Today's Climate: October 28, 2009

No Climate Deal Expected During Obama’s China Visit (Financial Times)

The U.S. and China will seek a “common understanding” to push forward a global deal on climate change during President Obama’s first state visit to Beijing, but a top climate official has ruled out any “separate deal”.

Climate Funding Differences Weigh on EU Summit (AFP)

EU leaders begin a climate change summit Thursday amid deep differences over how to help poor nations fight global warming. Leaders may be forced to impose guidelines, with the risk that it will further divide them.

EPA Budget Deal Includes 36% Funding Increase (Greenwire)

House and Senate conferees approved a $10.3 billion spending plan for EPA for fiscal 2010, a 36 percent boost over last year's levels. The plan includes projects to address climate change.

EU Faces Oversupply of Carbon Credits (New York Times)

A vast supply of pollution credits from abroad is threatening to overwhelm systems for capping and trading greenhouse gases, a senior European Union official warns.

Report Slams Low-Carbon Tar Sands Myth (Business Green)

Even under the most optimistic scenarios for CCS development, the projected emissions from tar sands developments would be greater than Canada's entire 2050 carbon budget.

The Last Flat-Earther (Washington Post)

It must be very lonely being the last flat-earther. Sen. Jim Inhofe, committed climate-change denier, found himself in just such a position as his fellow Republicans on the Senate environment committee made it clear that they no longer share, if they ever did, his view that man-made global warming is a hoax.

Obama Unveils Historic Power Grid Reform (AFP)

President Obama announced the largest modernization of the U.S. electricity grid in history, in a $3.4 billion bid to launch a new era of renewable energy consumption.

Energy Experts Question PATH Transmission Line (Coal Tattoo)

New expert testimony filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission concludes that the PATH power line is not needed and would increase air pollution, and that other cheaper and simpler alternatives are available.

Audit Suggests High Risk of CCS Project Failure (Reuters)

The Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, in an audit of the world's CCS projects, found 213 projects active or planned but only seven operating and capturing CO2 at all stages. The high cost of development creates a high risk of failure.

US Seeks More Clean Energy Market Access in China (Reuters)

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will press for more access for American companies in China's clean energy sector, an area where Washington feels it can make inroads on its enormous trade imbalance with China.

Debate Over Water Use by Solar Projects Intensifies (New York Times)