GHG underground storage projects haunted by the past

Carbon Capture Projects Imperiled by Worst-Case Scenario: Energy - Bloomberg

The cloud of carbon dioxide that burst out of Lake Nyos in Cameroon and asphyxiated 1,700 people haunts the plans of oil and power companies to bury their greenhouse gases underground. “It was shocking,” said Minoru Kusakabe, a Japanese geochemist who makes regular trips to the site of the 1986 disaster near the border with Nigeria. “The village was completely devastated, and people were in their homes dying.”

Hippie Haven purchasing renewable energy certificates for all electricity. That's weird!

Ithaca Goes 100% Renewable

The City of Ithaca, N.Y., is to purchase 100 percent of its electricity consumption from renewable energy sources through a contract signed with Integrys Energy Services of New York Inc. Beginning in January 2012, the city will be purchasing Green-e Energy-certified renewable energy certificates for all its electricity. These RECs will offset about 4,896 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually from conventional electricity production. The environmental benefit can be compared to not driving 12,000,000 miles in a car, or planting 1,460 acres of trees, according to the municipality.

Tea Party calls green initiatives a "conspiracy" against the American way of life.

Tea Party Disrupting Attempts by Town, Cities to Green Up, Calling It Conspiracy

The Tea Party views efforts to address climate change, restore the environment, increase efficiency and develop using "smart growth" principles as a conspiracy against the American way of life. They are disrupting attempts on the part of towns and cities across the country to prepare for rising sea levels and even to restore depleted oyster populations in Chesepeake Bay.

Recommendations for sustainability propserity

Towards a vision of sustainable prosperity: A new UN report on global sustainability - Forbes

As expected from any such report, there is a detailed list of strategic recommendations on what needs to be done. As these recommendations come for a truly high level international panel chaired by the Presidents of Finland and South Africa with senior representatives from Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Demark, Canada, China, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UAE, and the US, they are worth reviewing.

This is definitely not the "green" Tea Party

ICLEI Statement Following New York Times Article on Sustainability and Tea Party... -- OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/

OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The New York Times article, "Activists Fight Green Projects, Seeing U.N. Plot," (Feb. 4, page A1) highlights the unsettling nationwide trend of Tea Party-affiliated activists attempting to stop local efforts to make communities greener, more livable, and more prosperous—and to stifle constructive community dialogues on how to plan for the future.  In light of Tea Party activists targeting ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability USA and its 550 U.S. local government members, ICLEI USA reaffirms its support for cities, towns, and counties who are defining their own goals and objectives to protect clean air and water, increase energy independence, prepare for a changing climate, and become more economically competitive in the process.

Who knew the secret to cost effective energy production would be......bubbles?

Microbubbles Enable More Efficient Production Of Algae Biofuels

Algae biofuel is one of the most promising alternative fuels on the market – so far we’ve seen cars and even planes adapted to run on it. The main drawback thus far has been high production costs and energy usage – until now. Using a new “cost-effective harvesting method” featuring microbubbles, a team from the University of Sheffield believe they have found a way to make algae a more commercially viable fuel source.

Politics and emissions trading make strange bedfollows!

Politics makes emissions trading a peculiar market - Oil & Gas Journal

37,000 ft. high and still green

55 Airports Now in Emissions Reduction Program

Some 55 major European airports are now part of a program aimed at cutting carbon emissions, trade organization Airports Council International has announced.Airports now part of Airport Carbon Accreditation – including London’s Gatwick and Heathrow and both Paris airports – together account for half of all European passenger traffic, The Washington post reports.The airports involved in the project are enacting such measures as changing airport vehicles to electric or hybrid power and instigating special low-fuel use taxiing guidelines, AIC said. Airports are also supplying ground power to aircraft, so planes do not have to sit with their engines idling, the newspaper reports.

Renewable energy without subsidies; It's anyone's game.

Clean Energy Executives Say Grid Parity Without Subsidies Could Be Just 3 Years Away

Some of the largest countries on Earth made it clear this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that, in many cases, renewable energy is just a few years away from reaching grid parity with fossil fuels without subsidies. Worldwide investment in renewable energy totaled $187 billion in 2010, while investment in coal and natural gas was $157 billion. With government subsidies worldwide in jeopardy because of financial woes, the International Energy Agency says countries should hold on for just a few more years until renewables catch up to emissions-laden power companies — which could happen as early as 2015 — after which, it is anyone’s game.

Renewable energy supply could be doubled world wide by year 2030.

EU Climate Commissioner Wants to Double Renewable Energy Share by 2030

The Climate Commissioner for the European Union, Connie Hedegaard, told reporters today in New Delhi that she believes the European Union should pledge to double their renewable energy supply by 2030 and spoke of hopes that the rest of the world would follow suit. She was speaking in advance of this year’s United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development which will be held in Rio this June (also called Rio+20), Hedegaard seemed to be opening up another moment for world leaders to agree to try to reduce emissions related to global warming before it is too late.

Cost of complying with EU emissions will be significantly less than previously anticipated.

EU confirms tougher emissions cuts will be less costly than predicted

The cost of complying with more stringent EU emissions reduction targets would be much lower than previously thought, according to a study published by the European Commission yesterday.The paper, a draft of which was leaked to The Guardian earlier this month, says reaching the EU-mandated 20 per cent cut in emissions by 2020 has been made easier by a combination of effective climate policies and a recession-related dip in emissions, reducing the cost of complianceto an estimated €48bn.

Africa Sustainable Forestry Fund receives $160 million

Global Environment Fund beats target for Africa forestry fund

Global Environment Fund (GEF) has raised $160 million into its Africa Sustainable Forestry Fund, exceeding its target of $150 million.The Maryland-based fund manager claims the fund is the first private equity fund to focus solely on sustainable forestry in sub-Saharan Africa. Its strategy is to invest predominantly in existing plantations and seek Forestry Stewardship Council certification, targeting investments in the $15 million to $30 million range.

UN supports a sustainable economy.

UN panel promotes carbon tax, eco-based prices

GENEVA — Governments must craft a global pact that promotes a carbon tax and prices goods based on ecological costs, politicians and U.N. panelists urged Monday. Former Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey said the planet is living beyond its means and needs a "sustainable" economy that better manages natural resources for its 7 billion inhabitants, while promoting human rights, equality and an end to poverty.

Bank of England hints at possible "carbon bubble" investigation

Bank of England urged to review UK exposure to high carbon investments | Climate Change Capital

See the links in the paragraph below to read the letters to and from the Bank of England requesting an investigation into a so-called "carbon bubble."

In an open letter to the Bank of England, a coalition of over 20 leading experts, investors, NGOs and universities urges the Bank of England to investigate how Britain's exposure to polluting and environmentally damaging investments might pose a systemic risk to the UK financial system and prospects for long term economic growth.  The Bank of England wrote a letter responding and the Governor of the Bank of England Sir Mervyn King wrote a has confirmed regulators could investigate whether exposure to fossil fuel-related assets pose a long-term risk to financial stability, although he insisted a number of conditions would have to be met before such an investigation could be launched.

"This government needs a lot of permits."

Spain Needs $466 Million in Carbon Credits to Meet Kyoto Limit

Feb. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Spain may need to buy at least 355 million euros ($466 million) of carbon emissions permits to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, Agriculture Minister Miguel Arias-Canete said. The country will need at least 67 million metric tons of emissions permits to cover greenhouse gas emissions that exceed the volume allowed under the 1997 Kyoto agreement, Arias-Canete told a parliamentary committee last week.

Carbon trading "scheme" may not be sufficient enough to generate change without government intervention.

Carbon trade alone won't achieve targeted emissions cuts, says study 06/02/2012

MARK COLVIN: A new study says the Federal Government won't be able to hit its greenhouse emission reduction targets over the next 40 years if it simply relies on market forces.
The Grattan Institute study says a carbon trading scheme on its own won't drive the investment needed to create a low-emissions economy and the Government will have to fill the gap.
The institute's energy program director Tony Wood says its performance so far has created a mish-mash of unsuccessful and sometimes competing policies.

Did "carbon bubble" create systemic risk

Sir Mervyn King hints at possible "carbon bubble" investigation - 06 Feb 2012 - News from BusinessGreen

Governor of the Bank of England Sir Mervyn King has confirmed regulators could investigate whether exposure to fossil fuel-related assets pose a long-term risk to financial stability, although he insisted a number of conditions would have to be met before such an investigation could be launched.

11% growth in EU wind energy

EU wind energy capacity grew 11 per cent during 2011 - 06 Feb 2012 - News from BusinessGreen

The EU added 9,616MW of wind energy capacity during 2011, making up more than a fifth of total new power installations, industry figures have today revealed. Offshore growth in the UK and onshore projects in Sweden and Germany helped push member states to a combined total of 93,957MW – an 11 per cent rise on 2010 and enough to supply 6.3 per cent of the EU's electricity – the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) said.

North American Emissions Trading to Double in 2012

Carbon Trading to Double in North America This Year · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

Carbon trading in North America is poised to double this year with the inauguration of carbon markets in California and Quebec, and the total value of the Western Climate Initiative is set to surpass that of the eastern Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, according to Thomson Reuters Point Carbon. The news service said the volume of permits and credits traded could reach 179 million tons, valued at $782 million. It also said (via Business Green) that the WCI, a market across California and five Canadian provinces, will become the biggest North American market by value. In so doing it will overtake the RGGI, an agreement between nine north-eastern states. Point Carbon predicts that the WCI will distribute 24 million metric tons of allowances later this year in California and Quebec, for use in 2013.

Dell Slammed Over Carbon Neutral Claim · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

WSJ Slams Dell Over Carbon Neutral Claim · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

The Wall Street Journal has slammed Dell over the announcement it made back in August about reaching its carbon neutral goal. The problem, according to WSJ, is that Dell only counts the “emissions produced by its boilers and company-owned cars, its buildings’ electricity use, and its employees’ business air travel.” It doesn’t count all the emissions associated with Dell: “All the emissions produced by its suppliers and consumers each amount to about 10 times the footprint Dell has defined for itself. That means the company is only neutralizing about 5% of the greenhouse gases that go into the making and use of its products,” the article states.

Next up: ‘Double Carbon Neutral’

Is ‘Double Carbon Neutral’ On The Horizon? · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

David Douglas, vice president for eco-responsibility at Sun Microsystems, raised an interesting question in his blog yesterday. Sun, which released its latest CSR report earlier this month, is pretty open with the fact that it’s not ready to go carbon neutral because the company is currently focused on lowering its carbon footprint by investing in projects that have a clear ROI, rather than investing in offsets. “There is a cost to this strategy, and that cost is that we can’t claim that we’re carbon neutral,” Douglas writes. “Right now that’s a cost we’re willing to live with.” Then Douglas asks if a company can be double carbon neutral? “If it is good to offset your emissions, is it even better to offset your emissions twice?” Douglas asks.

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Latest news

• 06 Feb 12 16:34  Australian floor price rules to dictate CER demand: lawyer
• 06 Feb 12 15:38  New EU renewable energy capacity hits record in 2011
• 06 Feb 12 14:51  Spain to buy more CO2 permits: govt
• 06 Feb 12 12:04  China bans airlines from joining EU emissions scheme
• 06 Feb 12 10:50  EUAs give up morning gains, hover near 8.50 euros
• 06 Feb 12 09:38  Australia eyes first CO2 auction in early 2014
• 03 Feb 12 18:52  CO2 option traders bet on volatility ahead of EU vote
• 03 Feb 12 18:44  U.N.'s Meth Panel gives green light to high-speed rail

06 Feb 2012 12:04

China bans airlines from joining EU emissions scheme

China on Monday barred its airlines from a European scheme to reduce carbon emissions, hardening its…

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Policy

06 Feb 2012 14:51

Spain to buy more CO2 permits: govt

Spain’s new conservative administration has said it will need to buy at least 67 million more carbon…

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06 Feb 2012 09:38

Australia eyes first CO2 auction in early 2014

Australia is likely to hold its first CO2 permit auction in 2014 as the government looks to provide…

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03 Feb 2012 18:52

CO2 option traders bet on volatility ahead of EU vote

Traders are buying out-of-the-money carbon options to take a punt ahead of an EU parliamentary commi…

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03 Feb 2012 18:08

Australia unlikely to ban Chinese, Indian CERs: industry body

Strong trading ties with Asia’s biggest emitters make it unlikely Australia will ban its companies f…

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03 Feb 2012 18:44

U.N.'s Meth Panel gives green light to high-speed rail

High-speed trains could play a future role in international carbon offset markets following a recomm…

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03 Feb 2012 05:47

Ministry asks NZ govt to curb U.N. offset use in ETS

New Zealand’s Ministry of Environment has told the government it should limit access to internationa…

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China's orders its airlines not to take part in the EU's emissions system

China Bans Airlines From Joining EU’s Carbon Emissions System - Bloomberg

China, home to the world’s fastest growing aviation market, banned airlines from taking part in a European Union carbon-emissions system designed to curb pollution, saying the program violates international rules. The system contravenes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and international civil aviation regulations, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said in a statement posted on its website today. Carriers were also barred from using the EU program as a reason for raising fares, it said.