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Strike While the Iron Is ... Whoops, Too Late
Plan to combat warming by seeding ocean with iron runs out of funds |
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14 Feb 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 3:26 PM on 14 Feb 2008 Planktos, the company that proposed fending off global warming by seeding the ocean with iron dust, has failed to get enough funding to go forward with planned tests. Under the Planktos business plan, iron fertilization would encourage phytoplankton blooms, which would suck up extra CO2, allowing the company to sell carbon offsets. But it was not to ... |
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| Topics: business, carbon offsets, climate, climate change mitigation, geoengineering, news, oceans (all these topics) |
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The subsidy tease, part I
Congress needs to stop flirting with the renewable energy industry |
Joseph Romm |
13 Feb 2008 |
Gristmill |
| This post is by ClimateProgress guest blogger Bill Becker, executive director of the Presidential Climate Action Project. ----- When it comes to relationships, Congress is a big tease. Or so it must seem to the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. Just when they think they're about to go to the altar with the federal government, Congress becomes the runaway bride. Everyone who's anyone acknowledges that energy efficiency and renewable energy a ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, energy, innovation, legislation, politics, renewable energy, tech (all these topics) |
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For whom the bell coals
More bad news for coal as big banks reconsider financing |
David Roberts |
04 Feb 2008 |
Gristmill |
| I assume you've all heard the good news that three huge investment banks are planning to impose stricter standards on investments in coal-fired power plants. See WSJ's Jeffrey Ball here and here. I'd like to think this was the sheer power of green groups or the moral sensitivities of bank executives finally acting up, but the fact is, the writing is on the wall. Carbon legislation is inevitable. And make no mistake: any carbon legislation is going to make new dirty co ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, coal, energy (all these topics) |
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Mark(et)ed for Death
Three Wall Street banks announce funding restrictions for new coal power plants |
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04 Feb 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 6:24 AM on 04 Feb 2008 Photo: iStockphoto Three major investment banks, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley, will announce new environmental standards today that are expected to make it more difficult for large coal-fired power plants in the United States to get funding. The standards anticipate some form of cap-and-trade program becoming law in the U.S. in coming years an ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, coal, news, politics, United States (all these topics) |
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Why are American automakers special?
The Big Three attempt to persuade other states of the danger of fuel efficiency standards |
David Roberts |
29 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Automakers are ramping up their PR effort to persuade states not to adopt California's auto emission standards, which they fear will survive the Bush administration's latest monkey wrench. But their arguments are as silly as ever: Dave McCurdy, chief executive of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers ... said the California-inspired initiative would result in a "patchwork quilt of inconsistent and competing fuel economy programs" that would lead t ... |
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| Topics: California, state politics, business, Big Auto, cars, politics, air pollution, greenhouse-gas emissions, climate (all these topics) |
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Biz to gov: no, you first
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David Roberts |
29 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Despite all the hype about the greening of the private sector, the big businesses of the world largely don't rate climate change as a top priority: Nearly nine in 10 of them do not rate it as a priority, says the study, which canvassed more than 500 big businesses in Britain, the US, Germany, Japan, India and China. Nearly twice as many see climate change as imposing costs on their business as those who believe it presents an opportunity to make money. And the r ... |
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| Topics: climate, business (all these topics) |
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An ominous statement from Shell
Conventional oil will peak within seven years |
Joseph Romm |
27 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| The oil company with the best strategic planning says the day of reckoning is nigh: World demand for oil and gas will outstrip supply within seven years, according to Royal Dutch Shell. The oil multinational is predicting that conventional supplies will not keep pace with soaring population growth and the rapid pace of economic development. Jeroen van der Veer, Shell's chief executive, said in an e-mail to the company's staff this week that outpu ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, energy, oil (all these topics) |
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Talk on the Wild Side
Al Gore tells World Economic Forum the climate situation is dire |
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24 Jan 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:33 AM on 24 Jan 2008 In a speech spiced with signature phrases like "moral imagination" and "planetary emergency," as well as plenty of references to future generations, Al Gore warned attendees at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that the climate situation is dire. "The climate crisis is significantly worse and unfolding more rapidly than those on the pessi ... |
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| Topics: Al Gore, business, climate, news (all these topics) |
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Under pressure
E.U. considers pollution charges on imports from U.S. and other climate scofflaws |
Patrick Mazza |
23 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| U.S. failure to enact limits on global warming emissions could cost American companies that export to the European Union. E.U. President Jose Manuel Barroso on Sunday said the European Commission is considering a charge on importers from nations without carbon limits. Companies from those countries may be required to buy carbon emissions allowances on exports into the E.U. This is intended to level the playing field with European companies who are already part ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, economy, European Union, international politics, politics, state politics, United States (all these topics) |
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Bring Us Back Some Chocolate
Big names will discuss climate at World Economic Forum |
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22 Jan 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 1:02 PM on 22 Jan 2008 Business and political leaders are descending on Davos, Switzerland, for the annual World Economic Forum, which kicks off tomorrow. The forum will offer various climate-related sessions, including one led by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Chair Rajendra Pachauri; one which will be a discussion between Al Gore and Bono; and one with the ominous title Beyond Kyoto: Is Co ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, news (all these topics) |
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Absolut greenwashing?
Vodka maker launches global cooling campaign |
Sarah van Schagen |
18 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| In a partnership with Live Earth (yes, they're still doing stuff), Absolut Vodka has launched a Global Cooling campaign that "encourages consumers to reduce the effects of global warming by offering simple steps they can implement in their daily lives." As part of the campaign, Absolut is sponsoring the Live Earth Film Series, a collection of short films that will make the rounds at various film festivals this year -- starting with Sundance ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, consumerism, food, green living, greenwashing (all these topics) |
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A one-legged man in a butt kickin' contest
Gingrich's further explications of green conservatism do not inspire confidence |
David Roberts |
16 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| The more I see of Newt Gingrich's "conservative environmentalism," the less impressive it seems. The guy's offering run of the mill, crony capitalist conservatism with a shabby green paint job. The two top-tier public policy approaches to fighting climate change are: supporting green industries, practices, technologies, and infrastructure via subsidies, tax breaks, or mandates, and restricting and reducing GHGs via regulation. The first is ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, climate change mitigation, politics (all these topics) |
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Assault and battery
Chinese workers pay for our cadmium-battery habit |
Tom Philpott |
16 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| In the last 20 years, the United States has essentially dismantled its industrial base, moving production of consumer goods south to Mexico and east to Asia. This has not only dramatically lowered the cost of goods, fueling a consumer boom; it has also helped make our economy less energy-intensive, and lowered our exposure to industrial waste. But net gains for the environment and worker health have been imaginary. We've merely shifted the burdens of industrial ... |
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| Topics: business, China, climate, consumerism, environmental justice, greenhouse-gas emissions, toxics, United States (all these topics) |
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Gnashing my teeth over globalization
Can economic democracy make the global economy more sustainable? |
Jon Rynn |
07 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Worried about more coal plants, carbon emissions from transportation, and a crumbling infrastructure? Evidence provided by several recent reports point to one of the least explored causes of these problems: globalization, that is, the transfer of manufacturing capacity from developed to developing countries, particularly China. The mechanisms differ. The U.S. and Europe, which could manufacture using environmentally benign techniques, instead use old, polluting techn ... |
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| Topics: air pollution, business, China, climate, coal, economy, energy, greenhouse-gas emissions, United States (all these topics) |
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Fisking Vinod's comment
Keeping power broker's hands out of the cookie jar |
biodiversivist |
28 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| [[editor's note, by David Roberts] In addition to the updates below, I wanted to make it clear that this post does not meet Grist's standards. Had I been around (I'm on vacation), I would not have published it. I've sent Khosla a personal apology, which he has graciously accepted.] [UPDATE: Dave has requested that I update this post, which I have done below with some clarifications and added links.] Vinod Khosla recently posted this comment titled: 'Numbers Matt ... |
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| Topics: climate change mitigation, climate, cars, electric vehicles, biofuels, business (all these topics) |
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Sari, No Can Do
Energy efficiency a tough sell to small businesses in India |
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27 Dec 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 4:07 PM on 27 Dec 2007 India's 4.5 million small or medium businesses produce 70 percent of the country's industrial pollution, according to a World Bank study. But most of those small-scale entrepreneurs can't afford the upfront cost of energy-efficient equipment -- or aren't persuaded of its usefulness -- creating a barrier to India's attempts to curb emissions from its fast-growing economy. Many areas of th ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, energy, energy efficiency, India, news (all these topics) |
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What I want for 2008
A plead for utility leadership on climate change |
Sean Casten |
26 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| What I want most for 2008 is serious action on climate change -- not just in terms of policy, but in terms of action. Mathematically, this mandates serious and constructive engagement from the electric sector, which has thus far been not only absent, but hostile to any serious discussion of GHG reduction. Given their relevance (42% of US GHG emissions) and tremendous inefficiency, they are a source of much of my personal quixotic quest. But ultimately, they must engage ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, energy (all these topics) |
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Big Ol' Jet Air Whiner
Plan to regulate airline emissions moves forward in E.U. |
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21 Dec 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 4:26 PM on 21 Dec 2007 A proposed law that would regulate emissions from airlines taking off from or landing in the European Union has been approved by environment ministers. The bill to include airlines in the E.U.'s carbon-trading scheme was scaled back from the version passed by the E.U. Parliament last month, aiming to start in 2012 instead of 2011 and making airlines buy only 10 percent of their carbo ... |
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| Topics: air travel, business, carbon trading, climate, climate change mitigation, European Union, greenhouse-gas emissions, legislation, news, politics (all these topics) |
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The Great Carnac I ain't
Assessing my predictions from last year |
David Roberts |
17 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| At the end of last year, I made 20 predictions for 2007. As a pundit in good standing I am, of course, unaccountable for my predictions. (How do you think we all stay employed?) Nonetheless, it's worth looking back and seeing how the predictions panned out, drawing sweeping conclusions from the things I got right while minimizing and excusing the things I got wrong. Let's see how I did! Al Gore will a) win an Oscar, b) announce that he is not running for presid ... |
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| Topics: climate, energy, business, politics, placemaking (all these topics) |
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Exchange Students
New Green Exchange to be launched |
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12 Dec 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 10:14 AM on 12 Dec 2007 In a huge boost for carbon trading, Nymex Holdings Inc. and a group of Wall Street trading houses are planning to launch a Green Exchange for trading environmental products, including carbon credits. Trading is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2008. sources: The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, CNN Money see also, in Grist: Chicago Climate Exchange paves the way for U.S. emissions trading < Previous ... |
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| Topics: business, carbon trading, climate, green products, news (all these topics) |
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Me in Fast Company
A titillating* new column on corporate carbon reporting |
David Roberts |
10 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Imagine that you are upper management at a large corporation, and you're told that you need to start comprehensively disclosing your outfit's CO2 emissions in your financial reports. Sounds like an unbelievable hassle, no? Especially since there's no legal mandate to do so. And yet hundreds of companies are doing just that. Why? I offer an answer in my latest column at Fast Company: "Carbon Copy." In related news that has emerged since I wrote the colum ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, greenhouse-gas emissions (all these topics) |
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On Track
California declares emissions-reduction target, requires industry to track emissions |
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07 Dec 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 12:20 PM on 07 Dec 2007 As California's landmark global-warming law requires the state to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, the state Air Resources Board has determined just what that goal will be: 427 million metric tons of greenhouse gases. The number was devised from some 13,000 separate calculations, from the impact of the aviation industry to the number of cows and h ... |
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| Topics: business, California, climate, climate change mitigation, greenhouse-gas emissions, Los Angeles, news, progress (all these topics) |
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Supreme preemption
Medical device case could impact global warming debate |
Guest author |
06 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The following is a guest post written by Sean Siperstein, who maintains the blog Warming Law on behalf of the Community Rights Counsel, a public interest law firm in Washington, DC. Warming Law was launched following the Supreme Court's landmark Massachusetts v. EPA ruling, with a focus on the evolving legal landscape impacting the climate movement. ----- In last week's negotiations over the energy bill, one of the most significant victories for propone ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, energy, legislation, litigation, politics (all these topics) |
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Keep it simple, stupid!
How to structure a cap-and-trade program |
Clark Williams-Derry |
05 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| From an awesomely meaty article on cap-and-trade from The San Francisco Chronicle comes this pearl of wisdom (in bold at the bottom of the quote): [T]he lesson of the acid rain program is to keep the plan simple and easy for all parties to understand. "If it starts to employ a lot of special provisions to take care of every party's special needs ... and if it starts to look like the Chicago phone book, then throw it out," [RFF economist Dallas ... |
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| Topics: business, carbon trading, climate, climate change mitigation, energy, greenhouse-gas emissions (all these topics) |
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Curses, Oil Again
Bold announcement by climate partnership outed as a hoax |
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04 Dec 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 10:59 AM on 04 Dec 2007 Various news outlets breathlessly reported yesterday that the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, a consortium of 33 businesses and environmental groups, was calling on the U.S. to slash emissions 90 percent by 2050 and to cease building coal-fired power plants. Ah, if only 'twere true -- but the announcement was an elaborate hoax. Says Matt Leonard of Rising Tide, the loosely knit volunteer ... |
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| Topics: business, climate, funnies, news (all these topics) |
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