Environmental Markets & Commodity Reports

Environmental Markets and Commodity Reports

Secretary Chu announces up to $154m for NRG Energy's CCS Project in Texas

Washington D.C. 9 March 2010

Funding Will Help Demonstrate Advances in Clean Coal Efforts: US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced today that a project with NRG Energy has been selected to receive up to $154 million, including funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Solar energy installation greed could destroy the long-term sustainability of the industry

London, 8 March 2010

Luvata solar energy expert warns more responsive regulation of feed-in tariffs is needed to protect against extremes seen in Germany spreading across Europe. A leading solar energy industry expert at the global metals, manufacturing and technology group Luvata, a major solar panel component manufacturer, has called for a new regulatory structure for the solar industry to protect it against the boom that has forced the German government into a drastic reduction in feed-in tariffs.

Backlash: Senate Proposals to Tighten “Buy American” Requirements for Renewable Projects, Limit EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Regulatory Authority

London, March 2010

Recent Senate legislative proposals may make clean energy grant money contingent on restrictions to purchase domestic goods and labor, and could place a moratorium on the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases through the Clean Air Act. The Senate has seen action this week on two key proposals in the areas of clean energy and climate change.

Giving Sectoral Crediting a Push: IETA Publication Delves into Mechanism Design Options

London, 5 March 2010

The International Emissions Trading Association today released a report on new financial mechanisms to go beyond the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism. The need for an expansion of the role of private finance in international climate change efforts has driven two of the major proposals made in the UNFCCC negotiations over the past couple of years. Both Sectoral Crediting and NAMAs (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions) Crediting, start from the basic premise that emission-reducing activities in developing countries should be aggregated and credited at a level much higher than a single project.

CCS: Actions to Achieve High Performance in a Low Carbon Economy

London, February 2010

There is an urgent need to close the sizable gap between intentions and actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While historically the focus has been on the renewables and nuclear sectors to help mitigate the impact of such emissions on climate change, carbon capture and storage (CCS) is now gathering momentum as a complementary technology to help transition to a low-carbon economy.

Financial giants course to low carbon economy

London, 29 January 2010

An independent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, commissioned by The Climate Group, shows good progress from the founding members of the Climate Principles.

Policy Mechanisms to Bridge Funding Gap for Clean Economy

Davos-Klosters, 28 January 2010

In a report released today, entitled Green Investing 2010: Policy Mechanisms to Bridge the Financing Gap, the World Economic Forum reveals that investment in clean energy has held up better than expected during the financial crisis and resulting recession, but a considerable gap still exists between current levels of investment and what is needed to begin reducing the world’s carbon emissions.

Climate taxes to sort out public finances: EU Debate

London, 11 December 2009

Practically all member states in the European Union are grappling with massive budgetary black holes caused by economic stimulus programmes, bailout packages and crisis-driven revenue shortfalls.

Voluntary carbon offsets: benefit or distraction?

London, 8 December 2009

A burgeoning voluntary carbon offset market has evolved over the past few years. Ostensibly, the idea is that either on a corporate or a personal level, those not subject to carbon constraints may offset their own emissions by paying a third party to reduce its emissions by the same quantity. The emission reduction would thereby offset the emissions created in order to neutralise the impact on the environment.

The Myth of Anthropogenic Global Warming

London, 4 December 2009

In the beginning was the word…and then came the nonbelievers. For as long as anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have been blamed for the climate change crisis there have been doubters.

By James Emanuel, Commercial Director at CantorCO2e Ltd