Soot produced by burning coal, diesel, wood and dung causes significantly more damage to the environment than previously thought, according to new research. So-called “black carbon” could cause up to 60% of the current warming effect of carbon dioxide, according to the US researchers, making it an important target for efforts to slow global warming.
Coal
Is there such a thing as “Clean Coal”?
The British Government once sat happy in the illusion that it was a progressive government on climate change. But today, that impression has been shattered by inaction over climate change, its support for increased air travel and now its support for a controversial new generation of coal-fired power stations.
And Happy Xmas to Big Coal as Well..
And its Happy Xmas to Big Coal too. Britain plans to build eight new coal power stations as part of the country’s efforts to address its looming energy crisis. Although it is an early Christmas present to Big Coal, it will completely undermine the Bali agreement on climate change and discredit Britain’s efforts to reduce … Read More
China Overtakes US as World’s Largest CO2 Emitter
China has overtaken the United States as the world’s biggest producer of carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, figures released today show. China’s emissions had not been expected to overtake those from the US for several years, although some reports predicted it could happen as early as next year. The surprising announcement will increase anxiety … Read More
Oil Demand Set to Increase
US. energy officials are predicting that worldwide demand for oil will continue to grow, but at a slower rate after 2015. Also over the next quarter century oil prices will climb as high as $95 a barrel. By 2030, the share of worldwide energy that comes from oil and refined products will decline to 34 … Read More
Development Banks’ Inconvenient Truth
Multilateral development banks concluded a two day conference in London yesterday on “Financing Clean Energy”. Non-governmental organizations were generally shut out of the meeting, restricted to a handful of participants, but a long list of oil and energy companies were in attendance and they were ready to discuss just about anything other than phasing out … Read More
Bush Set for Climate Change U-Turn
George Bush is preparing to make a historic shift in his position on climate change when he makes his State of the Union speech later this month. British officials are hoping that Bush’s belated new stance by the United States will lead to a breakthrough in talks to a successor treaty to the Kyoto agreement … Read More
Climate Change Could Wipe Out Forests
New research predicts that over half the world’s major forests will be destroyed if temperatures rise by 3C or more by the end of the century due to climate change. In one of the most comprehensive analysis yet of the potential effects of global warming, scientists from Bristol University in the UK argue that floods, … Read More
Coal to Oil
The New York Times reports on the growing moves to convert coal to oil. The paper points out that the coal in states like Illinois have more energy than all the oil in Saudi Arabia. The technology to turn that coal into fuel for cars, homes and factories is proven. And at current prices, that … Read More