#EU: Euro Parliament Approves Battery Regulations

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A vote to approve proposals for carbon footprint labelling, recycled content, and ethical sourcing of materials in the European Union Batteries Regulation has been welcomed by trade groups.

Last week, the European Parliament voted to approve the regulation, which has been drafted by the European Commission. It got 587 votes in favour, nine parliamentarians opposed it and 20 abstained.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Parliament May Consider Ban On Domestic Wood Burning

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An influential parliamentary committee is likely to consider arguments for a ban on domestic wood burning in urban areas during this sitting of parliament, owing to concerns over its growing impact on air quality.

Philip Dunne, the chair of the environmental audit committee, said: “Air quality is something we are likely to look at before the end of this parliament. It’s a serious issue.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Lawmakers Delay Nuke Plant Shutdown Until April

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German lawmakers on Friday voted to postpone the shutdown of the country's remaining three nuclear power plants until mid-April 2023, citing the need to keep up energy generation and guarantee supply security.

The three plants--named Emsland, Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim 2--are remaining in operation for three and a half more months than originally planned due to the crisis spurred by the war in Ukraine, the government said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Labour MPs to Oppose Lifting Of Fracking Ban

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Labour Party members in parliament have pledged to ban fracking “once and for all” as an opposition motion, and if elected in the next general election, calling it “an unjust charter for earthquakes."

The party is working to bring forward an opposition day motion to maintain the ban on the controversial gas extraction method, after Prime Minister Liz Truss said she would lift the ban as part of her energy security plan.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Energy Execs Warn Gov't Of "Civil Unrest" Over High Winter Energy Bills

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Energy executives in the UK have warned the government that the country faces the prospect of mass civil unrest as a result of people being unable to afford their heating and electricity bills this winter.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Chancellor Signals Nuke Plants Won't Be Shut

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Germany's chancellor Olaf Scholz has signalled that the country will keep its last three nuclear plants, changing a policy decision by former Chancellor Angela Merkel to shut them down. The move was taken in light of possible Russian fuel shortages this fall, created by the war in Ukraine.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SPAIN: Gov't Decree Says A/C Can't Go Below 81 Degrees In Summer

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A debate has been sparked after Spain's government moved to prevent offices, shops and other venues from setting air conditioning below 27°C/81 F in the summer.

It is part of plans to cut the country's energy consumption and limit dependency on Russian gas. 

The decree, published on Tuesday morning, will also stop heating from being raised above 19°C/66 F during the winter.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU : Euro Parliament Says Nuclear, Natural Gas Can Be Considered "Green" Fr Investments

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European Union lawmakers have voted in favor of calling natural gas and nuclear power "green" or "sustainable" sources of energy.

The European Commission has argued that natural gas — a fossil fuel primarily made of methane, a significant contributor to the climate crisis — plays a key role in transitioning to renewable energy, angering climate activists and some lawmakers. 

Natural gas typically emits less carbon dixoide than coal, but critics argue more focus should be place on boosting renewable energy, and that supporting new gas projects will only prolong the life of the fossil fuel.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Gov't Weighs Funding For New Nuclear Plant Development

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The UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said the government had published documents which show significant progress towards implementing a new funding model which will give nuclear projects the financial support they need and attract private investment.

The new Regulated Asset Base model will see projects receive a regulated payment from electricity suppliers. The Sizewell C project in Suffolk could be the first nuclear project to use this model, subject to the outcome of current negotiations.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#INDONESIA: Parliament Approves Higher Energy Subsidies

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The Indonesian parliament's budget committee had approved a government request to raise 2022 energy subsidies and compensation by 349.9 trillion rupiah ($23.75 billion) to keep some energy prices unchanged, its chair Said Abdullah said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRALIA: Green Party Wants $19 Billion To Transition Coal Miners To Other Jobs

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The Green Party has proposed a $19bn plan to diversify fossil fuel-reliant towns and subsidize the wages of coal workers who transition into new jobs, saying employees can stay in mining but should seek employment in critical minerals or green metals.

Green Party Leader Adam Bandt, said the nation owed something to coal workers.

“We owe coal workers a debt of thanks for powering our country. We don’t need to choose between taking urgent climate action and supporting coal communities. We can do both.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Federal Gov't Sets Up Solar Panels In Sunless Arctic Region

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The Federal government spent $1.4 million setting up solar panels in the most sunless region of Canada.

Records show the Department of Northern Affairs thought the climate change program would help small Arctic towns that have to rely on diesel generators for heat and light in winter.

However, the department acknowledged to the committee in a followup report that between 2019-2022, it spent $1,436,726 setting up solar panels in remote places like Nunavut where daylight hours total as little as four hours or less in the winter.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Gov't Funding Small Nuke Reactors

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The Conservative Government has committed £210m (US$281m) to develop Small Modular Reactors (SMR) in the UK to help reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

The government will be funding Rolls-Royce SMR to develop the world’s first SMRs, delivering on the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan and creating high-skilled jobs.

Matched by £195 in private sector funding and over £250m in government funds, today’s investment will take forward phase two of the Low-Cost Nuclear project to develop SMR design.

Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the UK to deploy more low carbon energy than ever before and ensure greater energy independence.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: Protests Against Regime After Power Outages

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Some protests in Iran against power shortages turned political, with chants of "Death to the dictator" and "Death to Khamenei."

Pres. Hassan Rouhani apologized to Iranians on Tuesday over massive power outages during a heatwave that have drawn widespread criticism and triggered street protests.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Alberta Premier Signs Agreement With Other Provinces To Develop Small Nuke Power Plants

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Alberta Premier Jason Kenney formally signed a memorandum of understanding with Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick to support the development of small-scale nuclear power technology Wednesday.

The joint announcement with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs saw the release of a feasibility study with proposals for developing the technology.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRALIA: New South Wales Hopes To Spur Green Energy Boom

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The Australian state of New South Wales hopes to lead the nation in renewable energy.

The NSW government hopes to drive the transition to renewable energy by attracting $32 billion of private investment in infrastructure, delivering thousands of jobs and creating among the cheapest and most reliable electricity in the world.

In the most ambitious energy plan in the country, the state government will support the private sector to build critical energy infrastructure by 2030 as NSW faces the end of the coal-fired power generation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Parliament Votes To Phase Out Coal-Burning Power Plants By 2038

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Germany’s lower house of parliament has voted to pass new legislation finalizing the country’s long-awaited phase-out of coal, over objections from environmental groups the plan is not ambitious enough.

The upper house was expected to approve the plan later Friday that lays out a roadmap for phasing out coal by 2038. It also earmarks some 40 billion euros ($45 billion) to affected regions to support them with the transition.

Germany is already phasing out nuclear power by the end of 2022.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRELAND: Motorists "Confused" By Plans To Phase Out Gas Vehicles

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Government plans to fast-track new laws to ban the sale of gas and diesel cars by 2030 have been criticised as "confusing" as thousands of motorists prepare to buy new cars in the coming days.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (Simi) said it was concerned about plans to bring forward the laws early in the new year.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CHILE: Untold Story: Switch To Renewables Led To Metro Fare Hikes At Core Of Violent Protests

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As with France's "Yellow Jacket" unrest this past summer (which are ongoing) protests which began last month in Santiago, Chile originated with fare hikes at the city's subway system, which had been converted to use energy from wind and solar-generated power. The unrest, which has led to five deaths and hundreds of arrests, continues despite the government backing down and reversing the fare hikes, and it has forced the cancellation of a global Climate Change conference that was scheduled to occur there in December. Late last month, President Sebastian Pinera pledged social reforms to try to quell days of violent protests.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRALIA: PM Morrison Mocked By Labor Party For "Mimicking" It's Billion Dollar Clean Energy Policy

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The Morrison government has embraced a Labor policy to take on more public debt to invest in new energy projects, promising $1 billion for electricity generation, storage and transmission.

The plan will commit more money to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation in a significant policy concession by the Coalition, which tried to scrap the investment agency under former prime minister Tony Abbott.

The Labor Party welcomed the Coalition decision to "mimic" its own energy policy.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.