In this edition, second-day coverage of Pres. Obama’s State of the Union address, from news agencies and around the leading blogs, including From Obama’s speech, four ambitious climate and energy proposals by Grist.org and the Washington Post’s Obama promises climate action. Meanwhile, from the tech space: Apple chief hails green progress as biggest achievement.
Quote of the Day:
“Now, the good news is, we can make meaningful progress on this issue while driving strong economic growth. I urge this Congress to get together, pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change, like the one John McCain and Joe Lieberman worked on together a few years ago.”
–Pres. Barack Obama in his 2013 State of the Union Address.
Lead Stories
Obama on Energy and Climate in State of the Union Address
Inside Climate News
Here are the parts of President Obama’s 2013 State of the Union address that were about energy and climate change issues.
http://jlne.ws/Y9puWZ
SOTU Text: http://jlne.ws/12hD1n5
Obama gives Congress a climate change ultimatum
Reuters
U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday gave Congress an ultimatum on climate change: craft a plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the dangers of a warming world, or the White House will go it alone.
http://jlne.ws/XMFxMm
**RKB — Obama tells Congress China’s beating us on this one too.
Obama to Congress: Act on climate change or I will
AP
President Barack Obama is telling Congress that he will take action to combat climate change if lawmakers don’t do it themselves.
http://jlne.ws/YsdDnJ
From Obama’s speech, four ambitious climate and energy proposals Grist.org
Last night’s State of the Union was considerably better than I expected, in substance and in tone, mainly because my expectations for these things are extremely low. It was a policy laundry list, but not just a list — Obama had his dander up. By the end, after the chants of “they deserve a vote,” it was downright rousing.
http://jlne.ws/VgRfjA
Obama promises climate action
Washington Post Politics blog
While President Obama called on Congress to pass the same kind of cap-and-trade legislation which died in 2010, urging it “to pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change,” no such bill is likely to pass in the next two years.
http://jlne.ws/Y9smTJ
Nations seen going separate ways on carbon as EU efforts falter
Reuters
Europe’s failure to raise carbon prices enough to spur green energy use means more nations are expected to follow the example of Britain and take action on their own.
http://jlne.ws/X6aWLJ
Senators to Announce Major Climate Change Legislation Thursday
The Nation
Only an hour before President Obama is expected to deliver his State of the Union address—in which he might “go big” on the issue of combating climate change—two Senators announced they will introduce comprehensive climate change legislation this week, presenting a possible vehicle in the Senate for Obama’s ambitions.
http://jlne.ws/12MGWrW
White House wants Congress to create $2 bln green energy fund
Reuters
The White House is asking lawmakers to create a $2 billion Energy Security Trust from federal oil and gas revenue to promote renewable energy, an official memo released on Wednesday said.
http://jlne.ws/WnPpNj
Senate to be presented with US carbon tax plans
Responding to Climate Change blog
Washington’s resolve to act on climate change will be tested tomorrow when the Senate is presented with new plans for a national carbon tax.
http://jlne.ws/VVsKWs
Combet flags fall in carbon tax revenue
Financial Review
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet flagged the federal government may cut revenue forecasts for the carbon tax in this year’s budget.
http://jlne.ws/12AXI8X
Corporates face mounting investor demands to enhance environmental performance
Business Green
Business leaders at the world’s largest listed companies are this week facing growing pressure from investors to embrace environmental best practices, following the launch of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) reporting season and the publication of new research showing shareholder support for environmental resolutions is on the rise.
http://jlne.ws/11Hpgi3
Events
Aviation Carbon 2013
London
February 19-20, 2012
http://jlne.ws/RSzl7e
2013 Climate Leadership Conference
Washington D.C.
February 27-March 1, 2013
climateleadershipconference.org
Wall Street Green Summit XII
March 18, 2013
Center for Architecture, New York
http://jlne.ws/V9knZX
Navigating the American Carbon World (NACW) 2013
San Francisco April 16-18
http://jlne.ws/11SrgTF
Carbon
EU Aviation Carbon Emissions to Decline in 2013, New Energy Says
Bloomberg
Greenhouse-gas emissions from flights within Europe will probably fall this year as airlines renew fleets with fuel-efficient aircraft and pack planes more tightly, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
http://jlne.ws/VVsoiv
Updated: Mayor Boris unveils ultra low emission zone plan for London
Business Green
Green groups have welcomed plans by the mayor of London to create an ultra low emissions zone in the centre of the capital, arguing the move would cut pollution and help the UK avoid hefty fines from the EU for failing to meet air quality standards.
http://jlne.ws/YevNKV
Microsoft Outlines Progress on Internal Carbon Price
Environmental Leader
Microsoft has used funds collected over the past six months from its internal carbon offset fee to invest in renewable energy projects, including wind, hydro and biomass, as well as provide grants to help drive efficiency measures throughout its operations, according to the software company.
http://jlne.ws/X9d7Ld
**repeats in Cleantech
Enguri Hydro Power Plant to be able to sell carbon credits
Electric Light & Power
Under a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development-financed energy efficiency project, Enguri Hydro Power Plant, Georgia’s largest power plant, will be able to sell carbon credits.
http://jlne.ws/WnLmjO
**repeats in Water
Natural Gas/Coal
New York Governor Puts Off Decision on Drilling
The New York Times
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is becoming Hamlet on the Shale.
http://jlne.ws/YeyfRx
Doubts voiced on fracking oversight at California hearing
Reuters
U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday gave Congress an ultimatum on climate change: craft a plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the dangers of a warming world, or the White House will go it alone.
http://jlne.ws/XMFxMm
Power
COLUMN-Utilities can adapt to German renewables: Gerard Wynn
Reuters
Coal could join gas in making losses in Germany’s struggling power market, as a continuing renewable energy boom and slumping power demand force utilities to rethink their strategy.
http://jlne.ws/15dFVJf
Nuclear Revival Dying in Europe as Power Prices Slump: Energy
Bloomberg
A Czech atomic-plant expansion planned near the German border had been one of the few prizes left for Europe’s nuclear-power industry after the Fukushima disaster stopped projects from Switzerland to Romania.
http://jlne.ws/15dG9jp
CleanTech
Apple chief hails green progress as biggest achievement
Business Green
Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook has hailed efforts to reduce the company’s environmental impact as one of his key achievements following his first full year in the role.
http://jlne.ws/X9dQw2
Microsoft Outlines Progress on Internal Carbon Price
Environmental Leader
Microsoft has used funds collected over the past six months from its internal carbon offset fee to invest in renewable energy projects, including wind, hydro and biomass, as well as provide grants to help drive efficiency measures throughout its operations, according to the software company.
http://jlne.ws/X9d7Ld
**repeats in Carbon
Water
Enguri Hydro Power Plant to be able to sell carbon credits
Electric Light & Power
Under a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development-financed energy efficiency project, Enguri Hydro Power Plant, Georgia’s largest power plant, will be able to sell carbon credits.
http://jlne.ws/WnLmjO
**repeats in Power
Obama Speech Signals Water, Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades
Bloomberg
President Barack Obama’s call for more public-private partnerships to fix infrastructure that’s breaking down is a signal for companies to invest in upgrades to U.S. water and sewage systems, executives said today.
http://jlne.ws/WJTVY1
Ferrovial Wins Oman Desalination Contract With Sumitomo
Bloomberg
Ferrovial SA, the Madrid-based owner of Heathrow airport, won a $300 million contract to build a water desalination plant in Oman with Sumitomo Corp. and Malakoff International Ltd.
http://jlne.ws/YeC5de
Reports
The State of Green Business 2013 (Posted February 12, 2013)
GreenBiz.com
http://jlne.ws/12K3WYL
Can the US Get There from Here? (Posted February 6, 2013)
WRI
http://jlne.ws/X5PgyQ
The Billion Euro Aviation Bonanza – Aviation’s Participation in the EU ETS (Posted January 22, 2013)
http://jlne.ws/WHQez7
Power Forward: Why the World’s Largest Companies are Investing in Renewable Energy (Posted Dec. 11, 2012)
http://jlne.ws/S5HNAg
Stock Exchange Benchmark On Non-Financial Reporting Rules (Posted Dec. 6, 2012)
Verdantix
http://jlne.ws/QM1A6f
Regional Investment of RGGI CO2 Allowance Proceeds, 2011 (Posted Nov. 27, 2012)
http://jlne.ws/Y2CJzg
2012 Report on Sustainable and Responsible Investing Trends in the US (Posted Nov. 27, 2012)
The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment
http://jlne.ws/TsQlPs
Climate Change Report Warns of Dramatically Warmer World This Century (Posted Nov. 19, 2012)
World Bank
http://jlne.ws/RQylgD
Americans’ Global Warming Beliefs and Attitudes in September 2012 (Posted Oct. 21, 2012)
Yale Project on Climate Change Communication
http://jlne.ws/T4XcdE