UN: $10B Aid to Developing Nations Good Start for Climate Pact (Reuters)
Rich nations providing $10 billion in aid for climate adaptation would be a "good beginning" to launch a U.N. climate treaty, the United Nations’ top climate official said today.
GOP Questions Locke on China Emissions Stance (Wall Street Journal)
In a letter, the GOP wants to know what the commerce secretary was thinking when he said consumers should pay for some GHG emissions from China. What’s interesting is that the idea could provide a way around one of the thornier problems in climate talks.
India, US Talk Climate, but Little Progress Seen (Reuters)
Talks between India and the United States this week, seen as an opportunity to narrow differences on climate change, made little headway on carbon emission cuts, but saw some movement on technology innovation.
US Business Warn Congress of ‘Green Trade War’ (Reuters)
U.S. business groups warned Congress it could start a "green trade war" by passing a climate bill that threatens other countries with tariffs on energy-intensive goods.
Nike’s New Leather Policy: No Sourcing From Amazon (GreenBiz)
Following a report by Greenpeace calling out companies whose supply chains have been connected to rainforest deforestation, Nike has created a policy requiring its suppliers to create leather tracing systems.
Vilsack: Climate Bill Good for Farmers (Des Moines Register)
The administration released a report saying farmers would profit overall from controls on greenhouse gases despite paying higher prices for fuel and fertilizer, but they don’t now a key detail: how much land would be taken out of production and converted to forests.
Senate Staffers Worry Boxer Won’t Deal Enough on Climate (Politico)
Politico reports that some Senate staffers are privately worried that Barbara Boxer won’t be as willing to make deals like the House did. “People don’t look at her as the person who’s going to make a deal and bring both sides to the table,” says one.
Wall Street Seeks Sunny Forecasts in Solar (Reuters)
Investors are looking for signs of a recovery in solar panel demand when manufacturers report earnings in the coming weeks, though panel prices are still falling and earnings may not see meaningful improvement until 2010.
Feed-in Tariffs for Solar Spread (New York Times)
Variations on the feed-in tariff policy that jump-started Germany’s decade-long boom in rooftop solar systems are taking root in more cities in the United States.
EDF, First Solar to Build Largest French Solar Plant (New York Times)
France’s state-owned utility is partnering with an American solar panel manufacturer to build a $128 million solar manufacturing plant that would be the largest in France, the two announced today.
Texas Set to Host Largest U.S. Wind Farms (CNet)
Energy start-up Baryonyx has won bids for three land leases from the state of Texas to build data centers powered primarily by wind farms. The Texas-based company’s leases include two offshore sites said to be the "biggest offshore wind farms in the nation."
Kansas, Okla. Grid Seeks Wind Power Buyers (Reuters)
The Southwest Power Pool, an electric grid agency overseeing an area from New Mexico to Nebraska to Louisiana, expects its wind generation to swell from 3,000 MW now to top 50,000 MW, and it’s looking for buyers.
VCS Eases Rules for Canada Carbon Credits (Reuters)
A leading verifier of voluntary carbon market offsets says it has eased its rules for Canadian projects that aim to cut emissions of greenhouse gases to issue carbon credits.
NZ Says Tough to Set 2020 CO2 Reduction Target (Reuters)
New Zealand pledged to set a 2020 emissions target by the beginning of an Aug 10-14 U.N. climate change meeting in Bonn, but it’s discovering that’s a tough task.
EU Sets Efficiency Standards for Fridges, TVs (EurActiv)
The European Commission adopted four new eco-design regulations to make industrial motors, water circulators, televisions and refrigerators more energy efficient.
Belcha: Europe’s Biggest (and Growing) Carbon Polluter (Guardian)
The biggest single producer of carbon emissions in the EU is about to get even bigger. The appropriately titled Elektrownia Belchatow, a massive Polish coal-fired power station, belched out 30.9 million tons CO2 and is about to grow by 20 percent.
Greenwash: EasyJet’s Carbon Claims Written on the Wind (Guardian)
EasyJet says its flights have a smaller carbon footprint than a Toyota Prius hybrid car. Let’s do the math.
