New Zealand has the potential to be a world leader in innovative clean energy.

Keeping the world’s transition to a lower carbon economy on track post-covid will require greater private sector investment, New Zealand energy executives heard last week.

New Zealand has the potential to be a world leader in innovative clean energy. But to achieve this – and to accelerate the post-Covid economic recovery – local firms must partner with large international companies, says World Energy Council member Massimiliano Cervo. Government subsidies and pump priming can only do so much to revive the economy, Cervo told a BusinessNZ Energy Council webinar this morning.

There are growing calls to the government to not lose the environmental gains we've made through weeks of lockdown. Instead they should use the 2020 Budget to take the opportunity to invest in future sustainability. BusinessNZ Energy Council's Tina Schirr says there's a big case for creating more sustainable options. Professor Alan Brent from Victoria University of Wellington says every time there has been a massive reduction in energy consumption because of a crisis, immediately after there is a massive spike. Economist Professor Ilan Noy says democratic governments are worried they will be perceived to be using the crisis as a cover to push long term agendas that doesn't have popular support. Climate Change Minister James Shaw points out the climate challenges don't go away because of the Covid-19 crisis.

The World Energy Council has released survey results on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the world’s energy systems, and has outlined four scenarios for economic recovery. WEC ran two surveys – on Business Impact and Preparedness and Future Outlook – receiving more than 220 responses from energy professionals in 53 countries.

The World Energy Council (WEC) has today released the results of two surveys that investigate the impacts of Covid-19 on the world and its energy systems.WEC’s surveys, on Business Impact and Preparedness and Future Outlook, were aimed at addressing how can we emerge from Covid-19 as a more resilient society and accelerate the pace of successful global energy transition.

The World Energy Council's Future Energy Leaders 100 Programme has appointed Vector energy systems analytics manager Dr Steve Heinen as New Zealand’s new representative. The FEL Board Nominations Committee selected 41 representatives from around the world from more than 350 highly qualified applicants.

The World Energy Council's Future Energy Leader - 100 Programme (FEL-100) has named Dr Steve Heinen as New Zealand’s new representative.The FEL Board Nominations Committee selected 41 representatives from around the world from more than 350 highly qualified applicants.

This Periscope edition is published following the 2nd KAS-EUCERS Energy Policy Dialogue “Energy Strategies: Germany, New Zealand & Australia - A Comparative Perspective” held in October 2019. While the publication draws on the topics of the Dialogue (renewable energy & energy efficiency; balancing energy security, affordability & environmental sustainability; current energy policy challenges), it is not restricted to them, and includes a Pacific voice as well.

On Wednesday, 8th April, a state of emergency came into effect for 7 urban areas in Japan: Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, Kanagawa, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka.  This means that the Tokyo, Kansai and Kyushu demand forecasts are affected.