| 1. We want renewable energy, not dirty war |
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We at EKOenergy stand in solidarity with the people affected by Russia's brutal aggression against Ukraine. People all over the world are already weakened by the impacts of climate change and Covid. We don't want further instability, destruction, and loss of life.
The war has shown us the devastating side effects of our fossil fuel addiction, as well as the unacceptable risks nuclear energy can bring, especially in times of chaos.
We will continue to do all we can to promote a fast phase-out of fossil fuels. It's possible and affordable to use 100% renewable energy, and the more people and companies participate, the faster the energy transition will go.
Year after year we notice that alarming climate change reports aren't enough to speed up climate action. Last year's greenhouse gas emissions were the highest ever. Let's hope that energy independence, cost reduction, and an aversion to war will motivate more people to take action towards 100% renewable energy, including in the transport and heating sectors.
See also the declaration End global fossil fuel addiction that feeds Putin’s war machine. |
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| "Renewable energy is freedom energy! " - German Finance Minister Christian Lindner |
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| 2. eQ chooses EKOenergy-labelled electricity |
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As part of their corporate social responsibility and due diligence policy, eQ Asset Management has been using 100% renewable electricity in their properties since 2018.
They have now taken an extra step by switching to EKOenergy-labelled electricity. This way, they make sure that their power comes from the most nature-friendly installations and they also help us - an initiative of environmental NGOs - promote renewable energy worldwide.
eQ Asset Management's services include investments in real estate such as shopping malls, office buildings and apartments. They use all opportunities to install on-site solar and use renewable heat whenever possible.
Thanks a lot, eQ Asset Management, for thinking globally and acting locally! |
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| 3. Solar for health clinics in Myanmar - help us select more projects |
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EKOenergy has granted 30,000 € to Green Empowerment (USA), Border Green Energy Team (Myanmar) and Karen Department of Health and Welfare (Myanmar) for installing solar panels at 8 health clinics in Karen State, Myanmar.
This project was on the waitlist since last August, but thanks to the increased demand for EKOenergy-labelled energy, we are able to finance it now.
Once complete, the installations will improve the medical and educational services for over 27,000 people living in Karen villages along the Thailand-Myanmar border. We thank all the users and sellers of EKOenergy-labelled renewable energy for making projects like this one possible!
At the same time, we are also proceeding with the selection of new projects. We are still welcoming members for our jury.
Are you interested in becoming a part of the jury and participating in the selection process in the second half of April and May? Members of the jury will have to read, score and rank 15-20 pre-selected project proposals of 4 pages each. If you'd like to be involved, contact Steven.Vanholme@sll.fi for more information. |
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| "Virta's Finnish consumer-customers get 100% EKOenergy-labelled domestic wind power from Virta's almost 6,000 charging points" - Autotoday web magazine, 23 February 2022 |
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| 4. Getting ready for the REC Market Meeting |
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As in previous years, EKOenergy is a proud supporting association of the REC Market Meeting.
What started out in 2011 as a small meeting to provide a platform for discussing Guarantees of Origin in Europe has grown to become one of the largest and best-respected conferences for experts in the development of energy attribute certificates (EACs) and renewable energy markets around the world.
EKOenergy is particularly involved in the organisation of the C-stream sessions. Merve Güngör will moderate a session on reporting energy consumption and Steven Vanholme will speak in a session about speeding up the energy transition.
This year's REC Market Meeting will take place in Amsterdam, under “business as usual” circumstances on the 5th and 6th of April. After two years of virtual meetings, we are looking forward to seeing many of you in Amsterdam!
For the full program and registration, see the conference website. |
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| 5. News from our previously financed Climate Fund projects |
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Thanks to your consumption of EKOenergy-labelled energy, new renewable energy projects are made possible. We are happy to get photos and reports from ongoing and finished projects week after week.
Last week we got photos from Amani For Africa, showing the solar panels they installed with our support at 2 centres for street children in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. In the photo, you see a part of the recent installation at Kivuli Centre, which offers a safe place for kids previously living on the streets. The centre also has carving workshops, a carpentry lab, a dental lab, a medical dispensary (that serves the surrounding area on a daily basis), and a local radio broadcast studio. All services need a reliable energy supply, especially the dispensary and the radio that used to rely on a diesel generator.
We also got the final report and photos from the project of AJVC, which we financed in Cameroon. Association Jeunesse Verte du Cameroun (AJVC) is testing how solar-powered sewing machines can create income-generating opportunities for women in rural and peri-urban areas.
Follow us on social media for regular updates! |
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| "In 2021, global CO2 emissions rebounded to reach their highest level in history. We need a massive boost in technical & financial support to accelerate the phase-out of coal and create a just transition to renewable energy & green jobs." - UN Secretary-General António Guterres |
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| 6. Proposed criteria change: ending our Arbitration Panel |
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We want to start a process to abolish EKOenergy’s Arbitration Panel, which is mentioned in paragraph 3.5 of our criteria (EKOenergy – Governance structure and criteria for electricity). This will help us further simplify our governance structure.
The goal of the Arbitration Panel was to solve conflicts between members of our supporting network or between EKOenergy and its licensees, but this process has never been used. If a conflict ever arises, there are many alternatives to having an arbitration panel.
If you want more information, or if you would like to share thoughts and comments, contact us at info@ekoenergy.org. |
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| 7. Info for licensees - annual audits |
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EKOenergy's Secretariat is working on the audits of the sales of EKOenergy in 2021. We have sent the audit documents to our licensed sellers and are now reviewing each of them separately.
Licensees can contact us at any time if there is any doubt or if they need an EKOenergy proof for their clients. Feel free to let us know if you need information in your own language too.
Reminder: EKOenergy's internationally protected logo can only be used by our licensees (when they promote or sell energy that fulfils our criteria) and by the consumers of EKOenergy-labelled energy. |
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| 8. EKOenergy on social media |
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By following EKOenergy on social media, you get relevant updates about the climate crisis, renewable energy and EKOenergy's activities worldwide.
Here are some recent posts: The Green Hydrogen Certification brief is developed by the Decarbonising End-Use Sectors Working Group of IRENA Coalition for Action (on LinkedIn)
Happy Women's Day from our team to all women worldwide! Congrats to all women contributing to the energy transition. Most of our 100+ EU Solidarity Corps volunteers have been women 🙋 Thx for their valuable efforts in promoting the use of renewables! (on Twitter)
Live now! EKO-Merve from our Secretariat will present the chapter about tracking green hydrogen which we contributed to. #GreenHydrogen #CleanEnergy (on Twitter)
We were in front of the Parliament this morning to ask for more climate action. We need to end our dependence on fossil fuels as soon as possible, all around the world! Renewables are the way to go! (on Instagram)
Fight Putin - ride a bike (on Twitter) |
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| 9. We must combine forces now to avert climate catastrophe |
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The newest IPCC report, launched on the 28th of February, gives a grim picture of the situation: almost 3,3 billion people are already living in highly vulnerable climate contexts, and the mass die-off of fauna and flora is well underway. Climate breakdown is occurring quicker than anticipated and, at current levels, many parts of the planet will become unlivable in the next few decades.
After reading the report, UN Secretary-General António Guterres wrote: “I have seen many scientific reports in my time, but nothing like this. This is code red for humanity. We must combine forces now to avert climate catastrophe.”
The IPCC is blunt in its warning: if we continue to follow the current pollutive economic model, things will get much, much worse for the planet and humanity. The report says that the world must cut its total emissions by 45% by 2030 to avoid climate catastrophe. If we fail to do so, we will have to adapt to irreversible impacts such as melting ice caps, frequent and intense weather events, and immense biodiversity and ecosystem loss.
The flip side is that if we do take drastic action, we can turn this crisis into an opportunity.
Text based on an article by the World Economic Forum |
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We at EKOenergy are always enthusiastic to collaborate with new partners.
For further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch. |
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