In this edition: “Australia’s opposition backs Kyoto 2,” says Reuters, while The Sydney Morning Herald has the other side: “Coalition supports sequel to Kyoto protocol.” The New York Times gives us “Should Candidates Discuss Global Warming?
Quote of the Day:
“There’s a very clear lesson here. What it shows is that if you make a cleaner energy source cheaper, you will displace dirtier sources.”
–Roger Pielke Jr., a climate expert at the University of Colorado, AP’s “CO2 emissions in US drop to 20-year low”
Lead Stories
EEX grows carbon market share
Environmental Finance
ICE Futures Europe has maintained its dominance among carbon exchanges this year, while EEX’s market share has been boosted by auction volumes.
http://jlne.ws/RZDP93
AP IMPACT: CO2 emissions in US drop to 20-year low
AP
In a surprising turnaround, the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere in the U.S. has fallen dramatically to its lowest level in 20 years, and government officials say the biggest reason is that cheap and plentiful natural gas has led many power plant operators to switch from dirtier-burning coal.
http://jlne.ws/NL9RS4
GAO: EPA rules pose acceptable “reliability challenges” for utility industry
The Hill’s E2 Wire
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released Thursday said the implementation of four environmental rules will likely pose electric “reliability challenges,” though not the full-blown problems Republicans and the utility industry have claimed.
http://jlne.ws/TIPngN
THE REPORT:
EPA REGULATIONS AND ELECTRICITY
GAO
http://jlne.ws/NHwlos
GRI calls for feedback on latest sustainability reporting guidelines
Business Green
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has launched a comment period for its latest sustainability reporting guidelines, urging businesses and the public to provide feedback on the proposed changes to the popular standard.
http://jlne.ws/OlYZw3
Australia’s opposition backs Kyoto 2
Reuters
Australia’s opposition Liberal party climate spokesman Greg Hunt on Thursday gave his “in principle” backing to signing up for a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, making it easier for the under-fire government to sign the U.N. climate treaty.
http://jlne.ws/QHITe7
Coalition supports sequel to Kyoto protocol
The Sydney Morning Herald
THE Coalition has declared its support for Australia’s involvement in a second round of the Kyoto protocol climate pact – a pledge that goes even further than the Gillard government’s present stance.
http://jlne.ws/NK8BSu
Should Candidates Discuss Global Warming?
The New York Times Green blog
Ever since comprehensive legislation to reduce greenhouse gases died in Congress two years ago, my colleague John Broder noted here recently, climate change has been the issue that national politicians seem to avoid at all costs. Supporting renewable energy? Fine. Advocating energy independence? Great. Calling for action on global warming? Not so much.
http://jlne.ws/NL7Oxl
Mozambique resists external pressures and drafts own REDD+ strategy
Center for International Forestry Research
Mozambique has taken a “remarkable” approach to reducing deforestation, engaging local communities and other stakeholders that will be most directly affected and drafting its own forest conservation strategy rather than relying on external consultants.
http://jlne.ws/Pw4n2n
In Drought, a Debate Over Quota for Ethanol
The New York Times
Three big intertwined but rival agribusinesses — corn farmers, meat and poultry producers, and biofuel refineries — are in a political fight to protect their interests as a drought ravages corn producers and industrial consumers alike.
http://jlne.ws/NrynZc
Climate change poses risks to food, beyond US drought
Reuters
Downpours and heatwaves caused by climate change could disrupt food supplies from the fields to the supermarkets, raising the risk of more price spikes such as this year’s leap triggered by drought in the United States.
http://jlne.ws/Op12g1
Events
GreenGov Symposium
ACCO & White House Council on Environmental Quality
September 24-25, 2012
http://jlne.ws/OfOB9D
Carbon Forum North America
October 1-2, 2012
Washington, DC
http://jlne.ws/zDe43B
Sustainability Summit – Innovation Challenge
October 9, 2012
New York
http://jlne.ws/wKbX7U
EMA 2012 Fall Meeting
**Keynote speaker is Richard Sandor
October 24 – October 26, 2012
Santa Monica, CA
http://jlne.ws/NIFCwM
Carbon
Japan’s Marubeni Interested in Buying Romanian Carbon Credits
Bloomberg
Japan’s Marubeni Corp. (8002) has expressed interested in buying an “important part” of Romania’s surplus of Assigned Amount Units, which the country plans to sell by the end of this year, Romanian Deputy Economy Minister Rodin Traicu told reporters in Bucharest today.
http://jlne.ws/Nry54r
Industry taskforce points finger at carbon tax
The Sydney Morning Herald
A TASKFORCE comprising trade unions and manufacturers has cited the carbon price as adding to the pressures on the struggling industry sector in a report to government containing more than 40 recommendations, sources say.
http://jlne.ws/NKaAX0
Natural Gas/Coal
Romanian Energy Stake Sales ‘Slightly Delayed,’ Official Says
Bloomberg
Romania agreed with the International Monetary Fund to “slightly delay” the deadlines to start the stake sales in energy companies, said Alexandru Sandulescu, an Economy Ministry official.
http://jlne.ws/MBzIiU
Uruguay seeks foreign bidders for $400 million LNG plant
Reuters
Uruguay is seeking foreign companies to bid for the construction of a regasification plant near the capital Montevideo with an estimated investment of $400 million, government officials said on Thursday.
http://jlne.ws/NK7JgL
Op-Ed: The Case for Natural Gas Exports
The New York Times
NEW data released last month signaled a milestone for American energy: natural gas joined coal as the top source of electric power. Gas production has boomed on the back of abundant supplies. That has spurred debates over hydraulic fracturing, a method to extract gas from shale.
http://jlne.ws/S2rWki
Power
South Africa to Open Third Round of Renewables Bids in September
Bloomberg
South Africa plans to open bidding for a third round of renewable-energy projects next month, Energy Department Director-General Nelisiwe Magubane said.
http://jlne.ws/Q5Huh3
Orix Corp. to Invest $680 Million in Solar Power Projects
Bloomberg
Orix Corp. (8591), a Japanese finance and leasing company, plans to spend 54 billion yen ($680 million) on solar projects worth 200 megawatts in the next three years.
http://jlne.ws/MBzWGS
Long-delayed offshore wind farm gets approval despite political pushback
The Hill’s E2 Wire
A large proposed wind farm off the Massachusetts coast gained regulatory approval Wednesday amid complaints from GOP lawmakers that the White House inappropriately pushed for its acceptance.
http://jlne.ws/N7Knxt
RECs
Massachusetts Tightens Rules on Biomass Plants
The Wall Street Journal
Massachusetts is expected to disqualify many wood-fired power plants from certain green-energy programs, starting Friday, because of concerns about their emissions.
http://jlne.ws/OoYpea
Reports
EPA REGULATIONS AND ELECTRICITY (Posted Aug. 16, 2012)
GAO
http://jlne.ws/NHwlos
European Power & Renewables Deals: Quarterly M&A outlook (Posted August 15, 2012)
Pricewaterhousecoopers
http://jlne.ws/TFZjaV
Advancing Technology for America’s Transportation Future (Posted August 6, 2012)
http://jlne.ws/MA2U6I
Benchmarking Air Emissions Of the 100 Largest Electric Power Producers in the United States (Posted July 31, 2012)
http://jlne.ws/QbRr0J
Per capita CO2 emissions in China reached European level (July 18, 2012)
http://jlne.ws/NAjBQQ
The Interim Regulation of Voluntary Greenhouse Gases Emission Trading in China (Posted July 10, 2012)
The Climate Group
http://jlne.ws/Mhv62s
Measure for Management: C40 Cities (July 9, 2012)
Carbon Disclosure Project
http://jlne.ws/L9LC37
