On October 17, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced two new five year programmes to help Vietnam address the impacts of climate change.

The average U.S. citizen is willing to pay 13 percent more for electricity in support of a national clean-energy standard (NCES), according to Yale and Harvard researchers in Nature Climate Change.

HCM CITY — Businesses must save energy, protect the ecosystem and take steps to deal with climate change while maintaining development, experts told attendees at a forum held yesterday in HCM City.

The Rome-based Global Bioenergy Partnership today released a voluntary policy for producing and using biomass and biofuels in ways that don’t add to climate change or affect food prices. The partnership, established in 2005 by the Group of Eight nations and five emerging economies, also includes 13 international organizations and institutions.

Leaked Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report predicts a 100 exajoule increase in renewable energy capacity. The United Nations is set to forecast substantial increases in the deployment of renewable energy through to 2050 as clean technologies such as wind and solar power improve and costs fall.

Key findings from an upcoming climate change report released by the United Nations are expected to show that cost reductions in the renewable energy sector are likely to continue through to 2050, boosting their deployment.

A planned fund to channel hundreds of billions of dollars to poor countries exposed to climate change has overcome an early obstacle, the UN said on Friday. Members of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change have agreed on the make-up of a 40-seat transitional committee to design the Green Climate Fund (GCF), an issue that had been debated for weeks, the UNFCCC said.

Citing the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, environmental activists at a U.N. meeting Sunday urged bolder steps to tap renewable energy so the world doesn’t have to choose between the dangers of nuclear power and the ravages of climate change.

As the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico wraps up its final day, discussions continue over some crucial issues such as the need to simultaneously reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and provide the world with more energy. While no one expects major progress towards a comprehensive binding treaty, Mexican officials say they do see progress in some areas and that the conference is providing an opportunity for many governments and environmental organizations to share ideas and forge agreements of their own.

Compressed natural gas technology first appeared in Vietnam with the introduction of CNG natural gas plant in Phu My I Industrial Zone, Tan Thanh district, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, which began operation in late August 2008. In Nay 2010, to limit environmental pollution and reduce climate change, for the clean and green environment, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group of issued Resolution No. 2958/NQ-DKVN approving the conversion and use of CNG fuel for cars of all members of the group in the areas of HCM city and Ba Ria-Vung Tau (about 600 vehicles).

The social media site on Thursday made a point of calling attention to its Green on Facebook page that highlights its efforts to cut its own energy use, while also telling others how to do the same. At the same time, Facebook says it’s joined the research group the Digital Energy Solutions Campaign, which looks at how information technology can be used to fight climate change.

A star-rating system, similar to that used for electrical appliances, will now be a mandatory part of advertising for lease or sale of office space. The scheme is designed to make climate change a more important consideration in corporate decision-making, in part by naming and shaming companies with office space in energy-hungry buildings.

More than 300 students in HCM City on Sunday took part in activities for the International 350 Day for Climate Change. Together with millions of people around the globe, they raised their voices about climate change and environment protection. The students made a painting of five-by-five metres, and 260 small paintings that were combined to depict the number 1,000 in celebration of Ha Noi’s millenium anniversary.

The latest official figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) could provide insight into how energy saving aspirations across the UK have affected power consumption. In its second quarter 2010 report, DECC notes a 24 per cent fall in primary electricity consumption across the country.

Along with urban growth, the demand for use of energy in urban areas has increased rapidly, especially in big cities such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Nha Trang. In such circumstances, using solar energy is considered to be a solution that will help reduce energy consumption in urban areas and prevent climate change. This solution was discussed at a workshop themed 'Climate change and sustainable urban development in Vietnam' that was held recently in Hanoi.

Should 1kWh of electricity be saved, we would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emission into the environment by 0.5634 kg, helping mitigate climate change. So saving power should be one of the priorities to adapt to climate change.

The strategic objectives of the Program (issued under Decision 158/2008/QD-TTg by the Prime Minister) is to assess the extent of the impact of climate change on different areas, sectors and localities under each period, in order to build feasible action plans to successfully cope with climate change both for long term and short term.

With the theme: “Energy and climate change”, at the AMEM 28, representatives of 10 ASEAN countries, Deputy secretary of ASEAN and 8 partner countries including China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the US acknowledged the results of 2009-2010 activities.

With the theme “Energy and Climate Change”, the 28th ASEAN Ministers of Energy Meeting (AMEM 28) has reflected the determination and spirit of ASEAN members in 2010 and years to come.

Using clean energy is a weapon in the fight against climate change. Ho Chi Minh City is considered to have a rich solar resource which has not yet been exploited and used wisely. Recently, although Ho Chi Minh City Hi-Tech Area and 23-9 Park has installed 32 lamp posts using solar power, it is still too small in comparison with actual demand. Is it due to the lack of funding or a hesitation to invest?