Paris climate conference at the end of week one: taking stock

The Paris climate conference began on 30 November. Olivia Gippner assesses the progress made in the first week of discussions, noting that while a negotiating text has been agreed, most of the critical issues have been left for the second week. She writes that one of the trends apparent in the first week is that the EU’s status has changed significantly from the 2009 summit in Copenhagen, with the EU losing some of its leadership role to China and the United States

Paving the road to Paris? What the EU can do to facilitate a political climate change deal

The positions of key international players, the US, China and India on the road to the Paris climate change conference in December 2015 call for particular scrutiny from Brussels and other European capitals. What are the prospects of a more ambitious climate deal after the US and China announced their own targets in November 2014? To what extent will the EU be able to influence a higher level of ambition and can it continue to strive for a leadership role? The EU can offer its rich experience in implementing climate policy domestically (emissions trading, renewable energy policies, decoupling of emissions and economic growth) and building relationships with foreign climate change policy elites. This strategic update uses a SWOT analysis to outline the EU’s role in negotiating the post-Kyoto climate change agenda bilaterally and multilaterally, with case studies of bilateral EU lobbying and negotiations with China and Australia

China as an Investment Power in Europe. College of Europe Policy Brief #19.16, December 2016

Executive Summary > Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Europe has overtaken European FDI in China, in part due to the Chinese ‘Going out’ strategy. > In view of this trend, the broader public and foreign policy circles in big EU member states, such as Germany and the UK, fear a loss oftheir countries’ competitive advantage and technological know-how. > High-profile investment cases have led European countries to introduce safeguards for security-related investments and critical infrastructures. > Putting in place institutions such as the EUChina Comprehensive Agreement on Investment and safeguards for Chinese-funded projects, but also enhancing their legitimacy with the European public will be crucial. > European policy-makers will have to increase their understanding of the variety of Chinese investors, be they state-owned enterprises or private companies, and at the same time avoid demonization of Chinese FDI

From climate change to mediation: should the EU be a strategic actor in Asia-Pacific?

The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, is due to present a new Global Strategy later this month, though this may depend on the outcome of the UK’s referendum on EU membership. Olivia Gippner writes on the EU’s potential involvement in the Asia-Pacific region and what role, if any, this should play in its future strategy for engaging with the rest of the world

Shifting policy priorities in EU-China energy relations: Implications for Chinese energy investments in Europe

Shifting energy policy priorities both in China and the EU (European Union) have transformed their bilateral relationship. In order to assess the impact of domestic policy priorities on bilateral energy cooperation and climate policy, this comparative study traces the evolution of EU and Chinese approaches to energy policy – and their relative emphasis on factors and frames such as availability, efficiency, affordability and environmental stewardship. Drawing on government documents and a data set of interviews with Chinese policy-makers, experts and academics in 2015–2016, the article argues that while the EU started with a strong emphasis on environmental stewardship and moved towards a focus on affordability and availability, China started with a strong emphasis on availability and has moved towards a greater emphasis on environmental stewardship. This shift in frames on the Chinese side and subsequent changes in subsidy structures and targets can partially explain the increase in investments in renewable energy technologies. The article concludes that the Chinese and EU perspectives have become more aligned over the past ten years, coinciding with an increasing trend towards renewable energy in Chinese energy investments in the EU, for example in Italy and the UK

Women in United Nations peacekeeping: holding up half the Sky?

Women peacekeepers from China and India do pioneering work in South Sudan, Liberia and elsewhere. Yet, a lot remains to be done to truly achieve greater inclusiveness and gender equality in peacekeeping, write Olivia Gippner and Garima Mohan

Antipiracy and unusual coalitions in the Indian Ocean region: China’s changing role and confidence building with India

Piracy and threats from non-state actors in the Gulf of Aden have triggered states to cooperate in securing water ways and the so-called “Sea Lines of Communication”, fundamentally transforming the maritime security environment in the region. As a result, the strategic importance of this region has not only been reaffirmed, but it has gained tremendous importance with the presence of several actors, especially China and India. Since 2008, these two countries have been involved in a larger global action against piracy. While China and India are not official members of any international mission, they coordinate alongside them. This has led increasing contacts and exposure of their naval capabilities – a possible confidence building effort? Will the Gulf of Aden and the broader Indian Ocean region emerge as an area of cooperation or competition between China and India? Which mechanisms could impact and explain the outcome? Drawing on interviews carried out with Chinese and European experts in the period of 2012-2015 this article explores the reasons and instruments of cooperation in the field of antipiracy and the degree to which China uses antipiracy as a confidence building measure

Roosevelt Fountain Wind-Driven VFD Pump Control

The Roosevelt Fountain is a centerpiece of the Brookfield Zoo. The largest jet can send water vertically up to 18.3m. On windy days, water from the main jet blows mist outside the boundaries of the fountain and onto the civilian walkway. This affects the visitors of the zoo. The present countermeasure to this complication requires a manual valve adjustment or temporary pump shutdown. This causes the zoo staff to have to divert from their usual tasks, wasting time. This countermeasure also wastes energy, causing the zoo to overspend on electricity