Top Stories
U.N. says emissions vows not enough to avoid
rise of 2 degrees C.—reliability high.
"Emission cuts pledges made by 60 countries will not be enough to keep
the average global temperature rise at 2 degrees Celsius or less,
modeling released on Tuesday by the United Nations says. Yearly
greenhouse gas emissions should not be more than 40 and 48.3 gigatonnes
of CO2-equivalent in 2020 and should peak between 2015 and 2021,
according to new modeling released on Tuesday by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP). Keeping within that range and cutting
global emissions by between 48 percent and 72 percent between 2020 and
2050 will give the planet a "medium" or 50-50 chance of staying within
the 2 degree limit, said the report, which was based on modeling by
nine research centres. However, the same study found that the world is
likely to go over those targets." See Reuters
story for more details. [So, for your
long-term planning purposes, we currently have around a 100% chance of
overshooting 2° C, and the sky's the limit.]
E.P.A. Plans to Phase in Regulation of
Emissions.—reliability high.
"top Environmental Protection Agency officials said Monday that any
regulation of such gases would be phased in gradually and would not
impose expensive new rules on most American businesses." The letter
said "that only the biggest sources of greenhouse gases would be
subjected to limits before 2013. Smaller ones would not be regulated
before 2016" The EPA is trying to minimize backlash by proceeding
slowly and cautiously. From The
New York Times. Another story with more detail is at SolveClimate
blog.
Companies,
Industries, Markets and Supply Chains
Air Liquide, BASF Top Chemical Industry
Sustainable Value Ranking.—reliability
high.
"Global chemical companies could gain about one billion Euro ($1.4
billion) in cash flow if they increase their sustainability
performance, according to a new study that evaluates the performance of
nine global chemical companies through 2004 to 2007. . . . The study
found that leading chemical companies such as Air Liquide and BASF use
their resources up to five times more efficiently than their
competitors, creating a sustainable value of about one billion Euro
($1.4 billion) in 2007. Researchers say this directly translates into
about one billion Euro more in cash flow than competitors would have
created with the same amount of resources. . . . Dow Chemical was
ranked at the bottom of the report card, using resources only half as
efficiently as its competitors on average. The study found that the Dow
created a negative sustainable value of -2.2 billion Euro ($2.9
billion). DSM and AKZO also did not generate a positive sustainable
value in the years assessed." See Environmental
Leader. PDF of report here.
Intel: "Invest in America" & Greentech.—reliability
medium.
"Intel and a who’s-who list of VC heavyweights are putting together a
little stimulus package of their own — and green technology is high on
their wish list. Intel CEO Paul Otellini announced Tuesday that Intel
Capital has put together a new $200 million investment fund that is
aimed at “key innovation and growth segments such as clean technology,
information technology and biotechnology,” and has roped in 24 VC firms
— including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Menlo Ventures, Mohr
Davidow Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Draper Fisher Jurvetson,
Khosla Ventures and North Bridge Venture Partners —to invest a total of
$3.5 billion over the next two years." See earth2tech.
Government and
Regulation
Solar water heaters come to the boil as cash
incentive is dangled.—reliability high.
"Government incentives are about to make solar water heating panels a
financial no-brainer for millions of households across Britain, as long
as they have a south-facing roof. . . . You can install it now, safe in
the knowledge you'll get the incentive payments – expected to be around
£400 a year – in 14 months." See The
Guardian.
Science and
Economics
Road Transportation Emerges as Key Driver of
Warming.—reliability high.
New study allocates climate change drivers by economic sector. "In
their analysis, motor vehicles emerged as the greatest contributor to
atmospheric warming now and in the near term. Cars, buses, and trucks
release pollutants and greenhouse gases that promote warming, while
emitting few aerosols that counteract it. The researchers found that
the burning of household biofuels -- primarily wood and animal dung for
home heating and cooking -- contribute the second most warming. And
raising livestock, particularly methane-producing cattle, contribute
the third most. " "The new analysis shows that emissions from the
power, biomass burning, and industrial sectors of the economy promote
aerosol-cloud interactions that exert a powerful cooling effect, while
on-road transportation and household biofuels exacerbate cloud-related
warming." From NASA.
Access the report here,
or an interview with the lead author here. [Important results
that show where to get the most bang for your buck with regulation or
other mechanisms.]
[Crossposted from HaraBara.com courtesy of HaraBara, Inc. Copyright © 2010 HaraBara, Inc.]
