MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Date: 2019-11-11
In the Bay State, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers are reporting that growth in aviation causes twice as much damage to air quality as to the climate.

The study notes reducing one type of emission can come at the cost of increasing another, either in absolute terms or by limiting potential reductions offered by new technology. The researchers applied the metrics to evaluate the effects of a global expansion in aviation, consistent in magnitude with its current annual growth, then used this as a benchmark for three scenarios: they considered a growth scenario with fuel efficiency increases and reductions in NOx emissions factors consistent with 10-year goals; they evaluated the trade-offs between the climate and air quality impacts of engine-based NOx emissions reductions; re-assessed the climate and air quality trade-offs of jet fuel desulphurization.

According to lead researcher Dr. Sebastian Eastham: "Three components are responsible for 97 pct of climate and air quality damages per unit aviation fuel burn -- air quality impacts of NOx at 58 pct, climate impacts of CO2 at 25 pct, and climate impacts of contrails at 14 pct. It is important to note that 86 pct of the NOx impacts on air quality are due to the emissions from cruise as opposed to the landing and takeoff cycle.

"To reduce the climate impacts of aviation, measures aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and contrails are likely to have the greatest net climate benefit. In contrast, 94 pct of air quality impacts are driven by NOx. This suggests that measures aimed at reducing NOx emissions during cruise could lead to the greatest net benefits", Eastham added.

"Finally, we found the air quality impacts of aviation emissions significantly exceed the climate impacts, with air quality impacts being 1.7 to 4.4 times higher than the climate impact per unit of fuel burn," he concluded. (Source: MIT, Eurasia Review, 10 Nov., 2019) Contact: MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Dr. Sebastian Eastham, Lead Researcher, 617-258-7537 www.aeroastro.mit.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  Aviation Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Saudi Aramco
Date: 2019-11-08
Saudi Aramco reports it is joining Zero Routine Flaring by 2030, a World Bank climate collaboration initiative aimed at minimizing carbon emissions and addressing climate change.

According to the release, as a result of Saudi Aramco's reservoir management best practices, flaring minimization and energy efficiency programs, the Company's 2018 upstream carbon intensity figure is among the lowest globally at 10.2 kilograms of CO2 equivalent per barrel of oil equivalent.

Launched in April 2015, the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative brings together more than 80 governments, oil and gas companies, and development institutions from around the world to eliminate routine flaring by 2030. (Source: Saudi Aramco, PR, Asharq AliAwsat, 6 Nov., 2019) Contact: Saudi Aramco, Ahmad A. Al-Saadi, Senior VP, Technical Services, Amin H. Nasser, Acting Pres., CEO, +966 13 872 0115, webmaster2@aramco.com, www.saudiaramco.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Saudi Aramco ,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  World Bank,  

Mayflower Wind Energy
Date: 2019-11-04
In the Bay State, Boston-based Mayflower Wind Energy LLC, a joint venture of Shell New Energies US LLC and EDPR Offshore North America LLC (EDPR), reports it will supply 804 MW of offshore wind -- sufficient power for approximately 500,000 Massachusetts homes -- from its Mayflower Wind project 20 miles south of Nantucket.

The project is expected to come online in 2025 and to eliminate 1.7 million metric tpy of CO2 emissions -- the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road.

Shell New Energies and EDPR reportedly have over 18,000 U.S. employees between them, a supply chain of more than 5,000 U.S. companies, $400 billion in market capitalization, experience operating 6,300 mw of onshore wind in the U.S. and ongoing development and construction of 2,700 mw of offshore wind projects in France, the Netherlands, Portugal and Scotland that are anticipated to be operational between now and 2023. (Source: Mayflower Wind, Composites World, 1 Nov, 2019) Contact: Mayflower Wind, John Hartnett, Pres., 508-589-3557, info@mayflowerwind.com, www.mayflowerwind.com; Shell New Energies US, www.shell.com/energy-and-innovation/new-energies.html; EDPR Offshore North America, www.edpr.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Mayflower Wind Energy,  Offshore Wind,  ,  

Korea
Date: 2019-11-04
The Korean Times is reporting Korean companies consume over 50 pct of the electric power generated from coal-fired power plants and contribute 30 to 40 pct of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. The Times notes that Korean companies, the main consumers of electricity generated by the coal-fired plants, need to transition to renewables but to date have been largely noncommittal to dropping fossil fuels.

According to Kim Ji-seok, a climate and energy specialist at Greenpeace Seoul, "there are two ways for local companies to replace their energy sources with renewable energy. One is to build their own power plant and the other is to purchase the energy from a renewable resources power generator. However, the latter is not legal here. Besides, electric power generated by such plants accounts for only 3.5 pct of the total electricity used in Korea, which is way too small to meet market demand," Kim said.

The state-run Korean Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), which controls the majority of the country's electric power generation, is reportedly slow to adopt renewables. Another major factor attributing to high rate of greenhouse gases in Korea is the auto industry with Hyundai and Kia Motors emitting 401 million gross tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2018. (Source: Korea Times, Nov., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News GHGs,  Korea Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Acwa Power
Date: 2019-11-04
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's Acwa Power is reporting a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Egyptian government to develop, finance, construct, and operate the 200MW Kom Ombo photovoltaic plant. The plant is expected to generate sufficient power for 130,000 households and offset 280,000 tpy of CO2 when fully operational. The project is expected to break ground soon for completion during Q1 2021.

Egypt aims to increase the overall capacity of its renewable energy to 20 pct by 2020 (Source: ACWA Power Egypt, ME Construction News, 3 Nov., 2019) Contact: Acwa Power, Paddy Padmanathan, CEO, +966 11 2835555, fax-+966 11 2835500, www.acwapower.com; Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, www.moee.gov.eg/english_new/minister.aspx

More Low-Carbon Energy News Acwa Power,  Solar,  

Citizens Climate Lobby
Date: 2019-11-04

In Blacksburg, Virginia, the global not-for-profit, nonpartisan Citizens Climate Lobby of the New River Valley has come out in support of the recently tabled Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act [H.R. 763], a national carbon tax as introduced in the US the House of Representatives.

The Act imposes a fee of $15 per metric ton of carbon dioxide emissions assessed on fossil fuels as far upstream as possible. It is estimated that the policy will reduce America's CO2 emissions by 40 pct within the first 12 years and will create 2.1 million new jobs.

The Citizens Climate Lobby aims to empower citizens to create political will and address the climate crisis with a national carbon tax and dividend policy through a program of "levers of political will" -- government lobbying, media relations, grassroots outreach and chapter development. (Source: CCL, Roanoake Times, 3 Nov., 2019) Contact: CCL, www.citizensclimatelobby.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Citizens Climate Lobby,  Climate Change,  Carbon Tax,  

Holland Michigan
Date: 2019-11-04
In Michigan, the city of Holland (pop. 35,000 +-) reports it is upgrading its Community Energy Plan -- the city's strategy to bring per capita GHG emissions down to 10 metric tons of carbon dioxide per capita over 40 years.

With the recent the decommissioning of the coal-powered James DeYoung power plant and the opening of the Holland Energy Park natural gas plant, the city has already cut emissions from 24 metric tons per capita in 2010 to an estimated 17 metric tons as of 2017. Moving forward the the city plans retrofitting all city buildings for better energy efficiency, replacing streetlights with LEDs to cut energy costs, further cutting the use of fossils fuels and increasing reliance on renewable energy sources, and refining its Energy Plan to include:

reaching a total of 1,000 homes retrofitted through the Home Energy Efficiency Retrofit program

growing capacity so that an additional 250 homes can be retrofitted annually

create local residential, commercial and industrial Energy Waste Reduction programs to replace expiring state programs

pilot and then study district heating at the Holland Civic Center to determine its effectiveness

achieve the highest rate of per-capita electric vehicle ownership in the state, twice the state average

draft a five-year plan for adapting the city's infrastructure for autonomous vehicles

secure a $3 million endowment for the Holland-Hope College Sustainability Institute.

If all interim goals for 2021 are met, the changes are predicted to bring CO2 emissions levels down to 15.75 metric tons per capita. With 82 percent of the city's electricity delivered to commercial or industrial facilities, Holland's business sector will be key to the continued progress toward its goals. (Source: City of Holland, Holland Sentinel, 3 Nov., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  Energy Efficiency,  

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
Date: 2019-11-04
Speaking in Bangkok, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the negative impact of climate change on the sustainability at the press conference after the 10th ASEAN-UN Summit in the capital city of Thailand.

The UN Chief noted "Climate change is running faster than we are, and we all see the impact of climate change in natural disasters." He said that the sea level is rising much faster than expected and new research forecast that 300 million people will be flooded by sea water in 2050 if climate change can not be contained.

The UN chief pointed out that efforts were needed to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century and to reduce CO2 emissions by 45 pct in the next decade. "If we miss these objectives, the situation will be catastrophic", Guterres said.

Founded in 1967, the ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (Source: ASEAN Summit Report, Xinhua, 3 Nov., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres,  Climate Change,  

University of Queensland
Date: 2019-11-01
Research led by the University of Queensland in Australia has found the climate impact of selective logging, outright clearing and fire in tropical rainforests between 2000 and 2013 was conservatively underestimated by 6.53 billion tonnes of CO2. The study did not include emissions from other woodlands or the massive boreal forests in the high latitudes of the northern hemisphere.

According to study co-author professor James Watson of the University of Queensland and the Wildlife Conservation Society, "We have been treating forests as pretty one-dimensional, but we know degradation impacts carbon. The bottom line is that we knew the numbers would be big, but we were shocked at just how big. This is a carbon time bomb and policymakers have to get to grips with this."

The study notes that when countries declare greenhouse gas emissions from changes in forests, they do not account for the CO2 that forests would have continued to soak up for decades had they not been cleared or damaged. This is a measure known as 'forgone removal'. The study , which accounted for those emissions up to the year 2050, found 6.53 billion tonnes of CO2 for foregone emissions and the impacts of other damage that wasn't being counted. In total, the world's forests absorbed roughly 28 pct of human-caused emissions between 2007 and 2016, with tropical forests accounting for about half that absorption.

Study details HERE. (Source: University of Queensland, Science Advances, Guardian, 31 Oct., 2019) Contact: University of Queensland, Prf. James Watson, +61 7 334 61645, james.watson@uq.edu.au, www.uq.edu.au

More Low-Carbon Energy News GHG,  Greenhouse Gas Emissions,  CO2,  Rainforest,  

Carbon Credit, AirCarbon Pte
Date: 2019-11-01
In Singapore, AirCarbon Pte Ltd. reports its newly launched global blockchain-based AirCarbon Exchange will provide a ready supply of credits (EEUs) to airlines and other corporate buyers wishing to acquire CO2 offsets for compliance and voluntary purposes.

These credits, when approved, will be eligible under the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) regime. Each tradable token will be backed by one equivalent tonne of CORSICA-compliant, highly liquid and tradable carbon credits. AirCarbon is applying for the recognized market operator (RMO) licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and aims for the exchange to be fully operational in 2020.

AirCarbon also operates the AirCarbon Fund, an investment fund which invests in carbon-mitigating projects such as reforestation, methane capture and carbon emissions reduction. Through these projects, the fund intends to generate CORSIA-compliant tradable carbon offsets, which will then be listed on the exchange. (Source: AirCarbon Pte, Business Times, 30 Oct., 2019) Contact: AirCarbon Pte Ltd., www.aircarbon.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Credit,  EEUs,  Carbon Offset,  ICAO,  

Hurtigruten
Date: 2019-11-01
The Oslo-headquartered Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten reports it is exploring and testing the use of biodiesel fuel that could reduce CO2 emissions by 95 pct over traditional marine fuels.

In a release, Hurtigruten said the move to biodiesel is in its infancy and will soon grow to transform the shipping industry. "Hurtigruten wants an international ban of use of cheap, polluting Heavy Fuel Oil in the Arctic and along the Norwegian Coast. It makes no sense to create more pollution and increase the risk of spills and destruction in areas that need to be protected" according to the rlease.

The maritime shipping industry uses more than 330 megatons of fuels every year and is the cause of as much as 3 pct of all global CO2 emissions, the release said. (Source: Hurtigruten, Cruise Industry News, 31 Oct. 2019) Contact: Hurtigruten, Daniel Skjeldam, CEO, www.global.hurtigruten.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Marine Fuel,  Biodiesel,  

Climate Analytics,Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Date: 2019-10-30
A report from Berlin-based Climate Analytics GmbH notes that Queensland, Australia's current carbon emissions would "virtually guarantee the extinction of most of the Great Barrier Reef" within 12 years if replicated worldwide.

The report recommends Queensland stop burning coal for power by 2030 to play its part in keeping global heating to 1.5 Celsius under the UN's Paris Agreement targets, agreed to by Australia in 2016. The report also notes hitting the necessary emissions reduction target would spell the end of Queensland thermal coal exports by 2040, as part of a "rapid and almost complete global phase-out" of coal for electric power genearation.

Queensland is Australia's biggest carbon-emitting state and will blow its total "carbon budget" of 1.2 gigatonnes by 2031 if its CO2 emissions remain at their 2017 rate, the report found.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has forecast that 70-90 pct of coral reefs worldwide will be lost at a 1.5C rise, with more than 99 per cent lost at 2C. Queensland accounts for 24 pct of Australia's energy and industry emissions and is targeting zero-net emissions by 2050. (Source: Climate Analytics, Australia Broadcasting Corp., 27 Oct., 2019) Contact: Climate Analytics, Bill Hare, Director, +49 (0)30 259229520, www.climateanalytics.org; Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Josh Thomas, CEO, www.gbrmpa.gov.au; Great Barrier Reef Foundation, www.barrierreef.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Analytics,  Carbon Emissions,  Coal,  Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority ,  

Indonesia Palm Oil
Date: 2019-10-30
In Jakarta, the Indonesian Office of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy reports it is anticipating a boost in palm oil exports to China, taking advantage of an opportunity opened up by the escalating trade war between Beijing and Washington.

The move also presents the country with a respite from its planned phase-out of palm oil biofuel in the European Union, its second-biggest export market, and a likely increase in duties by India, its top export customer.

To meet the expected Chinese market demand, Indonesian producers will increase yields through better technology and seeds, rather than more deforestation for palm cultivation. Currently there are 162,000 square-kilometers of palm oil plantations across Indonesia.

As previously reported, the European Commission passed a measure in March to phase out palm oil-based biofuels by 2030, over environmental degradation concerns that palm production, often on land cleared of rainforest, contributes to global carbon emissions and thus exacerbates climate change. The Rainforest Foundation Norway estimates an area larger than the Netherlands might be destroyed to make way for oil palm plantations to feed biofuel demand through 2030. This, it warns, would result in the release of 7 billion tons of CO2 emissions over the next 20 years. (Source: Indonesian Office of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mongabay, 28 Oct., 2019) Contact: Indonesian Office of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, www.devex.com/organizations/coordinating-ministry-for-economic-affairs-indonesia-132480

More Low-Carbon Energy News Palm Oil,  Biodiesel,  Biofuel,  

Vistra Energy
Date: 2019-10-30
Irving, Texas-headquartered electric power generator and provider Vistra Energy is reporting its long-term emissions reduction targets to achieve a greater than 50 pct reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions by 2030 as compared to a 2010 baseline and a greater than 80 pct reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions by 2050 as compared to a 2010 baseline. The company also aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions in the same timeframe assuming necessary advancements in technology and supportive market constructs and public policy, according to a release. Since 2010 Vistra's combined power generation portfolio has decreased CO2 equivalent emissions by more than 31 pct, removing nearly 170 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions from the atmosphere, according to the company which recently announced the anticipated retirement of approximately 2.5 GWs of coal assets in Illinois. The Illinois closure will further reduce the company's CO2 equivalents an additional 11 pct compared to a 2010 baseline.

In total, since 2010, Vistra and its predecessor companies have retired, or announced plans to retire, nearly 13 GW of fossil generation, including 14 coal generation plants and 3 natural gas generation plants.

Vistra notes it believes a national or regional, economy-wide carbon fee is the ideal public policy solution to appropriately incentivize investments in carbon-free and carbon-reducing technologies. (Source: Vistra, PR, 29 Oct., 2019) Contact: Vistra Energy, Curtis Morgan, CEO, www.vistraenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Vistra Energy,  CO2,  Carbon Emissions,  Coal,  

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: 2019-10-30
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers are reporting a new technology to capture CO2 and other greenhouse gases from a stream of air. While most methods of removing CO2 from a stream of gas require higher concentrations -- such as those found in the flue emissions from fossil fuel-based power plants -- the new MIT method requires significantly smaller concentrations and little energy to suck out the gas even when present in very low concentrations, according to the MIT release.

The researchers described the device as a large, specialized battery with a stack of electrodes that absorbs CO2 from the air passing over its surface as it was being charged, and then released the gas as it was being discharged.

According to the researchers, the pure CO2 stream could be compressed and sequestered underground or processed into fuel through a series of chemical and electro-chemical processes. (Source: MIT, The Tribune, Press Trust India, 29 Oct., 2019) Contact: MIT, Sahag Voskian, 617.253.4588, 617.253.8723 - fax, svoskian@mit.edu, www.hattongroup.mit.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Capture,  Massachusetts Institute of Technology ,  

Association of Global Automakers
Date: 2019-10-30
In the Golden State, the Sacramento Bee is reporting General Motors, Toyota and other major automakers are supporting the Trump administration's lawsuit regarding California's higher than national standards for vehicle fuel economy and carbon emissions to address climate change.

The Association of Global Automakers and the Coalition for Sustainable Automotive Regulation -- a group including GM, Toyota, Mazda, Fiat Chrysler and Mitsubishi -- split with four other automakers that had agreed to follow tougher rules enacted by California. The coalition said it simply wants to avoid a two-track system in which carmakers have to follow one set of rules for California, and the states that are supporting California, and another set of rules imposed by the federal government. Such a scenario would create chaos in the industry, the group argued. (Source: Sacramento Bee, 29 Oct., 2019) Contact: Association of Global Automakers, www.globalautomakers.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Vehicle Emissions,  CO2,  GHGs,  EPA,  California Vehicle Emissions,  Climate Change ,  

Carbon Emissions
Date: 2019-10-28
According to a report in Airdrei Today, scientist have found Arctic soil has warmed to the point where it releases more carbon in winter than northern plants can absorb during the summer. The finding means the extensive belt of tundra around the globe -- a vast reserve of carbon that dwarfs what's held in the atmosphere -- is becoming a source of greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.

Until recently, scientists assumed the microbial processes that release methane and CO2 from permafrost came to a halt in the cold. With this study, scientist found CO2 emissions of about 1.7 billion tpy -- twice the previous estimates -- just over one 1 billion tpy of CO2 Arctic plants are thought to take in from the atmosphere during growing season. The net result is that Arctic soil around the globe is probably already releasing more than 600 million tpy of CO2.

Under a business-as-usual scenario, emissions from northern soil would be likely to release 41 pct more carbon by the end of the century, even if significant mitigation efforts are made, those emissions will increase by 17 pct, said the report. (Source: Airdrie Today, Canadian Press, 22 Oct., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News CO2,  Carbon Emissions,  

IEA
Date: 2019-10-28
The International Energy Agency (IEA) is reporting steep cost reductions and improved technology could make offshore wind central to the world's green energy power supply. Offshore wind could also be crucial to limiting temperature rise to below two degrees Celsius this century, and the avoidance of five to seven billion tonnes of CO2 emissions from the power sector globally.

Offshore wind presently accounts for only 0.3 percent of global electricity generation, according to the IEA. Based on current and proposed policies, capacity is set to increase 15-fold over the next two decades, turning wind power into a $1 trillion business, according to the IEA.

In Europe, offshore wind will soon beat new natural gas-fired capacity on cost and be on a par with solar PV and onshore wind. The UK today has the biggest capacity for wind power, but China is likely to have the largest offshore wind fleet by 2025. The industry is also growing in markets such as the United States, Taiwan and Japan. (Source: IEA, Reuters , Oct., 2019) Contact: International Energy Agency, Dr. Fatih Birol, Exec. Dir., +33 1 40 57 65 00, www.iea.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News IEA,  Offshore Wind,  

Woody Biomass,Wood Pellet,Enviv,RWE
Date: 2019-10-28
Electricity power producer RWE and others will reportedly import thousands of tonnes of wood pellets from the US next year to burn in Dutch biomass power plants, with the help of a reported €11.4 billion of government subsidy. In total, 628 biomass installations in the Netherlands will receive subsidies, of which €2.6 billion is going to the RWE power plants in Geertruidenberg and Eemshaven, the paper said.

One US wood pellet producer -- Enviva in North Carolina -- has a contract to ship at least 200,000 tpy of wood pellets to RWE between 2020 and 2024. As previously noted, the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) warns governments should stop subsidizing biomass power plants because it is unsustainable. In addition, "burning wood does not produce very much energy and the net amount of CO2 which is released is greater than when burning coal or gas," the researchers said. It also noted that CO2 released by burning the wood pellets in the Netherlands is registered to the US which is a misleading "book-keeping trick imperiling the climate," according to the Dogwood Alliance. (Source: DutchNews.nl, 28 Oct., 2019) European Academies Science Advisory Council, www.easac.eu; Enviva Holdings LP, Enviva Biomass, Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, VP and CSO, www.envivabiomass.com; RWE, www.rwe.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enviva,  Wood Pellet,  Woody Biomass,  RWE,  

Evonik,Siemens
Date: 2019-10-23
German chemicals firm Evonik and Siemens are reporting the launch of their Rheticus II joint research project to develop a test plant in Marl, Germany. The plant will use CO2, water, electricity from renewable sources and bacteria to produce specialty chemicals. The Rheticus I project developed the technically feasible basis for artificial photosynthesis using a bioreactor and electrolyzers.

The Rheticus II electrolyzers and bioreacto test facility will produce butanol and hexanol for research purposes beginning in early 2020. The project and will receive €3.5 million in funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). (Source: Evomik, Website, Oct., 2019)Contact: Evonik, Thomas Hass, thomas.haas@evonik.com, www.evonik.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bioreactor,  Evonik,  Siemens,  Alternative Fuel,  Butanol,  

International Energy Agency
Date: 2019-10-23
According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), which account for roughly 40 pct of all vehicle sales, are the second-highest contributor to the increase in global CO2 emissions since 2010. The figure stood at less than 20 pct a decade ago.

The increase in emissions from SUVs is behind the power sector, but ahead of heavy industries, trucks, aviation and shipping. Carbon dioxide emissions from other internal combustion engine cars has decreased. The report also states that between 2010 and 2018, SUVs were responsible for increasing the oil demand from passenger cars by 3.3 million barrels a day. SUVs are said to consume a quarter more energy than medium-size cars. (Source: International Energy Agency, Team-BHP, 22 Oct., 2019) Contact: International Energy Agency, www.iea.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News International Energy Agency,  Carbon Emissions,  CO2,  

Columbia University Earth Institute,
Date: 2019-10-23
According to a recently published Columbia University Earth Institute study published in Nature Geoscience, Northern peatlands may hold twice as much carbon as scientists previously suspected. The study findings suggest that peatland areas play a more important role in climate change and the carbon cycle than they're credited for.

The report notes that global climate models, which scientists use to predict climate change and its impacts, rarely account for the carbon that peat and other soils absorb, store and release.

Their new study incorporates 4,139 radiocarbon measurements from 645 peatland sites in northern Europe, Asia, and North America. But the main innovation is in how the researchers calculated the carbon storage in peatlands.

The report notes researchershave calculated that northern peatlands hold 1.1 trillion tons of carbon rather than previous estimates of roughly 545 billion tons. The report concludes that peatlands are decaying faster and releasing more carbon as the planet's thermostat climbs. (Source: Columbia University, Earth Institute, 21 Oct., 2019) Contact: Columbia University Earth Institute, Prof. Jonathan Nichols, 212-854-3830, www.earth.columbia.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Peatland,  CO2,  Carbon Sequestrartion,  Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Sequestration,  

Fuchs Petrolub
Date: 2019-10-23
Mannhein, Germany-headquartered lubricants manufacturer Fuchs Petrolub SE reports it is aiming for carbon-neutrality by January 1, 2020.

To that end, the company plans to offset CO2 emissions emissions at its 58 world-wide locations through investments in climate protection projects, renewable energies, and requiring its suppliers to provide only CO2-neutral raw materials. (Source: Fuchs Petrolub, Renewables, 22 Oct., 2019) Contact: Fuchs Petrolub SE, Nina Consagra, Marketing, Public Relations, +49 (0) 621 3802-1207, Nina.Consagra@fuchs.com, www.fuchs.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Neutrality,  

ACI Europe, Airport Carbon Accreditation
Date: 2019-10-18
In Brussels, the European airport trade group ACI Europe reports European airports are delivering on their commitment to reach 100 carbon neutral airports by 2030 -- a major interim step towards their Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 vision & pledge. With the upgrade of six Lapland Airports to Level 3+ Neutrality of the global CO2 management standard, Airport Carbon Accreditation, there are now 50 carbon neutral airports in Europe.

Carbon neutrality is the highest level of carbon management performance under Airport Carbon Accreditation. In order to reach it, airports need to reduce CO2 emissions from those sources under their control as much as possible, and compensate for the remaining residual emissions with investment in high-quality carbon offsets. Carbon neutral airports at Level 3+ of the Airport Carbon Accreditation have to provide evidence of undertaking all the actions required by the programme prior to investing in carbon offsets. (Source: ACI Europe, Travel Daily News, 17 Oct., 2019) (Contact: ACI Europe, Olivier Jankovec, Director General, www.aci-europe.org; Airport Carbon Accreditation, www.airportcarbonaccreditation.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Airport Carbon Accreditation,  ACI Europe,  Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Offsets,  

Air Liquide,ArcelorMittal
Date: 2019-10-18
Paris-headquartered Air Liquide reports it is partnering with steel maker ArcelorMittal and its partner LanzaTech in the first industrial scale demonstration plant to capture CO2 from the steelmaking process and recycle it into advanced bioethanol.

Air Liquide Engineering & Construction will provide a technology solution that purifies blast furnace offgas which will be injected into a bioreactor to produce bioethanol.

The project, which is supported by the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, will be constructed ArcelorMittal's steel plant in Ghent, Belgium and is slated to become operational at the end of 2020 when it will produce 80 million lpy bioethanol. (Source: Air Liquide, PR, 17 Oct., 2019) Contact: Air Liquide, Corporate Communications, +33 (0)1 40 62 58 49, media@airliquide.com, www.airliquide.com; LanzaTech, Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO, (630) 439-3050, jennifer@lanzatech.com, www.lanzatech.com; ArcelorMittal, Alan Knight, Corporate Responsibility GM, +32 9 347 31 11, www.corporate.arcelormittal.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Air Liquide,  LanzaTech,  ArcelorMittal,  Bioethanol,  LanzaTech,  

San Antonio
Date: 2019-10-18
In the Lone Star State, the San Antonio City Council reports the adoption of a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan aimed at slashing the city's GHG emissions to net-zero by 2050.

San Antonio is the second major Texas city to adopt the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Austin passed a similar climate plan in 2014 and Houston and Dallas are working on their own climate planning efforts. (Source: City of San Antonio, Rivard Report, 17 Oct., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Net-Zero Emissions,  Climate Change,  CO2,  San Antonio,  

RGGI
Date: 2019-10-16
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the oldest U.S. cap-and-trade program for CO2 emissions, reports it plans to add new member states and to reduce the program's CO2 limit by 30 pct between 2021 and 2030, building on the 47 pct reduction achieved for their power plants since 2008.

From 2021-2030, the RGGI states have agreed to reduce the program's CO2 limit by 30 percent, building on the 47 percent CO2 reduction the states have already achieved for their power plants since 2008. The states have also agreed to add a new mechanism, called an emissions containment reserve, to the market in 2021. The reserve is meant to speed CO2 reductions by removing allowances from RGGI's quarterly auctions if the clearing price falls below a predetermined threshold, which will start at US$6/st in 2021.

Recently, many of the RGGI states have committed or recommitted to ambitious policies to address climate change, such as reducing economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. Many of the same northeastern U.S. states are considering creating a separate cap-and-trade program for the transportation sector, the largest source of CO2 in the states and across the country. That program could work in tandem with RGGI to help the states use markets to drive emissions lower.

RGGI member states include Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. New Jersey will re-join next year while Virginia are expected to sign on in the near future.

Download the RGGI proceeds investment report HERE. (Source: RGGI, Refinitiv, Argus, 14 Oct., 2019) Contact: RGGI, www.rggi.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News RGGI,  Carbon Emissions,   Cap-and-Trade ,  

Consumer Energy Alliance
Date: 2019-10-16
The Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) recently released analysis of U.S. government emissions data that looks at key pollutants and the overall environmental improvements seen across New York, shows that statewide emissions have fallen by as much as 95 pct since 1990 even as the state’s energy demand remained strong and natural gas usage surged.

The analysis demonstrates to policy leaders and anti-development activists that the state's hastily passed Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) can ensure energy production and sound environmental stewardship at the same time. This policy plan came as New York had a marked increase in consumption from 2017 to 2018 in both residential and commercial end-users. These facts show, despite ideologically driven attempts to shame energy development, many of the emissions reductions are the fruit of ongoing innovation, technology and the increased use of natural gas and nuclear energy in the Empire State's energy mix.

CEA's analysis found that from 1990 to 2017, New York's emissions of key pollutants have decreased across the board, with a: 73 pct reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx); 95 pct reduction in sulfur dioxide (SO2);13 pct reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs); and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions declined by 22 pct. The CEA analysis notes these reductions and improvements occurred while more than 78 pct of the state's energy needs were being fueled by oil and natural gas.

This analysis follows CEA's Energy Savings Report for New York consumers, which found that families, small business and manufacturers across the state saved almost $30.9 billion thanks to low-cost energy over the past decade. This is essential for New York as one of the top five energy consuming states in the nation, where one in four households heat with oil and 40 pct of the state's electricity generation is powered by natural gas. (Source: Consumer Energy Alliance, Website, 15 Oct., 2019) Contact: Consumer Energy Alliance, Wendy Hijos, CEA NY State Director, Emily Haggstrom, (720) 582-0242, ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org, www,consumerenergyalliance.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Consumer Energy Alliance,  Carbon Emissions,  

Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions
Date: 2019-10-14
Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corp., reports a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesian state-owned electricity company, Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) to build hydrogen-based energy systems with zero CO2 emission to meet electrical power in Indonesia's remote areas. The MoU is particularly aimed at accelerating the adoption of hydrogen-based autonomous energy supply system -- H2One™ -- in Indonesia, according to the Toshiba release.

Toshiba ESS and PLN will evaluate viable technologies and policies necessary for an advanced adoption of the commercial H2One&trade -- an integrated system that uses a renewable energy source to electrolyze hydrogen from water, and stores and uses the hydrogen in fuel cells to provide a stable delivery of CO2-free, environmentally-friendly electricity and hot water.

According to Indonesia's Electricity Power Supply Business Plan (RUPTL), the country aims to increase the ratio of its capacity of renewal energy facility from 12.52 percent in 2017 to 23 pct by 2025. (Source: Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation, Antara, 13 Oct., 2019) Contact: Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation. www.toshiba-energy.com; Perusahaan Listrik Negara, www.pln.co.id

More Low-Carbon Energy News Toshiba Energy,  Carbon Free Energy,  

Carbon Tax
Date: 2019-10-14
In Dublin, Ireland, the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee has announced the country's National Oil Reserve Agency has raised more than €3billion ($3.309 billion) in carbon tax revenue since 2010 while at the same time subsidizing coal and turf (peat). The National Oil Reserve Agency has also accumulated a surplus of more than €200 million that will be rolled into a climate action fund.

Both coal and turf (peat), which are used for heat and electric power production, are expected to be eventually phased out because of their high contribution of CO2 to greenhouse gas emissions. (Source: Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee, 10 Oct., 2019) Contact: Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee, www.oireachtas.ie; National Oil Reserve Agency, +353 1 676 9390, www.nora.ie

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Tax,  

IMF,International Monetary Fund
Date: 2019-10-14
According to the Washington, DC-based International Monetary Fund (IMF), avoiding dangerous global warming-climate change will require world government's to impose stringent taxes on fossil-fuel usage -- equating to a 43 pct hike in household energy bills over the next decade. The IMF notes the battle against climate change could only be won if the average carbon tax levied by its member states increased from $2 to $75 a ton.

IMF's economists show that a $75-a-ton carbon tax would also lead to an average 214 pct increase in the cost of coal and a 68 pct increase in natural gas. For the UK, the increases would be 157 pct for coal, 51 pct for natural gas, 43 pct for electricity and 8 pct for gasoline.

The IMF said it was calling for a substantially higher carbon tax because the CO2 from fossil fuels accounted for almost two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions and was the most immediately practical to control. (Source: International Monetary Fund, Various Media, Guardian, Oct., 2019) Contact: International Monetary Fund, www.imf.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News International Monetary Fund,  ,  Carbon Tax,  

Carbon Tax
Date: 2019-10-14
In Dublin, Ireland, the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee has announced the country's National Oil Reserve Agency has raised more than €3billion ($3.309 billion) in carbon tax revenue since 2010 while at the same time subsidizing coal and turf (peat). The National Oil Reserve Agency has also accumulated a surplus of more than €200 million that will be rolled into a climate action fund.

Both coal and turf (peat), which are used for heat and electric power production, are expected to be eventually phased out because of their high contribution of CO2 to greenhouse gas emissions. (Source: Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee, Irish Times, 10 Oct., 2019) Contact: Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee, www.oireachtas.ie; National Oil Reserve Agency, +353 1 676 9390, www.nora.ie

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Tax news,  

Google
Date: 2019-10-11
Tech giant Google has announced is touting Environmental Insights Explorer (EIE)⁠, a new tool that uses Google's global mapping data to help gauge and reduce carbon emissions and measure renewable energy potential across cities.

The EIE will initially be available in Europe starting with Dublin, Birmingham, Manchester, with Wolverhampton and Coventry to follow soon. Copenhagen will get what Google is calling "hyperlocal, street-level air quality data" as part of EIE Labs, which will help streamline and optimize action against climate change by piloting climate-focused datasets. Dublin has already been utilizing the new tool to help track emissions from transportation modes.

Review EIE details HERE. (Source: Google, Oct., 2019) Contact: Google EIE Lab, insights.sustainability.google/labs

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  CO2,  Transportation Emissions,  Vehicle Emissions,  

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  CO2,  Transportation Emissions,  Vehicle Emissions,  

British Airways
Date: 2019-10-11
In the UK, British Airways (BA) reports thet beginning in Jan., 2020, it will offset the carbon emissions from all of its 75 daily domestic flights that collectively emit roughly 400,000 tpy of CO2 Emissions. BA notes that from next year its carbon emissions on international flights will be capped through the UN's offsetting scheme. BA's parent company IAG has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

In its offsetting, British Airways will invest in verified carbon reduction (VCR) projects worldwide, including renewable energy, rainforest protection and reforestation programmes. (Source: British Airways, Business Traveler, Oct., 2019) Contact: British Airways, www.ba.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News British Airways,  Aviation Emissions,  CO2,  Climate Change,  VCR,  

Velocys,Bayou Fuels
Date: 2019-10-11
UK-headquartered landfill gas-to-liquid fuels and chemicals producer Velocys Plc and its subsidiary Velocys, Inc. is reporting an agreement with Occidental Petroleum subsidiary Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, LLC (Oxy) under which Oxy will capture and store CO2 from Velocys' planned Bayou Fuels waste woody biomass-to-fuels project in Natchez, Mississippi.

According to OXY, it is uniquely positioned to transport and store the CO2 by leveraging Occidental's industry leadership in CO2 storage and utilization for enhanced oil recobery (EOR). (Source: Velocys, gasworld, 19 Oct., 2019)Contact: Velocys Plc, David Pummell, CEO, +44 1235 841 700, (713) 275-5840 -- Houston Office, info@velocys.com, www.velocys.com; Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC, www.oxy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Velocys,  Biofuel,  Biorefinery,  Waste-to-Fuel,  Bayou Fuels,  

Rick Steves
Date: 2019-10-09
Popular U.S. tour and travel guide operator Rick Steves reports his company plans to donate $1 million directly to non-profits that work in the developing world countries that bear the worst effects of climate change. The donation is based on the recommended $30 carbon offset credit for every round-trip economy class ticket from the US to Europe.

He is particularly keen about organizations that attack the problem at a policy level. (Source: Rick Steves Travel, Quarts, 5 Oct., 2019) Contact: Rick Steves Travel, www.ricksteves.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  CO2,  Climate Change,  

Qatar
Date: 2019-10-09
In Qatar, the Ministery of State for Energy Affairs reports the commissioning of a previously unannounced carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility aimed at storing as much as 5 million tonnes of carbon from Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities by 2025.

According to the Ministry announcement, the 2.1 million tpy capacity facility is the region's largest such facility. (Source: Qatar Ministery of State for Energy Affairs, The Peninsula, Reuters, 8 Oct., 2019) Contact: Qatar Minister of State for Energy Affairs, www.gco.gov.qa › ministries › minister-of-state-for-energy-affairs

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  Carbon Capture,  CO2,  Qatar,  

Exmoor,Carbon Sequestration
Date: 2019-10-07
In the UK, the Exmoor National Park Authority has this week declared a climate emergency and agreed to work towards being a carbon neutral Authority by 2030. The Authority also agreed to sign on to the Devon Climate Declaration, alongside 25 other organizations, and to join forces with both Devon and Somerset County Councils to formulate carbon plans that meet or exceed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) targets.

The Exmooor National Park Authority noted it has already cut its carbon emissions by 30 pct by: improving energy efficiency within Authority-owned buildings; installing renewable energy along with a scheme to facilitate installation of 73 new renewable energy systems in local communities, farms and houses across Exmoor; the restoration of nearly 2,500 hectares of peatland in the National Park through the Exmoor Mires Partnership, with plans to extend this to at least 3,000 hectares.

Peatlands are the UK's single most important terrestrial carbon store, containing 20 times more carbon than all UK forests. A functioning bog absorbs around 0.87 tpy of carbon per hectare year while dry peatland releases CO2 -- degraded peat in England is emitting an estimated 11 million tpy of CO2. (Source: Exmoor National Park Authority, Somerset County Gazette, 6 Oct., 2019) Contact: Exmoor National Park Authority, +44 1398 323665, www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Peatland,  CO2,  Carbon Sequestrartion,  Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Sequestration,  

Schneider Electric
Date: 2019-10-07
Global energy management and automation specialist Schneider Electric reports 13 of its buildings globally are now "net-zero carbon" -- carbon neutral through a combination of its Energy Sustainability Services (ESS, )EcoStruxure and digital energy management solutions as enablers to operate with net- zero CO2 emissions.

Schneider Electric aims to drastically cut CO2 emissions from its operations, following a 1.5 degree C trajectory in line with Science-Based Targets. To that end, Schneider Electric reduced CO2 emissions by 130,000 tonnes, a 22 pct decrease (2018 compared to 2017) in just one year.

Schneider Electric has adopted the World Green Building Council's definition of "net-zero carbon buildings" as a building that is highly energy efficient and fully powered from on-site and/or off-site renewable energy sources, to achieve net-zero carbon emissions annually in operation.

Schneider Electric has delivered over 30 pct energy savings globally over the past 10 years since the start of its Schneider Energy Action energy efficiency program. In addition, as of October 2019, 45 pct of Schneider Electric's operations are powered with renewable electricity. (Source: Schneider Electric, PR, voltimum, 6 Oct., 2019)Contact: Schneider Electric, Kakali Ray, VP Sales, www.schneider-electric.us

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Renewable Energy,  Schneider Electric,  Net-Zero Carbon,  Carbon Emissions ,  

Veolia
Date: 2019-10-07
The Municipality of Dubai is reporting a partnership with the French waste-to-energy group Veolia Environment for the conversion of biogas from the Warsan Sewage Treatment Plant into green energy that will be used to power the sewage treatment plant itself.

The project is expected to reduce the annual operating costs of the plant and to cut the plant's CO2 emissions by 31,000 tpy, equivalent to emissions from 7,000 homes in Dubai. The Warsan plant will convert 58,000 cubic meters per day of biogas into electricity when fully operational. (Source: Veolia, Middle East Utilities, 6 Oct. 2019) Contact: Veolia Environnement, www.veolia.com/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Veolia,  Biogas,  

Deep Carbon Observatory
Date: 2019-10-04
A recent 10-year study from the Washington, DC-based Deep Carbon Observatory (DCO) has found that human activities like burning fossil fuels and clearing forests generate as much as 100 times the carbon emissions of volcanic eruptions every year.

Thge study notes that while volcanoes and other natural processes release 0.28 to 0.36 gigatonnes of CO2 per year, human activity released more than 37 gigatonnes in 2018 alone -- 40 to 100 times greater than those of volcanoes.

The Deep Carbon Observatory (DCO) is a global community of more than 1000 multidisciplinary scientists, including geologists, chemists, physicists, and biologists on a ten-year quest to understand the quantities, movements, forms, and origins of carbon in Earth. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation provided $50 million seed funding over ten years to launch the Deep Carbon Observatory. This has leveraged a huge international investment in deep carbon science, with major research grants from both national and international agencies. (Source: Deep Carbon Observatory, Eco Watch, Oct., 2019) Contact: Deep Carbon Observatory, (202) 478-8818, web@deepcarbon.net, www.deepcarbon.net

More Low-Carbon Energy News Deep Carbon Observatory,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Ofgem
Date: 2019-10-04
In London, the UK energy regulator OFGEM is reporting the UK's progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions slowed in 2918, falling by 2.5 pct from 3 pct in 2017 -- the smallest reduction since 2012.

The country's GHG emissions have fallen by 42 pct since 1990, more than any other large advanced economy, due largely to the decarbonisation of electric power generation. Even so, the agency notes "significant" investment and policy intervention, particularly in renewables, would be needed to meet the UK's legal goals of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

OFGEM has made decarbonizing the economy a priority in its new corporate strategy and has promised to set out more detail on this early next year. "OFGEM's latest state of the market report shows the progress made so far to decarbonise the economy but much more needs to be done. We want the UK to remain a global leader in bringing down greenhouse gas emissions, and our major objective is to help the country rise to the challenge of cutting emissions to net-zero by 2050 at the lowest possible price to consumers", OFGEM chief economist Joe Perkins said. (Source: OFGEM, Isle of Wight County Press, 3 Oct., 2019)Contact: OFGEM, Chris Lock, +44 0207 901 7225, www.ofgem.gov.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News CO2,  Ofgem,  Carbon Emissions,  CO2,  Climate Change,  

ION Clean Energy,Nebraska Public Power District
Date: 2019-10-02
Boulder, Colorado-based solvent-based CO2 capture technology specialist ION Clean Energy, Inc. reports it has been selected by the U.S. DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and awarded $5.4 million to complete a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study for a 600-mw equivalent, CO2 capture system designed to be retrofitted into Nebraska Public Power District's (NPPD) Gerald Gentleman Station in Sutherland, NE.

The project will provide critical data and insight into the transformative potential of ION's CO2 capture technology when deployed at existing coal-fired power plants.

ION Clean Energy is commercializing its proprietary liquid absorbent process and working with local and global partners to commercialize and deploy its CO2 capture technology. (Source: ION Energy, PR, 1 Oct., 2019) Contact: ION Clean Energy, Alfred "Buz" Brown, CEO, 303.997.7097, info@ioncleanenergy.com, , www.ioncleanenergy.com; Nebraska Public Power District, Pat Pope, CEO, Pres., www.nppd.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Nebraska Public Power District,  ION Clean Energy,  Carbon Capture,  CCS,  

German Carbon Tax
Date: 2019-10-02
In Berlin, the German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz reports the government expects its €10 per ton CO2 pricing starting in 2021 in the buildings and transport sectors will bring in €18.8 billion by 2023 for its Climate Action Package, according to the German business publication Handelsblatt.

The Climate Action Package is an economic plan for the country's Energy and Climate Fund, which is expected to grow from €6.1 billion this year to €11.75 billion in 2023. Revenues from the European trade of CO2 allowances in energy and industry (EU ETS) are expected to raise an additional €14 billion. The Climate Action Package is intended to put the country on track to meet its 2030 climate targets. (Source: Handelsblatt, Clean Energy Wire, Other Media, 1 Oct., 2019) Contact: German Finance Minister, Olaf Scholz, www.bundesfinanzministerium.de

More Low-Carbon Energy News EU ETS,  German Carbon Tax,  Carbon Tax,  

Air France
Date: 2019-10-02
In an effort to counteract its climate impact, French carrier Air France reports it will offset 100 pct of the carbon emissions of its 500-odd daily internal flights by 2020, finance projects that support tree planting, forest protection and the global shift to low-carbon energy. The airline will also ban single-use plastics such as cutlery from local flights as from January, 2020, and start separating and recycling waste from October.

The airline industry's carbon emissions, which at 285 grammes of CO2 emitted per kilometre travelled by each passenger, far exceed all other modes of transport, according to the European Environment Agency. Heavy duty transportation -- freight trucking, shipping and aviation -- represent more then 10 pct of global greenhouse gas emissions, says the World Resources Institute, a research body. (Source: Air France, AFP, The Local, 1 Oct., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aviation Emissions,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

CLINTEL
Date: 2019-09-27
Previously this wekk in New York, the newly launched Netherlands-based Climate Intelligence Foundation (CLINTEL), a global network of 500 prominent climate deniers, scientists and professionals, declared "there is no climate emergency" to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Professor Guus Berkhout of The Netherlands, who organized the Declaration, said: "So popular is the Declaration with scientists and researchers worldwide that signatories are flooding in not only from within Europe but also from other countries such as the United States and Canada, Australia and New Zealand."

The group warns the U.N. that "the general-circulation models of climate on which international policy is at present founded are unfit for their purpose" and that the "models which have predicted far more warming than they should are not remotely plausible as policy tools in that in that they ... exaggerate the effect of greenhouse gases such as CO2 and ignore the fact that enriching the atmosphere with CO2 is beneficial."

The CLINTEL letter invites the Secretary-General to work with the CLINTEL global network to organize a constructive, high-level meeting between world-class scientists on both sides of the climate debate in early 2020. (Source: CLINTEL, Sept., 2019) Contact: CLINTEL, Professor Guus Berkhout, +31 651214 737 guus.berkhout@clintel.org, www.clintel.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  CLINTEL,  

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Date: 2019-09-27
As previously reported, a study of the economic consequences of a melting Arctic from the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) in Espoo has found that the release of methane and CO2 from thawing permafrost will accelerate global warming and add up to $70 trillion to the worlds climate bill.

The study authors contend their study is the first to calculate the economic impact of permafrost melt and reduced albedo -- a measure of how much light that hits a surface is reflected without being absorbed -- based on the most advanced computer models of what is likely to happen in the Arctic as temperatures rise.

The study notes that on the current trajectory of at least 3 degree C of warming by the end of the century, melting permafrost is expected to discharge up to 280 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide and 3 gigatonnes of methane, which is 10 to 20 times more damaging to the the afmosphere than carbon dioxide. This would increase the global climate-driven impacts by $70 trillion between now and 2300, the report concludes. (Source: VIT, Weekened Leader, 22 April, 2019) Contact: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, +358 20 722 111, +358 20 722 7001 - fax., www.vttresearch.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland news,  VTT news,  Climate Change news,  Methane news,  

Stora Enso
Date: 2019-09-25
In Stockholm, Stora Enso reports it is participating in the World Green Building Week, the largest annual and global communication campaign on sustainable buildings organized by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC).

Stora Enso develops and produces solutions based on wood and biomass for a range of industries and applications worldwide, leading in the bioeconomy and supporting our customers in meeting demand for renewable eco-friendly products.

"Stora Enso has helped us lead the change towards a building sector that meets the decarbonization goals of the Paris Agreement, addressing both operational and embodied emissions. As a campaign ambassador and advocate for new policies such as the EU's 'Level(s)' framework that seek to mainstream life-cycle assessment, they are evidence to politicians that the sector is ready to deliver net zero carbon," according to James Drinkwater, Director of WorldGBC's Europe Regional Network.

Carbon dioxide emissions from construction materials -- mostly cement and steel -- account for approximately 11 pct of all global emissions. Stora Enso has also supported the creation of the WorldGBC's Bringing embodied carbon upfront report that highlights the importance of emissions from materials.

The World Green Building Council (WGBC) is the world's largest international organisation promoting the practice of sustainable building. Stora Enso Wood Products joined WGBC in 2017. (Source: Stora Enso, PR, 24 Sept., 2019) Contact: Stora Enso Wood Products Div., Jari Suominen, Div. Head, +43-664-6183907, jari.suominen@stroaenso.com, www.storaenso.com; World Green Building Council, James Drinkwater, www.worldgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass,  Building Sustainability,  ,  Stora Enso,  World Green Building Council,  

Kuehne + Nagel
Date: 2019-09-25
Schindellegi, Switzerland-based global transport and logistics specialist Kuehne + Nagel reports it is proactively addressing the CO2 footprint of the transportation services performed by its suppliers -- airlines, shipping lines and haulage companies -- and will make all less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments CO2 neutral from 2020 onwards. The firm is aiming for comprehensive CO2 neutralisation (Scope 3 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol) by 2030.

To that end, Kuehne + Nagel's Net Zero Carbon programme leverages three fields of action: detection, reduction and compensation of CO2. The company has started its own nature projects in Myanmar and New Zealand and has invested in various nature-based CO2 compensation projects, where carbon is being taken from the atmosphere. The emission credits obtained are in accordance with the highest international standards.

Over the past years, Kuehne + Nagel has considerably reduced its own CO2 footprint and will continue to pursue its efforts. (Source: Kuehne + Nagel, Logistics & Materials Handling, 24 Sept., 2019) Contact: Kuehne + Nagel, Dr. Detlef Trefzger, CEO, www.home.kuehne-nagel.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Kuehne + Nagel ,  Carbon Emissions,  CO2,  Transportation Emissions,  

Turkey
Date: 2019-09-25
Belarus is one step closer to building its largest wind farm and reaching its 2030 renewables target. Turkish green engineering and construction company Gurish Construction & Engineering Co. Inc. (GURISH) reports is investing roughly $40 million in a 25 MW wind farm near the village of Veleshkovichi in the Vitebsk region of Belarus.

The project, which is expected to get underway in 2020, will be Belarus' largest wind energy producer supplying sufficient electric power for more than 20,000 area households when fully operational.Over its expected 20-year lifespan, the project is projected to offset over 500 thousand tonnes of CO2. (Source: UNDP Belaruse, Sept., 2019) Contact: Gurish Construction & Engineering, www.zaubacorp.com/company/GIRISH-CONSTRUCTION-PRIVATE-LIMITED/U45201GJ1986PTC008402

More Low-Carbon Energy News Wind,