Sustainable Energy News: 02/07/12

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

I have little tiny violin I'm playing just for Alcoa!

Carbon tax to add to Alcoa uncertainty caused by high dollar, higher input costs | The Australian

ALCOA says a carbon tax will make life harder for the company as it reviews the future of its Victorian smelter and the jobs of up to 600 workers. However Alcoa Australia managing director Alan Cransberg said today the looming tax was not the reason for the review, as Tony Abbott sought to link a carbon price to jobs at the Point Henry aluminium smelter at Geelong.

Is the EU's carbon tax just another trade barrier?

China is right: carbon tax is just a trade barrier - FT.com

Sir, China is right to refuse to participate in the European Union emissions trading system (“China bars airlines from paying EU carbon tax”, February 6). It is indeed merely a trade barrier in the name of the environment, but it is also much less than that: it has nothing to do with lowering pollution and everything to do with subsidising Brussels – and China knows it.

Lessons from the spike in UK emissions

Leaping UK carbon emissions deliver two red-hot lessons | Damian Carrington | Environment | guardian.co.uk

The big jump in the UK's carbon emissions has two searing lessons for energy and climate secretary Ed Davey, newly installed in the hot seat.

Fossil fuels are sub-prime assets

Fossil fuels are sub-prime assets, Bank of England governor warned | Environment | guardian.co.uk

The global drive to reduce carbon emissions could mean billions of pounds of fossil fuel reserves will rapidly lose value. The huge reserves of coal, oil and gas held by companies listed in the City of London are "sub-prime" assets posing a systemic risk to economic stability, a high-profile coalition of investors, politicians and scientists has warned Bank of England's governor, Sir Mervyn King.

Radiation leak at the San Onofre power plant

San Onofre nuclear power plant incidents draw attention

The San Onofre nuclear power plant came under renewed scrutiny last week after a small radiation leak and the discovery of extensive tube damage. The leak and the tube wear "at no point posed a danger to the community or to workers on site," said Jennifer Manfre, spokeswoman with Southern California Edison, which operates the facility.But the incidents raised concern among environmental groups, which for years have kept a close eye on the plant near San Clemente following other safety problems.

Top ten green-minded firms

Campbell's, GE, HP, Nike Rank Among Top Green-Minded Firms

A new report from Two Tomorrows tries to pierce the veil of greenwash claims and identify which companies are best adding value and stability to their brands with their sustainability efforts -- and which are likely to disappoint in the long-term.

The Science of Sustainability

Getting Beyond the Basics to Embrace the Science of Sustainability

Sustainability has become a new dimension to supply chain competitiveness as organizations are increasingly influenced by the broader environment in which they operate. These influences impact the full range of business operations: from product design to production; from sourcing to sales channels; from regulatory reporting to recruiting.

People from around the world gather to talk diversity, innovation, and sustainability.

Diversity, Innovation and Sustainability at Rio+2.0

After just the first full day of the Rio+2.0 conference at Stanford U, but already it's been worth it ... for ideas, information, new contacts, and especially inspiration.My first encounter with other attendees was awaiting the shuttle to the Stanford campus. The other two women were from the USDA and from an international NGO, kicking off the sub theme of partnership between government, civil society and private industry right from the start. My dinner discussion on Big Data's role in sustainable development (topics included analyses of groundwater as well as water acquisition in India, climate change and adaptation, healthcare, pandemic prediction, challenges from acquisition of data, politics, and cultural barriers) added a good dose of academia to the mix.

Sustainability Consortium building a new leadership structure after the withdraw of their leader, Bonnie Nixon.

Bonnie Nixon Steps Down as Head of Sustainability Consortium | GreenBiz.com

After 10 months as the leader of the Sustainability Consortium, Bonnie Nixon is stepping down, according to an email sent today to TSC stakeholders."The Sustainability Consortium brought Bonnie Nixon in to provide executive leadership and help the organization move beyond its initial start-up phase," the statement read in part. "She has set us on a path that includes the opening of TSC's European office with plans to expand into additional countries in 2012, which will allow TSC the opportunity to build a leadership structure that better reflects our new global mission. As she departs as Executive Director, we thank her for her contributions and wish her great success in the future."

Carbon emissions on the rise

Carbon emissions rise despite climate change policies

The latest figures from the Department of Energy and Climate change show emissions rose by more than 3 per cent in 2010, the first increase since 2003.The rise in carbon dioxide and other gases comes despite a swathe of Government policies to cut emissions, such as building wind farms and installing solar panels.

Let the sun shine in!

Low Line Creators Design a Sunlight Irrigation System Prototype for the Delancey Underground Park NY LES Low Line Park

The ambitious Delancey Underground, also known as The Low Line, is making progress and moving forward. To bring natural light to the subterranean space, the project's creator, James Ramsey, has begun designing an innovative sunlight irrigation system in his friend’s apartment. Ramsey and project co-founder Dan Barasch announced at the Trespa Design Center this week that the initial tests were successful, and they plan to launch a Kickstarter campaign to help fund a larger scale prototype.

Bill Gates supports Geo-Engineering!

Bill Gates Endorses Large Scale Geo-Engineering Projects

Geo-engineering (the deliberate large-scale manipulation of the environment to combat anthropogenic changes in atmospheric chemistry) has long been touted as a way to counteract the catastrophic effects of global warming, but has been considered dangerous by some as it interferes with the world’s delicate ecosystems. However the controversial practice has now received a boost from some of the wealthiest men in the world – including Microsoft founder Bill Gates. The group of billionaires has been funding a small team of leading climate scientists and are lobbying governments and international bodies to back geo-engineering experiments to avoid catastrophic climate change.

Walmart is "greener" than Whole Foods

Walmart Rockets from 15th to Third in EPA Green Power Rankings

Walmart has shot to third place on the EPA’s rankings of the country’s top green power purchasers, from 15^th place just last quarter. The Green Power Partnership ranking, for the retailer’s Texas and California facilities alone, pushes Whole Foods down to fourth place.

Carbon tracking systems aren't the most popular among energy firms

Carbon Tracking Declines Among Energy Firms, Survey Finds

A surprising 68 percent of energy and utility industry professionals say they have no system in place to track and report on carbon emissions, up from 58 percent last year, according to a survey by Enviance. And despite their lack of tracking system, more than three-fifths of the 237 professionals surveyed at the EUEC energy, utility and environmental conference told the environmental software company that they believe the imposition of a carbon tax will affect their business.

Hertz is going green

Hertz Launches Global Sustainability Strategy - PR Newswire - sacbee.com

PARK RIDGE, N.J., Feb. 7, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ), the world's largest general use car rental brand, introduced "Living Journey" today, the Company's corporate sustainability strategy. Living Journey positions Hertz to be the leader in Sustainable Mobility and Equipment Solutions through various strategic initiatives that integrate sustainability best practices throughout the Company including: Smart Mobility—Hertz is committed to providing customers vehicle rental options that are fuel efficient and use clean, low-emissions technology such as Electric Vehicles (EVs) and hybrids. Environment—Hertz's goal is to minimize its environmental footprint and operating costs through efficiency improvements, resource management and renewable energy production. Community—Hertz is dedicated to creating a positive impact and enhancing the communities it serves by giving back through philanthropic and volunteer efforts.