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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources represented a benchmark in the assessment of water consumption from electricity production. The numbers for hydropower ranged from very low to much larger than the other renewable technologies, partly explained by methodological problems. One of the methodological shortcomings identified was the lack of guidance on how to allocate the water consumption rates in multipurpose reservoirs. This paper is, according to the authors' knowledge, the first attempt to evaluate, test and propose a methodology for the allocation of water consumption from such reservoirs. We tested four different allocation methods in four different cases, all serving three to five functions, including drinking water supply, irrigation, flood control, industrial water, ecological flow and power generation. Based on our case studies we consider volume allocation to be the most robust approach for allocating water consumption between functions in multipurpose reservoirs. The spatial boundaries of the analysis should follow the boundaries of the hydraulic system. We recommend that data should preferably be gathered from one source for all functions, to ensure a consistent calculation approach. We believe the findings are relevant for similar allocation problems, such as allocation of energy investments and green-house gas emissions from multipurpose reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Late in 2012, when the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol came to an end, it was further extended to December 2020. This was based on the strong realisation that the clean development mechanism (CDM) projects have been playing an important role globally, particularly in promoting clean development in China. Based on a review of international and domestic sources, the paper analyses the progress in the development of CDM projects both globally and in China. China has attracted the lion share of CDM investment in terms of projects located in this country and the global annual certified emission reductions under this mechanism. Due to the relative easiness of implementation, the main area of investment is new and renewable energy. China's fast economic development, open door investment policy, political stability, high educational and technological standards and reliable infrastructure are all encouraging the interest of foreign investors seeking to reduce their domestic carbon footprint. In order to facilitate the location of CDM projects, the Chinese government formulated a series of policies and regulations as well as established national coordinating groups for climate change, CDM Designated National Authorities and projects auditing boards, which are responsible for projects application, auditing and management. There are however large differences in the regional distribution of Chinese CDM projects. Provinces, such as Yunnan, Sichuan, Inner Mongolia, Hunan and Gansu (located in central and western China) are attracting more projects because of their rich hydro and wind resources while there are very few projects in the eastern already developed parts of the country. This trend is consistent with the CDM's main goal to assist less developed regions to achieve a more sustainable development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article cites some of the agenda of the author if he were to be the energy minister. One of his priorities would be arguing with Cabinet about the British government's nuclear U-turn and its failure to address the enormous potential of renewable energy in the country. He also plans to ask the prime minister what has changed since the country's 2003 Energy White Paper concluded that nuclear power was an unattractive option for new, carbon-free generating capacity and that there are also important issues of nuclear waste to be resolved. He emphasizes the importance of a cultural shift if the country is serious about fighting climate change and delivering a low-carbon economy by 2020.

The article discusses the paper "The Climate for Change," by Al Gore, published in the November 2008 issue of "The New York Times." According to Gore, the procedures to solve the climate crisis are the same procedures needed to address the economic and energy security crises. He proposed a five-point plan to re-power the U.S. with carbon-free electricity resources. Such plan include offering incentives for solar thermal plants and wind farms, and the construction of a unified national smart grid for renewable energy transport.