Carbon Targets
The UK government and the EU should provide clear targets on carbon emissions for 2030, in order to give companies the confidence to invest in green technologies, according to a survey of energy industry chiefs. Ministers refused to put a target for decarbonising the UK’s power sector by 2030 into last week’s energy bill, despite calls for such a target from major companies, Labour, Liberal Democrat activists and green campaigners. George Osborne, the chancellor, is understood to oppose such a target. The World Energy Council (WEC), which represents leading energy firms, said targets were needed because companies needed clarity on future policy in order to make the right investments today. “This is what the energy industry wants – they want defined targets,” said Joan MacNaughton, executive chair of policy assessment at WEC. “There should be a defined increase in ambition for 2030, consistent with the trajectory needed [to cut emissions by 80%] by 2050.”
Guardian 2nd Dec 2012 more »
Green groups worry that the pressure to get the economy moving is leading to Osborne playing fast and loose with the environment. Dave Powell, economics campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said that in opposition, Osborne had been critical of Labour’s record on climate change, but it had been a different story since May 2010. The chancellor, Powell said, had opposed long-term targets for de-carbonisation, promoted a dash for gas, provided tax breaks for North Sea exploration while hacking away at subsidies for renewable energy, cut spending on home insulation, hamstrung the new Green Investment Bank and backed the construction of new roads and airports. “We have a sense of despair. There is such a pressing need to decarbonise the economy but we are still fighting the old short-termist battles. You still get the impression that for Osborne looking after the environment is a luxury.”
Guardian 2nd Dec 2012 more »
IAEA
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that one of its servers was hacked and the names of more than 100 people working for the IAEA were exposed. The hack originated from a “previously unknown group critical of Israel’s undeclared nuclear weapons program,” according to the AP, which asked for an open investigation in Israel’s nuclear activities. With the exception the names exposed and a request to sign a petition. the group called “Parastoo” apparently did not cause further damage.
Tom’s Hardware 2nd Dec 2012 more »
Japan
Japanese voters hoping to use December’s election to cast a ballot for or against nuclear power – the most emotionally charged issue in the country since the Fukushima disaster – are getting little help from mainstream politicians. Over the weekend, Japanese lawmakers across the political spectrum suggested in televised debates that the leading parties had converged on something close to a consensus – but their comments left plenty of room for confusion. In the televised debates, lawmakers suggested that Japan should eliminate or greatly reduce its reliance on nuclear power. But in the meantime it should use its remaining atomic reactors – most of which are shut down pending safety reviews – while it builds up capacity in solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy. That approach is broadly in line with the long-term energy policy the DPJ announced in September. But the parties’ stances are wrapped in caveats and clouded by internal disagreement and reversals, which can make it difficult to tell what they might actually do if elected.
FT 2nd Dec 2012 more »
North Korea
China has expressed concern over its ally North Korea’s plans to launch a long-range rocket in mid-December. All sides should work for stability and avoid acts that raise tensions, the foreign ministry said in a brief statement. It acknowledged North Korea’s right to the peaceful use of outer space, but said that had to be harmonised with restrictions including those set by the United Nations Security Council.
Guardian 3rd Dec 2012 more »
Climate
Current emissions growth is placing the world on a path to warm between 4C and 6C, says the study, with global emissions jumping 58% between 1990 and this year. The study focuses on emissions from burning fossil fuels and cement production.
Guardian 3rd Dec 2012 more »
BBC 2nd Dec 2012 more »
The former Tory environment secretary and now head of the UK’s climate change watchdog, John Gummer – now Lord Deben – has vowed to protect legislation underpinning the UK’s climate commitments, bringing him into conflict with many in his own party. The simmering row in the coalition is set to be reignited when George Osborne announces tax breaks for shale gas drilling in the autumn statement. The new gas strategy is intended to promote a huge rise in gas exploration and power generation. This emphasis on gas, and the split in the Tory party over green policy, threatens to derail tens of billions of pounds of investment in low-carbon energy and transport infrastructure and the creation of thousands of green jobs.
Guardian 2nd Dec 2012 more »
An innocent observer could be forgiven for thinking that the United Nations climate talks, now hotting up in the Qatar capital of Doha, would be the focus of the international fight to combat global warming. But the innocent observer would be wrong. There is indeed a battle going on, one that will determine the planet’s future, but it is not between the negotiators finding new ways to disagree over the implementation of decisions they have already made. The battle is being waged in energy and finance ministries around the world, and in the boardrooms of energy companies and their bankers. It is the battle between a high-carbon and a low-carbon energy future. And the outcome is unclear. On the one hand, global investment in renewable technologies, particularly wind and solar, has been racing ahead: for the past three years it has exceeded investment in generation from fossil fuels. Last year, fully 70% of all European power investment was in renewables. Yet at the same time the world is also going in the opposite direction. More coal – the dirtiest fossil fuel – was used to produce electricity last year than for 40 years. As the International Energy Agency warned this month, this is driving up global carbon emissions, which rose by an alarming 3% in 2011. Coal burning now represents almost a third of all power generation; it is rising even in Europe, as the economic slump slashes the carbon price. And there is more to come: the World Resources Institute reports that globally no fewer than 1,200 new coal plants are currently proposed, two-thirds of them in India and China. Meanwhile, Canada leads the countries exploiting highly carbon-polluting tar sands, and the oil majors eye up the Arctic for new oil.
Guardian 2nd Dec 2012 more »
The world is losing the race to keep global warming in check, the Energy Secretary has conceded. Ed Davey delivered the candid assessment of the international community’s collective failure on the eve of major UN negotiations in the Gulf state of Qatar on a new treaty to combat climate change. The Liberal Democrat minister said attempts to prevent global temperatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level, generally regarded as global warming’s danger threshold, were not on course.
Independent 3rd Dec 2012 more »
Green Deal
The Green Deal continues to build momentum ahead of the first deals being available on January 28 2013, with money for a new communications campaign confirmed and a key regulatory milestone reached to bring the Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) into force. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has been granted an exemption to the Government marketing freeze for a campaign that will build understanding and trust of the Green Deal. An initial £2.9 million is available to cover digital and traditional channels.
Specification Online 30th Nov 2012 more »
Renewables
A pioneering project that could see savings of up to 40% on electricity bills is to be piloted by a world-renowned eco village in Moray. Researchers at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh have been granted funding of £2.3million from the European Commission to attempt to link community energy demands with locally-generated renewables. Now a research team from the university will pilot their ORIGIN research project over a three year period at the Findhorn Foundation in Moray. The pilot will also operate in two other eco-villages, one in Italy and the other in Portugal. The plan is to use 75 homes and public buildings at the Findhorn Foundation for the project which will be grouped together and connected by a new “smart energy” system. Residents at the Moray village will be asked to plan when they use energy to maximise use of the community-generated renewable electricity.
STV 3rd Dec 2012 more »
