News Roundup
‘(Reuters) – Japan postponed plans for a national emissions trading scheme on Tuesday, bowing to powerful business groups that warned of job losses as they compete against overseas rivals facing fewer emissions regulations.’
via Japan shelves carbon emissions trading scheme | Reuters.
‘The Obama administration on Wednesday backed the United Steelworkers union in its accusation that China is giving an illegal boost to wind power manufacturers there.’
‘NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — In the coming weeks, the Obama administration will decide if it wants to significantly increase the amount of oil the country imports from Canada’s controversial Alberta oil sands.’
via Keystone oil sands pipeline U.S. expansion draws fire – Dec. 23, 2010.
‘(Reuters) – Japan is likely to shelve a plan to introduce carbon emissions trading as the troubled ruling Democratic Party bows to powerful business groups still recovering from a costly downturn.’
via Japan seen shelving carbon emission trading scheme | Reuters.
‘Plans to open the first major coal export facility on the West Coast are likely to be delayed until next year because of an appeal filed by a coalition of environmental groups, which say shipping coal to Asia throws a wrench in U.S. efforts to reduce international greenhouse gas emissions.’
via West Coast coal exports to China challenged on greenhouse gases | Greenspace | Los Angeles Times.
‘(Reuters) – California on Thursday approved rules for a multibillion-dollar carbon market, in what proponents hope and detractors fear will be a turning point for the United States toward building a national program to address global warming.’
‘According to industry analysts EuPD Research, future German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) revisions due in mid-2011 could lead to a market cap of only 3 GW* in 2012 in a “worst case scenario”, reducing world solar demand by a whopping 6.8 GWp, or 37% off anticipated 2011 levels. Such a market catastrophe would rival any nightmare scenario imagined by Hollywood, and underscores the risk associated with a global market so dependent on one nation’s political consensus.’
via PV Group – 2012 Disaster Movie or Will the Romance Continue.
‘(Reuters) – The Senate on Wednesday voted in favor of a one-year extension of the ethanol tax credit and the ethanol import tariff at existing rates, despite complaints the subsidies were wasteful.’
via Senate votes to extend ethanol subsidy for 2011 | Reuters.
‘Delegates from 190 countries ended two weeks of diplomatic brinksmanship over climate change Saturday in a stalemate between rich and poor countries over cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but they pledged to move forward on a set of broad technical measures.’
via U.N. pacts contain small steps but no broad accord on climate change – latimes.com.
‘CANCÚN, Mexico — The United Nations climate change conference began with modest aims and ended early Saturday with modest achievements. But while the measures adopted here may have scant near-term impact on the warming of the planet, the international process for dealing with the issue got a significant vote of confidence.’
via Climate Talks in Cancún End With Modest Deal on Emissions – NYTimes.com.