US causes Kyoto chaos
The US and China have publicly clashed over the US’s proposals to replace the Kyoto Protocol with a brand new deal – putting the chance of reaching an international climate change deal in Copenhagen in December – in jeopardy.
Reports suggest that US negotiators, discussing the issue at the UN-backed talks in Bangkok this week, state they are not going to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol or any Copenhagen deal which maintains the legally binding emission targets which were set out in the original Kyoto agreement.
The US team has put forward their plans for an entirely new agreement that would require all countries to have to set their own emission targets and action plans – Chief negotiator Jonathan Pershing confirmed that the US has made significant progress in tackling climate change and does still want reach a global deal. But negotiating for the US, he insisted it would not sign up to a deal which would result in international sanctions, if it didn’t meet targets that would not necessarily apply to large developing countries such as China.
Mr. Pershing stated:
“We are not going to be in the Kyoto Protocol…
… We are not going to be part of an agreement that we cannot meet. We say a new agreement has to be signed by all countries. Things have changed since Kyoto. Where countries were in 1990 and today is very different. We cannot be stuck with an agreement 20 years old. We want action from all countries”
The US comments have brought a robust response from China and the G77 group of developing countries, all of whom categorically reject any attempt to scrap the Kyoto framework and the concept of legally binding emission targets.
Related Utility Exchange feature;
http://www.utility-exchange.co.uk/2009/10/china-claims-climate-change-sabotage/
Source;
e-news @ businessgreen.com
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2250751/copenhagen-talks-brink-refuses
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DECC reveals Energy Efficiency Scheme
Final details of the Government’s scheme that will save organisations money on fuel bills as well as reduce the UK’s carbon emissions, have been revealed today by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
According to an issued press release by the DECC – The Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme is the new regulatory incentive devised to improve energy efficiency within large public and private sector organisations, whereby large energy users in business as well as the public sector will be required to take part in the scheme from 1st April 2010.
After carrying out extensive consultation with businesses and trade bodies the Department for Energy and Climate Change has made the following improvements:
• To smooth the introduction of the scheme and to help ease the upfront costs, organisations will only have to report emissions in the first year (2010/11). In subsequent years organisations will have to buy allowances corresponding to their emissions from energy use, and then surrender them by the end of the year.
• In the second year (2011/12) extra weighting will be given to organisations which take action early to improve energy efficiency.
• Recognition will be given to organisations which use onsite renewable energy like wind turbines or solar panels by publishing the increased carbon savings from such measures.
• Organisations will be given greater flexibility in how they participate. Subsidiaries who are large enough to qualify in own right (at least 6000MWh) may opt to do so separately from their organisational group.
• Given the primary focus of the scheme is energy efficiency, the CRC will now be known as CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.
Joan Ruddock, Energy and Climate Change Minister stated:
“The UK is leading the way in tackling climate change and in the move to a low carbon economy. Organisations and the public sector must play a central role including all government departments, regardless of size…
… Large organisations have huge potential to achieve cost-effective energy efficiency savings. There are clear benefits from positive, immediate action to tackle climate change. Investment that takes place in the next few decades will have a profound effect on the climate in the second half of this century and in the next…
… The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme will help organisations to become more energy efficient, to save significant sums of money on fuel bills, and to show customers, clients and competitors that their organisation is a leader in tackling climate change”
Source;
Decc.gov.uk – Press release – Energy efficiency scheme will save cash and carbon-07.10.09
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn112/pn112.aspx
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US Chamber of Commerce takes another bite as Apple quits
Technology giant Apple has become the latest in a rapidly growing list of companies quitting the US Chamber of Commerce regarding its policies on climate change. In a letter to Thomas Donohue –chamber president – Apple’s Catherine Novelli stated that she was frustrated by the hard-line stance the business organisation has taken against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) along with draft climate legislation now before the Senate.
As reported by guardian.co.uk Ms. Novelli has not sugarcoated Apple’s exit, and in the letter, which was released yesterday, she wrote:
“We strongly object to the chamber’s recent comments opposing the EPA’s effort to limit greenhouse gases…
… Apple supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and it is frustrating to find the chamber at odds with us in this effort”
It was concluded that the company’s departure is effective immediately.
The US chamber of commerce is against the idea that the EPA should use its authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions – which is almost universally seen as a fallback position in case the Democrats fail to push a climate change bill through Congress.
The chamber has also opposed the climate bill passed by the house last June – claiming that it will drive up business costs.
Utility Exchange recently reported that Pacific Gas and Electric quit the US Chamber of Commerce for the same reasons; http://www.utility-exchange.co.uk/2009/09/pacific-gas-and-electric-quits-us-chamber-of-commerce/
Source;
Twitterfeed @ Guardianeco – http://bit.ly/Rz9MD
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China Claims Climate Change Sabotage
In a news article by the guardian.co.uk – China is leading the accusation that rich nations are trying to sabotage the climate treaty – The US and other developed countries are attempting to “fundamentally sabotage” the Kyoto protocol and all-important international negotiations over its next phase, according to coordinated statements by China and 130 developing countries at the UN climate talks in Bangkok this week.
180 countries began their second week of talks this week in Bangkok, but developing countries are showing their deep frustration regarding the slow pace of the negotiations on a global climate deal – which are due to be concluded in two months’ time in Copenhagen.
Ambassador Yu Qingtai, China’s special representative on climate talks stated there is a concerted effort to fundamentally sabotage the Kyoto protocol, and continued by saying:
“We now hear statements that would lead to the termination of the protocol. They are introducing new rules, new formats. That’s not the way to conduct negotiations”
Mr. Yu’s comments were also echoed by Lumumba Di-Aping, Sudanese chair of the G77, the UN’s largest intergovernmental organisation of developing states – representing 130 countries at the talks, he stated that feelings are running high in the G77 and said that it was clear that the rich countries want a deal outside the Kyoto agreement. This would happen based on a total rejection of their historical responsibilities, which is an alarming development.
“The intention of developed countries is clearly to kill the protocol” Mr. Yu said.
Ed Miliband, the UK’s secretary of state for energy and climate change, confirmed that he remains optimistic that a deal can be struck at Copenhagen, despite the increase in tension in Bangkok. He advised that he is confident that the heads of state will be able to succeed in December where their official negotiators are apparently failing so far.
Full article;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/oct/05/climate-change-kyoto
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British Emissions Higher Than We Think
Greenhouse gas emissions in the UK are actually much worse than we think, reports BBC News Online. In fact the government’s new chief energy scientist, Professor David MacKay said they could be as much as twice as bad as the figures suggest.
He said that rather than greenhouse gas emissions declining since the 1990’s the UK’s energy footprint had increased. The reason for this, he said, was because goods that British people buy are now made in developing countries rather than in Britain and so we have exported our industry and our emissions.
He said the reason Chinese and Indian emissions were so high was that they were now manufacturing things for Britain therefore our true carbon footprint is actually twice as big as the figures show.
He suggested that Britain should increase its offer of emissions cuts at the climate talks in Copenhagen to compensate for this.
Source and further details: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8283909.stm
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Local Councils Urged To Join 10:10 Campaign
Ed Miliband delivered a speech at the Labour Party conference yesterday in Brighton, in which he encouraged all Labour councils to join the 10:10 climate change campaign, reports Environmental Expert.com. He urged them to pledge to cut their carbon emissions by 10% in 2010 to help in the fight against climate change.
He said he would work closely with the Local Government Association to get all Labour councils on board the scheme which has already received the backing of the whole of the cabinet, shadow cabinet and the Liberal Democrat front bench.
So far over 20,000 individuals have committed to the campaign along with 1,000 businesses.
Further information: http://www.utility-exchange.co.uk/2009/09/wimbledon-school-joins-1010-campaign/
Source: http://www.environmental-expert.com/resultEachArticle.aspx?cid=35902&codi=71426&level=0§ion=5
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India To Use Untested Nuclear Technology
India is to move towards nuclear power in a bid to cut carbon emissions, reports guardian.co.uk. The Indian prime minister indicated that they would move towards nuclear power over the next few decades although they will be using untested technology. The untested technology will be based on nuclear waste and thorium.
It was announced that Indian nuclear power stations could produce 470,000 MW by 2050. This is 100 times the output they get from their 17 reactors at the moment.
At the moment India has a major energy shortage with over 400m people unable to light their homes. In addition India imports 70% of its oil. The Indian government says that the new nuclear reactors will produce green energy and the programme will turn the problematic nuclear waste back into fuel. They plan to use thorium combined with plutonium to create a stock of uranium. However, the technology has not been developed successfully by any other country but India says it has over 2,000 scientists working on technical problems.
Many campaigners however, say that nuclear is not the answer to climate change and others have questioned the use of untested technology by India.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/29/nuclear-power-thorium-india
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Shell Sponsors The Prince’s Rainforest Project
Multinational petroleum company Shell is one of the six “supermajors” – vertically integrated private sector oil exploration, natural gas, and petroleum product marketing companies, where, as an official partner of the Prince’s Rainforest Project is campaigning to raise awareness of the consequences of deforestation – the clearance of naturally occurring forests by the processes of logging and/or burning of trees in a forested area.
Shell World UK (Autumn 2009) features an interview with Tony Juniper, the former head of Friends of the Earth, who is currently advising the Prince’s Rainforests Projects. Taking time out to answer Shell’s questions regarding deforestation and its connection to climate change, Mr Juniper confirmed that deforestation is a major factor causing climate warming whereby one fifth of the emissions entering the atmosphere are actually creating by the clearance of forests.
However, the seriousness of deforestation is put into perspective when it is considered that we actually rely on forests to absorb about 15% of emissions released into the air by industrial pollutants. Therefore, by cutting down the trees, or indeed burning the areas of natural forest, not only are emissions being increased, but the key resource for soaking them up – is no longer there.
The article explains how HRH The Prince of Wales established The Prince’s Rainforests Project due to the severity of the effect of deforestation on climate change. Mr. Juniper goes on to explain that this project is intended not to be portrayed as another overseas aid project or loan – rather likened to paying a utility bill, paying for your gas or electricity for example.
The argument for this is that the global community needs to pay those rainforest nations a utility bill, securing climate protection, rainfall generation and the nature conservation that comes from preserving the rainforests, which is the purpose of the project – working out how to raise and spend money whilst monitoring performance.
The implications of deforestation are global – having a significant effect on the environment and climate change, which is why rainforests are at the forefront of climate change campaigns. If you are interested in supporting the campaign to curb tropical deforestation or would like to find out more about The Prince’s Rainforests Project visit www.rainforestsos.org
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Wimbledon School Joins 10:10 Campaign
Utility Exchange reported recently on the 10:10 climate change campaign which was launched earlier this month. While few schools have joined the campaign so far the Wimbledon Guardian reports that King’s College School in Wimbledon has signed up to the 10:10 campaign.
Those signing up to the climate change campaign commit themselves to reducing their carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. So far many organisations have joined including hospitals, local authorities and businesses. Utility Exchange has already reported that British Gas and Royal Mail have committed to the climate change campaign.
The headmaster of King’s College said they were “delighted” to be one of the first schools signing up to the climate change campaign. He said their science building has a wind turbine on the roof and they are hoping to make their existing buildings more energy efficient.
See also:
http://www.utility-exchange.co.uk/2009/09/royal-mail-joins-1010-climate-campaign/
Source: http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/4650203.Wimbledon_school_leads_UK_climate_change_fight/
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London Hosts International CCS Summit
London will play host to international energy and environment Ministers on the 13th October to discuss carbon capture and storage (CCS) before they meet again for the UN Climate Change talks in Copenhagen in December.
The Carbon Sequestratian Leadership Forum (CSLF) will be hosted by the UK and Norway. Ministers will arrive from 23 countries including the European Commission.
Before the talks begin the Department of Energy and Climate Change is launching a consultation today to assess the potential of the North Sea to store CO2. The consultation process will last for three months and will consult on regulations for the exploration, development and management of potential storage sites. The purpose being to ensure that storage sites are safely managed and secure.
Source and further details: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?ReleaseID=407016&NewsAreaID=2&HUserID=886,779,889,854,777,684,710,705,765,674,677,767,684,762,718,674,708,683,706,718,674&ClientID=-1