The Charcoal Project

Forests must be on the Rio+20 agenda

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in some parts of Africa woodfuels account for almost 90 per cent of primary energy consumption.

Scientists believe that deforestation across the Horn of Africa, particularly for firewood harvest, has been a major contributor to the pervasive drought in the region.

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NEWS: World lacks enough food, fuel as population soars-UN

LONDON, Jan 30 (Reuters) – The world is running out of time to make sure there is enough food, water and energy to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population and to avoid sending up to 3 billion people into poverty, a U.N. report warned on Monday.

As the world’s population looks set to grow to nearly 9 billion by 2040 from 7 billion now, and the number of middle-class consumers increases by 3 billion over the next 20 years, the demand for resources will rise exponentially.

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Wood Energy in Africa: the next gold rush?

Recent news out of Uganda about the displacement of tens of thousands of people from their land to make way for a large-scale biofuel plantations raises question about governmental oversight and corporate social responsibility on the part of of foreign investors.

It is all the more urgent that African nations, with the help of appropriate international agencies, begin putting place the regulatory framework that will lead to the responsible and sustainable exploitation of wood energy resources in the context of low-carbon economic growth and high-value export generation.

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Webinar: All about new carbon finance methodology for cookstoves 27/9/11

Are you interested in learning more technical details on how to access carbon finance for your cookstove project? Have you heard about The Gold Standard (GS) Foundation’s new methodology for cookstove projects, and want to learn more about it?

If so, register today for the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air (PCIA) webinar entitled “Innovations in Version 3 of the Gold Standard Methodology” on September 27, 2011.

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African economies leaving money on the table with current charcoal policies.

Revelations from Africa:

  • Africa must formally recognize its huge charcoal sector.
  • Solid biomass fuels could very well be the continents key to producing. homegrown sustainable renewable fuels for domestic and productive energy.
  • The negative impact of sky-rocketing food prices on education.
  • Energy efficiency and renewables can mitigate the pain of rising food costs.

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