No surprises here really. Iraq is sliding into civil war, the dollar may be sliding towards a crisis, the Bush Administration may be sliding towards the history books, but least it’s its belligerent and blinkered attitude towards climate change isn’t shifting an inch. The administration has announced that it opposes the EU’s emissions trading programme … Read More
emission trading
EU ETS Scheme Faces Renewal
This week the EU will reveal new allocations for the next phase of the Europe-wide greenhouse gas emissions trading, a market worth 12 billion Euros and covering 11,000 installations throughout Europe. Since it was introduced many people have argued that the emission caps are too high in the scheme. Now some of Europe’s most influential … Read More
EU’s Secret Rethink on Carbon Emissions
The European Commission is arguing that Europe should set a new, unilateral, target for cutting CO2 emissions, agree legally binding plans to boost renewable energy and bring cars into its carbon trading scheme. The secret blueprint, drawn up by the Commission’s vice-president, Gunther Verheugen, marks a significant shift in thinking as officials in Brussels seek … Read More
Carbon Trading: “Bad for the South, Bad for the North, and Bad for the Climate”
The increasingly politicized debate over climate change promises to heat up further with the publication of an exhaustively-documented but highly-readable new book, “Carbon Trading: A Critical Conversation on Climate Change, Privatisation and Power”. The book argues that the dominant “carbon trading” approach to climate change is both ineffective and unjust.
Aviation Tax Would Hurt the Economy, Says BAA
The owner of Heathrow airport, BAA, has said that a tax on the aviation industry would not have the desired effect on the environment but would cause inconvenience to many people by pricing them out of aeroplanes. Instead, Stephen Nelson, chief executive of Britain’s largest airport operator, said that a carbon emissions trading scheme was … Read More
Hot Air But No Action
The European Emission Trading Scheme has been getting about as much bad publicity as BP recently. The latest hounding comes from Times columnist, Camilla Cavendish, who attacks the ETS in a good old fashioned rant. She says: “Those of us who have been shouting into the wind for years about melting glaciers, wilting polar bears … Read More
Airlines Reeling After EU Vote
European airlines are said to be “reeling” after amazing developments at the EU yesterday over the environmental impact of flying. MEPs voted in favour of the “immediate introduction” of a tax on jet fuel for flights within the 25 member states of the EU. Because the cost of “cheap flights” is so low the charge … Read More
German Government Caves in to Industry Over CO2
Germany is gripped by football world cup fever ahead of its semi-final clash with Italy tonight. What is not making the news is the fact that the German government has just allowed German industry to emit millions more tonnes of carbon dioxide. The National Allocation Plan II, that covers policy from 2008 to 2012, and … Read More
Labour Fails Election Pledge on Climate As Airlines Fight ETS Scheme
Maybe Tony Blair should have changed a few more light bulbs than just the one outside Downing Street, (see blog below), as Labour has admitted it will break a key election pledge to radically cut CO2 emissions. Although the target is a 20 per cent cut by 2010 – Labour has acknowledged emissions will only … Read More