Wind to Power UK Homes

2007-12-10

Thousands of new offshore wind turbines could power every home in Britain by 2020, says UK government.

7,000 turbines would generate 33 gigawatts, enough to power 25m homes.

Source: Wind Energy to Power UK by 2020, Government says. Louise Radnofsky. Guardian. 2007.12.10

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Gore Calls for Carbon Price

2007-12-9

Global markets could become a leading tool for halting global warming, says Gore.

Former US vice president Al Gore has called for taxes on carbon dioxide emissions and the creation of a global emissions trading market to help stem global warming.

We have to find a way to enlist the energy and vitality of the market in helping us to reduce CO2 (carbon dioxide).

The problem is CO2 is completely invisible to the economy. The economists call it an externality which means 'forget about it' and yet what we're forgetting about is posing a great unprecedented threat to the future of our civilization.

It is essential for each country to tax CO2 emissions. I am strongly in favour of a CO2 tax. I would also like to see global caps on pollutants and a worldwide emissions trading market.

Experts see carbon trading as one of the most effective ways of combatting global warming, by allowing countries that pollute beyond their allowance under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change to buy carbon credits from those countries that have stayed within their target range.

Source: Market Forces Essential to Halting Global Warming: Gore. Nina Larson. AFP. 2007.12.9

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Gore Calls for Grassroots Pressure on Climate

2007-12-9

Al Gore has called for grass-roots movements worldwide to push political leaders into action to curb the emissions that contributed to global warming.

The former US vice president was speaking at a joint news conference in Norway with IPCC Chairman Rajendra Pachauri. They will be presented with the Nobel Peace Prize tomorrow.

Gore, who earlier urged the countries to speed up the timetable for reducing emissions by two years, said he was optimistic about tougher measures partly because growing public awareness of global warming was spurring "the world's first people power movement" on climate change.

[People power] could force political leaders to take action. [Political leaders] have to find some courage to resist the special interests, the special fears, the concern that often have wider influences than they should and instead respect the demands of the human future.

Rajendra Pachauri, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change:

Data coming in after the IPCC concluded work on its latest assessment suggests that the future could very well be far more dire than we believe it is today. The world cannot hope that technology alone will counter the threat. People must be prepared to change to way they live.

Links

Source: Gore says Carbon Emission Cuts Essential. Doug Mellgren. Associated Press.

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

World Emissions Must be Halved by 2050: Scientists

2007-12-6

Climate scientists call for world to cut greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2050, to keep global warming below a 2 degree C increase.

The Bali Declaration, a petition from at least 215 climate scientists, released at the Bali UNFCCC conference, calls for human-caused greenhouse gas emissions to peak within 15 years and be halved by 2050, in order to keep average global warming below a 2 degree C increase on the pre-industrial temperature.

The petition urges government leaders to take radical action to slow global warming because "there is no time to lose".

Bali Declaration

Declaration text:

• The 2007 IPCC report, compiled by several hundred climate scientists, has unequivocally concluded that our climate is warming rapidly, and that we are now at least 90 per cent certain this is mostly due to human activities. The amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere now far exceeds the natural range of the past 650,000 years, and it is rising very quickly due to human activity.
• If this trend is not halted soon, many millions of people will be at risk from extreme events such as heat waves, drought, floods and storms, our coasts and cities will be threatened by rising sea levels, and many ecosystems, plants and animal species will be in serious danger of extinction.
• The next round of focused negotiations for a new global climate treaty (within the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process) needs to begin in December 2007 and be completed by 2009. The prime goal of this new regime must be to limit global warming to no more than 2C [3.6F] above the preindustrial temperature, a limit that has already been formally adopted by the European Union and a number of other countries.
• Based on current scientific understanding, this requires that global greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced by at least 50 per cent below their 1990 levels by the year 2050. In the long run, greenhouse gas concentrations need to be stabilised at a level well below 450 parts per million (measured in CO2-equivalent concentration). In order to stay below 2C, global emissions must peak and decline in the next ten to fifteen years, so there is no time to lose.
• As scientists, we urge the negotiators to reach an agreement that takes these targets as a minimum requirement for a fair and effective global climate agreement.

Links

Link: 2007 Bali Climate Declaration by Scientists. Climate Change Research Centre. University of New South Wales. 2007

Source: Act Now or Prepare for Disaster, Scientists Tell Climate Conference. Lewis Smith. Times. 2007.12.6

Source: Scientists Beg for Climate Action. Seth Borenstein. Associated Press. 2007.12.6

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Deep GHG Cuts by Australia Would Need Swift Policy Change

2007-12-6

The Australian delegation at the UN climate talks in Bali has indicated Australia could back emission cuts for developed countries of between 25 and 40 per cent by 2020. But if such a goal were to be attained, policy change would have to be swift and wide-ranging, say experts.

Ben Pearson, Centre for International Economics:

For the first few days of this conference, the Government was not prepared to take a position on. If they do join other developed countries in saying that they will agree to these targets, explicitly, then we're really going to see these talks have added momentum.

Unfortunately, we often see a big disconnect between what governments are prepared to agree at conferences like [Bali] and what then actually happens back home, and that's the disconnect that we need to bridge.

Frank Jotzo, Australian National University:

We've had indications of an aspirational goal for 2050 before, but it's much more difficult to come up with a number for 2020, because that really implies thinking about what you might actually have to do and what the economic implications might be. The greenhouse gases in an economy are really a bit like an oil tanker. You can certainly turn them around in the longer term, but it's quite difficult to get drastic shifts in the short-term. [It's not impossible] but would require some significant action, and that's where the Government can show their commitment.

While Australia works out whether it could meet any short-term goals it sets domestically, we shouldn't lose sight of the global picture. Even if we were to cut emissions in developed countries by some measure, we have intense and fast growth in emissions in developing countries. A true solution to the climate problem will involve those countries as well, but we can't realistically expect them to go first, or to even pay for all of the costs involved in that. So there will have to be a strong element of international cooperation and partnership.

Mark Diesendorf, University of New South Wales:

It would need some immediate action in a number of areas. The key areas for reducing emissions in the short-term are using energy more efficiently, and we have huge potential, huge, cost-effective potential for doing that, but we are faced with market failures. So we need some government regulations and standards to make far more energy efficient our buildings, our electrical appliances, our equipment, our industrial processes.

We would need fairly rapid action on that, and that would have to involve both the states and the Commonwealth. And the other important prong is a more rapid development of renewable energy.

Source: Aust Backs 2020 Target at Bali Climate Conference. Barbara Miller. World Today. ABC. 2007.12.6

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Developed Countries Should Commit to Deep GHG Cuts: EU, UN

2007-12-6

With the Bali UNFCCC conference under way, the EU and the UN are pushing developed countries to commit to 25 to 40 percent greenhouse gas emission cuts (on 1990 levels) by 2020, in order to keep the average global temperature from rising 2 to 2.4 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures.

Despite this, developed countries like Canada and Japan are signalling that they may not agree to binding targets on reducing emissions.

Tony Mohr, Australian Conservation Foundation:

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in their final report, recommended that [developed countries reduce their emissions 25 to 40 percent by 2020] to keep temperatures between two and 2.4 degrees. This range of targets has been supported by the European Union and New Zealand has quite an interesting change of policy and came out in support of that same range, on the first day of the conference.

Australia hasn't made its position clear on the 2020 target, and that's not to say that it couldn't do so over the coming days, and certainly we'd be hoping that the incoming Government, recently sworn in, would be briefing their delegation to simply recognise the science and so come on board with New Zealand and the European Union. That would be a good indication that there is genuine leadership coming out of the new Government in Australia.

An ideal outcome from [the Bali UNFCCC] conference would be agreement that two degrees warming is the absolute maximum that as a world we're going to aim for. We still haven't got that across the board, and we need to just draw a line in the sand.

Need for Technology Transfer

[Developing countries like China and India are seeking technology transfer from developed countries.] Decisions [made now] about how to provide electricity to their population [will] have a long-term effect, up to 30 or 40 years.

Links

Source: Climate Specialist Discusses Govt's Role at Bali Conference. Eleanor Hall. World Today. ABC. 2007.12.5

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Australian Climate Ambitions: Rudd

2007-12-5

Australia intends to take on a highly ambitious and activist role on the international stage, says new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

Rudd says he intends to use Australia's new position as a member of the Kyoto club to "bridge the gap" between developed and developing countries on future emissions controls.

It's an enormous challenge because of the distance between those two positions at present. But Australia has a national and international responsibility to the next generation to do everything it can to counter the threat of climate change.

There needs to be commitments from both developed and developing countries into the future on reducing emissions. The planet is now under increasingly significant threat; the requirement for global co-operation now is not optional, it is urgent.

Links

Source: I Can Unite World on Climate, says Rudd. Cynthia Banham. Sydney Morning Herald. 2007.12.5

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Business Leaders Urge Strong, Early Action on Climate Change

2007-11-30

Business leaders sign Bali Communique, calling for drastic and urgent measures to cut greenhouse gas pollution at least in half by 2050.

The communique, addressed to international diplomats meeting next week in Bali, and coordinated through the environmental office of Britain's Prince Charles, is signed by leaders from more than 150 global companies, together worth nearly $US 4 trillion in market capitalization, including Shell UK, GE International, Coca-Cola Co., Dupont Co., United Technologies Corp., Rolls Royce, Nestle SA, Unilever, British Airways and Volkswagen AG.

Contrary to the argument that mandatory pollution cuts would harm the economy, the communique says ambitious emissions reductions would "create significant business opportunities."

Richard Barrington, Sun Microsystems:

You've got businesses around the world saying, "Give us certainty so we can do what's right for our investors, society at large and the broader environment." If you look at the risks associated with climate change, they're just as much business risks as they are human risks.

Bali Communique

Communique text:

This communiqué comes from the business leaders of over 150 global companies. It is being issued in advance of the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2007, taking place from December 3 to 14 in Bali, Indonesia.

The scientific evidence is now overwhelming. Climate change presents very serious global social, environmental and economic risks and it demands an urgent global response. As business leaders, it is our belief that the benefits of strong, early action on climate change outweigh the costs of not acting:

• The economic and geopolitical costs of unabated climate change could be very severe and globally disruptive. All countries and economies will be affected, but it will be the poorest countries that will suffer earliest and the most
• The costs of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change are manageable, especially if guided by a common international vision
• Each year we delay action to control global emissions increases the risk of unavoidable consequences that will likely necessitate even steeper reductions in the future, causing potentially greater economic, environmental and social disruption.
• The shift to a low-carbon economy will create significant business opportunities. New markets for low carbon technologies and products, worth billions of dollars, will be created if the world acts on the scale required.

In summary, we believe that tackling climate change is the pro-growth strategy. Ignoring it will ultimately undermine economic growth.

It is our view that:

• A sufficiently ambitious, international and comprehensive legally-binding United Nations agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will provide business with the certainty it needs to scale up global investment in low-carbon technologies.

We believe that:

• An enhanced and extended carbon market needs to be part of this framework as it offers the necessary flexibility, allows for a cost-effective transition and provides financial support to developing countries.

In order to avoid dangerous climate change, the overall targets for emissions reduction must be guided primarily by science.

Even an immediate peaking in global emissions would require a subsequent reduction of at least 50% by 2050, according to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change, and the later the peak in emissions, the greater the required reduction.

All countries will need to play their part but we recognise that the greatest effort must be made by those countries that have already industrialised.

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December in Bali, Indonesia, countries will have an opportunity to agree a work-plan of comprehensive negotiations to ensure such an agreement can be signed in Copenhagen in 2009, to come into force post 2012.

We urge world leaders to seize this window of opportunity.

In return, we pledge to engage positively with governments to help develop the policies and measures that are needed internationally and nationally for the business sector to contribute effectively to building a low carbon economy.

Links

Source: Bali Communique. Prince of Wales - Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change. 2007.11

Source: Top World Business Leaders Demand Governments Take Drastic Action on Global Warming. Seth Borenstein. Associated Press. 2007.11.30

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

US and EU Propose Free Trade in Environmental Goods and Services

2007-11-30

The United States and European Union launched a proposal in world trade talks on Friday aimed at countering global climate change by removing trade barriers for climate-friendly technologies.

According to US trade officials:

By eliminating tariff and nontariff barriers to environmental goods and services, particularly clean energy technologies, we can lower their costs and increase global access to and use of these products.

Global trade in the environmental goods covered by the US-EU proposal totaled about $613 billion in 2006, with exports increasing about 15 percent annually.

The World Bank has estimated removing tariffs and nontariff barriers on key climate and clean energy technologies could increase trade in those goods by 7-14 percent a year and help to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The plan would liberalize trade in goods such as solar panels and wind turbines, and services such as air and water pollution monitoring and control, hazardous waste management and cleaning up hazardous waste sites.

Links

Source: US and EU Propose Trade Plan to Counter Climate Change. Reuters. 2007.11.30

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Cycling Ministers to Offset Bali Emissions

2007-11-30

Indonesia plans to make ministers from around the world use bicycles to get about at the U.N. talks on climate change in Bali to help offset the event's carbon emissions.

Indonesian environment official, Agus Purnomo said:

To help offset an estimated 47,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide expected to be emitted during the 12-day event, the government will clear the conference site of cars and lay on about 200 bikes instead to help people move around the area.

We want people to leave their cars at the main gate and switch to bicycles. To prevent people from melting in the sun, we will ask everyone to wear light clothes and short sleeves.

Estimated emissions for the Bali climate change talks include carbon dioxide emitted by flights to and from the island and by the use of electricity to power air conditioners.

More than 10,000 people including official delegates, activists and journalists are expected to show up at hundreds of sessions sprawled across the island's Nusa Dua area.

Links

Source: Cycling Ministers to Help Ease Bali Emissions. Ad ityani Arga, Sugita Katyal, Roger Crabb. Reuters. 2007.11.30

See also: Canadian Encourages Bali Bicycle Trend. Prodita Sabarini. Jakarta Post. 2007.11.15

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Developing Nations Need Assistance to Reduce Emissions: China

2007-11-30

Beijing is reluctant to set itself international targets to fight climate change without financial and technological assistance from industrialized countries, says Chinese official.

Gao Guangsheng, a senior official on climate change at the National Development and Reform Commission said:

Developed countries should offer [on] favorable terms or give for free the environmentally friendly technology that developing countries desperately need.

Technology is crucial for reducing emissions. But so far, industrialised countries have only made limited efforts to help developing nations cut greenhouse gas emissions despite commitments under the UN's convention on climate change to share clean energy technologies.

Links

Source: China Wary on International Climate Goals. Chris Buckley, Gerard Wynn. Reuters. 2007.11.30

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

ANU Experts Propose Climate Action Plan

2007-11-22

Three of the Australian National University's leading climate policy researchers have prepared an action plan for the incoming government.

The nation faces a battle to control dangerous climate change. [We need] ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets, and a program to trade pollution rights.

The incoming government must move very quickly to get on top of the climate change challenge. The international negotiations are critically important, because this is a global problem.

The United Nations' chief negotiator has warned there is a window of opportunity of 10 to 15 years to halt the march of dangerous climate change. There's some strong feedback in the climate system. If we don't get on top of the problem, the earth is going to start shoving out even more CO2 and we may get into a situation that'll be difficult or impossible to control.

Australia should adopt aggressive targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases, but the magnitude of those targets is a matter for society to debate.

[We need] the underpinning knowledge required to make that judgement - for example, what would happen if we had a two degree temperature rise by 2070. What that might mean for agriculture, for the Great Barrier Reef, for biodiversity, for other sectors in Australian society and environment.

Then society needs to make the judgement of what it determines to be dangerous. It's not for scientists to tell you what's dangerous or what the level ought to be, but try and inform the debate as to what the risks actually are as these various levels that society could consider.

Links

Source: Experts launch climate action plan for incoming govt. Brendan Trembath. ABC. 2007.11.22

Refer: Climate Change and Public Policy (PDF). Will Steffen, Luca Staffoni, Frank Jotzo. Crawford School of Economics and Government. Australian National University. 2007.11

Link: Crawford Centre for Economics and Government - Research

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Policy

IPCC Report Puts Climate Policies Under Scrutiny

2007-11-18

IPCC Climate Change Report

Millions of people could be affected by rising temperatures and forecasts more heat waves, melting glaciers and rising sea levels if action is not taken, says IPCC report.

According to the IPCC "Synthesis Report - Summary for Policy Makers":

Warming of the climate system is evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level.

Temperatures are likely to rise by between 1.1 and 6.4 degrees Celsius and sea levels by between 18 centimetres and 59 centimetres this century.

Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in greenhouse gas concentrations from human activities.

Global total annual greenhouse gas emissions from human activities have risen by 70 per cent since 1970. Concentrations of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, far exceed the natural range over the last 650,000 years.

Africa, the Arctic, small islands and Asian mega-deltas are likely to be especially affected by climate change.

Sea level rise would continue for centuries because of the momentum of warming even if greenhouse gas levels are stabilised.

Warming could lead to some impacts that are abrupt or irreversible. About 20-30 per cent of species will be at increasing risk of extinction if future temperature rises exceed 1.5 to 2.5 Celsius.

Warming will put at risk unique and threatened systems, such as polar or high mountain ecosystems, coral reefs and small islands.

Warming will increase the likelihood of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts and heatwaves.

The poor and the elderly are likely to be hit hardest, and countries near the equator, mostly the poor in Africa and Asia, generally face greater risks such as of desertification or floods.

There is evidence since 2001 that any benefits of warming would be at lower temperatures than previously forecast and that damages from larger temperature rises would be bigger.

Risks of "large-scale singularities", such as rising sea levels over centuries; contributions to sea level rise from Antarctica and Greenland could be larger than projected by ice sheet models.

Governments have a wide range of tools with which to repond to climate change - higher taxes on emissions, regulations, tradeable permits and research. An effective carbon price could help cuts.

Emissions of greenhouse gases would have to peak by 2015 to limit global temperature rises to 2.0 to 2.4 Celsius over pre-industrial times.

The costs of fighting warming will range from less than 0.12 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP) per year for the most stringent scenarios until 2030 to less than 0.06 per cent for a less tough goal. In the most costly case, that means a loss of GDP by 2030 of less than 3 per cent.

Political response in Australia

The report has prompted comments from political leaders in Australia.

Labor leader Kevin Rudd says the scientists are sounding a warning bell. "This is a call to arms for the nation, a call to arms for the world to act now on climate change before it's too late."

Liberal leader, John Howard says, climate change is a serious challenge, but the world will not end tomorrow because of it. "Like all these things we have to get a commonsense, balanced approach."

Greens Leader Bob Brown says the world's scientists have again made it clear that to avoid dangerous climate change, global emissions must peak by 2015. "What we do, or do not do, about climate change in the next two terms of government will determine the course of human history."

The Greens have launched a Climate Change Action Plan, which details the role Australia could play in the global effort to keep global warming under the dangerous threshold of 2°C.

Links

Source: Climate policies under scrutiny ahead of Bali summit. ABC. 2007.11.18

Source: Highlights of UN Climate Panel Summary Report. Reuters. 2007.11.17

Source: World Won't End Tomorrow Due to Climate Change: Howard. Sydney Morning Herald. 2007.11.18

Refer: Synthesis - Summary for Policy Makers. Fourth Assessment Report. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2007.11.17

Refer: Six Step Climate Change Action Plan (PDF). Australian Greens. 2007.11

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Pay Farmers to Protect the Earth: UN

2007-11-15

Paying farmers to protect the environment - rather than just for their produce - will help ensure that increasing food demand does not destroy the planet, says UN report.

According to a report, "The State of Food and Agriculture", by United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO):

Paying for environmental services will link two of humanity's greatest challenges: beating poverty and safeguarding the environment.

Farming has the potential to degrade the Earth's land, water, atmosphere and biological resources - or enhance them, depending on the decisions make by the more than 2 billion people whose livelihoods depend directly on crops, livestock, fisheries or forests.

Many governments already subsidise farming but rarely do so to protect the environment. Current incentives tend to favor the production of food, fiber, and increasingly biofuels, but typically undervalue the environmental services that farmers provide.

Environmental services include: the storage of carbon dioxide in plants and soil which can help slow global warming; water provision from flood prevention and water filtration through roots and soil; and nature conservation.

Deforestation is estimated to produce at least 18 percent of global greenhouse emissions. Paying poorer countries not to chop down their forests would help reduce these emissions.

Incentives can be given to make farming less damaging, for example, encouraging shade-grown coffees rather than intensive production where forest canopies are destroyed.

Problems

Environmental payment schemes risk reducing food output for hungry populations.

Such schemes might benefit relatively wealthy landowners more often than the extremely poor who own nothing.

Links

Source: Paying farmers to protect the planet is future: UN. Robin Pomeroy & Philippa Fletcher. Reuters. 2007.11.15

Refer: The State of Food and Agriculture 2007 - Paying farmers for envirionmental services. Food and Agriculture Organisation. United Nations. 2007

Refer: Paying Farmers to Protect the Environment? Food and Agriculture Organisation. United Nations. 2007.11.15

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Climate Change Threatens Asian Development

2007-11-12

Asia will be hit especially hard by climate change, from China and India to tiny Pacific islands, and decades of human development across the continent will be pushed into reverse, says report.

According to the report, "Up In Smoke?", released by a group of British poverty and environmental groups including Oxfam and Friends of the Earth:

As far as climate change is concerned, Asia will increasingly be both major victim and major part of the problem.

Rapidly industrialising China is overtaking the US as the world's biggest greenhouse gas-emitter with its vast programme of building coal-fired power stations, and India is likely to follow suit - while Indonesia is the world's third-biggest CO2 emitter, after the US and China, because of the amount of deforestation taking place.

Rich countries must lead by example

Only leadership by example from rich, industrialised countries, which put most of the CO2 into the atmosphere in the first place, will be able to persuade the Asian giants to follow a different path.

Andrew Simms of the new economics foundation and report co-editor:

Avoid carbon-intense development path

Asia is at a critical juncture as home to almost two-thirds of humanity. It has made real advances in reducing poverty, but lies on the front line of impacts from climate change. Now, if it follows a fossil-fuelled Western economic development path, it will set in train an reversible course of events that will guarantee a great reversal in its own progress.

Slash 'luxury' emissions to allow 'survival' emissions

To prevent catastrophic global warming, the only feasible alternative is for wealthy countries to dramatically reduce their 'luxury' greenhouse gas emissions, so that the 'survival' emissions of people in poor countries do not cause disaster. How else will we free up the environmental space necessary for Asia to develop?

Biofuels

The report gives a special and pointed warning about the rush to develop biofuels, in Indonesia especially, where huge areas of rainforest are being cut down for oil palm plantations, to make the palm oil that is an essential feedstock for biodiesel. It says that the "silver bullet of biofuels" could turn into a rush for fool's gold, with severe social and environmental consequences.

Links

Source: Rich West 'must set example' to protect Asian development from climate change catastrophe. Michael McCarthy. Independent (UK). 2007.11.12

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Economy

Oceans Could Absorb More CO2: Study

2007-11-12

The ocean's plankton could continue to take up carbon as marine carbon dioxide concentrations increase, but the increasing CO2 may damage marine ecosystems, says study.

The Experiment

Investigators exposed large enclosed tanks of sea water containing phytoplankton to different CO2 concentrations. To feed the plankton, they added nutrients to simulate food usually brought up by ocean currents and upwelling. Result: the higher the CO2 level, the more the plankton bloomed. The organisms were able to gobble up to 39 per cent more dissolved carbon compared with today, but did not need any additional nutrients to achieve this.

Oceanic CO2 uptake

The sea has soaked up nearly half of the CO2 that has been emitted by fossil fuels since the start of the Industrial Revolution. Moreover, as atmospheric CO2 has increased, the rate of CO2 uptake by the ocean has also increased. If this continues, then the reduction in CO2 emissions needed to stabilise atmospheric CO2 at 450 parts per million won't be as stringent as it would be if the rate of marine CO2 uptake stopped growing or indeed began to decrease. If marine CO2 uptake falters, we'll have to reduce emissions by far more than the 50 to 60% by 2050 as now recommended to stablise at 450 ppm.

Increasing atmospheric CO2 causes a transfer of airborne CO2 into surface waters. Plant micro-organisms called phytoplankton take in dissolved CO2 as part of the process of photosynthesis, and store the carbon within their bodies. This reduces the CO2 concentrations in the surface water, allowing more airborne CO2 to be taken up. When phytoplankton dies it sinks to the ocean floor where it adds to sediment, thus storing the carbon for potentially millions of years.

Environmental Problems

Increasing marine CO2 concentrations could cause environmental problems. Algal blooms could deplete oxygen in some parts of the ocean while rising carbon levels may cause an imbalance in primary nutrients, with effects that could ripple across the marine food web.

Another concern is that rising levels of dissolved CO2 also causes acidification of seawater. Wildlife such as coral, which secretes a skeletal structure, are known to be affected by acidification but the impact on other marine species is largely unknown.

Links

Source: Oceans could absorb far more CO2: study. ABC. 2007.11.12

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Palm Oil Demand Fuels Climate Crisis

2007-11-8

Booming world demand for palm oil from Indonesia for food and biofuels is posing multiple threats to the environment as forests are being cleared, peat wetlands exposed and carbon released, says report.

The report, "Cooking the Climate", released by Greenpeace, is aimed at the meeting of UN environment ministers in Bali this December, to discuss the successor to the Kyoto Protocol.

According to the report:

Every year, 1.8 billion tonnes (Gt) of climate changing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are released by the degradation and burning of Indonesia’s peatlands - 4 percent of global GHG emissions from less than 0.1 percent of the land on earth.

World tropical deforestation accounts for about a fifth of all global emissions.

Indonesia now has the fastest deforestation rate of any major forested country, losing two percent of its remaining forest every year.

On top of Indonesia's existing six million hectares of oil palms, the government has plans for another four million by 2015 just for biofuel production. Provincial governments have plans for up to 20 million hectares more.

Links

Source: Booming Palm Oil Demand Fuelling Climate Crisis". Jeremy Lovell. Reuters. 2007.11.8

Source: Cooking the Climate (PDF). Greenpeace. 2007.11

Refer: Palm Oil: Cooking the Climate. Greenpeace. 2007.11.8

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Deforestation

Mallee Trees to Offset Woodside Emissions

2007-11-7

Woodside to plant mallee trees to offset 20% of emissions from gas project.

Gas extraction company Woodside has announced it will spend $100 million planting mallee trees to help offset its carbon emissions from the Pluto gas field in West Australia's north west. The LNG project, under construction near Karratha, is expected to generate more than 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over its 20 year lifetime. Trees will be planted in New South Wales and in Western Australia over the next two years to offset about 20 per cent of its total emissions. [$100 million / 4 Mt CO2 = $25 / t.]

Links

Source: Woodside to plant trees to offset carbon footprint. ABC. 2007.11.7

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Offsets

Stabilising CO2 at 450 ppm Requires Action Now: IEA

2007-11-7

Stabilising atmospheric CO2 at 450 parts per million, will require quick and vigorous action by all countries starting now, warns IEA.

In its annual report on global energy needs, the International Energy Agency says that:

To achieve the 450ppm target would mean that CO2 from energy sources would have to peak by 2012, which in turn would require a massive drive in energy efficiency and a switch to non-fossil fuels.

Emissions savings would have to come from improved efficiency in fossil-fuel use in industry, buildings and transport, switching to nuclear power and renewables, and the widespread deployment of CO2 capture and storage in power generation and industry.

Exceptionally quick and vigorous action by all countries and unprecedented technological advances, entailing, substantial costs, would be needed to make this case a reality.

Why 450 ppm?

The IPCC has said that in order to limit the average increase in global temperatures to 2.4 C (4.3 F) - the most optimistic of any scenario - the concentration of greenhouse gases would have to stabilise at 450 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.

On the basis of projected energy use and current efforts to mitigate emissions, projected greenhouse-gas pollution would rise by 1.8 percent annually by 2030, says the IEA report.

Links

Source: Global-warming gases set to rise by 57 percent by 2030. TerraDaily. 2007.11.7

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Hillary Clinton's Energy and Climate Policy

2007-11-5

Hillary Clinton releases policy to reduce US greenhouse emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and 80% of 1990 levels by 2050.

Hillary Clinton Speech

Americans have always demonstrated the will and the ingenuity to confront the problems of their times, from the New Deal, to the Cold War, to the Space Race. Today, global warming and dependence on foreign oil are two of the biggest challenges of our time.

Goals:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% from 1990 levels by 2050 [and to 1990 levels by 2020] - to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.
• Cut foreign oil imports by two-thirds from projected levels by 2030. [Through energy efficiency and local biofuels.]
• Transform our carbon-based economy into an efficient green economy, creating at least 5 million jobs from clean energy over the next decade.

Actions:

• [Establish] a new cap-and-trade program that auctions 100% of permits. Auction 100% of allowances to ensure that utilities and other companies do not obtain a windfall. Provide flexibility for companies to bank, borrow and trade allowances. Use the proceeds from the sale of allowances to provide tax benefits for working and middle-class families and energy intensive industries, and incentives for energy efficiency and renewable technologies.
• Reduce electricity consumption 20% from projected levels by 2020 by changing the way utilities do business, catalyzing a green building industry, enacting strict appliance efficiency standards, and phasing out incandescent light bulbs.
• [Create] a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund, paid for in part by oil companies, to fund investments in alternative energy. The SEF will finance one-third of [a] $150 billon ten-year investment.
• Double federal investment in basic energy research, including funding for an ARPA-E, a new research agency modeled on the successful Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
• Transition our economy toward renewable energy sources, with renewables generating 25% of electricity by 2030 and with 60 billion gallons of home-grown biofuels available for cars and trucks by 2030.
• 10 "Smart Grid City" partnerships to prove the advanced capabilities of smart grid and other advanced demand-reduction technologies.
• New investment in plug-in hybrid vehicle technologies.
• Increase fuel efficiency standards to 55 miles per gallon by 2030. [Sell] $20 billion of "Green Vehicle Bonds" to help U.S. automakers retool their plants to meet the standards.
• Catalyze a thriving green building industry by investing in green collar jobs and helping to modernize and retrofit 20 million low-income homes to make them more energy efficient.
• Make it easier for low and middle-income Americans to buy green homes and invest in green home improvements.
• Require all publicly traded companies report financial risks due to climate change in annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Create a "National Energy Council" within the White House to ensure implementation of the plan across the Executive Branch.

Links

Source: Powering America's Future: Hillary Clinton's Plan to Address the Energy and Climate Crisis (PDF). Hillary for President. 2007.11

Link: Hillary for President

Refer: Clinton's Climate and Energy Plan. David Roberts. Grist. 2007.11.5

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Policy

Addressing Climate Change Good for Today's Economy: Bill Clinton

2007-11-1

The shift to a green economy is the biggest economic opportunity facing the United States since the military build up to World War Two, says Bill Clinton.

If we do it right, it will produce job gains and income gains substantially greater than the 1990s, he said.

Clinton was speaking at the US Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Summit.

Clinton:

Initiatives to combat global warming, such as the retrofit of old buildings, and switching to more fuel-efficient cars, will create jobs and boost wages.

America must prove to China, India and other developing nations that addressing the climate change problem will stimulate their economies.

Links

Source: Bill Clinton: Green economy offers great rewards. Reuters. 2007.11.1

Link: Clinton Climate Initiative

Link: US Conference of Mayors

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Economy

Natural Gas as Transition Fuel Ignored

2007-10-31

The natural gas industry in Australia says that Labor and the Coalition are ignoring the benefits of gas in the climate change debate.

The Australian Pipeline Industry Association says investment in natural gas projects must increase if gas is going to be a viable source of baseload energy while renewable options are developed. "Natural gas is cheaper than renewable, it's cleaner than coal and it's certainly ready now."

Links

Source: Natural gas industry "ignored" in climate change debate. ABC. 2007.10.31

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Gas

Developing Nations Ready for Serious Negotiations

2007-10-31

Developing nations are ready to begin serious negotiations at the December UNFCCC meeting in Bali.

John Hay, UNFCCC Secretariat:

Developing nations are ready.

We expect that developing nations will commit to be engaged and part of a post-2012 climate change regime, and we're already seeing very good indications that this will happen.

The Bali meeting won't establish a treaty with new binding targets. It will launch negotiations for a deal to be finalised by 2009.

[By 2009] it's likely poorer nations will commit to different types of action, such as lower targets. Countries will look at the option of absolute targets, and bringing parts of their economies under targets. Countries will agree to finding the best solution which just fits their particular needs.

But industrialised nations must take the lead.

Bill Hare, Greenpeace International:

Which countries should adopt targets?

It's countries such as Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Singapore, and not China and India, that need to adopt targets. India is still very poor and in no way could be expected to take on binding national emission limits at this point.

Links

Source: Developing countries to sign up to Bali climate pact: UN. Jennifer Macey. AM. ABC. 2007.10.31

Comments (2) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: International Cooperation

India Must Do More on Climate Change: Germany

2007-10-30

India must do more to combat climate change, and Germany is willing to help, says German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Merkel:

Rich nations and emerging economies need to strike a balance over the amount of responsibility they need to shoulder to prevent climate change and not fight over it.

Multilateral agreements are of the essence.

Germany could help India become a more efficient user of energy by sharing technology to avoid mistakes we made in the industrial countries.

Climate change is a very good issue for us to learn to shoulder common responsibilities.

New Delhi is expected to draw up a national plan to tackle global warming by the end of this year and Indian experts say the country has already achieved substantial energy efficiency.

India, Asia's third-biggest economy, has grown at an average of 8.6 percent in the last four years and is expected to maintain a similar rate in the coming years. However, it needs huge investments in infrastructure.

Merkel's visit to India, her first as chancellor, is largely aimed at boosting business ties between the two countries. German businessmen traveling with Merkel said New Delhi needed to lift caps set on foreign investment in insurance, banking, retail and telecommunications sectors.

Links

Source: Merkel asks India to do more on climate change. Reuters. 2007.10.30

Comments (1) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: International Cooperation

Now or Never to Save the Planet: UN

2007-10-26

Humanity is changing Earth's climate so fast and devouring resources so voraciously that it is poised to bequeath a ravaged planet to future generations, says UN report.

The fourth Global Environment Outlook (GEO-4), published by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), is compiled by 390 experts from observations, studies and data garnered over two decades.

The report says:

World leaders must propel the environment "to the core of decision-making" to tackle a daily worsening crisis. The need couldn't be more urgent and the time couldn't be more opportune, with our enhanced understanding of the challenges we face, to act now to safeguard our own survival and that of future generations. [We need] environment for development, not development to the detriment of environment.

Achim Steiner, UNEP:

The systematic destruction of the Earth's natural and nature-based resources has reached a point where the economic viability of economies is being challenged - and where the bill we hand on to our children may prove impossible to pay.

Links

Source: Now or never to save the planet: UN. ABC. 2007.10.26

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Environment

UN Food Expert Seeks Moratorium on Biofuels

2007-10-26

UN food expert calls for a five year moratorium on biofuels, saying it is a "crime against humanity" to convert food crops to fuel.

According to Jean Zeigler, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food:

Biofuels are driving up food prices at a time when there are 854 million hungry people in the world and every five seconds a child under 10 dies from hunger or disease related to malnutrition. Cereals prices have already soared, putting pressure on African states that have to import food.

A moratorium on would allow scientists to develop ways to make biofuels from other crops, without diverting land from food production, such as a pilot project in India using trees planted in arid areas unsuitable for food crops. The scientific world is progressing very quickly. In five years it will be possible to produce biofuel and biodiesel from agricultural waste.

What has to be stopped is the transformation (of food crops) now, to stop the growing catastrophe of the massacre of hunger in the world.

Links

Source: U.N. food expert seeks moratorium on biofuels. Claudia Parsons. Reuters. 2007.10.26

Refer: Soaring food prices will hurt world's poor: FAO. Reuters. 2007.10.4

Refer: U.N.'s Ban to discuss biofuel dilemma in Brazil. Claudia Parsons. Reuters. 2007.11.6

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Biofuel

India Seeks Joint R&D to Tackle Climate Change

2007-10-25

India seeks joint endeavor between developed and developing nations in the research and technology sector to tackle climate change goals.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee:

There is very little R&D effort on technologies that respond to the requirements and resource endowments of developing countries. This should be remedied. India suggests collaborative R&D between developing and developed country R&D institutions.

India's Energy Needs

India needs to sustain an 8 to 10 percent economic growth rate to meet the national developmental goals and for this, India needs to increase its per capita energy consumption.

The per capita energy consumption in India currently is 530 kilograms of oil equivalent of primary energy compared with a world average 1,770 kgoe.

Nearly half of the country's citizens have no access to electricity.

Links

Source: India seeks joint efforts in R&D to tackle climate change goals. AOL. 2007.10.15

Comments (1) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Research

Put Clean Energy Research on Wartime Footing

2007-10-25

Put public investment in clean energy R&D on a wartime footing, say two experts.

Gwyn Prins and Steve Rayner, in an article published in Nature, "Time to Ditch Kyoto", say that increased spending on research and adaption, in addition to market-based solutions, would be more effective than another agreement like the Kyoto Protocol.

Clean energy research

Prins and Rayner:

Investment in energy R&D should be placed on a wartime footing.

The world's leading economies and emitters should to devote as much money to this challenge as they currently spend on military research - in the case of the United States, about $US 80 billion per year. [$US 270 per person, which in Australia would rise around $A 5.9 billion]

Such investment would provide a more promising foundation for decarbonization of the global energy system than the current approach.

We stare at stark divergences of trends. On the one hand, the International Energy Agency predicts a doubling of global energy demand from present levels in the next 25 years. On the other, since 1980 there has been a worldwide reduction of 40% in government budgets for energy R&D. Without huge investment in R&D, the technologies upon which a viable emissions reduction strategy depends will not be available in time to disrupt a new cycle of carbon-intensive infrastructure.

Adaptation

Prins and Rayner:

More money should be spent on helping countries prepare for coming climate change.

The (unmet) commitment of international resources to the multilateral Adaptation Fund under the United Nations Climate Change Convention is $1.5 billion, derived in part from a tax on the Clean Development Mechanism. Funds for mitigation, however, come from many sources and total at least $19 billion. We believe that global adaptation efforts need to be funded at comparable scales to those we advocate for investment in technology R&D. [$US 270 per person.]

Links

Source: Time to Ditch Kyoto. Gwyn Prins & Steve Rayner. Nature. 2007.10.25

Refer: Drop Kyoto, raise climate research: experts. Reuters. 2007.10.25

Comments (1) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Research

Developing Nations Should Cut Emissions: Indonesia

2007-10-25

Developing countries should participate voluntarily in reducing their national greenhouse emissions according to their national circumstances, Indonesia's president says.

President Yudhoyono, Indonesia:

Richer nations must take the lead in reducing carbon emissions, but developing nations should also play their part depending on their circumstances.

Developed countries should provide resources, environmentally sound technologies and the necessary financial support for developing countries.

Indonesia is hosting a meeting of environment ministers and officials from about 40 nations this week ahead of a key meeting in Bali in December aimed at hammering out a new global climate deal to curb emissions after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

Links

Source: Indonesia Hosts Talks Ahead of Bali Climate Meeting. ABC. 2007.10.25

Comments (1) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: International Cooperation

Decline in World Oil Production Predicted

2007-10-22

World oil production has peaked and will halve by 2030, says report.

World oil production peaked in 2006, much earlier than most experts had expected, and will decline by several percent per year, and 50% by 2030 (from around 80 million to around 40 million barrels per day), according a report released by the Energy Watch Group.

The report warns that extreme shortages of fossil fuels will lead to wars and social breakdown.

Link: Crude Oil - The Supply Outlook. Energy Watch Group. 2007.10

Links

Source: Steep Decline in Oil Production Brings Risk of War and Unrest, Says New Study. Ashley Seager. The Guardian. 2007.10.22

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Peak Oil

Greenhouse Abatement Potential in Waste Management

2007-10-17

Greenhouse emissions can be substantially reduced at moderate costs through better waste management, says report.

The report, "Potential for greenhouse gas abatement from waste management and resource recovery activities in Australia", released by the Waste Management Association of Australia, shows improving waste management and recycling could deliver an abatement or saving of nearly 38 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions - a 6.7 percent cut in national greenhouse emissions.

The report shows greenhouse gases can be abated by:

• Improving gas capture from existing landfills (saving 8.5 million tonnes CO2e).
• Avoiding future landfill emissions by limiting organic waste to landfill (13 mt)
• Saving energy by recycling materials which involve a high energy during manufacture e.g. aluminium (11 mt).
• Using renewable fuels made from waste (2.6 mt).
• Converting suitable waste to "biochar" for land application (1.7 mt)
  Using biodiesel for waste recovery and waste management vehicles (0.2 mt).

Marginal costs of carbon abatement are $35 a tonne of CO2 equivalent for metropolitan solid waste and $29 a tonne for commercial and industrial waste materials, cheaper abatement options than carbon capture and storage and biomass renewable energy.

Mike Richie, WMAA:

The industry is ready to invest several billion dollars in new technology and create thousands of jobs, with the right signals.

Links

Source: Former Premier Carr says governments must push incentives for recycling waste. Waste Management Association of Australia. 2007.10.17

Refer: Potential for Greenhouse Gas Abatement from Waste Management and Resource Recovery Activities in Australia (PDF). WMAA. 2007.10

Comments (1) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Waste

Inaction on Global Warming will Hit Australian Commodity Output

2007-10-5

Some of Australia's biggest greenhouse polluting industries, such as coal, iron and steel, and agriculture, could see major cuts to their output by 2050 if no action is taken to contain global warming.

The findings from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, says that Australia's farming productivity is likely to be 10 per cent lower, iron and steel output 6 per cent lower, and coking and thermal coal output almost 8 per cent and 5 per cent lower respectively than they would otherwise be in 2050.

Links

Source: Industry inaction will hit output. Siobhain Ryan. AdelaideNow. 2007.10.5

Refer: Climate Change - Issues and challenges for Australian agriculture and forestry. Don Gunasekera, Melanie Ford, Catherine Tulloh. Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics. 2007.9

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Economy

Deforestation Must Be in Next Climate Pact

2007-10-1

Cutting emissions from deforestation will be key to curbing climate change and should be agreed upon in December's climate talks in Bali, says leading Indonesian forestry researcher.

Daniel Murdiyarso, Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR):

Whether by means of a market mechanism or not, including deforestation in the new deal is something Indonesia and every developing country should push for.

It's huge because preserving and conserving the existing pool will then become very attractive.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, developed nations can pay poor countries to cut emissions from activities such as the manufacture of refrigerants and fertilizers as well as capturing greenhouse gases from farm waste and rubbish dumps.

But greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation, nearly 20 percent of the world's total, are not yet eligible for trade because they were excluded from the Kyoto Protocol's first round, which runs out in 2012

Indonesian Peat Swamps

How much should we pay Indonesia to preserve their peat swamps?

Daniel Murdiyarso:

With annual carbon dioxide emissions of over 1,500 million tonnes, preserving Indonesia's peatlands could bring in billions of dollars.

In Germany, the cost of reducing 50 million tonnes is 10 billion euro, that's 200 euro per tonne. If we take the same number for peatlands, we can expect some 900 billion euro.

I don't think anyone would buy it at such a high price, but it would still mean millions of dollars for Indonesia.

Experts estimate Indonesia has 20 million hectares (50 million acres) of dense, black tropical peat swamps, formed when trees, roots and leaves rot, that are natural carbon stores. However, when burnt or drained to plant crops such as palm oil, peat releases large amounts of carbon dioxide.

Indonesia is home to 60 percent of the world's threatened tropical peatlands and among the world's top three carbon emitters when peat emissions are added in, said a report sponsored by the World Bank and Britain's development arm.

Links

Source: Deforestation needs to be in next climate pact. Reuters. 2007.10.1

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Deforestation

Pay Countries to Preserve Rainforest: Indonesia

2007-9-25

Indonesia called on rich countries on Tuesday to compensate poor states which preserve their rainforests to soak up greenhouse gases.

President Yudhoyono:

Countries that seek to enhance their carbon sinks - through forestation, afforestation, avoided deforestation - should be given incentive and rewarded fairly for doing so.

While the developing countries strive to protect and enhance their environment and its biodiversity, the developed countries must extend support.

They must lighten the burden of developing countries in carrying out that immense task -- through incentives and the transfer of environmentally sound technology.

Indonesia has mobilized nations with most of the world's tropical rainforests - Brazil, Cameroon, Congo, Costa Rica, Gabon, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea - ahead of the Bali talks to get rich countries to pay the world's tropical nations not to chop down rainforests.

Speaking a day after a one-day high-level UN [General Assembly] meeting on climate change, Yudhoyono said he was optimistic about [coming talks] in Bali aimed at jump-starting talks to find a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, which seeks to curb climate-warming emissions.

Links

Source: Indonesia urges incentives for forest conservation. Reuters. 2007.9.25

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Deforestation

Technological Revolution Needed to Respond to Climate Change: US

2007-9-24

Development and application of new technologies is to meet growing demand for energy while reducing emissions, and to build resilience to climate change, says US.

United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking at the UNGA High-Level Event on Climate Technology Session at the United Nations Headquarters, said:

Existing technologies alone will not meet the growing global demand for energy, while also reducing emissions to necessary levels. Ultimately we must develop and bring to market energy technologies that transcend the current system of fossil fuels, carbon emissions, and economic activity. Put simply the world needs a technological revolution. Our common challenge is to promote these technological solutions aggressively - and implement them now.

Since 2001, the United States government has invested nearly $18 billion to develop cleaner sources of energy, including through hydrogen technologies, carbon sequestration, advanced nuclear energy, renewable fuels and sources of electricity, and support for greater energy efficiency. What the public sector alone cannot do, however, is bring all of these technologies to market. So one of our major common goals must be to encourage the private sector investments that will bring about a new low-carbon energy future, while ensuring continued economic growth.

The United States is working actively, both in the public sphere and in the private sector, to help other countries bring clean energy technologies and alternative energy sources to the marketplace - from solar, and wind, and biofuels, to diesel and hybrid vehicles, and clean, safe nuclear power. We are also promoting public-private partnerships in key energy-intensive sectors through the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate. And, through initiatives such as the FutureGen International Partnership, we are providing substantial public investments to advance the cleaner use of coal.

Climate change is such a complex and difficult issue because it cannot be dealt with effectively as an environmental challenge alone. It requires an integrated response - encompassing environmental stewardship, the security of energy supply, and economic growth and development. How we forge this integrated response has major consequences, not only for our future, but also for our present - and especially for the millions of men, women, and children in the developing world, whose efforts to escape poverty require broad and sustained economic growth, and thus the energy to fuel it.

Improved technology can also play a key role in building more resilient societies, better able to adapt to climate change. One advancement in this area is the Global Earth Observation System of Systems, an important partnership we have advanced with more than 70 developing and developed countries to address the world's most pressing environmental and biological challenges.

Links

Source: Remarks at the UNGA High-Level Event on Climate Technology Session. Condoleezza Rice. United States. 2007.9.24

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Research

Australia Must Lead on Energy and Climate: Engineers Australia

2007-9-13

Failure to take a leadership role on energy and climate change may jeopardise Australia’s future sustainable development, says report.

According to "Australia's Energy Future" released by Engineers Australia:

Australia should shoulder responsibility for its share of the necessary reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions to stabilise the world’s climate. It should use its influence in international affairs to encourage early agreement on global action.

Australia needs a robust national climate stabilisation policy which is supported by all governments and all political parties, which includes interim and long-term emissions targets and a robust emissions trading scheme.

Arresting the impact of global warming requires a mix of options including energy demand reduction and renewable energy.

While Australian economic growth is highly dependent on exports of energy and energy intensive commodies, it is in our long-term interests to position Australia to not only lead with climate mitigation actions, but also to minimise the impacts of climate change on the Australian community.

Links

Source: Engineers Review Australia's Energy Policies. Peter Taylor. Engineers Australia. 2007.9.13

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

Indonesia Number 3 Greenhouse Emitter: Report

2007-6-4

Indonesia is among the world's top three greenhouse gas emitters because of deforestation, peatland degradation and forest fires, says report.

According to the report, "Indonesia and Climate Change: Current Status and Policies", sponsored by the World Bank and Britain's development arm:

Indonesia's total annual carbon dioxide emissions stand at 3.014 billion tonnes after the United States, the world's top emitter with 6.005 billion tonnes followed by China at 5.017 billion tonnes.

Indonesia's yearly carbon dioxide emissions from energy, agriculture and waste are around 451 million tonnes while forestry and land use change are estimated to account for a staggering 2.563 billion tonnes.

The report is a review of published information compiled by PT Pelangi Energi Abadi Citra Enviro (PEACE), a consulting arm of an Indonesian research institute dealing with the environment.

Indonesia's rain forests are being stripped rapidly because of illegal logging and palm oil plantations for bio-fuels, and some environmentalists say they could be wiped out altogether within the next 15 years.

According to some estimates, the tropical Southeast Asian country - whose forests are a treasure trove of plant and animal species including the endangered orangutans - has already lost an estimated 72 percent of its original frontier forest.

Forest fires, often deliberately lit by farmers as well as timber and oil palm plantation owners, are a regular occurrence on Indonesia's Sumatra island and its portions of Borneo island during the dry season.

Links

Source: Indonesia World's No. 3 Greenhouse Gas Emitter: Report. Adhityani Arga, Ahmad Pathoni. Reuters. 2007.6.4

Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link :: Category: Deforestation