The Climate Change and the urgent needs to reduce emissions in line with the Kyoto Protocol are posing major challenges to countries across the World.

The development of renewable energy, the reduction of green house gases and the targets set on energy efficiency represents

A reduction of at least 20% in green house gases (GHG) by 2020
A 20% share of renewable energies in EU energy consumption by 2020
20% saving of EU energy consumption by 2020 compared to projected 2020 energy consumption

The 2020 target for renewable is very ambitious compared to current levels, and will be legally binding for the Member States. In order to achieve these targets member states will have to introduce the necessary mandatory schemes in order to allow market based compliance possibilities to market participants.

The last...

14 June 2011 - Italy Says No to Nuclear Power

Italians have voted overwhelmingly against a return to nuclear power, repealing regulation that allowed for the construction of new reactors in a national referendum.

On the nuclear question 54.79% of citizens responded, and 94.05% of these voted against the construction of any new nuclear reactors in Italy.

Italy is now unique in the world for having twice rejected the technology and also for actually closing its nuclear plants in line with this policy. Other 'phase-out' countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands have changed course, while much work still lies ahead of Switzerland and Germany to make real their aspirations to replace nuclear with renewables.

At the conclusion of a press conference on Monday before the ballot had closed, prime minister Silvio Berlusconi said Italy would have to "say goodbye to nuclear power" and that the government would concentrate its efforts on renewable energies.