Happy Planet Index

New Economics Foundation, a London based independent think-and-do tank has developed a Happy Planet Index that combines environmental impact with well-being to measure the environmental efficiency with which countries provide long and happy lives.

You can get some of the details at http://www.happyplanetindex.org/index.htm and calculate your own index by answering a very simple questionnaire on the website.

Interestingly, the United States ranks 150th out of 178 countries. Europe is not placed much better; Austria being the best at 61st, Portugal at the bottom on 136th. The Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu has been ranked first. Columbia is ranked second, Costa Rice third, Panama fifth, and Cuba sixth showing happier trends in these countries.

Pakistani professor among Nobel Peace Prize (2007) winners

WASHINGTON, Oct 13: Pakistani professor Adil Najam, now teaching at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, US, is amongst the team of scientists and experts in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that shares the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former US Vice President Al Gore. The 2007 Peace Prize, announced in Stockholm, Sweden, on Friday includes a gold medal and $1.5 million, is to be shared between Al Gore and the IPCC for enhancing the understanding of the science of climate change.

The IPCC is a panel of the world’s most eminent and leading scientists working on global warming and it produces its scientific assessment every 4-5 years.These assessments, especially the most recent one, have been influential in moving global climate policy, including changes in US and other country positions on the subject.

Prof Adil Najam has served as an expert on this prestigious panel for eight years, and as a Convening Lead Author for its most recent report. Along with other scientists on the panel he helped shape the findings of the IPCC, especially on issues related sustainable development and other developing country interests.

Dr Adil Najam holds a doctorate and two Masters degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a specialisation in negotiation from Harvard Law School, and an engineering degree from UET, Lahore.

He has taught at MIT, Boston University, University of Massachusetts and currently at Tufts University. He is author of more than a dozen books.

Courtesy: http://www.dawn.com/2007/10/14/nat5.htm

Funny :)

Wind power is very popular because it has a lot of "fans"

:-)

Pakistan: $510m renewable energy deal signed

Saturday, October 06, 2007

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank for a $510 million multi-tranche loan for the development of renewable energy. The program is the first of its kind in Pakistan, and is one of the first to be developed under ADB’s evolving clean energy and efficiency initiative.

Pakistan’s energy supplies are highly dependent on oil imports, the cost of which accounts for a large share of the country’s total import bill. In addition, demand for power is outstripping supply. Electricity needs are projected to reach 162,590 megawatts (MW) by 2030, from 15,000 MW in 2005. While thermal power (coal, oil, and gas) is expected to meet much of the future demand, there is enormous scope for more environment-friendly options. Renewable energy accounts for only 180MW of Pakistan’s present power output.

The first project under the loan will finance a set of small to medium hydropower plants in Northwest Frontier Province and Punjab.The governments of NWFP and Punjab expect to borrow up to $180 million and $150 million respectively to fund renewable energy projects. Other provinces can request funding for renewable energy projects totalling $170 million.

The program will expand Pakistan’s power supply, especially in rural areas, to serve about 600,000 new domestic connections for 4.8 million people. It will also improve reliability and quality of supply.

Small to medium-sized hydropower plants offer the greatest renewable energy potential for Pakistan, while possibilities also exist in promoting greater use of wind, solar, and biomass power, said Peter Fedon, ADB’s Country Director for Pakistan. Investment in such renewable energy options would not only be beneficial to Pakistan’s energy security, but would boost social equity, lead to a cleaner environment, and make good economic sense. The loan and project agreements for the Renewable Energy Development Sector Investment Program was signed on Friday.

The loan will have a life of 10 years upto 2017. The Alternative Energy Development Board is the executing agency for the Renewable Energy Development Sector Investment Program at the federal level. At the provincial level, the program will be executed via special purpose implementing agencies such as Irrigation and Power Departments.

Power and energy, together with transport connectivity and water, are major constraints in Pakistan to achieving the kind of high economic growth that can benefit the poor. Under its clean energy and efficiency initiative, ADB is planning to expand energy efficiency operations in its developing member countries to $1 billion per year.

Courtesy: THE NEWS - October 18, 2007