‘This is our generation’s Sputnik moment. Two years ago, I said that we needed to reach a level of research and development we haven’t seen since the height of the Space Race. In a few weeks, I will be sending a budget to Congress that helps us meet that goal. We’ll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology — an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.’

via Transcript: Obama’s State Of The Union Address : NPR.

‘(Reuters) – France unveiled on Tuesday a 10 billion euro ($13.62 billion) plan to build the country’s first offshore wind project in a bid to catch up on its European neighbors in the race for renewable energies.’

via France to invest $14 billion in offshore wind projects | Reuters.

‘Over the past two decades, an increasing number of settlers who have moved here to farm have impinged on bird habitats and reduced bird populations by cutting down forests and turning grasslands into fields. Now the early effects of global warming and other climate changes have helped send the populations of many local mountain species into a steep downward spiral, from which many experts say they will never recover.’

via Climate Threatens Birds From Tropics to Mountaintops – NYTimes.com.

‘Achieving 100 percent renewable energy would mean the building of about four million 5 MW wind turbines, 1.7 billion 3 kW roof-mounted solar photovoltaic systems, and around 90,000 300 MW solar power plants.’

via Study claims 100 percent renewable energy possible by 2030.

‘The UK government should put a moratorium on shale gas operations until the environmental implications are fully understood, a report says.’

via BBC News – Tyndall Centre calls for UK shale gas moratorium.

‘(Reuters) – The Chinese government is said to be looking to prepare at least 10 million car parking spots for electric vehicles by 2020 in a new comprehensive policy due to be announced soon, a top executive at a local automaker said on Thursday.’

via China readies 10 million EV parking spots by 2020: executive | Reuters.

Excerpt from Deborah Seligsohn/ Angel Hsu article (link below):

‘…Expect China to continue to invest heavily in a number of non-carbon or reduced carbon sectors, including renewable energy, nuclear power, electric vehicles and energy efficiency technologies. It is now touted as the most attractive renewables market in the world. Expect the Chinese government to continue to promote the industry – its announced “pillar Industries” for the next five years include energy conservation, environmental protection, new energy technologies and new-energy vehicles – and international businesses to continue to be keen to participate, despite some ongoing trade disputes. We can expect to see another doubling of wind energy … 2011 should also see the start of the first solar thermal power plant projects in China.’

via What Can We Expect on Climate and Energy in China in 2011? | ChinaFAQs.

‘The commitments embodied first in Copenhagen and now with additional specificity in Cancun are important in beginning an approach to reducing our global risk of catastrophic climate change, but the commitments not just from these two countries, but from all of the major emitters are not what the best scientific evidence suggests will ultimately be needed to avert catastrophic climate change.’

via ChinaFAQs: The U.S. and China at the Summit: Climate & Energy Developments in China and U.S.-China Collaboration | ChinaFAQs.