Top Stories
China May Start State-Guided Carbon Market
by 2014, Feng Says.—reliability high.
"China will likely set up a domestic market for trading carbon
emissions by 2014 and hand companies 'half-mandatory' targets for
limiting their greenhouse gases, said a government official who
oversees climate change issues. Authorities are drawing up the rules
for a market to be run by 'associations' overseen by the government,
Feng Shengbo, deputy director of the China Clean Development Mechanism
Management Center, said yesterday in an interview." More from Bloomberg.
NEC Joins Cleantech Gold Rush with
Billion-Dollar Push.—reliability high.
"NEC Corporation, Japan's largest PC manufacturer, today became the
latest IT firm to announce that it is to push into the burgeoning clean
tech market, unveiling plans to invest 100bn yen (£760m) over the next
eight years in battery and smart grid technologies. The firm has seen
sales of PCs slide over the past decade and said that it was now
looking to reposition itself to take advantage of the cloud computing
and energy markets." More at BusinessGreen.
Companies,
Industries, Markets and Supply Chains
Find Out Where Your Clothing Really Comes
From, Green Fashion You Can Track on Google Maps.—reliability
medium.
"Talk about full disclosure, eco-fashion label Rapanui lets you track
each one of their garments on google maps" Video of youthful founders
on their green practices in India and the UK. More at treehugger.
See supply chain map here.
[A simple
analysis. (What about the sources of the inks, dyes, packaging, thread,
sewing machines? What about the source of the electricity used in the
UK?) But a good way to tout a company's green bona fides. (Compare to
the taco analysis here.)]
Mineta San José International Airport
Completes Solar Energy System with Canadian Solar PV Modules.—reliability
high.
"Canadian Solar Inc., one of the world's largest solar companies, and
Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) today announced the
completion of a roof-mount photovoltaic (PV) solar electric system on
the airport's new 3,350-space, seven-story rental car center and public
parking garage. The environmental impact of the system is the
equivalent of removing 235 passenger vehicles from the road or the
amount of carbon that 6,422 trees would sequester annually." More at Renewable
Energy World. [What PR person
thought 235 cars or 6,400 trees sounded like big numbers? This is a
1.21 MW installation. Those numbers make it sound even smaller. And the
irony is that this is a giant parking garage, designed to make it
easier for people to use their cars to go to the airport instead of
using public transport. And the release goes on to admit that this
installation will provide only 20% of this parking facility's (modest)
energy requirements. This is window-dressing--or rather roof-dressing.]
Greenwash tackled by environmental experts.—reliability
high.
"As an increasing number of high profile companies are being caught
out for making green claims they cannot back up, a round table event
looked at how to expose 'greenwash.' ... floor experts InterfaceFLOR
gathered leading green experts for 'Let's Be Clear - Wiping Out
Greenwash'." With videos of speakers. Story at edie.net.
Climate Skeptics.—reliability
medium.
Opinion piece notes a "fundamental failure in communications on the
part of numerous governments and NGOs who wish to encourage low-carbon
behavior. Every successful advertising executive understands that
effective campaigns offer the promise of a better, more attractive
life. Yet climate change communications remain stuck in the dark ages,
attempting to scare and shock the public into action. While minor
inaccuracies have landed the British government’s campaign in trouble
with the Advertising Standards Authority, its strategy of alarmism is
the true cause for concern." More in The
New York Times.
Kodak Launches New Logo and Website to
Promote Its Commitment to Environmental Stewardship.—reliability
medium.
"The company is adding a green and yellow leaf logo ... , plus the
tagline 'Kodak Cares,' to marketing, advertising materials and
packaging that include claims directly addressing its environmental
improvements or programs. In addition to the new branding, Kodak has
launched a new sustainability website dedicated to its policies and
performance from the perspectives of innovation, stewardship and
responsibility." More at 2Sustain.
Kodak's sustainability website here.
Peak Day Pricing Begins for Large Commercial
PG&E Customers.—reliability high.
"In a program designed to reduce California’s peak afternoon grid
demand, the CPUC this month moved about 2,000 PG&E customers –
large commercial power users with a demand over 200 KW – to a new
pricing structure that charges more in summer afternoon hours, and less
in off-peak hours. ... The change will provide an incentive for hotel
chains, large manufacturers, school districts, hospitals and some
office buildings to consider the many available alternatives that would
move their power demand to off peak times. Some examples include using
night power to supply daytime air conditioning or adding solar that
typically produces the most power during peak times, thus offsetting
their peak load." More at CleanTechnica.
Daimler and BYD Move Forward With Electric
Car Partnership.—reliability high.
"Daimler AG announced on Thursday a joint venture with BYD, the
Chinese automobile and battery manufacturer, to build a research and
technology center to develop electric cars in BYD's home city of
Shenzhen. The Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Company, as the
company will be called, will seek to strengthen each brand's position
in China's electric-vehicle market. ... Working with Daimler, BYD aims
to develop not only more robust vehicle architecture but also,
potentially, a unique design language for the venture’s forthcoming
E.V.'s." More at New
York Times Wheels blog.
Kawasaki Heavy: Revving Up on Energy Storage.—reliability
medium.
"The big guys are swarming greentech. ... Today I spoke with Kawasaki
Heavy Industries, a $15-billion builder of trains, motorcycles, ships,
helicopters, and energy plants. In collaboration with another Japanese
giant, Mitsubishi, they're looking at smart grid applications --
specifically, grid-scale energy storage." More in Seeking
Alpha.
Government and
Regulation
UK to miss 2022 carbon budget target,
forecast shows.—reliability high.
"The UK will miss its future carbon budget target unless the new
coalition government introduces firm policies to promote renewable
energy and energy efficiency not covered by the EU Emissions Trading
Scheme (ETS), a new forecast shows. ... A spokesperson for Cambridge
Econometrics told NewNet the budget is likely to be missed because of
emissions produced by households, transport and the majority of the
commercial and public sectors not covered by the EU ETS. 'What we see
in the non-traded sectors is that their emissions continue to rise
above the targets set out,' the spokesperson said." More at NewNet.
Global carbon emissions to rise 43 per cent
by 2035, says US report.—reliability high.
"Global emissions of carbon dioxide will grow by 43 per cent by 2035
if current patterns of energy usage continue and no global restrictions
are applied, according to the latest figures from the US Energy
Information Administration. The emissions rise will be driven by a 49
per cent increase in the world’s energy consumption over the same
period. Developing Asia will account for 35 per cent of the increase."
More highlights of report. From BusinessGreen.
Access report here.
[Business-as-usual
projections. Report also analyzes other scenarios, including one with
higher energy prices. Lots of charts and graphs.]
[Crossposted from HaraBara.com courtesy of HaraBara, Inc. Copyright © 2010 HaraBara, Inc.]