Sustainable Energy News: 03/30/12

Friday, March 30, 2012

Carbon Taxes and Global Decision-Making

Daniel Wagner: Carbon Taxes and Global Decision-Making

The European Union's decision to impose a carbon levy on air travel to Europe had the best of intentions but has provoked howls of protest from some of the world's largest economies, with both China and India having stated they will not comply. The conundrum now facing the EU -- whether to double down on the idea, modify it, or withdraw the concept altogether -- serves to emphasize the myriad of interdependencies and impacts that today transcend borders.

Sino-Forest to File for Bankruptcy

Sino-Forest to File for Bankruptcy - Video - Bloomberg

March 30 (Bloomberg) -- Bloomberg's Tom Keene reports that Sino-Forest Corp. said it plans either a sale of the company or a restructuring under which noteholders would acquire substantially all of its assets. The company filed for approval for a court-supervised restructuring process to stay some creditor claims and start a sale process. He speaks on Bloomberg Television's "Surveillance Midday." (Source: Bloomberg)

Met Office hosts 'conversations' with climate sceptics

Met Office hosts 'conversations' with climate sceptics | Leo Hickman | Environment | guardian.co.uk

We hear a lot these days about the need for scientists – particularly climate scientists – to engage more with the public and better communicate their findings. Without such dialogue, their work can be misunderstood or, worse, misrepresented. Just saying, "I let my science do the talking", no longer cuts it in the rough'n'tumble world in which we now live of cherry-picked soundbites, online echo chambers, and bruising culture wars. Scientists need to not only explain their work, but defend it, too. I think we should applaud the fact, then, that there now appears to be more of what I call "Rapunzel" scientists; those that choose to (metaphorically, at least) let down their long hair and allow us to climb up into their ivory tower to converse with them and to see how they operate. Many scientists now publish their own blogs and an increasing number are taking to Twitter.

Tackling belief is the key to overcoming climate change scepticism

Tackling belief is the key to overcoming climate change scepticism | Adam Corner | Environment | guardian.co.uk

In a Guardian comment piece last week, Vicky Pope, a senior Met Office scientist, articulated a view that is frequently expressed by scientists: that climate change is a matter of empirical evidence, not belief.
But a decade of social science research on public attitudes shows that in fact, scepticism about climate change is not primarily due to a misunderstanding of "the science". It is true that most people have only a limited amount of knowledge about climate science (as they do about most specialist subjects). And without doubt, free market and fossil-fuel industry lobbyists have shamelessly acted as "merchants of doubt" , exaggerating the level of uncertainty about climate change, or downplaying its importance.

General Motors pulls funding from climate sceptic thinktank Heartland

General Motors pulls funding from climate sceptic thinktank Heartland | Environment | guardian.co.uk

General Motors, the world's largest carmaker, has confirmed that it is pulling funding from the Heartland Institute, an ultra-conservative thinktank known for its scepticism about climate change.
The decision by the GM Foundation to halt its support for Heartland after 20 years underlines the new image the carmaker is seeking to project as part of its social responsibility programme. In the past GM has itself been associated with efforts to discredit climate change science, but in recent years it has been investing heavily in green technologies and cars including the electric/petrol hybrid, the Chevy Volt.

Electric vehicles lead pack in greening corporate fleets

Electric vehicles lead pack in greening corporate fleets | GreenBiz.com

In the increasingly competitive race to create the greenest fleet in North America, Frito-Lay took another small step forward this week, adding five all-electric delivery vehicles to its Northern California routes. Since 2010, Frito-Lay has put 176 electric delivery trucks on the road in North America.

Trading Emissions Renegotiating Unprofitable Carbon Deals

Trading Emissions Renegotiating Unprofitable Carbon Deals - Businessweek

Trading Emissions Plc is seeking to renegotiate unprofitable carbon contracts and there are “encouraging” initial signs that Chinese sellers are taking a “pragmatic approach to the problem.” The company has an unhedged exposure of 11 million metric tons of Certified Emission Reduction credits, Trading Emissions said today in a statement distributed by the Regulatory News Service. They would be worth 39.7 million euros ($53.1 million) at yesterday’s closing price of December credits of 3.61 euros a ton on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London.