Sunday, March 18, 2012
Australia fails carbon test
Is Australia's carbon price excessive?
AUSTRALIA'S $23 a tonne carbon price is "not excessive" and less than that in several major economies, but the nation is slipping behind the rest of the G20 in preparing to compete in a low-carbon world. Research to be released today by the Climate Institute and global energy giant GE, says countries such as Norway ($53 a tonne), Britain ($24-$30), Switzerland ($30-$60) already have higher prices than Australia's $23 a tonne, the starting price from July 1. The study says compensation for emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries means the effective initial price in Australia is between $1 and $8.
Emissions cuts could be hindered by low carbon prices
A carbon price as low as $5 by 2020 could undermine the ability of Australia's carbon package to force cuts to emissions. First off: The introduction of Australia's $23 a tonne price from July 1 has sparked concerns from major business groups in the wake of the collapse in the EU emissions trading price to about $10 and a corresponding slump in the value of the UN's Clean Development Mechanism Certified Emissions Reduction units (report). Not excessive: Research from the Climate Institute and global energy giant GE says countries such as Norway ($53 a tonne), Britain ($24-$30), Switzerland ($30-$60) already have higher prices than Australia's $23 a tonne (report). Australia's economy is less equipped to deal with a low carbon emissions world than it was nearly two decades ago, an international study has found (report). Will Steffen writes: Climate change is influencing more than just droughts.
Oil sands and loss of carbon-trapping bogs and fens
Exploiting the Canadian oil sands to extract their stored hydrocarbons remains controversial. The mix of sand, clay, water, and bitumen that we call the Canadian oil sands might be the second largest oil deposit on the planet. If that didn't make it an attractive target for exploitation, the fact that it's located in a stable, friendly country that shares a land border with the US seals the deal for many. But extracting useable oil from oil sands is much more energy intensive (and expensive) than obtaining it from traditional oil fields, and concerns about the ecological impact remain.
Planet Getting Too Hot for Chocolate?
The world's cocoa supply could be in danger from climate change, according to a new study from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), which says that prices are likely to skyrocket if preventative measures aren't taken.
How Many Slaves Work For You Every Day?
Last month marked the anniversary of the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, which we all know ended slavery for good 149 years ago, right? Wrong. While that's what we in America are taught in our textbooks, slavery is still alive and well around the world (including in the U.S.). In fact, most of us have several slaves working for us at this very moment.
Was There Corruption in Govt Review of Keystone XL Pipeline?
The chart, an investigation "white board," was put out by Oil Change International, DeSmogBlog, The Other 98% and Friends of the Earth. Click through to see the full graphic, which shows an array of State Department officials, oil interests, lobbyists and campaign donors leading all the way to Secretary Clinton and President Obama—but really, it speaks for itself.
2050 Energy Mix Won't Look Much Different
The global economy in 2050 will be four times larger than today and the world will use around 80 percent more energy. But the global energy mix is not predicted to be very different from that of today, the report said.
Over Half of Germany's Renewable Energy Owned By Citizens & Farmers
Germany's promotion of renewable energy rightly gets singled out for its effectiveness, most often by me as an example of how to do things well versus the fits and starts method of promotion common in the US. Over at Wind-Works, Paul Gipe points out another interesting facet of the German renewable energy saga: 51% of all renewable energy in Germany is owned by individual citizens or farms, totaling $100 billion worth of private investment in clean energy.
Pay dirt: Farmers and carbon
THE soil of the state's central west has long offered opportunities to farmers like Sam Stranger, who has planted wheat and canola in it and raised sheep on its grass. But now the dirt itself is offering new possibilities due to a state government-backed pilot carbon sequestration program in which farmers will be paid to store carbon in their land.
Oregon's Interstate 5 Plugs In
From Mexico to Canada – or from Canada to Mexico, whichever way your heart desires – a West Coast journey in the U.S. is one step closer to reality for plug-in vehicle drivers. Today, the first part of the West Coast Electric Highway was officially opened in Salem, OR. The idea is to put in enough fast chargers along Interstate 5 to allow EV drivers to just get in their cars and go. The distance between the stations is around 25 miles. Today's announcement means that the first eight chargers, all from Aerovironment, are now operational. Even better, for a "limited time," it does not cost any money to refill your battery. Each charging station includes one Level 2 and one DC fast charger.
EUA prices could double this year
(Reuters) - The price of European Union emissions permits could rally to double their current value by the end of the year if a plan to withhold permits is passed, Portuguese Espirito Santo Investment Bank said on Friday.
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