| 1. (Y)our actions are now more important than ever |
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The climate conference in Glasgow didn't lead to the measures that our world so desperately needs. Almost 200 countries had to agree on the text, and for many of our leaders breaking with the fossil fuel industry is clearly more difficult than simply following climate science.
So where are we standing? Here are two of our takeaways:
1) Before and during the conference, we saw a seemingly endless stream of interesting reports (e.g. A full supply with 100% renewable energies including storage is already competitive today), demonstrations, petitions (e.g. Parliamentarians’ Call for a Fossil Fuel Free Future), new coalitions (e.g. Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance)... All of these are additional nails in the coffin of the fossil fuel industry and they will keep coming!
2) Politicians won't act if citizens and companies don't act. All of us can and should help speed up the energy transition. For example by encouraging those around us to switch to renewable energy too and by keeping the pressure on decision-makers through meetings and demonstrations. By supporting EKOenergy, you help us do exactly that! Everyone is welcome, everyone is needed. |
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| "COP26 has made some progress, but nowhere near enough to avoid climate disaster. While millions around the world are already in crisis, not enough leaders were in crisis mode. People will see this as a historically shameful dereliction of duty." - Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights |
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| 2. Pampers #MadeWithEKOenergy |
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Through our label, consumers can demonstrate their commitment to renewable energy and encourage others to do the same. The ecolabel makes it easier for consumers to demand sustainable energy and to communicate about it to their employees, peers and clients. This is one of the ways companies can help speed up the energy transition.
One of the brands using our label in their communication is Pampers. The EKOenergy logo is used on Pampers Harmonie packages in several countries. And last week, Pampers France also posted about EKOenergy on their social media. Thanks for your trust in our work!
For more information on how our label helps companies demonstrate leadership, check our publication EKOenergy ecolabel: 1 tool to cover 5 dimensions of leadership in the transition to 100% renewable energy (in particular chapter 4, Influence). |
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| 3. Best in class: congratulations ForGreen and GEUK |
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We are happy and proud to see that EKOenergy's licensees are regularly awarded and recognised for their contribution to a fair and fast energy transition.
Last week, ForGreen, one of EKOenergy's licensed energy suppliers in Italy, won the first prize in the Benefit Company category of the Impact Awards! The Impact Awards are an initiative of the Italian Network of Benefit Societies (NISB - Network Italiano delle Società Benefit) and the National Observatory on Impact Assessment. They are granted to companies that demonstrate a firm commitment to reporting their social and ecological impact. Congratulations ForGreen!
And Which?, a large UK not-for-profit consumer organisation, has listed EKOenergy-licensed energy supplier GEUK as one of the greenest British energy suppliers. Congratulations to the GEUK team! |
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| "I am very thankful to your team for supporting us so exceptionally well, so that we could provide our long-standing customer with your label." - One of our licensees, in an email to our secretariat. Thanks for the positive feedback! |
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| 4. EKObeauty - The renewable climate care routine our planet needs |
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We regularly set up communication campaigns to promote the use of renewable energy by focusing on specific sectors.
By making information more available, we help companies take climate action and start using 100% sustainable renewable energy. We also show the availability of local, EKOenergy-labelled clean energy and inform consumers about the benefits they get and the extra environmental impact they make simply by switching to EKOenergy-labelled options.
With our ongoing EKObeauty campaign we want to convince the beauty sector to be a change-maker. If you work in the cosmetics sector yourself, or you know cosmetics companies that are interested in showing leadership, feel free to get in touch!
For more information, see our presentation EKObeauty - The renewable climate care routine our planet needs. |
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| "With this label, we work to advance the energy transition and against climate change. The label only awards green electricity, which meets specific sustainability criteria. Through its funds, the label also supports the growth of renewable energies and environmental protection projects." - Think RE, on their website |
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| 5. News from a renewable energy project we financed in Nigeria |
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Earlier this year, EKOenergy granted 18,000 euros to Centre for Renewable Energy and Action on Climate Change (CREACC-NG) to finance a solar project in Chediya, Nigeria.
Last week we got a report and a lot of photos.
CREACC has installed solar panels and electric lighting in eight rooms of the local Business Social Centre. Five rooms will be rented as shops, and three will be used as classrooms. In one of the shops, they have put a charging station too, where villagers can charge small electric devices such as mobile phones and lanterns. CREACC has also installed twelve 350W solar panels to power a water pumping system. The system brings water to four drinking stands for the inhabitants, to a drinking trough for animals and to a tree nursery bed.
Projects such as these wouldn't be possible without consumers of EKOenergy-labelled energy. Together we are making a concrete and positive difference. Stay tuned for more. |
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| 6. International recognition of our work |
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In our previous newsletter, we talked about Merve Güngör's nomination for the EU Sustainable Energy Award, in the Young Energy Trailblazer category. Although Merve didn't win the public vote, the nomination and the award ceremony were a very motivating experience for our team and our supporters. We thank all of you who voted for Merve. It was nice to get so many supportive messages from various parts of the world.
During the EU Sustainable Energy Week, the nominees for the Young Energy Trailblazer Award also got the opportunity to present their work in a panel discussion at the European Youth Energy Day. You can watch the conversation with Merve Güngör from EKOenergy on our Youtube channel.
Unrelated to the above-mentioned award, we also got an invitation from the European Parliament for the formal award ceremony of the EU Citizen's Prize. EKOenergy won the Citizen's Prize earlier this year, but because of the Covid restrictions, the award ceremony was postponed until 9 November. Seda Orhan from Climate Action Network Europe represented us in Brussels and received the prize from Dita Charanzová, Vice President of the European Parliament (see photo). |
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| "My main focus when choosing my volunteering project was environmental protection, and that's how I ended up coming to Helsinki, Finland. I found the EKOenergy project, an international project that focuses on renewable energy. EKOenergy is an ecolabel, a quality mark for the energy you can consume at home or in the radio facilities. It shows that the energy has been produced in a sustainable way. " - Icíar Montes, from EKOenergy, on Radio Villacañas |
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| 7. REC Market Meeting postponed, climate action not |
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Unfortunately, the worsening Covid situation and the introduction of new measures in many countries and companies have made it impossible to organise the REC Market Meeting this year. For many delegates travelling has become more difficult or even impossible again, and the new restrictions on the organisation of events in the Netherlands would have required a drastic change in the concept and agenda of the conference. RECS International has just decided to postpone the event until April next year. You can read their announcement here.
We want to thank everyone who spent time and energy on the preparation of the conference, especially those people and companies that were, together with EKOenergy, involved in the so-called C-stream sessions. We are looking forward to continuing that work next year!
In the meantime, let’s not forget that we have many online opportunities too. Get in touch with us! We at EKOenergy are easily available via mail, phone and through a range of online meeting platforms, and we are always interested in a conversation about renewable energy and a just and fair energy transition. Let’s reach out to energy consumers and convince many more to switch to renewable energy now! |
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| 8. EKOenergy on social media |
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By following EKOenergy on social media, you get relevant updates with regard to the climate crisis, renewable energy and EKOenergy's activities worldwide.
Here are some recent posts:
- More than 130 organisations and groups, including EKOenergy, call on the UK, EU + UNFCCC to recognise and act on the conflict of interest between fossil fuel industry profits and tackling the climate emergency. The petition was hand-delivered at COP26. (on Twitter)
- Bezzi Mirko farm and Melovita lab use EKOenergy-labelled solar energy. Their electricity comes from the agricultural energy community launched by the licensed EKOenergy seller ForGreen Spa SB in cooperation with Coldiretti Veneto. (on Facebook)
- Users of EKOenergy-labelled renewables can use our logo on their products, facilities and communication materials to announce their environmental concerns to the world! In this photo, EKO-Vasarè is holding a can of Olvi's gin long drink. (on Instagram)
- Many thanks to our 5000+ followers here on LinkedIn! Our network of positive energy is growing every year. (on LinkedIn)
- Including EKOenergy, a coalition of 267 organisations delivered a letter to President Biden requesting immediate cancelation of new oil and gas development in the Gulf of Mexico. (on Facebook)
- Fossil banks, no thanks! We joined a demonstration of Fossil Free Finland against bank financing for the fossil fuel industry. (on Instagram)
- We are very proud of the visibility we got during the EUSEW Young Energy Trailblazer Award ceremony (on Youtube) |
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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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