2015 PARİS İKLİM DEĞİŞİKLİĞİ KONFERANSI ÇERÇEVESİNDE NÜKLEER ENERJİ: BİR ÇÖZÜM MÜ, YOKSA BİR SORUN MU?

Author(s): F. Orçun Keçeci / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: 2/2017

Climate change is a global issue for not only developing countries but also advanced industrial societies. Consuming more fossil fuels by emitting carbon dioxide (CO2) results in climate change and this problem stems from human activities. Global warming caused by climate change threatens ecological balance and the whole humanity. Despite having divergences and problems among states, world countries have been trying to tackle climate change in the international arena in the recent years. One of the most crucial issues to mitigate climate change risks at the Paris Climate Conference on November 2015 is particularly on nuclear energy. In this context, this paper aims to analyse whether nuclear energy will contribute to climate change or not.

3rd Network Conference Adaptation and Implementation of the EU -Acquis: an Exchange of Experiences

Author(s): / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2009

Adapting to climate change in New York City and regulatory background

Author(s): Elif Çolakoglu / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2016

The catastrophic effects of climate change can be seen in New York City (“NYC”) today. As of now, the NYC as a coastal city has faced different climate risks such as heat waves and storm surges, which affect everyday life citywide, and, if current trends continue, they will become more frequent and severe. Hurricane Sandy which has devastated the East Coast is just the latest example. To strengthen its resilience, the NYC Administration comes forward particularly in this regard to commissioning expert scientific advice, formulating policy goals, setting standards and developing new institutions for environmental governance and sustainability. Locally, through PlaNYC, the City’s sustainability plan, the NYC Administration has pursued several initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with mostly 30 percent below current levels by 2030. Since 2002, the Administration stands out challenging climate change and its initiatives which are the examples of best practices at the municipal level. In this framework, this study describes the comprehensive effort to reduce GHG emissions, as well as provides NYC’s climate change projections and some of the potential risks to the NYC’s critical infrastructure posed by climate change. Also local legal documents determining the City’s climate policy and offering significant opportunities for implementation is examined.

AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN POLICIES IN NANOTECHNOLOGY PATENTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS RELATED ISSUES

Author(s): Abul Bashar Mohammad Abu Noman,Ekram Uddin Khan Chowdhury / Language(s): / Issue: 17/2015

Intellectual Property (IP) has become one of the most important assets of knowledge-based economies in the present world. In this sense Patents can be seen as the outcome indicators of applied research and technological advancement. The nano-world is full of surprise and potential. Like other present technologies, nanotechnology is not merely a part of a distant future, but also a significant technology, and its patenting system is much more complex than any other objects in the area of science. As it is a nascent technology, it may pose problems and opportunities for IP regimes. Nanotechnology patents are not treated differently than other patents, but it is true that more complex technology usually creates more complex problems within the patent system. This article surveys the different application of nanotechnology and human rights issues and tries to address its complex patenting system and future challenges in the European context.

An Analysis of the "Bio" / "Eco" Products Market, Referring to the EU and Romania

Author(s): Ionel Bostan / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2016

The EU and Canada represent the largest market in the world for the sale of ecological products attracting exports from many third countries and recording a total sale of 95% of the worldwide total market. The European market for ecological products – also known as “bio” / “eco” – in absolute figures – is somewhere around 20 billiards euro/year, and in the case of Romania, the market for those products varies around 200 million euro/year. According to European legislation, there are harmonized provisions and procedures for the import of ecological products which can be implemented in two ways: either by complying with the EU legislation on ecologic products, or based on the equivalence between the existent standards and control systems. In many European countries, the operators on such a market obey the rules established by Legislation for ecologic productions strictly. In Romania, a sanctioning system against those economic operators who fraudulently use product labels suggesting they are organic products has just recently been considered. Taking into consideration all these aspects, the present paper relies on the most recent bibliographic and statistical references in this field.

ANALIZA STRATEGII ROZWOJU TRANSPORTU NA RZECZ REDUKCJI EMISJI CO2

Author(s): Urszula Motowidlak / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 2/2015

Transport is one of the most difficult sectors to control CO2 emissions. Increase in traffic and present trends in the automotive industry and individual driving style are an increasing source of CO2 emissions that cause climate change despite technological advances in the automotive field. Thanks to the integrated development plans, transport sector can clearly contribute to the decarbonisation of the economy. Development of transport, from the perspective of the objectives of the climate and energy policy, requires the use of a variety of policies and instruments that will lead to the reduction of CO2 emissions generated by this sector.

Analysis of Legal and Theoretical Framework Creating the Methodology of Visual Pollution Assessment for Natural Landscapes

Author(s): Jurate Kamicaityte-Virbašiene,Giedre Godiene / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2015

Fulfilling the requirements of European Landscape Convention and following the statements of the National Landscape Policy of the Republic of Lithuania in 2014 the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania intitiated the creation of Methodology of the Assessment of Visual Pollution to Natural Landscape Complexes and Objects. In order to prepare the Methodology legal and theoretical framework of visual impact assessment (VIA) was analyzed and evaluated. Summarizing the analysis of the legal framework it can be said that national legislation requires the avoidance of visual pollution, but there are no recommendations how to evaluate visual impact. Foreign countries in the field of VIA, unlike Lithuania, have validated concepts of landscape visual quality and planned activity or object visual impact assessment; methodological recommendations of VIA, based as much as possible on principles of objectivity and systematicity, which are used in practical activities of planning and design. Methodologies used by Lithuanian authors are well developed theoretically and intended for the overall evaluation of landscape visual quality or VIA, designation of landscape visual quality classes, evaluation of visual spaces (VS) indicators, establishment of VS visual resistance and sensitivity. Parts of some works can be used for creation of methodology of visual pollution (negative visual impact) assessment.

Are hydroelectric power plants really renewable? A comparative study in Turkey, UNFCCC and European law

Author(s): Gonca Yilmaz / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2016

In international environmental literature, hydroelectric power plants (HEPs) are considered as renewable or green energy for a long time. As it can be observed in Turkey, since some countries give “green/renewable energy credits” for HEPs and subsidize them, it will be valuable to evaluate this matter in detail, analyzing legal shortcomings and making proposals to avoid environmental harm caused by HEPs. This paper assesses the misuse of the “green/renewable energy” term for HEPs in Turkey, in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and in some other countries. It proposes that the renewable energy category should be amended and HEPs should not be considered as renewable energy automatically.

Around the Bloc: Poland Gives Go-Ahead To Controversial Logging Program

Author(s): TOL TOL / Language(s): English / Issue: 04/05/2016

The plans to allow large-scale logging in the Bialowieza forest are likely to put the country on a collision course with environmentalists and the European Union.

Around the Bloc: Poland Threatens to Undermine EU Plan to Ratify UN Climate Deal

Author(s): TOL TOL / Language(s): English / Issue: 10/04/2016

Warsaw will only agree to fast-track EU approval of Paris Agreement on its own terms, Polish environment minister said.

Around the Bloc: Slovak Eustream, Gazprom Agree to Cooperate on Nord Stream-2

Author(s): TOL TOL / Language(s): English / Issue: 07/05/2016

Slovak government initially opposed the project, which creates a gas corridor between Germany and Russia

AZƏRBAYCAN’IN DÜNYA TƏSƏRRÜFATINA İNTEQRASİYASI PROSESINDƏ TƏSƏRRÜFAT STRUKTURUNDA BAŞ VERƏN DƏYİŞİKLİKLƏR

Author(s): Z.N. Eminov / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: 3/2009

In the process of carried out economic reforms after gaining the political independence of Azerbaijan there took place wide changes in the functioning of enterprises in industry, agriculture, service sphere and in their territorial structure. In the first place there were signed contracts on utilization of fuel-energetic resources of the country with oil companies of the USA, Great Britain, France, Russia, Turkey and other countries. During the period of 2000-2006 the extracting industry developed with high speed, increased the share of its branches in the production of industrial products from 53,5% to 72,3%, the numbers of employment of production grew from 33,7 thou. men to 41,6 thou. men in these branches. 89,4% of industrial investment fall on the share of extracting industry. Therefore, in the processing industry which forms the basis of economic development of the country took place a serious lag.

BEZPIECZEŃSTWO ENERGETYCZNE SPOŁECZNOŚCI LOKALNEJ

Author(s): Piotr Wieczorek / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 2/2017

The publication concerns the issue of periodic energy supply breaks. The main goal of the paper is to answer the following question: how one can solve the problems of local communities connected with periodic energy supply breaks, for instance: floods, avalanches, windstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, which result in power cuts lasting for almost a week. Secondly, this article is also dedicated to the investors, who would certainly decrease the use of energy in some urban areas, if they applied the provided solutions with regard to their investments such as huge shopping centres. What is more, the aim of this paper is to present certain legal regulations related to the crisis management concerning the use of the equipment of the Armed Forces in the case of periodic energy supply breaks.

Bezpieczeństwo energetyczne w dokumentach strategicznych Unii Europejskiej i Federacji Rosyjskiej – problemy definicyjne oraz próba ich przezwyciężenia

Author(s): Jaroslaw Cwiek-Karpowicz / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 41/2016

Analyzing EU-Russia relations one may find significant difference regarding the energy security definition. From the Russian perspective this concept is defined mainly through the technical prism focusing on stable and secure supply. In turn, many European researchers add economic and environmental dimensions of this concept underlying the role of competitive market and interrelations with climate issue. In this paper author tries to reduce a difference between these two positions. He aims at elaborating broad definition of the energy security which should help for better analysis EU-Russia energy relations. He states that existing definition based on three abovementioned elements like security of supply, free market, and sustainable development, is incomplete and should therefore be extended by the fourth component, so called social and political agreement.

Boosting Energy Efficiency: How can local Communities Contribute?

Author(s): Zlatko Simonovski,Nataša Markovska,Radovan Nikcevic / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2013

Bulgaria goes ‘green’?

Author(s): Center for the Study of Democracy CSD / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2011

Bulgaria’s energy sector suffers from deep governance and security challenges, which hold the first pages of the mainstream media in the past year with stories of fraud, nepotism and political corruption. The urge for action to transform the sector’s governance and open up markets for competition has been growing louder in the face of shrinking resources and increasing demands from different lobbies. The EU green policies and funding have been one of the precious few anchors, which the Bulgarian government should use to diversify its energy sources and liberalize its markets. Can the Bulgarian government really deliver for the benefit of its citizens?

Climate change in 2010

Author(s): Juraj Mesík / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

In December 2009, after a distressful and for the European Commission and the EU member states’ governments’ frustrating developments, The United Nations Copenhagen conference on climate change concluded with a document, whose essential purpose was to conceal from the world a global political fiasco. The result of negotiations was not a binding agreement, which would commit parties to clearly defined and measurable goals in reducing their CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases. It was neither an agreement on a regime that would replace the Kyoto Protocol regulating trade in greenhouse gas emissions after 2012. From a diplomatic standpoint, for Europe it was quite humiliating, that the final document – albeit toothless – was drafted behind closed doors under the direction of the United States of America, China, India, Brazil and South Africa. It is not surprising that the drafted and later on adopted document from a global warming perspective, was completely ineffective and, moreover, non-binding.

Copenhagen 2009: Outliers among CO2 emitters: choose your pick

Author(s): Center for the Study of Democracy CSD / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2009

Reaching an agreement at the Copenhagen conference on climate change starting on 7 December 2009 will be tough. Everyone is a sinner in a way: (1) the main advocates of binding agreement on climate change such as the European countries (EU plus Norway) and Japan are big emitters, taken together; (2) the main suspects - US and China are the biggest emitters, each in its own different way and are seen as dragging their feet over target agreements; (3) the rest are falling in between with less access to novel technologies and gaping inefficiencies in their economies. Bulgaria has evidently fulfilled its target commitments under Kyoto and it is a small emitter. Nevertheless, Bulgaria remains more carbon-intensive than China as per capita and than US as per GDP. Its inefficient economy, however, holds considerable potential for a greener future. This is particularly true for its industry. Bulgaria needs to take decisive actions in improving the energy efficiency of its industrial and energy production and in introducing green technologies and further measures for sustainable consumer behavior. But how much is it willing to pay for it?

CSD Policy Brief No. 18: Better Governance for Sustainable Energy Sector of Bulgaria: Diversification and Security

Author(s): Center for the Study of Democracy CSD / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2009

Energy is the lifeblood of any economy: oil, gas and electricity are critical to a functioning and growing nation. For all nations, economic and social well‐being depends on safe, affordable and dependable supplies of energy. It becomes very clear, then, that the question of energy security is not just a question of economic security, but of national security as well. The Bulgarian energy sector is key for the future development of the country’s economy. For the past decade energy exports and imports formed on average 12% (16% in 2008) and 21% (22% in 2008) of the value of the country’s outgoing and incoming trade flows respectively1. Every fourth public procurement contract is concluded in the energy sector, making it one of the biggest taxpayers’ money spenders in the country. In 2008, in a single year, the Bulgarian government committed to energy projects, requiring budgetary investments equal in value to the whole EU funds support for the country for the current European seven‐year budget period 2007 – 2013.

CSD Policy Brief No. 22: The Energy Sector of Bulgaria

Author(s): Boyko Nitzov,Ruslan Stefanov,Valentina Nikolova,Dobromir Hristov / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2010

Energy security in Central-Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region is fraught with risks. By virtue of its geography, Bulgaria finds itself in a difficult nexus, drawn into Eurasia’s contentious energy geopolitics and as a European Union member, involved in the Union’s fragmented energy policy and complex regulatory, energy efficiency and climate change objectives. That position is challenging, but it also presents decision-makers in Sofia with opportunities. The EU-backed Energy Community, of which Bulgaria is a member, seeks to foster regional cooperation in the Balkans and around the Black Sea, but is stymied by geopolitical questions such as Turkey’s EU membership prospects and Russia’s assertive energy strategy within the EU. On the other hand, Bulgaria is actively involved in geopolitics due to the country’s almost 100 percent dependence on imported gas from Russia through one pipeline, which forces it into seeking answers to the questions. Bulgaria imports about 75% of its primary energy resources (oil, gas, nuclear fuel, coal) from Russia.