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Isra-Mart srl news:
Efectul de sera este sporit semnificativ de emisiile de gaze poluante care provin din activitatile industriale sau din orice alt tip de activitati umane, iar vaporii de apa, influentati direct sau indirect de activitatile umane, reprezinta principala cauza a incalzirii globale, scrie „The Guardian”.
Gazele de sera pe care oamenii le emit in mod curent, direct in atmosfera, in cantitati semnificative, sunt dioxidul de carbon, metanul, azotul si fluorul.
Dioxidul de carbon reprezinta trei patrimi din totalul emisiilor poluante ce provin din activitatile umane curente. Surse importante de dioxid de carbon sunt combustibilii fosili, dintre care amintim carbunele si petrolul, iar defrisarile contribuie in mod covarsitor la cresterea gradului de CO2 in atmosfera.
Metanul este cel de-al al doilea gaz cu efect de sera, emis in proportie de 14%. Cea mai mare parte de gaz metan provine din agricultura, din culturile de orez si din fermele de animale, din exploatarile de combustibili fosili, cat si din descompunerea gunoaielor din zonele supraaglommerate. Metanul nu persista in atmosfera la fel de mult ca dioxidul de carbon insa efectele sale sunt mai puternice si contribuie mai mult la incalzirea globala cu fiecare gram emis in plus peste limitele normale.
Azotul contribuie cu 8% la cantitatea de emisii de gaze cu efect de sera si provine din agricultura, in special din ingrasamintele pe baza de azot, cat si din gunoiul de grajd.
Fluorul este responsabil de 1% din cantitatea de emisii de gaze cu efect de sera din atmosfera si provine din industrie. Efectul sau, cu fiecare gram emis in plus fata de limitele normale, este mai puternic decat cel al azotului.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Isra-Mart srl:RAPORT. Tinta de reducere a emisiilor cu 30% in UE, avantaj financiar pentru Romania
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Isra-Mart srl news:
O crestere a tintei UE de reducere a emisiilor de la 20% la 30%, pana in 2020, ar reprezenta un avantaj financiar pentru Romania, deoarece ar creste pretul certificatelor de carbon de care dispune tara noastra si ar reduce costurile de sanatate cu 1,4 miliarde de euro, potrivit unui raport recent al retelei Climate Action Network Europe.
Raportul trece in revista 6 motive pentru care aceasta tinta nu numai ca va putea fi atinsa, dar chiar aduce beneficii considerabile statelor membre: cresterea numarului locurilor de munca, a competitivitatii, a inovarii, securitatii energetice si sanatatii, dar si reducerea costurilor.
Tinta de 20% e aproape atinsa
Potrivit unei comunicari a Comisiei Europene, tinta de 30% pentru reducerea emisiilor este fezabila atat din punct de vedere tehnic, cat si economic.
In primul rand, din cauza crizei economice, Europa se apropie deja de tinta de reduceri de emisii cu 20%, date fiind scaderea cu 5,5% a consumului de combustibili fosili in 2009, precum si cresterea ponderii de energie regenerabila la 10,3% in mixul energetic european.
Practic, emisiile Statelor Membre din 2009 sunt deja cu 17,3% sub cele din 1990. De asemenea, costurile anuale pentru atingerea tintei de 20%, realizate in 2008, erau de 70 miliarde euro, insa estimarile actuale pentru aceleasi costuri au scazut la 48 miliarde euro. Pentru o tinta de reduceri cu 30%, costurile depasesc doar cu 11 miliarde euro estimarile din 2008.
Din perspectiva veniturilor statelor membre provenite din comercializarea emisiilor de carbon (EU-ETS), scaderea pretului per tona de CO2 aduce pagube uriase bugetelor nationale. Germania pierde 15 miliarde de euro pe an, Marea Britanie – 9,5 miliarde, iar Italia – 7,1 miliarde. Pentru Romania, pierderile sunt estimate la 2,3 miliarde de euro.
Numarul de certificate alocate Romaniei prin schema europeana de comercializare a emisiilor de carbon (ETS) se situeaza la o medie anuala de 75.944.352 de certificate, in perioada 2008 – 2012. Acestea sunt distribuite companiilor, care le pot vinde in cazul in care produc mai putine emisii decat limita maxima care le-a fost impusa.
In conditiile scaderii emisiilor, exista o supra-alocare la nivel european a acestor certificate, fapt ce face ca pretul lor sa scada, acele companii care investesc in reducerea emisiilor sa fie descurajate. Dimpotriva, cei care nu fac investitii prefera acum sa cumpere aceste certificate, avand in vedere pretul lor scazut.
Trecerea la tinta de 30% ar insemna scoaterea de pe piata a 1,4 gigatone de CO2, ceea ce ar asigura cresterea pretului tonei de CO2 si, prin urmare, cresterea veniturilor statelor membre.
Costuri in sanatate, reduse
Reducerile de emisii mai mari vor conduce si la imbunatatirea calitatii aerului in UE, ceea ce ar reduce costurile cu serviciile de sanatate cu 14,6 pana la 30,5 miliarde euro pe an pana in 2020. Pentru Romania, estimarile arata reduceri maxime de costuri in sistemul de sanatate de 1,4 miliarde euro pe an.
Ca prioritate a Uniunii Europene, cele 3,4 milioane de locuri de munca verzi asigura 2,5% din PIB-ul UE, reprezentand aproximativ 40% din cota de piata mondiala. Comisia Europeana estimeaza ca trecerea la tinta de 30% ar genera inca 2 milioane de locuri de munca directe si indirecte.
Cel mai mare potential in acest sens il are sectorul constructiilor, intrucat cladirile reprezinta 42% din consumul final de energie la nivel UE, iar lucrarile de eficienta energetica pot asigura jumatate din reducerile de emisii necesare pana in 2050 (adica 80% fata de nivelul din 1990). Investitiile in eficienta energetica au costuri negative, adica aduc intre 12 si 60 de euro pe tona de CO2 ne-emisa in sectorul cladirilor si intre 74 si 107 euro in sectorul industrial.
Conform strategiei in domeniul eficientei energetice, Romania are un potential de reduceri de 40%. In contextul cresterii pretului petrolului, importanta eficientei energetice creste: pretul petrolului se afla in ianuarie 2011 la 91 de dolari pe baril, iar dependenta Europei de importuri de petrol se estimeaza ca va atinge 62% din consumul total de energie in 2020.
Astfel, conform Comisiei Europene, trecerea la tinta de 30% reduceri de emisii ar avea ca efect economisirea a 14 miliarde de euro prin reducerea importurilor de petrol ca urmare a cresterii eficientei energetice (calculat la un cost de 88,4 dolari/baril).
"Raportul arata ca trecerea la o tinta de reduceri de emisii de 30% aduce cu sine beneficii in domeniul sanatatii si stimuleaza crearea de noi locuri de munca. Tarile din Europa Centrala si de Est trebuie sa joace un rol constructiv pentru ca acest obiectiv sa fie posibil", a declarat Thomas Wyns, Senior Policy Officer la Climate Action Network Europe.
Raportul ”30% - De ce ar trebui Europa să-şi consolideze acţiunile climatice până în 2020” a fost publicat in contextul in care Organizatia Mondiala a Meteorologiei a confirmat faptul ca 2010 a fost cel mai cald an inregistrat vreodata in istoria serviciilor meteo.
Isra-Mart srl news:
O crestere a tintei UE de reducere a emisiilor de la 20% la 30%, pana in 2020, ar reprezenta un avantaj financiar pentru Romania, deoarece ar creste pretul certificatelor de carbon de care dispune tara noastra si ar reduce costurile de sanatate cu 1,4 miliarde de euro, potrivit unui raport recent al retelei Climate Action Network Europe.
Raportul trece in revista 6 motive pentru care aceasta tinta nu numai ca va putea fi atinsa, dar chiar aduce beneficii considerabile statelor membre: cresterea numarului locurilor de munca, a competitivitatii, a inovarii, securitatii energetice si sanatatii, dar si reducerea costurilor.
Tinta de 20% e aproape atinsa
Potrivit unei comunicari a Comisiei Europene, tinta de 30% pentru reducerea emisiilor este fezabila atat din punct de vedere tehnic, cat si economic.
In primul rand, din cauza crizei economice, Europa se apropie deja de tinta de reduceri de emisii cu 20%, date fiind scaderea cu 5,5% a consumului de combustibili fosili in 2009, precum si cresterea ponderii de energie regenerabila la 10,3% in mixul energetic european.
Practic, emisiile Statelor Membre din 2009 sunt deja cu 17,3% sub cele din 1990. De asemenea, costurile anuale pentru atingerea tintei de 20%, realizate in 2008, erau de 70 miliarde euro, insa estimarile actuale pentru aceleasi costuri au scazut la 48 miliarde euro. Pentru o tinta de reduceri cu 30%, costurile depasesc doar cu 11 miliarde euro estimarile din 2008.
Din perspectiva veniturilor statelor membre provenite din comercializarea emisiilor de carbon (EU-ETS), scaderea pretului per tona de CO2 aduce pagube uriase bugetelor nationale. Germania pierde 15 miliarde de euro pe an, Marea Britanie – 9,5 miliarde, iar Italia – 7,1 miliarde. Pentru Romania, pierderile sunt estimate la 2,3 miliarde de euro.
Numarul de certificate alocate Romaniei prin schema europeana de comercializare a emisiilor de carbon (ETS) se situeaza la o medie anuala de 75.944.352 de certificate, in perioada 2008 – 2012. Acestea sunt distribuite companiilor, care le pot vinde in cazul in care produc mai putine emisii decat limita maxima care le-a fost impusa.
In conditiile scaderii emisiilor, exista o supra-alocare la nivel european a acestor certificate, fapt ce face ca pretul lor sa scada, acele companii care investesc in reducerea emisiilor sa fie descurajate. Dimpotriva, cei care nu fac investitii prefera acum sa cumpere aceste certificate, avand in vedere pretul lor scazut.
Trecerea la tinta de 30% ar insemna scoaterea de pe piata a 1,4 gigatone de CO2, ceea ce ar asigura cresterea pretului tonei de CO2 si, prin urmare, cresterea veniturilor statelor membre.
Costuri in sanatate, reduse
Reducerile de emisii mai mari vor conduce si la imbunatatirea calitatii aerului in UE, ceea ce ar reduce costurile cu serviciile de sanatate cu 14,6 pana la 30,5 miliarde euro pe an pana in 2020. Pentru Romania, estimarile arata reduceri maxime de costuri in sistemul de sanatate de 1,4 miliarde euro pe an.
Ca prioritate a Uniunii Europene, cele 3,4 milioane de locuri de munca verzi asigura 2,5% din PIB-ul UE, reprezentand aproximativ 40% din cota de piata mondiala. Comisia Europeana estimeaza ca trecerea la tinta de 30% ar genera inca 2 milioane de locuri de munca directe si indirecte.
Cel mai mare potential in acest sens il are sectorul constructiilor, intrucat cladirile reprezinta 42% din consumul final de energie la nivel UE, iar lucrarile de eficienta energetica pot asigura jumatate din reducerile de emisii necesare pana in 2050 (adica 80% fata de nivelul din 1990). Investitiile in eficienta energetica au costuri negative, adica aduc intre 12 si 60 de euro pe tona de CO2 ne-emisa in sectorul cladirilor si intre 74 si 107 euro in sectorul industrial.
Conform strategiei in domeniul eficientei energetice, Romania are un potential de reduceri de 40%. In contextul cresterii pretului petrolului, importanta eficientei energetice creste: pretul petrolului se afla in ianuarie 2011 la 91 de dolari pe baril, iar dependenta Europei de importuri de petrol se estimeaza ca va atinge 62% din consumul total de energie in 2020.
Astfel, conform Comisiei Europene, trecerea la tinta de 30% reduceri de emisii ar avea ca efect economisirea a 14 miliarde de euro prin reducerea importurilor de petrol ca urmare a cresterii eficientei energetice (calculat la un cost de 88,4 dolari/baril).
"Raportul arata ca trecerea la o tinta de reduceri de emisii de 30% aduce cu sine beneficii in domeniul sanatatii si stimuleaza crearea de noi locuri de munca. Tarile din Europa Centrala si de Est trebuie sa joace un rol constructiv pentru ca acest obiectiv sa fie posibil", a declarat Thomas Wyns, Senior Policy Officer la Climate Action Network Europe.
Raportul ”30% - De ce ar trebui Europa să-şi consolideze acţiunile climatice până în 2020” a fost publicat in contextul in care Organizatia Mondiala a Meteorologiei a confirmat faptul ca 2010 a fost cel mai cald an inregistrat vreodata in istoria serviciilor meteo.
Isra-Mart srl:Business urged to heed young people's green concerns
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Isra-Mart srl news:
Companies will today be warned that they must shift to low carbon business models, enhance resource efficiency and deliver greener products if they are to win over the next generation of consumers.
A new survey of over 1,000 16-24 year olds conducted by environmental charity Global Action Plan and pollsters YouGov found the vast majority of young adults felt businesses have a responsibility to make it easier for people to lead greener lifestyles.
Over 70 per cent thought that only products with the highest environmental standards should be stocked, reflecting the groundswell of support for recent campaigns such as Hugh's Fish Fight and its efforts to promote more sustainable fishing practices.
Renewable energy was also revealed as a top priority for young people with 81 per cent of those polled stating that they wanted to see the majority of homes producing their own energy via technologies such as solar panels.
Moreover, two-thirds supported the idea of a carbon-tax to encourage companies to invest in cleaner technologies.
The government was also seen as having a key role in promoting a low-carbon economy, not just through regulations, incentives and investment, but also by encouraging schools to teach the science of climate change, its impacts, and how to live more sustainably.
"This pioneering research shows that young people want to see a more sustainable UK," said Trewin Restorick, chief executive of Global Action Plan. "They can't do it on their own and want business and government to step-up-to-the mark and speed up the transition."
Laura Tenison, managing director of children's clothing retailer JoJo Maman Bébé, said business leaders had a "responsibility" to invest in long term sustainability and not just short term profits. "Our young people are placing enormous trust in us to lead the way - so let us do just that," she added.
Writing for BusinessGreen earlier this month, climate change minister Greg Barker predicted a new "low carbon army" of apprentices would be needed to provide the skills required to shift the UK's economy towards more renewable form of energy generation.
Eight out of 10 respondents to the survey agreed that science and engineering should be given more importance in schools in order to ensure people develop the skills required for the low carbon economy.
Commenting on today's survey, Barker said: "Britain's low carbon economy will need a massive injection of skills and today's young people are in pole position to grab hold of them."
Isra-Mart srl news:
Companies will today be warned that they must shift to low carbon business models, enhance resource efficiency and deliver greener products if they are to win over the next generation of consumers.
A new survey of over 1,000 16-24 year olds conducted by environmental charity Global Action Plan and pollsters YouGov found the vast majority of young adults felt businesses have a responsibility to make it easier for people to lead greener lifestyles.
Over 70 per cent thought that only products with the highest environmental standards should be stocked, reflecting the groundswell of support for recent campaigns such as Hugh's Fish Fight and its efforts to promote more sustainable fishing practices.
Renewable energy was also revealed as a top priority for young people with 81 per cent of those polled stating that they wanted to see the majority of homes producing their own energy via technologies such as solar panels.
Moreover, two-thirds supported the idea of a carbon-tax to encourage companies to invest in cleaner technologies.
The government was also seen as having a key role in promoting a low-carbon economy, not just through regulations, incentives and investment, but also by encouraging schools to teach the science of climate change, its impacts, and how to live more sustainably.
"This pioneering research shows that young people want to see a more sustainable UK," said Trewin Restorick, chief executive of Global Action Plan. "They can't do it on their own and want business and government to step-up-to-the mark and speed up the transition."
Laura Tenison, managing director of children's clothing retailer JoJo Maman Bébé, said business leaders had a "responsibility" to invest in long term sustainability and not just short term profits. "Our young people are placing enormous trust in us to lead the way - so let us do just that," she added.
Writing for BusinessGreen earlier this month, climate change minister Greg Barker predicted a new "low carbon army" of apprentices would be needed to provide the skills required to shift the UK's economy towards more renewable form of energy generation.
Eight out of 10 respondents to the survey agreed that science and engineering should be given more importance in schools in order to ensure people develop the skills required for the low carbon economy.
Commenting on today's survey, Barker said: "Britain's low carbon economy will need a massive injection of skills and today's young people are in pole position to grab hold of them."
Isra-Mart srl:Oil surges nears $120 a barrel on Libya and Middle East fears
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Isra-mart srl news:
Oil prices soared to almost $120 a barrel on Thursday amid fears that the unrest in Libya and Bahrain could spread to other oil-rich countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia.
Brent crude leapt $8.54 to $119.79 a barrel, the highest price since August 2008. It closed at $112.20 on Wednesday, up 5.4 per cent on the day. Oil prices have gained 15 per cent in the past four days as the revolt in Libya cut more than a quarter of the country's output. US crude for April delivery rallied to $103.41, the highest since September 2009.
Stock markets around the world tumbled again, with the FTSE 100 index in London down more than 20 points at 5901.16. The Dax in Frankfurt dropped about 80 points and the CAC in Paris fell nearly 30 points. Overnight, the Nikkei in Tokyo closed down 1.2 per cent.
Markets worry that the unrest could spread to Saudi Arabia, which pumps a tenth of the world's oil and is the only country with significant spare capacity that could be used to plug supply shortages.
Analysts at Goldman Sachs said further disruptions could create "severe" oil shortages that would require "substantial demand rationing". "The market cannot accommodate another disruption, in our view, with the problems in Libya potentially absorbing half of Opec's spare capacity," said commodity analyst Jeffrey Currie.
"Although we still see contagion to the large energy producers in the Gulf as relatively low, the stakes associated with further contagion are now much higher, which creates even further upside risk to our price forecasts."
The cost of oil hit an all-time high of $147.02 in July 2008, but then fell back as the recession in most western countries reduced demand for crude. Commodity analysts at Japanese bank Nomura have warned that prices could perhaps hit $220 a barrel if the crisis in the Middle East continues. They compared the current situation to the 1990-1991 Gulf war, saying if Libya and Algeria were to halt oil production, prices could peak above $220 a barrel. Others have predicted that oil could rise above $150 a barrel if the turmoil spreads.
The International Energy Agency warned this week that surging oil prices could derail the world economic recovery. Economists reckon that a $10 a barrel increase in the price of oil knocks about half a percentage point from global GDP growth, although some still expect oil prices to drop back later this year.
Gold prices hovered near a seven-week high as the surge in oil prices triggered inflation fears. Spot gold traded at $1,415.45 an ounce. "People don't have much confidence that the Libya crisis will be settled any time soon, so a lot of them are betting on gold," a dealer in Singapore told Reuters. "Gold will be king."
Isra-mart srl news:
Oil prices soared to almost $120 a barrel on Thursday amid fears that the unrest in Libya and Bahrain could spread to other oil-rich countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia.
Brent crude leapt $8.54 to $119.79 a barrel, the highest price since August 2008. It closed at $112.20 on Wednesday, up 5.4 per cent on the day. Oil prices have gained 15 per cent in the past four days as the revolt in Libya cut more than a quarter of the country's output. US crude for April delivery rallied to $103.41, the highest since September 2009.
Stock markets around the world tumbled again, with the FTSE 100 index in London down more than 20 points at 5901.16. The Dax in Frankfurt dropped about 80 points and the CAC in Paris fell nearly 30 points. Overnight, the Nikkei in Tokyo closed down 1.2 per cent.
Markets worry that the unrest could spread to Saudi Arabia, which pumps a tenth of the world's oil and is the only country with significant spare capacity that could be used to plug supply shortages.
Analysts at Goldman Sachs said further disruptions could create "severe" oil shortages that would require "substantial demand rationing". "The market cannot accommodate another disruption, in our view, with the problems in Libya potentially absorbing half of Opec's spare capacity," said commodity analyst Jeffrey Currie.
"Although we still see contagion to the large energy producers in the Gulf as relatively low, the stakes associated with further contagion are now much higher, which creates even further upside risk to our price forecasts."
The cost of oil hit an all-time high of $147.02 in July 2008, but then fell back as the recession in most western countries reduced demand for crude. Commodity analysts at Japanese bank Nomura have warned that prices could perhaps hit $220 a barrel if the crisis in the Middle East continues. They compared the current situation to the 1990-1991 Gulf war, saying if Libya and Algeria were to halt oil production, prices could peak above $220 a barrel. Others have predicted that oil could rise above $150 a barrel if the turmoil spreads.
The International Energy Agency warned this week that surging oil prices could derail the world economic recovery. Economists reckon that a $10 a barrel increase in the price of oil knocks about half a percentage point from global GDP growth, although some still expect oil prices to drop back later this year.
Gold prices hovered near a seven-week high as the surge in oil prices triggered inflation fears. Spot gold traded at $1,415.45 an ounce. "People don't have much confidence that the Libya crisis will be settled any time soon, so a lot of them are betting on gold," a dealer in Singapore told Reuters. "Gold will be king."
Isra-Mart srl:Massachusetts town finds solar use for landfill sites
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Isra-Mart srl news:
A town in Massachusetts is hoping to revitalise an old landfill site by letting a developer build a solar project on the land, as part of a project that could provide a template for landfill sites around the world.
Landfills are notoriously difficult to redevelop as leaking gases and the risk of subsidence make it virtually impossible to construct buildings on the sites. However, Southern Sky Renewable Energy has signed an agreement with the town of Canton in New England to build a 5.6MW solar array on its former landfill site, which was capped 25 years ago and remains an unused, grassy area. The site will consist of 24,000 three-by-five foot panels and should be producing energy by next year.
The town is hoping to save $70m over the next 25 years through the venture, which will bring it both energy savings and extra revenues, it said. The deal represents 7.4 per cent of the current solar energy base in the state.
A 2009 report produced for the EPA titled Solar Power Installations on Closed Landfills: Technical and Regulatory Considerations indicated some potential issues for landfill-based solar installations, warning that steep slopes, thin landfill caps, structural settlement, and landfill cap maintenance could all hamper development. But the EPA concluded that these issues could be resolved as many landfill sites may be suitable for solar development.
Other landfill-based solar projects have been agreed in the past. In 2008, North Carolina-based FLS Energy signed a power-purchase agreement with clients for a landfill-based solar plant in the state, while Republic Services, which owns the 48-acre Hickory Ridge landfill in Georgia, vowed to turn it into a solar project this year, having done the same with a site in San Antonio, Texas in 2009. That system used flexible photovoltaic strips designed to be shaped around the contours of the site to maximise exposure to sunlight. It also complemented a landfill-based biogas-to-energy system at the site, installed seven years prior.
Isra-Mart srl news:
A town in Massachusetts is hoping to revitalise an old landfill site by letting a developer build a solar project on the land, as part of a project that could provide a template for landfill sites around the world.
Landfills are notoriously difficult to redevelop as leaking gases and the risk of subsidence make it virtually impossible to construct buildings on the sites. However, Southern Sky Renewable Energy has signed an agreement with the town of Canton in New England to build a 5.6MW solar array on its former landfill site, which was capped 25 years ago and remains an unused, grassy area. The site will consist of 24,000 three-by-five foot panels and should be producing energy by next year.
The town is hoping to save $70m over the next 25 years through the venture, which will bring it both energy savings and extra revenues, it said. The deal represents 7.4 per cent of the current solar energy base in the state.
A 2009 report produced for the EPA titled Solar Power Installations on Closed Landfills: Technical and Regulatory Considerations indicated some potential issues for landfill-based solar installations, warning that steep slopes, thin landfill caps, structural settlement, and landfill cap maintenance could all hamper development. But the EPA concluded that these issues could be resolved as many landfill sites may be suitable for solar development.
Other landfill-based solar projects have been agreed in the past. In 2008, North Carolina-based FLS Energy signed a power-purchase agreement with clients for a landfill-based solar plant in the state, while Republic Services, which owns the 48-acre Hickory Ridge landfill in Georgia, vowed to turn it into a solar project this year, having done the same with a site in San Antonio, Texas in 2009. That system used flexible photovoltaic strips designed to be shaped around the contours of the site to maximise exposure to sunlight. It also complemented a landfill-based biogas-to-energy system at the site, installed seven years prior.
Isra-Mart srl:Australia launches latest attempt to price carbon
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Isra-Mart srl news:
Will it be a case of third time lucky for Australia's efforts to put a price on carbon emissions?
The Labor-led coalition government will certainly be hoping so after it today launched a third attempt to put a price on carbon, unveiling plans for a carbon tax that will come into effect from mid-2012.
Prime minister Julia Gillard – who last year ousted her predecessor Kevin Rudd and triggered an early election in the wake of the Labor government twice failing to pass a climate change bill – announced plans to impose a fixed carbon tax on heavy emitters from July 2012 before moving on to a carbon trading mechanism within five years.
"This is an essential economic reform, and it is the right thing to do," Gillard told reporters, highlighting how the recent devastating droughts and floods experienced by the country demonstrated the vital need to tackle climate change.
The proposals will be fiercely opposed by the Liberal Party, which twice defeated Labor efforts to introduce an emissions trading scheme during the previous parliament.
Liberal leader Tony Abbott, who has in the past expressed scepticism over the causes of climate change, slammed the new proposals. "We will fight this tax every second of every minute of every day of every week of every month," he said. "I think there will be a people's revolt against this carbon tax. I don't believe it will ever happen."
However, Gillard insisted she will take the fight to Abbott, vowing that she was "not intending to take a backwards step" in the upcoming debate over the proposals.
The coalition government only enjoys a narrow majority, but the new proposals have secured the support of a handful of independent and Green MPs, some of whom opposed previous carbon pricing proposals on the grounds that they were too modest.
The focus will now shift to the precise details regarding the level at which the carbon levy will be set, which firms will be covered, and how it will transition into a market-based mechanism.
Gillard will face a delicate balancing act if she is to find a compromise agreement that secures the continued support of the Greens, while satisfying rural independents and members of her own party concerned the levy will lead to rising energy prices.
Meanwhile, the price of electricity futures for the calendar year of 2012 jumped almost 10 per cent amidst fears the tax will hit the country's coal producers.
Isra-Mart srl news:
Will it be a case of third time lucky for Australia's efforts to put a price on carbon emissions?
The Labor-led coalition government will certainly be hoping so after it today launched a third attempt to put a price on carbon, unveiling plans for a carbon tax that will come into effect from mid-2012.
Prime minister Julia Gillard – who last year ousted her predecessor Kevin Rudd and triggered an early election in the wake of the Labor government twice failing to pass a climate change bill – announced plans to impose a fixed carbon tax on heavy emitters from July 2012 before moving on to a carbon trading mechanism within five years.
"This is an essential economic reform, and it is the right thing to do," Gillard told reporters, highlighting how the recent devastating droughts and floods experienced by the country demonstrated the vital need to tackle climate change.
The proposals will be fiercely opposed by the Liberal Party, which twice defeated Labor efforts to introduce an emissions trading scheme during the previous parliament.
Liberal leader Tony Abbott, who has in the past expressed scepticism over the causes of climate change, slammed the new proposals. "We will fight this tax every second of every minute of every day of every week of every month," he said. "I think there will be a people's revolt against this carbon tax. I don't believe it will ever happen."
However, Gillard insisted she will take the fight to Abbott, vowing that she was "not intending to take a backwards step" in the upcoming debate over the proposals.
The coalition government only enjoys a narrow majority, but the new proposals have secured the support of a handful of independent and Green MPs, some of whom opposed previous carbon pricing proposals on the grounds that they were too modest.
The focus will now shift to the precise details regarding the level at which the carbon levy will be set, which firms will be covered, and how it will transition into a market-based mechanism.
Gillard will face a delicate balancing act if she is to find a compromise agreement that secures the continued support of the Greens, while satisfying rural independents and members of her own party concerned the levy will lead to rising energy prices.
Meanwhile, the price of electricity futures for the calendar year of 2012 jumped almost 10 per cent amidst fears the tax will hit the country's coal producers.
Isra-Mart srl:UN predicts surge in clean energy investment
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Isra-Mart srl news:
Global investment in clean energy is set to reach $240bn this year, according to new figures from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). This confirms that Brazil, China and India are continuing to accelerate green spending plans.
The spending represents an increase of around 20 per cent on the $180bn-$200bn invested globally in clean energy and energy-efficiency projects during 2010.
The figures were set out by Pavan Sukhdev, head of UNEP's Green Economy initiative, who yesterday told news agency Reuters that increased investment in emerging economies was driving the development of a global green economy.
The news comes just days after UNEP released a landmark report detailing how the world can build a green economy that will lead to improved economic growth compared to business-as-usual at an initial cost of just two per cent of GDP.
It also came on the same day as UNEP used its annual meeting in Nairobi to announce a wide-ranging agreement with the European Commission that will see the two bodies step up efforts to foster the emergence of green economies in developing countries.
"The EU and UNEP share many common priorities – from climate change and sustainable energy to environment and development," said EU environment commissioner Janez Potočnik. "Sustainable management of natural resources, sustainable consumption and production and the green economy are among those key priorities."
Specifically, UNEP and the EU will work together on a multimillion-euro project to help restore the north western part of the Mau forest complex in Kenya alongside the Kenyan government.
Elsewhere at the UNEP summit, scientists released a report detailing how targeting soot and methane emissions represents one of the most effective means of tackling climate change.
The report, entitled Integrated Assessment of Black Carbon and Tropospheric Ozone, predicts that tackling relatively short-lived greenhouse gases such as methane, ozone and so-called black carbon, could help cut global warming by up to 0.5°C by 2030, and as such play a key role in avoiding climatic tipping points that scientists fear could occur if temperatures rise by more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
Isra-Mart srl news:
Global investment in clean energy is set to reach $240bn this year, according to new figures from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). This confirms that Brazil, China and India are continuing to accelerate green spending plans.
The spending represents an increase of around 20 per cent on the $180bn-$200bn invested globally in clean energy and energy-efficiency projects during 2010.
The figures were set out by Pavan Sukhdev, head of UNEP's Green Economy initiative, who yesterday told news agency Reuters that increased investment in emerging economies was driving the development of a global green economy.
The news comes just days after UNEP released a landmark report detailing how the world can build a green economy that will lead to improved economic growth compared to business-as-usual at an initial cost of just two per cent of GDP.
It also came on the same day as UNEP used its annual meeting in Nairobi to announce a wide-ranging agreement with the European Commission that will see the two bodies step up efforts to foster the emergence of green economies in developing countries.
"The EU and UNEP share many common priorities – from climate change and sustainable energy to environment and development," said EU environment commissioner Janez Potočnik. "Sustainable management of natural resources, sustainable consumption and production and the green economy are among those key priorities."
Specifically, UNEP and the EU will work together on a multimillion-euro project to help restore the north western part of the Mau forest complex in Kenya alongside the Kenyan government.
Elsewhere at the UNEP summit, scientists released a report detailing how targeting soot and methane emissions represents one of the most effective means of tackling climate change.
The report, entitled Integrated Assessment of Black Carbon and Tropospheric Ozone, predicts that tackling relatively short-lived greenhouse gases such as methane, ozone and so-called black carbon, could help cut global warming by up to 0.5°C by 2030, and as such play a key role in avoiding climatic tipping points that scientists fear could occur if temperatures rise by more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
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