Summary
In today’s edition, troublesome news about the carbon market reform in Europe: apparently, market players don’t believe European Union politicians will take the necessary measures to fix the carbon market, the chief executive of German utility RWE said, giving low prices as evidence. Also, alarmed they’ll be ignored as the world works toward a historic deal limiting greenhouse gases, Europe’s largest oil companies are banding together to forge a joint strategy on climate change policy. Let’s hope it is for the best. In any case, as France’s president said, a deal in Paris at the COP 21 would be a “miracle”. And miracles do happen!
Quote of the day
“We must have a consensus. If within our own country, that’s difficult, imagine what it’s like with 196 countries. A miracle!”
François Hollande, president of France, in the Guardian’s story François Hollande calls for ‘miracle’ climate agreement at Paris talks
Lead stories
Low carbon price shows market does not believe in ETS reform-RWE’s Terium
By Geert de Clercq – Reuters
The low price of carbon is an indication that the market does not believe European Union politicians will take the necessary measures to fix the carbon market, the chief executive of German utility RWE said on Wednesday.
http://jlne.ws/1PyeVgZ
Oil Giants Band Together to Add Their Voice to Climate Debate
By Tara Patel and Stefan Nicola – Bloomberg News
Europe’s largest oil companies are banding together to forge a joint strategy on climate change policy, alarmed they’ll be ignored as the world works toward a historic deal limiting greenhouse gases.
http://jlne.ws/1F3gwBt
François Hollande calls for ‘miracle’ climate agreement at Paris talks
By Fiona Harvey – The Guardian
François Hollande, president of France, has called for a “miracle” to happen later this year at a crunch climate change conference in Paris, saying this would be needed for a compromise to be reached on the future of limiting greenhouse gases that would involve both developed and developing countries.
http://jlne.ws/1GrnOmR
French President Hollande joins with businesses in call for global carbon price
By Jessica Shankleman – BusinessGreen
Setting a price on greenhouse gas emissions will be essential to global efforts to tackle climate change, according to French President Francois Hollande, the chief executive of Statoil, and the secretary general of the OECD.
http://jlne.ws/1ehumcL
Climate countdown: 200 days to Paris
DW
Negotiators have just 200 days left to prepare for the key UN climate conference in Paris, tasked with a new global agreement to reduce CO2 emissions and limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius. A tall order?
http://jlne.ws/1K41HSz
China, Brazil to jointly address climate issues for sustainable growth
Xinhua
As a result of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s ongoing visit to Brazil, China and Brazil Tuesday signed a joint statement on addressing the climate change issue together for a common vision of sustainable development.
http://jlne.ws/1Pyb2bT
Global businesses must lead the way on climate action (OpEd)
By Laurent Fabius and Christiana Figueres – The Guardian
Major business leaders will gather in Paris this week for the Business and Climate Summit. It comes six months before the Paris climate conference, COP21, the aim of which is well known: to reach a universal agreement limiting the rise in global average temperature to 2C above pre-industrial levels.
http://jlne.ws/1PY8y1B
White House argues trade will help environment
By Vicki Needham – The Hill
The White House on Wednesday released a report detailing its efforts to protect the global environment through trade agreements as President Obama tries to build support on Capitol Hill for his ambitious agenda.
http://jlne.ws/1cPByvF
First head of state backs campaign to save the planet
By Pavel Antonov – Climate News Network
János Áder, the President of Hungary, has become the first head of state to join the Live Earth: Road to Paris campaign that aims to ensure world leaders agree to a binding deal on tackling climate change.
http://jlne.ws/1GrqiBM
Events
EMA Annual Meeting
October 28-30, 2015
Omni Parker House Hotel
Boston, MA
http://bit.ly/192w3CR
Carbon
Should states be responsible for protecting the atmosphere?
By Joshua Zaffos – High Country News
Kelsey Juliana’s habit of turning off lights in empty classrooms earned her the middle-school nickname of “Eco-girl,” she told Bill Moyers in September 2014.
http://jlne.ws/1IMBwm7
This Is Mike Huckabee’s Brain on Ethanol
By Jeremy Schulman – Mother Jones
On the campaign trail, GOP presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee has been a vocal supporter of the ethanol industry.
http://jlne.ws/1EZmbaH
Rising carbon emissions from oilsands a ‘unique’ challenge, (Canada’s) federal cabinet told
By Margo McDiarmid – CBC News
Greenhouse gas emissions from increasing oilsands production will rise faster than Canada’s ability to curb them, the federal government was warned before new emissions reduction targets were announced last week.
http://jlne.ws/1FyFiwU
Natural gas / coal
Coal and gas power dying out in Europe, says energy chief
By Michael Stothard and Pilita Clark – Financial Times
Gérard Mestrallet, chief executive of Engie, one of the world’s biggest power companies, says fossil fuel electricity generation is on the way out in Europe.
http://jlne.ws/1BdrsKY
India to eclipse China as top coal importer in 2015
Reuters
India is expected to overtake China as the world’s top coal importer in 2015, faster than previously expected, traders and consultants said on Wednesday.
http://jlne.ws/1EZmPVC
Credit Agricole stops financing coal mining
Reuters
French bank Credit Agricole said on Wednesday it would no longer finance coal mining or miners as lenders grow increasingly uneasy about funding coal due to environmental concerns.
http://jlne.ws/1PYcwqV
British Gas adds electric people carriers to expanding fleet
BusinessGreen
British Gas’ plans to replace at least 10 per cent of its 13,000 strong fleet of vehicles with all-electric models has taken a step forward with the purchase of two zero emission people carriers.
http://jlne.ws/1Sgzi1e
Power
Mitsubishi, Kyushu Electric to Study Geothermal Power in Japan
By Chisaki Watanabe – Bloomberg News
Mitsubishi Corp. and Kyushu Electric Power Co. will conduct surveys on geothermal power in southwestern Japan.
http://jlne.ws/1AgM8Hf
(Scotland’s First Minister) Sturgeon demands say on Tory wind farm subsidy cuts
By Will Nichols – BusinessGreen
Nicola Sturgeon has demanded Scottish government ministers be consulted before the Conservative government makes any changes to onshore wind farm subsidies.
http://jlne.ws/1ehrcWv
***LB: Also in this story “David Cameron has vowed to “halt” the spread of onshore wind farms, while new Energy And Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd used her first interview since taking the post to reveal she would like to end subsidies for new wind farms from next year 2016.”
Clean tech
From Kansas to Copenhagen: clean energy beacons around the world
By Karl Mathiesen – The Guardian
With global demand for energy continuing to rise and fossil fuel production buoyed by $5.3tn (£3.4tn) in tax-payer subsidies annually, it is easy to lose hope that cleaner forms of energy will ever catch up.
http://jlne.ws/1EZlYnV
Water
Study backs seaweed’s carbon capture potential
Univ. of Technology, Sydney – R&D
There are great hopes for the potential of coastal plants and seaweeds to store carbon and help counter the effects of climate change and a new study is backing that potential.
http://jlne.ws/1FyFMmL
***LB: Also in this story “Scientists from Univ. of Technology, Sydney (UTS) and Deakin Univ. have carried out the first investigation of how a diverse range of coastal plants and seaweed (macroalgae) can contribute to “blue carbon” stocks, the carbon in leaves, sediments and roots that is naturally captured, or sequestered, by plants in coastal habitats.”
Miscellaneous
Pope’s No. 2 Offers New Insights Into Climate Encyclical
By Nicole Winfield – AP
A new development model is needed to combat global warming, one that marries economic growth to combat poverty with a sustainable use of resources, Pope Francis’ deputy said Wednesday.
http://jlne.ws/1AgIBsn