Smart strategies for the transition in coal intensive regions

The TRACER project supports a number of coal-intensive regions around Europe to design (or re-design) their Research and Innovation (R&I) strategies in order to facilitate their transition towards a sustainable energy system. The TRACER consortium consists of different target regions: South East Bulgaria, North West Bohemia - Czech Republic, Lusatian Lignite District - Germany, Western Macedonia - Greece, Upper Silesian Coalfield - Poland, West Region, Jiu Valley - Romania, Wales – UK, Kolubara - Serbia, Donetsk - Ukraine. Core activities of TRACER include the implementation of an EDP (Entrepreneurial Discovery Process) to mobilise a wide range of stakeholders in each target region to develop an appropriate governance structure and to bring regional stakeholders together to discuss and agree on a shared vision and priorities for coal transition. R&I strategies, industrial roadmaps and decision support tools will be developed jointly with key stakeholders of the TRACER target regions. Further TRACER activities include the identification and analysis of best practice examples of successful and ambitious transition processes in coal intensive regions, a detailed assessment of social, environmental and technological challenges, the elaboration of guidelines on how to mobilise investment as well as dedicated activities to stimulate R&I cooperation among coal intensive regions in Europe and beyond

Controversial reversal of nuclear option

Nuclear option is in a unique position to restore its original role of the main source of energy with an increased attention paid to the security of electricity supply as well as regulatory changes affecting fossil fuels, particularly with due introduction of climate change prevention measures. Recent developments indicate the advantages of nuclear option over other possible options in terms of sustainable development. However, a large number of controversial issues on nuclear energy make its reversal less clear. These are discussed with particular attention paid to recent developments worldwide, including the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in September 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa

Scientific uncertainties feed scepticism on climate change

Climate change is a complex and multi-facetted phenomenon, interpreted by an extensive body of interdisciplinary science. Although a great deal is known about the climate system, an enormous amount of uncertainty remains. Since uncertainty is usually equated with ignorance, this fact feeds scepticism on man-induced impacts on the global climate and links climate change wth natural causes only. A broader concept of climate change science is presented by focusing on both early and modern scientific foundations of climate models and specific types of uncertainty usually encountered when formulating quantitative assessments of risks due to climate change. Major controversial issues of such risks and their origin is addressed with paticular attention paid to the widespread criticism for inconsistency of the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), based on the assumptions found not always justified by the real scientific methods. Major inconsistencies and misleading arguments on the climate change are also discussed