on Green Purchasing including best-practices and know-how, purchasing guidelines, product information, research outcomes and the latest trends from around the world. Please visit our web site regularly for the detailed information and the latest news.
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Copyright (c) 2012 IGPN All Rights Reserved
IGPN newsletter is written and edited by C. Pangilinan.
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International Green Purchasing Network (IGPN) Secretariat
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