- Home
- Climate Change (Page 47)
Climate Change
Ford Motor Company and DaimlerChrysler quit the Global Climate Coalition, an industry group that lobbies against restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions, arguing that the science linking them to global warming is unsound. In leaving the Coalition, both companies pointed to the credible evidence that links greenhouse gases to global warming and stated that membership in the GCC is impeding their ability to make progress on environmental initiatives. Both companies also remain opposed to the Kyoto agreement; Ford because of the treaty’s exemptions for developing nations and DaimlerChrysler because of its preference for technological solutions. Ford is the first member of GCCs board to leave. British Petroleum, Shell Oil, and Dow Chemical left the coalition over the past two years. This month yet another report was issued stating the warming of the Earth’s surface is “undoubtedly real,” this time by researchers of the National Academies of Sciences. It finds that surface temperatures in the past two decades have risen at a rate substantially greater than average for the past 100 years.
Read More
According to an Energy Information Administration (EIA) study, “Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases 1998,” 187 U.S. companies and other organizations reported 1,500 greenhouse gas emissions projects in 1998. They claimed reductions or offsets of 210 metric tons of CO2, the equivalent of 3.2 percent of total U.S. emissions for the year. This is three times the amount reported in 1994 when the program began as part of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Greenhouse Gas Performance Software, developed by GreenWare Environmental Systems Inc., helps businesses measure, monitor and report emissions. As company divisions enter data it is seamlessly integrated for the parent company. Companies can determine their current performance by using the database of greenhouse gas performance indicators, as well as set targets for improvement in energy use and environmental performance. Best practices and benchmarking can be easily achieved across facilities. It works for companies of all sizes. Sustainability Report-building software will be available soon. Contact: greeninfo@greenware.com http://www.greenware.com
Read More
France has yet to ratify the Kyoto Protocol (it plans to later this year), but on January 19 it announced a comprehensive national strategy to stabilize the country’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2008 to 2012. The plan includes about 100 measures, including a carbon tax beginning in 2001. A ton of carbon will be taxed from euros 23 – euros 30 (~$23-~$31), increasing to euros 76 by 2010. Energy-intensive industries will be exempt if they voluntarily reduce emissions. The plan includes support for renewable energy, tax breaks for energy efficiency in buildings, and requires methane recovery from landfills. Learn more about France’s climate change plan, if you can read French.
Read More
The EU Council of Environment Ministers formally accepted commitments from the Japanese and Korean auto manufacturers associations to cut CO2 emissions from new cars to an average of 140 grams/km by 2009. European automakers made a similar agreement a year ago. This means new vehicles will attain the equivalent of 50 miles per gallon. The Commission is examining whether to extend the directive to light commercial vehicles. Further, as of 2001, all cars must carry a label indicating its carbon dioxide emissions and fuel efficiency. The information must also be included in promotional material. Volkswagen, Europes largest automaker, is already doing this. In the U.S., California’s next set of stringent air quality rules go into effect in 2004, but three gas-powered cars already qualify: Ford’s model year 2000 Crown Victoria, Honda’s 2000 Accord, and Nissan’s 2000 Sentra. Hondas and Nissans cars require low-sulfur gasoline to achieve reduced emissions, which is widely available only in California. EPA has been planning to finalize regulations that would make low-sulphur fuel accessible throughout the U.S. by 2004, but recently 12 governors asked the agency to extend the deadline from 2004 – 2007 to help small refineries find the least costly technology to reduce sulfur […]
Read More
In Canada, Ontario Power Generation Inc.(OPG) completed the worlds largest spot trade in greenhouse gas emission reduction credits. It purchased credits from Zahren Alternative Power Corporation (ZAPCO) which produces electricity from landfill gas at 20 locations around the U.S. The trade is equivalent to the reduction of 2.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. OPG (formerly Ontario Hydro) is the fifth largest electricity producer in North America and owns 69 hydro, six fossil and five nuclear facilities. The company has voluntarily committed to stabilize its greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels as of the year 2000. This purchase facilitates technology upgrades, improved energy efficiency and use of cleaner fuels. In the UK, a greenhouse gas emissions trading system has been introduced that will supplement its Climate Change Levy, a tax on industrial energy consumption that starts in April 2001. There are three categories in the trading system: UK firms that accept absolute government limits; firms with negotiated Climate Change Levy agreements; and firms with concrete greenhouse gas emissions reduction proposals. Companies will receive tradable permits based on their annual emissions limit. Twenty-five companies, including BP Amoco and National Power, expressed support for the program.
Read More
A new report from the National Environmental Trust argues the United States can meet more than 50 percent of its Kyoto Protocol required greenhouse gas reductions through simple, low- or no-cost improvements in energy efficiency in electricity generation, transportation, and other fields. They recommend increasing such efficiencies as: – coal and gas-fired power plants by 5-10 percent – vehicle fuel economy by 10 percent – replace 5 percent of gasoline-powered vehicles with alternative fuel vehicles – aircraft fuel efficiency by 10 percent – commercial/industrial lighting and cooling systems by 25 percent – standards for new appliances The full report is available at [sorry this link is no longer available]
Read More
The results of a preliminary survey conducted by the Sustainable Energy Coalition show the range of views held by the presidential candidates on climate change and the proposed Kyoto Protocol. Democrats Bill Bradley and Al Gore support Senate ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and emphatically concur that climate change is a matter of major concern. Gore stresses “there is overwhelming scientific consensus that human activity is contributing to global warming … while Bradley notes it is a “serious problem” that “we need to confront … without further delay.” Both candidates endorse corporate incentives for voluntary action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. No Republican is in favor of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. Bush calls it “ineffective, inadequate, and … a bad deal for America and Americans.” He “believe[s] there is global warming,” but “both the causes and impact of this slight warming are uncertain.” What does he think should be done about it? Bush says, “America must work with businesses … to develop new technologies to reduce harmful emissions.” John McCain acknowledges that “a growing number of scientists believe that global climate change is a real phenomenon” but sees the issue as a “scientific question, not a political question.” He wants […]
Read More
The National Environmental Trust, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Physicians for Social Responsibility begin an international $11 million media and grass roots global warming campaign this week. It starts with TV spots on 200-plus stations nationwide and a movie trailer, “A Perfect Balance,” later this month. Narrated by celebrities, the trailer illustrates how global warming is caused, and how it can be reduced. Translated into at least 10 languages and broadcast in 60 countries until Earth Day 2000, it is expected to reach more than a billion people world-wide. An associated website, http://www.hotearth.com serves as an information source on global warming and practical solutions. A “Pollution Solutions Tour” will visit 36 cities in the next two months, displaying readily available environmental products.
Read More
In 1993, DuPont was the first company to sign on to the U.S. EPA/DOE Climate Wise program. Now, the company has reached its goal to reduce its global greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by the year 2000. Although production increased by over 35 percent during this period, total energy consumption remained flat. At a PEW Center for Global Climate Change conference this month, DuPont announced its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65 percent by 2010, while holding energy use at 1990 levels. Dennis Reilly, COO, also announced the company’s plans to supply 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2010. If DuPont were to meet 10 percent of its energy needs with renewable energy now, the company would consume 17 percent of total U.S. capacity and four percent of world capacity for wind energy. To increase renewable energy capacity significantly, Reilly emphasized the need for incentives. At current prices, using renewable energy carries a cost penalty. For DuPont, it would mean an increased cost of $60-90 million dollars a year. “Credit for early action” and other incentives offer the possibility of eliminating cost penalties and encouraging, and possibly accelerating, the growth of cost- effective sources […]
Read More
Despite economic growth of almost four percent, U.S. CO2 emissions rose only .4 percent in 1998, the smallest increase since 1991. Since CO2 emissions equal about 84 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions they are a good indicator of total emissions. Increased summer electricity use was offset by a very warm winter, reducing fuel use (the irony of global warming). The transportation sector, which constitutes about a third of emissions, increased by 1.8 percent while industrial emissions declined by 1.2 percent. Utilities used higher emitting, cheap oil instead of natural gas resulting in 3.2 percent higher emissions. Energy Information Administration
Read More
Loading...