SolveClimate.com: Today's Climate Headlines

November 20, 2009

Stacy Feldman — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:05:57 -0800

UN Climate Chief Seeks $10 Bln Pledge from Rich Nations (Reuters)

The UN climate chief has called on rich nations to pledge $10 billion a year for three years at next month's Copenhagen summit to help poor states begin to tackle climate change.

Germany Calls for Binding Climate Deal in 2010 (AP)

German Chancellor Merkel has called for all nations to fix binding climate targets next year at the latest, saying that no such deal is likely at global talks in Copenhagen.

Australia's Rudd Faces Showdown on Carbon Vote (Reuters)

Australia's parliament votes next week on Prime Minister Rudd's plan for a sweeping carbon trade scheme, with hopes it will finally win approval after two years of divisive debate.

AES Corp. Agrees to Pollution Disclosures (AP)

AES, which operates several coal plants in the U.S, is the latest power company to agree to give investors more information about its global warming pollution in financial disclosures.

Energy Leaders Back Climate Change Deal (AFP)

Energy industry leaders representing 93 nations have called for an international deal on climate change to tackle financial uncertainty and prevent catastrophic warming.

Approval Granted for US-Canada Wind Transmission (Recharge)

U.S. regulators have approved a transaction to finance construction of a 345-kilometer electricity transmission line connecting wind-rich markets in Montana and Alberta, Canada.

EPA Sends Ship Emission Rules to White House (Greenwire)

The U.S. EPA moved closer this week to finalizing new engine and fuel standards for the largest ocean-bound ships by sending the draft rules to the White House for review.

Suntech, Trina Solar See Demand Rising; Shares Up (Reuters)

Chinese solar firms Suntech Power and Trina Solar posted higher-than-expected earnings on Thursday and said demand for solar systems was rebounding after a dismal year.

Prince Charles Announces Funding Scheme to Protect Rainforests (Guardian)

The Prince of Wales announced a 35-nation funding scheme to reduce the destruction of rainforests over the next five years, with the U.S. pledging $275 million towards the effort.

PG&E Struggles Against Customer Anger Over Smart Meters (Dow Jones)

Utility PG&E is rushing to give customers a crash course in digital meters, as the company works to diffuse mounting anger over allegations that customer electricity bills jumped as a result of the utility's rollout of "smart" meters.

Melting Sea Ice Dilutes Water, Endangers Sea Life (Reuters)

Melting of the Arctic sea ice due to warming is diluting surface waters, endangering species of shellfish that need minerals in the water to form their skeletons, according to new research published in Science.

Indiana Gets $4 Million Grant to Help Autoworkers (AP)

Indiana has won a $4 million federal grant to lead an effort with Michigan and Ohio to help laid-off autoworkers find jobs in the renewable energy industry.

Taiwan Tropical Isle Going Green with Vehicle Ban (Reuters)

Over the next three years, Taiwan plans to spend $9.3 million to $15.5 million on replacing all gas-powered scooters, cars and buses with electric models on the islet of Liuqiu.

MD Regulators Approve Wind Farm (AP)

The Maryland Public Service Commission has approved an application to build a 50-MW wind farm atop Backbone Mountain in Garrett County, despite strong NIMBY opposition.

Gas Feud Escalates Between Russia and Ukraine (New York Times)

A dispute between Russia and Ukraine over natural gas supplies escalated on Thursday, with an aide to the Russian president calling Ukraine’s warnings of a possible gas crisis "political blackmail."

CA Revamps Website Ranking Vehicles According to Emissions (Green Car Congress)

The California Air Resources Board unveiled its revamped website, Driveclean.ca.gov, which offers a new system that ranks vehicles according to their emission characteristics and provides tools to compare models.

November 19, 2009

SolveClimate Staff — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:06:56 -0800

EU: Russia Ready for Deeper Emissions Cut (AFP)

Russia is ready to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 to 25 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels, raising its target from 15 percent just weeks ahead of a UN climate summit, the head of the European Commission says.

Power Plant-Only Climate Bill Possible in US Senate (GreenWire)

A bipartisan faction of Senate moderates is examining the idea of passing a bill that deals only with the heat-trapping emissions from power plants, saying it would have a better chance of passing.

California Restricts Energy-Guzzling TVs (San Francisco Chronicle)

California regulators brought the state's greenhouse gas reduction efforts into the living room, approving limits on how much energy TVs can consume, citing greater use of power-guzzling flat-panel sets.

Degraded Peatlands Unleash Vast Amounts of Carbon (Washington Post)

A vast layer of coal-black peat, once locked away but now drying and disintegrating as swamps are shorn of trees, has helped make Indonesia the world's third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.

Copenhagen Still 'Golden Opportunity' for Carbon Offset Reform (Reuters)

U.N. summit in Copenhagen next month is unlikely to agree on a new global climate treaty, but carbon market players are urging delegates to seize the opportunity to reform the $33 billion trade in carbon offsets.

India PM Heads to US in Test of Ties with Obama (Reuters)

India's prime minister and U.S. President Barack Obama meet next week to strengthen ties, with the emerging Asian power increasingly playing a bigger role on global issues such as climate change and trade.

World Bank: Include Indigenous Groups (COP15)

Indigenous peoples carry a "disproportionate share of the burden of climate change effects" and must be included in the climate talks in Copenhagen, World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick says.

Obama Uncertain on Attending Summit (Politico)

Trapped between international pressure to curb emissions and a Senate unready to act, the White House is playing coy about the president’s plans for Copenhagen.

Scientists Detail Molecular Basis of Global Warming (Purdue)

A new study on global warming by NASA and Purdue documents how fluorides such as CFC, HFCs and PFCs and sulfur and nitrogen fluorides stand out for their efficiency to trap radiation in the atmospheric window.

Oceans' Ability to Sequester Carbon Diminishing (Mongabay)

A new study of the oceans' intake of carbon over the past 250 years finds that oceans' ability to sequester carbon is struggling to keep-up with ever-growing emissions.

Antarctic Temperature Spike Surprises Climate Researchers (Nature)

A study of ice-core samples finds that East Antarctica is more sensitive than it seemed to global warming.

POET Reduces Cellulosic Ethanol Cost (Green Car Congress)

Over the first year of operations of its pilot-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in South Dakota (earlier post), POET has reduced its per gallon production cost from $4.13 to $2.35, exceeding its expectations.

Will the GOP Nominate a Climate Change Denier in 2012? (Huffington Post)

Of the eight names most frequently mentioned as GOP candidates for president in 2012, five outright deny or question climate science, and the remaining three are opposed to all meaningful action.

When Behavioral Economics Meets Climate Change (ClimateBiz)

Personal choices have a huge collective impact on the climate crisis. Experts say some simple behavior changes could generate energy savings of 25 to 30 percent over the next five to eight years.

November 18, 2009

Stacy Morford — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:07:07 -0800

Senate to Put Off Climate Bill Until Spring (Wall Street Journal)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the Senate will delay debate on a climate bill until “some time in the spring”. The EPA, meanwhile, is moving ahead with its greenhouse gas endangerment finding.

Ministers Making Progress on ‘Political’ Agreement for Copenhagen (EurActiv)

After two days of talks, environment ministers are making progress towards a scaled-down climate deal for Copenhagen, with Washington under pressure to promise deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

South Korea Sets Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target (UPI)

South Korea says it will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020, roughly equivalent to 4 percent below its 2005 levels. Without action, its emissions are forecast to grow 37 percent by 2020.

EPA Proposes Regulating SO2 on Hourly Basis (Reuters)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's existing rules average a source's sulfur dioxide emissions over 24 hours, which allows high levels of SO2 emissions over short periods of time.

Scientists: Global Temperatures Could Rise 6C by End of Century (Guardian)

Global temperatures are on pace to rise 6 degrees Celsius by the end of the century as CO2 emissions increase and the Earth's natural ability to absorb the gas declines, according to a major new study from the Global Carbon Project.

New Climate Model Sets Tough Targets (Nature)

Carbon dioxide emissions will have to be all but eliminated by the end of this century if the world is to avoid a temperature rise of more than 2 degrees Celsius, a European research consortium led by the UK Met Office warns.

Coal Stocks, Abundant Gas Pose UK Power Dilemma (Reuters)

Britain's power generators face a coal-vs.-gas dilemma this winter that extends beyond fuel prices, with high coal stocks, limited coal-fired power plant lifespans, and carbon prices blurring decisions.

Vestas Seeks to Double Wind Turbines in India on Incentives (Bloomberg)

Vestas, the world’s largest maker of wind turbines, said it plans to almost double its capacity to produce wind-power equipment in India as the government offers new incentives for renewable energy.

Airline Wing Design Cuts Emissions (Business Green)

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has this week announced plans to attach new wing tip devices to all its A320 aircraft as part of an initiative to curb fuel use by 3.5 per cent, resulting in an estimated annual saving of 700 tons of fuel for each aircraft.

Intel Sees Opportunities in Wind, Electric Car Tech (Reuters)

Technology giant Intel Corp is seeing big opportunities in wind forecasting for power generation, and in information management for electric vehicles.

Fired Kentucky Mine Official Say He Resisted Illegal Policy (Courier-Journal)

The former head of Kentucky’s mine-permitting agency says he was fired after refusing to go along with an illegal policy that primarily benefited a politically powerful coal company.

Coastal Habitats Stronger Carbon Sinks than Tropical Forests (Mongabay)

Highly endangered coastal habitats are incredibly effective in sequestering carbon and locking it away in soil, according to a new paper in a report by the IUCN.

Greenpeace Chief Urges Obama to Use Political Capital on Climate (Guardian)

Kumi Naidoo, the first African to lead Greenpeace International, warns the U.S. president that he risks inflaming anti-American sentiment if the United States continues to drag its feet on climate change.

Paying More for Flights Eases Guilt, Not Necessarily Emissions (New York Times)

It’s difficult to monitor or quantify the emissions-reducing potential of the thousands of green projects financed by customers’ payments, and there are no industrywide standards.

November 17, 2009

SolveClimate Staff — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:05:42 -0800

Obama: Copenhagen Deal Should Have 'Immediate Effect' (Reuters)

President Obama said today that climate talks in Copenhagen next month should fix a new deal which has "immediate operational effect", even if an original goal of a legally binding pact is out of reach.

Senate Climate Bill Faces Narrow Window for Action in 2010 (ClimateWire)

Next November's midterm elections loom large, leaving the climate bill sponsors until about the end of March to notch the 60 votes necessary to get their bill through the Senate.

Lula Calls Out Rich Nations on Climate Change, Hunger (Brazzil Magazine)

At the FAO conference, where the heads of the world’s wealthiest countries were conspicuously absent, Brazil’s president declared that rich nations give too little attention to world hunger, and he accused them of sabotaging poor nations' agriculture.

Europe’s Utilities Investing Less in Renewables, Smart Grid (Greentech)

The recession has cut power sales, and European utilities are investing less in renewable power and the smart grid as a result, even though they need to invest more to meet goals, a report from consulting firm Capgemini says.

Russia Takes Steps to Reduce Gas Flaring (EurActiv)

Russia has ordered oil companies to cut their gas flaring to no more than 5%. A report suggests oil companies could cuts greenhouse gas emissions 10-15% through reduced flaring and venting, energy efficiency and fuel switching in refineries.

Thailand Offers Tax Breaks to Encourage CDM Investment (Business Green)

Thailand will exempt revenue from carbon credit trades from corporate taxes in a bid to encourage manufacturers to invest in emission reduction projects under the UN's clean development mechanism.

Sens. Alexander, Webb Unveil Plan to Double US Nuclear Power (Reuters)

Republican Lamar Alexander and Democrat Jim Webb unveiled an energy bill that would provide $100 billion in loan guarantees for carbon-free electricity projects, a move aimed at doubling the nation's nuclear energy.

US Nuclear 'Renaissance' Held Up by DOE, OMB Spat (ClimateWire)

The awards of $18.5 billion in federal loan guarantees for new nuclear plant projects remain held up by an ongoing dispute over the financial risk the new reactors pose for the government and taxpayers, according to industry and government officials.

First Solar Expects Feed-In Tariff for China Plant (Dow Jones)

Electricity from First Solar's planned 2GW solar power plant in China's Inner Mongolia will likely be priced via a feed-in tariff structure, which company officials hopeful the government will set by the end of the year.

First Energy Bank to Build $1B Saudi Solar Plant (Reuters)

Bahrain-based First Energy Bank plans to build a $1 billion polysilicon plant in Saudi Arabia to rising regional investments in solar power. The region is trying to capture more of its solar and wind energy, thereby reducing its own consumption of oil.

Quick Emissions Cut Would Give Great Barrier Reef 50/50 Chance (Brisbane Times)

Global carbon emissions must be cut by at least 25 percent by 2020 to give the Great Barrier Reef a better than 50/50 chance of survival, an alliance of Australia's reef and climate scientists says.

Polar Bears vs. Oil in Alaska (AP)

Like his predecessor, Alaska’s governor is suing the federal government to overturn the listing of polar bears as a threatened species, a move he believes could threaten Alaska's oil industry.

Judge: No ‘Choice of Evils’ Defense in DeChristopher Case (New York Times)

Tim DeChristopher, the college student who disrupted more than $1.8 million in federal oil and gas lease sales last year, will not be allowed to argue in court that he acted out of necessity to protect the environment, a federal judge ruled.

Report Finds Biotech Crops Cause Big Jump in Pesticide Use (Reuters)

The rapid adoption by U.S. farmers of genetically engineered corn, soybeans and cotton has promoted increased use of pesticides, an epidemic of herbicide-resistant weeds and more chemical residues in foods, a new report says.

Paying Extra for Green Power; Getting Ads Instead (New York Times)

Large majorities of Americans favor increased government support for clean energy, yet many are reluctant to trust utilities that offer ways to pay a little more for green energy.

The Coal Industry Wants Your Cash to Save It (CMD)

The coal industry knows that without massive public funding, CCS is dead, and without CCS, the coal industry and power companies locked into coal-fired stations will, at best, be on life support.

November 16, 2009

SolveClimate Staff — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:54:09 -0800

Sens. Alexander, Webb Unveil Plan to Double US Nuclear Power (Reuters)

Republican Lamar Alexander and Democrat Jim Webb unveiled their own Senate energy bill today that would provide $100 billion in loan guarantees for carbon-free electricity projects, a move aimed at doubling the nation's nuclear energy capacity.

US, China Cuts Now Key to Climate Pact (Washington Post)

The scaled-back climate strategy endorsed by President Obama and other leaders could put pressure on the U.S. and China to resolve the biggest stumbling block to an agreement — how much they will cut emissions in the next decade. Obama is in Beijing this week.

Russia's Medvedev Warns of Climate Catastrophe (Reuters)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev today warned that climate change posed a "catastrophic" threat in some of the sharpest comments yet on a subject the Kremlin has often seemed reluctant to confront.

Dutch First in Europe to Adopt Green Tax for Cars (Independent)

The Dutch government is about to make the Netherlands the first European country to introduce a per-kilometer green tax to replace its annual road tax on cars.

UN Chief: Climate Deal Key to Fighting Hunger (Reuters)

The United Nations opened its world food summit today by saying that a climate change deal in Copenhagen next month is crucial to fighting global hunger as rising temperatures threaten farm output in poor countries.

Biodiversity: Insurance Against Hunger Amid Climate Change (Guardian)

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso writes that to ensure food security the world needs to encourage crop diversity and establish a science-based red-alert system for the planet.

Britain Urges Europe to Adopt UK-style Climate Law (Business Green)

The British government has teamed up with a number of green groups to promote the UK's Climate Change Act across Europe as part of a campaign to get other countries to introduce similar legislation.

New Greenpeace International Chief Puts Focus on People (AP)

Kumi Naidoo, a South African who fought apartheid as a teenager and lead global campaigns to stop poverty and protect human right, took over today as executive director of Greenpeace International.

The 2 Faces of China's Giant Coal Industry (Guardian)

While the world's countries struggle to reach a treaty on climate change, Chinese miners and scientists are ramping up production in Mongolia and finding new ways to burn and bury carbon that will shape the policies of the world's biggest polluting nation.

China Solar Panel Maker Plans US Plant (Business Week)

China’s Suntech Power today announced plans for its first American manufacturing plant. The facility, to be in the Phoenix area, is to begin production within a year.

Using CO2 to Extract Geothermal Energy (MIT Technology Review)

Could carbon dioxide generated by power plants find a second life as a working fluid to help recover geothermal heat from kilometers underground?

Climate Change Raises Exelon CEO’s Profile in Washington (Chicago Tribune)

John Rowe, CEO of the nation's largest operator of nuclear power plants, has raised his profile in Washington this year by pulling out of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and making almost weekly lobbying trips.

The Monkey-Wrench Prank: Tim DeChristopher (Mother Jones)

A look at how the Yes Men inspired climate activist Tim DeChristopher to impersonate an oil speculator — and derail a multimillion-dollar federal land giveaway.

Renewable Energy Island, Where Even Dairy Cows Do Their Part (IPS)

The people of Denmark’s Samsø island have revolutionized all aspects of their daily lives in order to contribute to greater efficiency. The effort has such a broad scope that even milk production is part of the energy system.

November 15, 2009

SolveClimate Staff — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:47:55 -0800

APEC Leaders Reject Possibility of December Climate Deal (CNN)

Big promises, no climate deal and consensus that pulling the plug too quickly on stimulus spending could undermine the global economic recovery — those are the results (or lack thereof) from the APEC summit.

Copenhagen Hopes in Tatters as Obama Backs Pact Postponement (Guardian)

President Obama acknowledged today that time has run out to secure a binding climate deal at Copenhagen and began moving towards a two-stage process that would delay a legal pact until next year at the earliest.

France, Brazil Offer Blueprint for Global Climate Policy (AFP)

France and Brazil have adopted a common policy ahead of climate talks and vow to launch a worldwide push to convince other powers to back their "climate bible".

Australian Government Agrees to Exempt Agriculture from Carbon Plan (ABC)

Australia's government has agreed to exempt agriculture from its emissions trading plan and allow farmers to generate carbon credits, a trade-off to get legislation passed.

Nuclear Energy High on US Senate's Climate Agenda (AFP)

With crucial global climate talks three weeks away, U.S. senators appear to be betting on nuclear energy as the key to finally passing climate legislation. Republican Lamar Alexander and Democrat Jim Webb plan to announce a new proposal Monday.

UNEP: Investment in Ecosystems Will Reap Rewards (Reuters)

Nations that take into account natural resources in their investment strategies will have higher rates of return and stronger economies, says a new report backed by the United Nations Environment Program.

Nissan Says All-Electric Leaf Will Compete on Price (Reuters)

Nissan Motor will keep the price of its upcoming battery-powered Leaf competitive with similar-size cars and expects to make money on the vehicle despite the cost of its launch, CEO Carlos Ghosn says.

Record High Temperatures Far Outpace Record Lows Across US (UCAR)

Spurred by a warming climate, daily record high temperatures occurred twice as often as record lows over the last decade across the continental United States, new research shows. That ratio is likely to increase dramatically in coming decades.

Hawaii's Natural Assets Eroding (AP)

Geologists say that more than 70% of Kauai's beaches are eroding and Oahu has lost a quarter of its shoreline. They warn the problem is likely to worsen significantly as global warming raises sea levels.

Manitoba’s High Hopes for Wind Blocked by Delay (Winnipeg Free Press)

Manitoba's green-energy projects are sucking wind compared to other provinces, and companies that develop and service wind farms are taking their business elsewhere.

Gore Heckled at Outdoor Florida Climate Speech (Sun Sentinel)

Former Vice President Al Gore's global warming talk at a park drew about a thousand attendees, as well as more than 200 protesters who jeered as he took the stage.

Kerry’s Green Side Takes Center Stage (Boston Globe)

After a quarter century in Washington, Sen. John Kerry is emerging as a critical environmental dealmaker. He is leading the U.S. Senate delegation that will try to broker a worldwide climate change agreement.

Flagged by Interpol, Brought Down by the EPA (Los Vegas Sun)

Joseph O’Connor was wanted by Interpol for selling ships to drug traffickers. So of all the things he probably figures he could go down for, polluting must have been a surprise.

November 13, 2009

SolveClimate Staff — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:04:12 -0800

US Weighs Backing Interim Global Climate Deal (Washington Post)

Backing an interim agreement based on “political commitments” to cut greenhouse gas emissions rather than legally binding ones would be an attempt to keep the talks from being viewed a failure.

UN Official: Climate Deal Needs Another Six Months (Reuters)

World leaders are setting their sights on completing an international deal on combating global warming by the middle of next year, a UN official said, now that there is broad agreement next month's deadline will not be met in Copenhagen.

Offsets Put EU on Track to Meet Kyoto Targets (EU Observer)

Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain will not meet their targets, though, and it is only through offsetting their emissions that the countries can claim a win.

Brazil: 45% Reduction in Amazon Deforestation (Guardian)

The world financial crisis played a part in silencing the chainsaws. Tellingly, Mato Grosso, a soy producing Amazonian state that has seen its forests ravished largely as a result of the Chinese demand for soy, saw a 65% drop in deforestation over the past year.

China, US Labs Agree to CCS Collaboration (DOE)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and China’s Peking University agreed in a memorandum of understanding to jointly pursue the development of safe and effective carbon capture and storage techniques.

14 Senators Demand More Carbon Permits for Utilities Run on Coal (Reuters)

In the latest obstacle to climate legislation, 14 key lawmakers urged Senate Democrats to change distribution plans for carbon permits to offer more protection for coal-heavy utilities.

How the Lone Star State Slashed Emissions (Wall Street Journal)

Famously oil-friendly–and laissez-faire–Texas may be the biggest, baddest greenhouse gas hog in the Union. But it’s also among the states that have dropped their absolute carbon-dioxide emissions the most.

Coal Giant Massey Gets $50 Million Jury Verdict Overturned Again (Bloomberg)

Massey Energy succeeded for a second time in getting a $50 million jury verdict thrown out after the U.S. Supreme Court said West Virginia’s highest court had to re-hear the case because its chief justice should have recused himself.

Xcel’s $15K Board Dinners Questioned in Rate-Hike Hearing (Independent)

With Xcel Energy on pace to disconnect power to some 70,000 Coloradans this year for nonpayment, energy activists are openly questioning why ratepayers should pick up the tab for lavish executive board-member dinners, hotel and spa retreats and luxury box tickets to sports games.

GBC: Number of US Green Builders Increasing Rapidly (Business Green)

A report from the US Green Building Council finds green construction spending currently supports more than 2 million US jobs and generates more than $100 billion in GDP. That is expected to grow to 7.9 million and over $550 billion in the next four years.

Study Finds Greenland Ice Loss Accelerating (Reuters)

Greenland's ice losses are accelerating and nudging up sea levels, according to a study showing that icebergs breaking away and meltwater runoff are equally to blame for the shrinking ice sheet.

Lake Titicaca Dangerously Low (AP)

Evaporation blamed on global warming has reduced Lake Titicaca, one of the world's highest navigable lakes, to its lowest level since 1949, Bolivian authorities say.

New Yorkers On Marcellus Shale: ‘No Fracking Way’ (ProPublica)

It didn't take long for a New York City public hearing on natural gas drilling to descend into near chaos.