Isramart news:
A senior Australian government minister said Friday that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd could call an early election if Parliament fails to pass his carbon trading program.
The government is negotiating possible changes to the program with opposition lawmakers who control the upper house Senate. It is hopeful a deal can be brokered over the weekend.
Parliament enters its final week of the year on Monday, leaving just days for the government to push through its carbon program before a long summer recess.
Business groups are calling on lawmakers to settle the issue, given uncertainty around the carbon program is hampering firms’ ability to make investment decisions and strike forward contracts, particularly in the electricity sector.
“This has been rejected once, we want to pass it the second time,” Trade Minister Simon Crean told Sky News Television.
Australia’s center-left Labor government won a majority in the lower House of Representatives in a November 2007 election. But it needs the Senate support of either the main conservative Liberal-National opposition, or all seven minor party senators to pass any new laws.
Opposition lawmakers already rejected the legislation once, in August. Under Australian electoral laws, the government can call an early election if the same piece of legislation is twice rejected by the Senate, three months’ apart.
Australia is the biggest per capita polluter in the developed world, due mainly to the fact that it uses fossil fuels, chiefly coal, for around 90% of its electricity generation.
The climate bills currently before the Senate, if passed, would see Australia introduce a market-based carbon trading scheme, similar to one already operating in Europe, in July 2011, forcing the nation’s biggest polluters to pay for their greenhouse-gas emissions.
The aim, by 2020, is to reduce Australia’s emissions by at least 5% from levels at the turn of the century.
Some conservative lawmakers still harbor deep concerns about the program and are threatening to vote it down, even if a deal is brokered by conservative party negotiators to increase compensation for industry.
That would be a break from the more usual situation where coalition party members vote as a block. Already, senators from junior coalition partner the rural-based Nationals have said they’ll block the legislation regardless of any negotiation outcomes.
The government has been negotiating with the conservative Liberal-National coalition on a series of demands ranging from agriculture to coal mining, food processing and others.
The government said Sunday it is prepared to exclude agriculture from its carbon trading program but Climate Change Minister Penny Wong wouldn’t be drawn Friday on other possible concessions.
“We want a scheme that is environmentally effective as well as economically responsible. That’s how we’ll judge all of the issues that are on the table,” she told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Conservative Senator Nick Minchin, who leads the Liberal party in the Senate, Thursday described the carbon program as an “abomination”.
His comments are at odds with Liberal-National coalition leader Malcolm Turnbull, who has staked his leadership on delivering enough conservative votes to pass the program if the coalition amendments are agreed to by the government.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Isramart : Study on carbon dioxide emission of Indian airlines
Isramart news:
The Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Praful Patel informed the Lok Sabha today that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to commission a study to determine Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions by airline aircraft in India and set up an emission database with 2005 as base year.
As the proposal is yet in its preliminary stage, a time frame cannot be specified.
The global contribution of aviation sector in carbon emission is approximately 2% of the total emission. The contribution of individual countries including India has not been identified.
The DGCA has asked the airlines to cut the emissions by way of improvement in fuel efficiency; adhering to proper maintenance of aircraft and implementing weight reduction measures in their aircraft, etc.
(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 20-Nov-09 In-depth analysis of the Indian airline and airport sectors, including latest traffic and financial reports and outlooks, is available each month in the Monthly Essential India.
The Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Praful Patel informed the Lok Sabha today that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to commission a study to determine Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions by airline aircraft in India and set up an emission database with 2005 as base year.
As the proposal is yet in its preliminary stage, a time frame cannot be specified.
The global contribution of aviation sector in carbon emission is approximately 2% of the total emission. The contribution of individual countries including India has not been identified.
The DGCA has asked the airlines to cut the emissions by way of improvement in fuel efficiency; adhering to proper maintenance of aircraft and implementing weight reduction measures in their aircraft, etc.
(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 20-Nov-09 In-depth analysis of the Indian airline and airport sectors, including latest traffic and financial reports and outlooks, is available each month in the Monthly Essential India.
Isramart : Living A Low Carbon Life
Isramart news:
Purchase any book from environmental publishers Earthscan and get a copy of Chris Goodall’s IVCA Clarion Award-winning book How to Live A Low-Carbon Life thrown in completely free! And, go into the prize draw to win a Sony E-Reader.
Climate science suggests that the Earth can absorb no more than 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year for every person if we are to keep temperature and rainfall change within tolerable limits. Yet from cars and holiday flights to household appliances and the food we eat, Western consumer lifestyles leave each of us responsible for over 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year – four times what the Earth can handle.
Chris argues that individual action is essential to avoid climate chaos. How to Live A Low-Carbon Life shows how easy it is to take responsibility. It’s a comprehensive, one-stop reference guide to calculating your CO2 emissions and reducing them to a sustainable 3 tonnes a year.
To get your free copy and the chance to win an E-Reader:
Step 1
Go direct to Earthscan and browse their wide range of environmental and sustainable development titles to order your book/s.
or
First browse a selection of Earthscan books on carbon markets, forest carbon and climate change chosen by Carbon Positive before checking the full range:
Books: Carbon markets
Books: Climate Change
Books: Forests and carbon
Step 2
Whichever option you choose, make sure in your shopping cart you enter in the voucher code How2Live and hit ‘recalculate’. Chris Goodall’s “How to live a low carbon life” will automatically be added to your order at no charge.
Purchase any book from environmental publishers Earthscan and get a copy of Chris Goodall’s IVCA Clarion Award-winning book How to Live A Low-Carbon Life thrown in completely free! And, go into the prize draw to win a Sony E-Reader.
Climate science suggests that the Earth can absorb no more than 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year for every person if we are to keep temperature and rainfall change within tolerable limits. Yet from cars and holiday flights to household appliances and the food we eat, Western consumer lifestyles leave each of us responsible for over 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year – four times what the Earth can handle.
Chris argues that individual action is essential to avoid climate chaos. How to Live A Low-Carbon Life shows how easy it is to take responsibility. It’s a comprehensive, one-stop reference guide to calculating your CO2 emissions and reducing them to a sustainable 3 tonnes a year.
To get your free copy and the chance to win an E-Reader:
Step 1
Go direct to Earthscan and browse their wide range of environmental and sustainable development titles to order your book/s.
or
First browse a selection of Earthscan books on carbon markets, forest carbon and climate change chosen by Carbon Positive before checking the full range:
Books: Carbon markets
Books: Climate Change
Books: Forests and carbon
Step 2
Whichever option you choose, make sure in your shopping cart you enter in the voucher code How2Live and hit ‘recalculate’. Chris Goodall’s “How to live a low carbon life” will automatically be added to your order at no charge.
Isramart : Region sets carbon move
Isramart news:
More cycling and walking facilities and bus priority measures will be crucial in cutting emissions, according to research by the East of England Development Agency.
The study, carried out by Atkins with the University of Aberdeen, also identified access to low-carbon fuels, public transport improvements, speed restrictions and road pricing as possible options for carbon cuts.
Implementing these low-carbon transport systems would affect the regional economy, it suggests. The results will be used by the Highways Agency and councils to help manage the environmental and economic impact of planned growth.
The study indicates that the region’s transport emissions are forecast to grow by 35 per cent between now and 2031 and will primarily come from rising car use.
More cycling and walking facilities and bus priority measures will be crucial in cutting emissions, according to research by the East of England Development Agency.
The study, carried out by Atkins with the University of Aberdeen, also identified access to low-carbon fuels, public transport improvements, speed restrictions and road pricing as possible options for carbon cuts.
Implementing these low-carbon transport systems would affect the regional economy, it suggests. The results will be used by the Highways Agency and councils to help manage the environmental and economic impact of planned growth.
The study indicates that the region’s transport emissions are forecast to grow by 35 per cent between now and 2031 and will primarily come from rising car use.
Isramart : Total Carbon Offset Red Diesel to Help Meet Carbon Reduction Obligations
Isramart news:
Independent national energy supplier, Crown Oil UK, has launched its latest innovation – a fuel with 100 percent carbon offset. Targeted at businesses in construction, utility, plant and rail industries, the standard red-diesel has been totally carbon offset in an arrangement with a leading carbon offset provider, allowing users to more easily meet their carbon reduction commitment.
Managing director, Matthew Greensmith, explained, “Nine months ago, we decided at Crown to carbon-offset the transportation of our commercial diesel. This proved extremely popular, especially with clients in construction, where the pressure to reduce the carbon impact of their operations is intense. The new ‘green’ diesel takes this a step further.”
The carbon credits purchased by Crown Oil UK on behalf of its customers will go into worldwide carbon reduction projects. These may include: green energy production by the combustion of the landfill gas – one of the most potent greenhouse gasses, reforestation projects to lock-up carbon – this often has additional benefits for wildlife, recreation and reduction in flash flooding. These high quality carbon credits are retired from the market, reducing the world capacity to produce carbon dioxide.
Over and above this, Crown Oil UK is actively taking further steps to reduce their carbon footprint. This includes upgrading the tanker fleet to more efficient vehicles and taking active energy saving steps in the workplace with low energy bulbs, better controls and a comprehensive recycling programme for waste material.
Crown Oil UK provides a nationwide service to the construction industry, working with major contractors to provide fuel and secure storage to plant depots and construction sites.
Crown Oil UK, The Oil Centre, Bury New Road, Heap Bridge, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 7HY, UK
The aim of carbon offsetting is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon offsets are measured in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. One carbon offset equals one metric tonne. Industries that are heavy producers of green house gasses have consents, known as carbon credits that set a limit on their capacity to produce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. If they need to go beyond this cap then they must offset their carbon production by buying carbon offsets.
New carbon offsets are created by projects such as forestry or wind farms that either absorb carbon or produce carbon-free energy. Offsetting can therefore be achieved by either supporting ‘green’ initiatives or by the purchase and retirement of carbon credits so that there is less capacity available to produce greenhouse gas.
Independent national energy supplier, Crown Oil UK, has launched its latest innovation – a fuel with 100 percent carbon offset. Targeted at businesses in construction, utility, plant and rail industries, the standard red-diesel has been totally carbon offset in an arrangement with a leading carbon offset provider, allowing users to more easily meet their carbon reduction commitment.
Managing director, Matthew Greensmith, explained, “Nine months ago, we decided at Crown to carbon-offset the transportation of our commercial diesel. This proved extremely popular, especially with clients in construction, where the pressure to reduce the carbon impact of their operations is intense. The new ‘green’ diesel takes this a step further.”
The carbon credits purchased by Crown Oil UK on behalf of its customers will go into worldwide carbon reduction projects. These may include: green energy production by the combustion of the landfill gas – one of the most potent greenhouse gasses, reforestation projects to lock-up carbon – this often has additional benefits for wildlife, recreation and reduction in flash flooding. These high quality carbon credits are retired from the market, reducing the world capacity to produce carbon dioxide.
Over and above this, Crown Oil UK is actively taking further steps to reduce their carbon footprint. This includes upgrading the tanker fleet to more efficient vehicles and taking active energy saving steps in the workplace with low energy bulbs, better controls and a comprehensive recycling programme for waste material.
Crown Oil UK provides a nationwide service to the construction industry, working with major contractors to provide fuel and secure storage to plant depots and construction sites.
Crown Oil UK, The Oil Centre, Bury New Road, Heap Bridge, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 7HY, UK
The aim of carbon offsetting is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon offsets are measured in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. One carbon offset equals one metric tonne. Industries that are heavy producers of green house gasses have consents, known as carbon credits that set a limit on their capacity to produce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. If they need to go beyond this cap then they must offset their carbon production by buying carbon offsets.
New carbon offsets are created by projects such as forestry or wind farms that either absorb carbon or produce carbon-free energy. Offsetting can therefore be achieved by either supporting ‘green’ initiatives or by the purchase and retirement of carbon credits so that there is less capacity available to produce greenhouse gas.
Isramart : News Corp. Picks Hara for Carbon Accounting
Isramart news:
Hara, the carbon and energy accounting software that’s landed such clients as Coca-Cola and the cities of Palo Alto and San Jose, has gained another big client – Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.
Hara will provide its Environmental and Energy Management platform to help the media giant measure and analyze energy and emissions information from hundreds of facilities around the world, the two announced Thursday.
Chalk it up as another big win for the two year old, Menlo Park, Calif.-based startup, which came out of stealth mode in May with news that it had raised $6 million from VC powerhouse Kleiner Perkins, Caufield & Byers (see Energy Management Startup Hara Lands Coke as Client, $6M From Kleiner).
Since then, Hara has added $14 million to its war chest with a Series B financing including Kleiner and new investors JAFCO Ventures and Nth Power (see Hara Grabs $14M, Seeks International Markets).
Hara is one of the best-funded startups competing in the nascent, but primed-for-growth business of carbon and energy accounting software. Others include CarbonFlow, Planet Metrics, Carbonetworks and CSRWare (see Carbon Accounting: It’s All About Appearances).
Analysts say these startups will need deep pockets to compete against enterprise software giants such as SAP and CA that are entering the field – some by purchasing startups of their own – as well as others with a long history of helping companies manage energy and environmental data (see Giants vs. Startups: SAP Stakes Carbon Accounting Claim).
Hara and News Corp. did not disclose financial terms of the deal announced Thursday. But News Corp. has set a goal of making all its business units carbon neutral by next year – down from 641,150 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents it emitted in the 52 countries in which it operated in 2006 – so it looks like Hara will have its work cut out for it.
Hara, the carbon and energy accounting software that’s landed such clients as Coca-Cola and the cities of Palo Alto and San Jose, has gained another big client – Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.
Hara will provide its Environmental and Energy Management platform to help the media giant measure and analyze energy and emissions information from hundreds of facilities around the world, the two announced Thursday.
Chalk it up as another big win for the two year old, Menlo Park, Calif.-based startup, which came out of stealth mode in May with news that it had raised $6 million from VC powerhouse Kleiner Perkins, Caufield & Byers (see Energy Management Startup Hara Lands Coke as Client, $6M From Kleiner).
Since then, Hara has added $14 million to its war chest with a Series B financing including Kleiner and new investors JAFCO Ventures and Nth Power (see Hara Grabs $14M, Seeks International Markets).
Hara is one of the best-funded startups competing in the nascent, but primed-for-growth business of carbon and energy accounting software. Others include CarbonFlow, Planet Metrics, Carbonetworks and CSRWare (see Carbon Accounting: It’s All About Appearances).
Analysts say these startups will need deep pockets to compete against enterprise software giants such as SAP and CA that are entering the field – some by purchasing startups of their own – as well as others with a long history of helping companies manage energy and environmental data (see Giants vs. Startups: SAP Stakes Carbon Accounting Claim).
Hara and News Corp. did not disclose financial terms of the deal announced Thursday. But News Corp. has set a goal of making all its business units carbon neutral by next year – down from 641,150 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents it emitted in the 52 countries in which it operated in 2006 – so it looks like Hara will have its work cut out for it.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Isramart :China vrea un acord climatic substantial la Copenhaga
Isramart news:
China va avea o contributie substantiala la Conferinta ONU privind schimbarile climatice, prevazuta sa se desfasoare luna viitoare, la Copenhaga, si cere incheierea unui acord real, nu a unuia lipsit de continut, a declarat negociatorul chinez Li Gao, citat de agentiile Xinhua si Reuters.
“Vom incerca sa asiguram succesul summitului si nu vom accepta ca acesta sa se incheie cu un acord “gol” precum o simpla declaratie politica”, a insistat cu ocazia unui forum desfasurat la Beijing, Li Gao, reprezentand Comisia Nationala pentru Dezvoltare si Reforma (NDRC). Oficialul chinez a mai spus ca negocierile de pana acum s-au soldat cu unele progrese, dar nu suficiente.
Un nou acord privind incalzirea globala, menit sa inlocuiasca protocolul de la Kyoto, a carui valabilitate expira in 2012 este principalul obiectiv al apropiatei Conferinte ONU de la Copenhaga, insa negocierile sunt greoaie din cauza dezacordului privind cuantumul reducerii emisiei de gaze cu efect de sera intre tarile dezvoltate si cele in curs de dezvoltare.
Guvernul danez, care organizeaza reuniunea, a propus amanarea semnarii unui acord global pe aceasta tema pana in 2010, la Copenhaga urmand sa fie semnata o declaratie politica generala. Presedintele american Barack Obama a sustinut aceasta propunere, insistand insa ca doreste incheierea unui acord “cu efect operational imediat”. Conform majoritatii analistilor politici, declaratia presedintelui Obama confirma faptul ca, in pofida numerosilor ani de negocieri, incheierea unui acord complet, bazat pe Protocolul de la Kyoto, este o problema ce nu poate fi abordata la summit-ul ONU in capitala daneza.
In pofida angajamentelor asumate de actualul sef al Casei Albe, in speranta unei rupturi fata de politicile fostului presedinte american George W. Bush, oficialii europeni le reproseaza americanilor ca nu iau suficiente masuri si manifesta temeri ca Congresul american va fi in masura sa adopte pana anul viitor o lege privind reducerea emisiilor de gaze cu efect de sera.
China a anuntat ca “studiaza” planul danez, dar se pare ca il accepta implicit, Li afirmand ca oferta inaintata de tarile dezvoltate privind finantarea transferului de tehnologie si crearea unui fond de surse nepoluante deschide calea spre un viitor acord.
China a depus mari eforturi diplomatice pentru incheierea unui nou acord, in domeniu. Pe de alta parte, presedintele chinez Hu Jintao s-a angajat pentru prima data, la inceputul acestui an, ca tara sa va reduce emisiile de dioxid de carbon, mai subliniaza agentia Reuters.
China detine, incepand de anul trecut, primul loc in ceea ce priveste emisiile de gaze cu efect de sera, devansand cu putin SUA. Impreuna, cele doua state sunt responsabile pentru 40% din emisiile globale de CO2.
China va avea o contributie substantiala la Conferinta ONU privind schimbarile climatice, prevazuta sa se desfasoare luna viitoare, la Copenhaga, si cere incheierea unui acord real, nu a unuia lipsit de continut, a declarat negociatorul chinez Li Gao, citat de agentiile Xinhua si Reuters.
“Vom incerca sa asiguram succesul summitului si nu vom accepta ca acesta sa se incheie cu un acord “gol” precum o simpla declaratie politica”, a insistat cu ocazia unui forum desfasurat la Beijing, Li Gao, reprezentand Comisia Nationala pentru Dezvoltare si Reforma (NDRC). Oficialul chinez a mai spus ca negocierile de pana acum s-au soldat cu unele progrese, dar nu suficiente.
Un nou acord privind incalzirea globala, menit sa inlocuiasca protocolul de la Kyoto, a carui valabilitate expira in 2012 este principalul obiectiv al apropiatei Conferinte ONU de la Copenhaga, insa negocierile sunt greoaie din cauza dezacordului privind cuantumul reducerii emisiei de gaze cu efect de sera intre tarile dezvoltate si cele in curs de dezvoltare.
Guvernul danez, care organizeaza reuniunea, a propus amanarea semnarii unui acord global pe aceasta tema pana in 2010, la Copenhaga urmand sa fie semnata o declaratie politica generala. Presedintele american Barack Obama a sustinut aceasta propunere, insistand insa ca doreste incheierea unui acord “cu efect operational imediat”. Conform majoritatii analistilor politici, declaratia presedintelui Obama confirma faptul ca, in pofida numerosilor ani de negocieri, incheierea unui acord complet, bazat pe Protocolul de la Kyoto, este o problema ce nu poate fi abordata la summit-ul ONU in capitala daneza.
In pofida angajamentelor asumate de actualul sef al Casei Albe, in speranta unei rupturi fata de politicile fostului presedinte american George W. Bush, oficialii europeni le reproseaza americanilor ca nu iau suficiente masuri si manifesta temeri ca Congresul american va fi in masura sa adopte pana anul viitor o lege privind reducerea emisiilor de gaze cu efect de sera.
China a anuntat ca “studiaza” planul danez, dar se pare ca il accepta implicit, Li afirmand ca oferta inaintata de tarile dezvoltate privind finantarea transferului de tehnologie si crearea unui fond de surse nepoluante deschide calea spre un viitor acord.
China a depus mari eforturi diplomatice pentru incheierea unui nou acord, in domeniu. Pe de alta parte, presedintele chinez Hu Jintao s-a angajat pentru prima data, la inceputul acestui an, ca tara sa va reduce emisiile de dioxid de carbon, mai subliniaza agentia Reuters.
China detine, incepand de anul trecut, primul loc in ceea ce priveste emisiile de gaze cu efect de sera, devansand cu putin SUA. Impreuna, cele doua state sunt responsabile pentru 40% din emisiile globale de CO2.
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