Environmental Conservation in Europe

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One of my deepest impressions in Europe Trip is to taste the strong sense of environmental protection there. Environmental conservation in Europe is not only a slogan that the governments advocate, but also a guideline that the public follow in their daily life.

To be honest, environmental protection in Europe is much more advanced than that in Canada. It is partly because the natural resource in Europe is limited, compared with that in Canada; it also because the progress of European civilization is more mature than that of Canada. The economy in Europe has undergone the period of rapid development. Now European governments have emphasized on how to keep economic development and environmental sustainability in concord as their priority.

Generally, it is easy to launch mandatory regulations to force corporations to meet environmental requirements; but it is very difficult, sometimes not realistic, to cultivate the public’s sense of environmental protection, for it is a very time-consuming process to change the public’s consumption preference. But in Europe, I excitedly found that the public were involved in the battle to fight against climate change and resource waste voluntarily and actively. Energy efficiency is a key idea to save natural resource in Europe. Public traffic systems are well developed and the public are encouraged to take trains as their main transportation. All the cars on the roads are economical size. Pick-ups, which are very common in Canada, can’t be seen in Europe. Bicycle is also a main mean of transportation. It is easy to rent a bike in Europe to ride around cities. Especially in Amsterdam, not only tourists from all over the world choose bicycles as their main tour tool, but also the local residents take bicycle as their daily transportation.

Energy conservation is implemented in every detail in Europe. When I went to washroom every time, I found lights were always off. Washroom Users remember to turn off lights after they leave washrooms. To switch off lights is just a very tiny habit and most people don’t form such habit, for they think it is not a big deal. But if everyone forms such small good habit, lots of energy waste will be avoided. Another example is garbage recycling. In Europe, the public consciously classify their garbage in different garbage bins.

When I looked around some supermarkets in Europe, I found lots of products were imprinted a green logo label, which indicates that the product is environmental-friendly. Even though the price is a little higher than any other competitors, the public are still willing to pay the price premium for environmental protection. Even though there is no explicit data to show how the green label drives the sales of product, the popularity of the green label has shown that the green label will have a very potential market in the future in Europe.

Paris: a movable feast

A boeing 777 landed on the Charles de Gaulle Airport in France. After more than ten hours flight, I finally arrived at Paris. Even though I had tried my best to imagine what Paris looked like before I headed off to Paris, but the real Paris was still greatly beyond my imagination.

My strong longing for Paris is from Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast, ‘If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris when you are a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a movable feast.’ When I hanged about in the streets of Paris, I kept my eyes open widely to catch every moment and thought that maybe I was experienced the same scenery with Hemingway did more than eighty years ago.

After being arranged in a hotel in down town, I couldn’t wait to look for the historic heritages in Paris. Notre Dame de Paris was my first destination. Since my first time to read the novel Notre Dame de Paris wrote by Victor Hugo fifteen years ago, the dream to visit the world-famous cathedral has deeply kept in my mind. Notre Dame, located in the city center of Paris and adjacent to the Seine, is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. The sculptures and stained glass show the heavy influence of naturalism. Viewed from the summit of the towers of Notre-Dame, the whole Paris looks like a romantic and historic picture.

The Champs Elysees is one of most famous streets in the world, lined with cinemas, café and luxury specialty shops. Walking around the crowed and vibrant street at the agreeable night, I couldn’t believe that I was still in the chilly winter in Edmonton the last night.

Time seems to stagnate when I walked around the streets in Paris. I forgot every agonizing thing in Edmonton. I just used my heart to taste the movable feast. I am not the same lucky as Hemingway, who took several years of his young time in Paris, but I am still lucky, for I have the chance to experience the transitory excitement and rejoicing in Paris.

Lille, Brussels & The Hague [Feb 17, 18 & 19]

LILLE, France  & BRUSSELS, Belgium

Wednesday [February 18]… we were well received by EDHEC business school in Lille, France, where we presented topics including Alberta’s perspective on Energy and Environment, Alberta’s latest initiative on “Land Reclamation Incentives” and Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS).  EDHEC students, professors and coordinators at the business school gave a treat to a fantastic dinner and shared their opinions and the Europeans Union’s (EU) position on Energy, Environment and Emissions Trading issues.    Travel to Brussels, Belgium was easy and under one hour on the fast train from Lille.

 

BRUSSELS, Belgium  &  The HAGUE, Netherlands

Thursday [February 19]…  we had a great and exciting time at the European Commission (BEAULIEU) in the morning discussing issues on 1) International climate negotiations & policy 2) EU’s domestic climate policy 3) Carbon markets, and the review of the EU electronic trading system (ETS) legislation.   Later in the afternoon we were hosted by the Canadian Embassy in Brussels to talk about how Canadian trade interests are promoted in Belgium and Luxembourg, and how the Canadian government is working with European institutions on Energy and Environment issues.  Travel to The Hague, Netherlands was pleasant and lasted two hours on the fast train from Brussels.

Paris, Sunday Feb. 15 & Monday Feb 16

The week has almost come to an end and our European Energy Tour has been, so far, very interesting enlightening successful.

Sunday February 15, 2009 was particularly uniquely interesting for me!  I arrived in Paris, from London, and took a taxi to my hotel.  After check-in I realized that I had “forgotten” my wallet in the taxiL  I turned “red” and was unable to think for about half a minute.  When I “returned” from my “coma,” I decided to give VISA and Mastercard (MC) quick calls to report my situation and to request that all credit transactions on them should be declined until further notice.   After 70 minutes, since I entered my room, I was still on the phone waiting for a MC agent when I heard a pleasant hard bang on my door… behold it was the receptionist… and the cabbie had returned my wallet and its contents intactJ   I felt like I just won a big lottery prize!  And subsequently, I felt my pulse and body temperature returning to normal levels. 

This experience, including the expression of love and honesty demonstrated by the cabbie has really changed my perception and impression of France and the French.

 

PARIS, France

On Monday, the group of eleven visited and discussed with senior staff at Electricite de France Research & Development in CLAMART and the International Energy Agency (IEA) near the Eiffel Tower.  We talked about analysis and electricity market structure in Europe versus the US, including economic and energy strategies.

PARIS & LILLE, France

Tuesday [February 17]… we visited AREVA’s HQ in central Paris.  AREVA, world’s #1 in the entire nuclear cycle and #3 in electricity transmission and distribution domain did a superb job in hosting us and in sharing its strategy “to set the standard in CO2-free generation and electric transmission and distribution.”   Traveled to Lille, France [1hr on the fast train (RAILEUROPE)].

EDF and IEA

The group was fortunate enough today to visit 2 key energy organizations in Paris today, EDF and IEA.  EDF is an international electricity company with operations in the UK, Germany, China and France.  We spoke to folks from the R & D area who showed us what they do and what they are currently working on.  In the afternoon, we went to the IEA which is associated with the OECD.  Two analysts spoke to the students about how the reference scenario derived.  The process is quite involved with many variables to consider.  Energy demand will increase toward 2030.  The challenge for the world and world governments is how to meet supply and meet climate change goals.  This is the trillion dollar question.

To get to our visits today, we used the public transportation.  i think that this is the best way to enjoy any city as you get to mingle with the locals.

Dinner tonight was crepes and for dessert - crepes.  Crepes are pretty yummy.  We haven't lost anyone yet.  We visit AREVA on Tuesday and leave for Lille in the afternoon.

first couple of days

After a 10 hour flight through Montreal, the student's, Prof Doucet and myself landed in Paris.  Local time 9:20 am.  Tired and groggy, we made it to our hotel in the 12th district.  The MBA students on this trip are Chun, Chris, Charlene, Jessica, Raj, Sujatha, Pankaj and Tao. Adesiji Rabiu, a MBA NR&E (2008) has also joined us on this study tour.

First task of the day, stay up until the night to get bodies adjusted to local time.  sure sounded easy but my body is smarter than my brain. 

After we checked in, we went down to the Latin quarter for lunch.  We ended up at an Italian restaurant.  Tao ordered the local specialty, pizza with egg.  Ok, i like eggs for breakfast in an omelet, or scrambled or in a sandwich and i've even drank egg whites when i am looking for protein but on a pizza???  Tao seemed to like it so i shouldn't knock it until i try it.  after lunch the group split up, one group went to the Sacre-cour, one went for a boat ride down the Seine where i and Prof Doucet went for a walk toward the Lourve. This is my second time in Paris with the first time being along time ago.  I don't remember much from that first visit so this time is like rediscovering the city again.  Hello Eiffel tower, hello Arc de Triomphe hello Notre Dame.  i've missed you.  i like big being in big cities and Paris is a big city.  big cities have style. big cities have culture and big cities have a good metro.  Who needs a car when you can get to anywhere in the city in 20 minutes or less by metro?  Paris is also very clean.  Parisians - i would take great pride in how clean the city is.  Well done.

On Monday, we are off to EdF which is the national electricity company and the International Energy Agency.