Sustainable Energy News: 02/08/12

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

$670 mln in EU carbon charges forecast for airlines in 2012

Airlines face $670 mln carbon pollution charge in 2012 -study | Reuters

* Row over inclusion of foreign carriers escalating

* Chinese carriers face $11.25 million charge

Feb 9 (Reuters) - Airlines face a carbon pollution bill of 505 million euros ($670 million) for this year under a controversial EU emissions trading scheme, an analysis by Thomson Reuters Point Carbon on Thursday shows. Carriers joined the scheme, which covers carbon emissions from European and foreign airlines flying into and from EU airports, on Jan 1. The scheme has triggered widespread anger among foreign governments and carriers because the cost is calculated on the emissions from the point of origin, not just in Europe.

EU Carbon Market Country Map And Facts

ICIS Heren | Carbon Market Country Facts - Overview

European Carbon Market Country Facts

How to use the map:
Click on the country you are interested in and access emissions information including carbon allowance allocation, shortfall/surplus and the top 3 emitting sectors. On every country page, you will find a link which will take you back to the map. Save the URL of this page, so you can always come back in the future.

Steel company's sale of $102mn of surplus carbon credits made up 6% of EBITDA

ArcelorMittal sells off surplus carbon allowances to boost earnings | 07/02/12 | ICIS Heren

Steelmaker ArcelorMittal - the biggest surplus holder in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) - sold $100m (€76m) worth of December 2011 emissions allowances (EUAs) last year. "The carbon transactions that matured in the fourth quarter of 2011 were the result of several trades done during the course of 2011, based on future price for delivery in December 2011," a spokesman for the company said. The steel producer used these sales to boost its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), which totalled $1.7bn in the 2011 fourth quarter, down by 7.5% from $1.9bn in the same period a year earlier. As such, sales of carbon allowances made up 6% of ArcelorMittal's EBITDA for the quarter.

Pressure building for bigger emission set-asides

Political pressure builds for deeper emission cuts, set-aside | 31/01/12 | ICIS Heren

Political pressure is building fast within the EU for a move towards a deeper emissions reductions target, including reducing the number of emissions allowances available within the emissions trading system (ETS). Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and the European Commission have this week made the case for moving beyond the current target of a 20% reduction on 1990 levels by 2020, while EU states' environment ministers are expected to discuss the matter on 9 March. But the fact that no international binding commitment on climate change has been reached - a long-standing condition for the EU to step up its targets - could be an obstacle.

Sustainability watchdog urges Intl' Olympic Committee to designate an 'ethics champion'

London 2012 sustainability watchdog urges IOC to appoint 'ethics champion' | Sport | The Guardian

The London 2012 sustainability watchdog embroiled in a row over the sponsorship of the Olympic Stadium by Dow Chemical is to push the International Olympic Committee to appoint an "ethics champion" for future Games. The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 has been bruised by criticism over Dow's sponsorship of the wrap that will surround the Olympic stadium, particularly since commissioner Meredith Alexander last month resigned in protest.

How PG&E's ClimateSmart program works and what they DON'T tell you!

PG&E carbon offsets come from protected forests | ForestIndustries.EU

California's largest utility promises its customers green salvation through its ClimateSmart program. For every bit of energy a Pacific Gas & Electric ratepayer uses - from turning on a vacuum cleaner to powering up a computer or heating up an oven - a little part of a tree or forest is saved to erase the carbon sins of the customer. The voluntary program costs participants about $60 a year. But the company isn't telling its customers one crucial fact: Those forests were purchased years ago by a Virginia conservation group that used nearly $50 million in loans and grants from California taxpayers. The Conservation Fund then sold PG&E carbon credits on land it had purchased for preservation and selective logging.

PG&E requests offers to buy California offset credits

PG&E seeking to buy CO2 allowances, offset credits in RFO - Electric Power | Platts News Article & Story

Pacific Gas and Electric is seeking carbon dioxide allowances and offset credits that can be used to comply with California's greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program, which is scheduled to start in 2013. This marks the first time California's largest investor-owned utility has issued a request for compliance instruments. PG&E's request for offers, released Wednesday, did not specify how many compliance instruments the utility would like to buy, but the minimum offer size must be 25,000 mt of CO2-equivalent, the RFO said

Camco's CO2 issuance in California up 27%

UPDATE 1-Camco California CO2 credit issuance up 27 pct | Reuters

Camco International saw a 27 percent rise in the number of California carbon credits issued in the second half of last year as participants geared up for the start of the U.S. state's emissions trading scheme, the low-carbon project developer said in a trading update on Tuesday

Why Autstralia needs a big swinging green bank low carbon framework

Why we need a big green bank for low carbon transition | Crikey

One of the arguments that has been thrown forward against the proposed Clean Energy Finance Corporation — and will no doubt continue to be so in the coming months — is that it will be good money thrown after bad, and the $10 billion planned injection by the federal government is out of all proportion to the task at hand.

Designing California's Allocation Process - December 2010

Designing_the_Allocation_Process_.pdf

The Multi-Billion Dollar Question: Designing the Allocation Process for California's Cap and Trade Program - 2010

How Will California Allocate Its Emissions and Fees - The Report

FINAL_allocations_report.pdf

Allocating AB 32 Allowances and Fees: Perspectives and Findings - July 2009

California has many shades of green

2011_Many_Shades_of_Green.pdf

CALIFORNIA’S CORE GREEN ECONOMY HIGHLIGHTS

Between 1995-2008, green businesses increased 45%, green jobs grew 36% while total jobs in the state grew only 13%.
Even in rural areas with a smaller economic base, green jobs are growing faster than the overall economy.
Between 2007-2008, green jobs grew 5% while total jobs dropped 1%.
Services accounted for 45% of all California green jobs, the largest portion in Environmental Consulting.
Manufacturing represents 21% of all green jobs, and grew 19% between 1995 and 2008. Half of all manufacturing jobs are split between Energy Efficiency and Energy Generation.
With nearly 43,000 jobs in 2008, Air & Environment is the largest of California’s green segments. While this segment’s jobs remained steady, hovering around 35,000 from 1995-2005, since 2005 the number of green jobs in this segment increased 24%.
From 1995-2008, Energy Generation employment expanded 61% by nearly 10,000 jobs. Solar makes up the largest portion, and strongest growth (63%.)
Employment in Energy Efficiency increased 63% from 1995-2008.
Employment in Green Transportation has increased 152% since 1995. Green Transportation Jobs are primarily in Motor Vehicles & Equipment and Alternative Fuels, with the latter growing faster at 201%, and representing 48% of all jobs in this segment.
Green Logistics is an emerging field, only in the Bay Area at present, with employment growing by 1,144% since 1995.

The Politics of Sustainability - John Friedman

John Friedman: The Politics of Sustainability

Whenever I work with companies and organizations that seem to have disagreement on direction, I find it helpful to go back to their foundational documents to reestablish the connection between their past and their desired future.

China and the EU: Fly away . . . ?

China and Europe's emission-trading scheme: Not free to fly | The Economist

NO COMPANY likes being lumped with an extra cost. Airlines were therefore cheered by reports on February 6th that China had provisionally barred its airlines from complying with a European law to impose one, by including all flights into and out of the EU in its main provision for curbing greenhouse gases, the emissions-trading scheme (ETS). But the airlines’ joy may be short-lived. Whether or not China imposes a ban—a grave step, which might even instigate a global trade war—the row is already hastening efforts to make the world’s airlines pay for their pollution.

The Untapped Potential Of Commercial Buildings - Energy Use and Emissions

NXT10_BuildingEfficiencies_final.pdf

There are many green things you can do with a giant commercial building's roof. From painting it white to reflect the sun's rays, to building a green roof, to installing a solar array to generate electricity. Lithographix, a printing company, went for this last option and now has the first commercial solar array in Hawthorne, California.

Calif. Green Jobs Are Recession Resistant

Calif. Green Jobs Handled Recession Better than Conventional Jobs | GreenBiz.com

During one year in the recent recession, green segments of California retained a higher percentage of jobs than the state's total economy. From January 2009 to January 2010, the state's overall economy lost 7 percent of jobs while the "Core Green Economy" lost 3 percent, according to the latest "Many Shades of Green" report from research group Next 10.

Business to EU - Stop Meddling In The Carbon Market

Warning on EU carbon market ‘meddling’ - FT.com

Europe’s largest employers’ group has warned against meddling in the carbon market to prop up sagging prices, just a day after one of the continent’s top energy executives declared the market “dead” and demanded urgent intervention to save it. In a letter to parliament released on Wednesday, Philippe de Buck, president of BusinessEurope, warned that moves to withdraw carbon permits from the market to bolster prices “would, if implemented, create further uncertainty and price volatility, and establish a risky precedent of rapid political interference in the market”.

Customers Will Be Asking You For Yours

Sustainability Plan: Customers Will Soon Ask About Yours - Forbes

This article is about three letters to small businesses. The first letter was born in the 1950s, when the quality ideas of an American, Edwards Deming, reversed “Made in Japan” from a metaphor for cheap to quality. During the 1980s, after American industry had lost competitiveness with Japan, quality processes like ISO and Six Sigma were adopted and “Made in America” returned to prominence.

Insurers ordered to disclose climate risks

Environmental Finance | News | US states order insurers to disclose climate risks

About 300 insurance companies active in the US will be required to detail the risks they face from climate change, following regulatory moves in California, New York and Washington State.

Carbon Adsorbents Prove Highly Effective

ATMI's BrightBlack(TM) Carbon Adsorbents Prove Highly Effective in Recent Collaborative Research Efforts for Cleantech Solutions - MarketWatch

DANBURY, Conn., Feb 8, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- ATMI, Inc. ATMI +2.23% announced today positive results from key development initiatives that are leading to commercialization opportunities for its BrightBlack(TM) brand of precision carbon adsorbents. Lab and field test programs conducted over the past three years demonstrated a number of clean technology applications, including advanced adsorbents to enable CO₂ capture, renewable energy sources, and thermally-driven heating and cooling devices. Funding for applications development programs has come from ATMI, as well as public sources, including research contracts with the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense, and from privately funded co-development with industrial partners.

Deeper emission cuts and set-aside should not lift EUAs over 30 euros

Political pressure builds for deeper emission cuts, set-aside | 31/01/12 | ICIS Heren

European carbon prices should rise to no higher than 30 euros through a one-off market intervention if the EU’s flagship Emissions Trading Scheme is to remain effective and not be replaced with other measures, policymakers said late on Tuesday. Political pressure is building fast within the EU for a move towards a deeper emissions reductions target, including reducing the number of emissions allowances available within the emissions trading system (ETS). Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and the European Commission have this week made the case for moving beyond the current target of a 20% reduction on 1990 levels by 2020, while EU states' environment ministers are expected to discuss the matter on 9 March. But the fact that no international binding commitment on climate change has been reached - a long-standing condition for the EU to step up its targets - could be an obstacle.

Caclulate your carbon footprint with your iPad

Homeowners Take Control of Carbon Footprint with YKK AP's iPad App - MarketWatch

AUSTELL, Ga., Feb 08, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- International Builders' Show, Booth Number W3517 - Today YKK AP America furthers its innovative philosophy of upholding environmental responsibility by launching a residential iPad app designed specifically for homeowners. The free app, YKK AP Windows & Doors Energy Guide, empowers homeowners to take control of their carbon footprint. It introduces an Energy Calculator, which uses simple information about a homeowner's heating and cooling habits to calculate potential energy savings, cost-savings and CO2 reduction, as a result of simply upgrading to YKK AP's window and door systems in their home.

EU aviation carbon permits to trade on ICE starting Feb. 27th

ICE to launch EU carbon permits for aviation Feb 27 | Energy & Oil | Reuters

LONDON Feb 8 (Reuters) - ICE Futures Europe will launch European Union carbon permits for the aviation sector on Feb. 27 subject to regulatory approval, the exchange said on Wednesday.