CIBC, CDP
Date: 2020-12-16
In Toronto, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) reports receipt of a score of A- from the CDP (fka the Carbon Disclosure Project). Improving from a B rating in 2019, this score demonstrates CIBC's progress in environmental performance and reporting. The score also places CIBC among the highest ranking Canadian financial institutions and the top-tier of global banks. As part of CIBC's commitment to support environmental sustainability initiatives, the bank's actions include:

In 2020, increased its GHG emissions intensity target for operations to 20 pct over eight years (using 2018 as a baseline).

In 2020, issued a USD $500 million, five-year green bond to help finance new and existing green projects, assets, and businesses that mitigate the risks and effects of climate change. These include renewable energy, green buildings, clean transportation, natural resource conservation, biodiversity conservation, energy efficiency, and pollution prevention and control.

In 2019, announced a target of mobilizing $150 billion in environmental and sustainable finance activities by 2027.

In 2019, issued the climate-related disclosure report Building a Sustainable Future aligned with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures.

In 2019, set new targets to source 100 pct of its electricity from renewable sources and become carbon neutral by 2024.

Toronto-headquartered CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 10 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients and $768.545 billion (Cdn) in total assets. (Source: CIBC, PR, 14 Dec., 2020) Contact: CIBC, www.cibc.com/en/about-cibc/corporate-responsibility/environment.html; CDP, Lance Pierce, Pres. North America, (212) 378 2086, info.northamerica@cdp.net, www.cdp.net

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Disclosure Project,  CIBC,  CDP,  Climate Change,  

European Commission
Date: 2020-12-16
The European Commission (EC) reports it has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €30 billion scheme to support projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands while contributing to the EU environmental objectives and supporting the EU Green Deal.

The €30 billion scheme, which will run until 2025, will support cost effective renewable energy, use of waste heat, hydrogen production, carbon capture and storage(CCS) and other environmentally-friendly projects in line with EU rules.

Scheme beneficiaries will receive support via a variable premium contract of up to 15 years, according to the EC release. (Source: European Commission, EU Reporter, 15 Dec., 2020)Contact: EU Green Deal, ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en

More Low-Carbon Energy News European Commission ,  European Green Deal,  Carbon Emissions,  GHGs,  

New York State Comptroller
Date: 2020-12-11
In Albany, the office of New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is reporting the $226 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund -- the third largest public pension fund in the U.S. -- aims to transition its portfolio to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040. This process will include completion within four years of a review of investments in energy sector companies.

Building on DiNapoli's 2019 Climate Action Plan, the Fund will continue its use of minimum standards for determining whether a company is well-prepared for the transition to a low-carbon global economy. Companies failing to meet the fund's standard will be dropped from the fund's portfolio.

The Fund has already set minimum standards for the thermal coal mining industry and divested from 22 coal companies. The Fund is currently evaluating nine oil sands companies, and will develop minimum standards for investments in shale oil. The Fund will also establish interim trajectory goals to measure progress toward its 2040 net zero target and institute transparency measures regarding the Fund's progress, including annual progress reports, and updates at the outset and conclusion of each sector review.

As part of its net-zero commitment, the Fund will continue to increase its engagement efforts with companies across industries to encourage them to reach net-zero carbon emissions more quickly, and will continue to vote against board directors at portfolio companies that fail to take steps to mitigate climate risks.

Download the NY 2019 Climate Action Plan HERE. (Source: New York State Comptroller Website PR, Dec., 2020) Contact: New York State Comptroller Office, (518) 474-4044, contactus@osc.ny.gov, www.osc.ny.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News GHG,  Carbon Emissions,  

South Korea
Date: 2020-12-09
In Seoul, the South Korean Finance Ministry is reporting the government plans to overhaul its carbon emissions taxation scheme and create a tentatively named Climate Response Fund to fight climate change. The move is in keeping with a bid to transform the country's fossil-fuel reliant economy into a low-carbon economy and achieve its previously announced goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The initiative is in line with the government's Green New Deal drive to slash GHG emissions by 24.4 pct by 2030 from 2017 levels to achieve sustainable growth through eco-friendly policies.

In a related effort, the country will increase its efforts to scale down its dependence on fossil fuels and further develop green energy sources such as hydrogen and renewable energy.

In 2019, coal accounted for 40.4 pct of the country's power generation followed by liquefied natural gas (LNG) at 25.6 pct and nuclear power with 25.9 pct. (Source: Yonhap, 7 Dec., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  Korea Carbon Emissions,  Low-Carbon Economy,  Low-Carbon Energy,  

ePURE,European Environment Agency
Date: 2020-11-30
According to the European renewable ethanol trade association ePURE, even as the EU sets ambitious emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2050, it is still falling short of an important milestone that looms much closer on the horizon -- reducing the average greenhouse gas-intensity of road transport fuels.

The EU's Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) requires Member States to reduce the GHG intensity of transport fuels by at least 6 pct by 2020 compared to 2010. But according to a new report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA), nearly all Member States are struggling to meet this goal. "Progress varied greatly across Member States, but almost all need to take swift action to meet the 2020 target of 6 pct," the EC noted in its corresponding Communication on the data.

The EEA report considers data submitted by Member States from 2018, the most recent year for which figures are available. The combined data show that the greenhouse gas intensity of fuels across the EU have fallen by 3.7 pct compared to the 2010 baseline, mostly due to the use of biofuels. Finland and Sweden -- which have national policies strongly favouring the use of biofuels -- are the only Member States whose emission intensities decreased by more than 6 pct. Nearly every other country has some catching up to do. Some countries have switched to E10 petrol blend, with up to 10 pct renewable ethanol by volume, in order to meet their targets.

The report again demonstrates the importance of biofuels to decarbonising transport fuels, both in terms of quantity and GHG savings. In particular, the EEA reports an average EU-level GHG emissions of renewable ethanol that confirms the impressive performance of ePURE members' ethanol in 2018 as found in our own audit: It also reinforces the importance of using more biofuels with strong GHG reduction performance and low ILUC impact such as European renewable ethanol. The EU's reliance on oil, fossil fuels made up 94.8 pct of total fuel supply in 2018.

ePURE's membership includes 19 producing companies with around 50 refineries in 16 EU Member States, accounting for about 85 pct of EU renewable ethanol production. (Source: ePURE Website, 27 Nov., 2020) Contact: ePURE, www.epure.org; European Environment Agency, www.eea.europa.eu

More Low-Carbon Energy News ePURE,  Ethanol,  GHG,  Greenhouse Gas,  Carbon Emissions,  

Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Date: 2020-11-16
In Hanoi , the Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's Department of Climate Change is reporting an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) calling for a 9 pct reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a further cut of up to 27 pct if it receives international support through bilateral and multilateral co-operation under Paris Agreement mechanisms on climate change.

The new version has been submitted to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (Source: Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, VNA, 14, Nov., 2020) Contact: UNFCCC, Monique Nardi, mnardi@unfccc.int, www.unfccc.int, Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, www.monre.gov.vn › English

More Low-Carbon Energy News UNFCCC,  Vietnam,  Carbon Emissions,  

Oil and Gas Climate Initiative
Date: 2020-11-13
As previously reported, the 12-member Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) is reported to have agreed to reduce the average carbon intensity of their aggregated upstream oil and gas operations to between 20 kg and 21 kg of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per barrel of oil by 2025.

OGCI members include: Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, BP, China's CNPC, Total, Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, Repsol, Petrobras, Occidental Petroleum, Eni and Equinor. (Source: OGCI, July, 2020) Contact: Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, +44 (0)203 922 0853, www.oilandgasclimateinitiative.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Oil and Gas Climate Initiative news,  Carbon Emissions news,  

Enbridge Inc
Date: 2020-11-09
Markham. Ontario-headquartered Enbridge Inc reports release of its expanded environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals and targets related to greenhouse gas emissions reduction, diversity and increasing transparency and accountability. The company's ESG goals include:

A new goal to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050; with an interim target to reduce GHG emissions intensity 35 pct by 2030;

Increased representation of diverse groups within our workforce by 2025 including acceleration of existing goals of 28 pct from Racial and Ethnic groups, along with new actions to enhance supplier diversity;

Further strengthening Board diversity with an increased goal of 40 pct representation of women and new goal of 20 pct of Racial and Ethnic groups by 2025;

Most transparency and reporting of safety and reliability targets that drive continuous improvement towards our goal of zero incidents, injuries and occupational illnesses, and implementation of robust cyber defense programs.

The ESG goals support the company's strategic priorities to optimize its core energy delivery businesses and execute on the company's capital program with emphasis on modernization, technology and innovation. They also contribute to strengthening Enbridge's ability to capture new growth opportunities and adapt to a lower-carbon future over time, building on the Company's significant expansion into natural gas and rapidly growing renewables portfolio. (Source: Enbridge, AIT, Nov., 2020) Contact: Enbridge Inc., Al Monaco, Pres., CEO, (403) 231-3900, www.enbridge.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enbridge,  GHG,  Carbon Emissions,  

Canada Clean Fuels Standard,Suzuki Foundation
Date: 2020-10-23
"The UN's annual Emissions Gap Report 2019 found Earth is headed toward 3.2 degrees C warming based on current and estimated emissions trends and called on governments to increase efforts to limit global warming immediately. But Canada isn't even on track to meet its original 2030 emissions-reduction targets.

"Greenpeace recently obtained leaked strategy documents advising industry to push back against measures such as the federal clean fuel standard that prompts a switch to low-carbon fuels by setting limits on greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil fuels. To meet it, fossil-fuel suppliers can buy or generate credits by offering low-carbon alternatives, like biofuels from waste organics or electric-vehicle charging stations. The clean-fuel-credit market is expected to attract investment in low-carbon fuel production and distribution in Canada.

"It's a smart move as the government looks to support economic recovery. Clean-fuels investments generate employment. Clean Energy Canada estimates the regulation could spur the need for up to 31,000 skilled workers to build, operate, and supply new facilities.

Navigator, the PR firm engaged to develop an action plan to counter the clean-fuel standard, advises its unnamed clients to use a "counter-punch strategy" -- to pay lip service to government's climate agenda, wait for the clean-fuel-standard announcement, then orchestrate a hard push-back. Part of the scheme is to convince Canadians that "fighting climate change is a losing battle" by arguing action is too costly. It's dishonest. Energy companies -- and the politicians they're seeking to influence -- know Canada must decarbonize the fuel supply to reduce GHG emissions.

"All the major federal political parties have pledged to meet or exceed Canada's 2030 targets. The clean-fuel standard is projected to reduce annual GHG emissions by 30 million tonnes by 2030 -- equivalent to taking 7 million cars off the road and accounts for 15 pct of Canada's current emissions-reduction target -- more than can be achieved with any other single climate-policy instrument.

"B.C.'s (British Columbia) low-carbon fuel requirement has been in place since 2010 and is credited with delivering one-quarter of B.C.'s emissions reductions between 2007 and 2012 with limited impacts to consumers' pocketbooks. As part of its CleanBC plan, the province recently announced further reductions to the carbon intensity of transportation fuels over the next decade using this instrument. California, Oregon, and the EU have parallel policies. Their experience shows that a clean-fuel standard can reduce emissions, drive innovation, and increase renewable alternatives availability.

"Too often, industry opposition to environmental policies isn't driven by facts but by vested interests. Climate action is in everyone's interest. Government must stand firm on the policies needed to achieve timely emissions reductions. The sooner Canada adopts its clean fuel standard, the better."

Download the UN Emissions Gap Report 2019 HERE. (Source: David Suzuki, Suzuki Foundation, The Straight, 20 Oct, 2020) Contact: Suzuki Foundation, David Suzuki, 604-732-4228, www.davidsuzuki.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Clean Fuel Standard,  Renewable Fuels,  Suzuki Foundation,  Environment and Climate Change Canada,  

EU,European Commission
Date: 2020-10-05
On Monday, the European Union (EU) Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Executive VP Frans Timmermans presented the EC plan to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 pct by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

Timmermans noted that although GHG emissions are not currently falling fast enough he underlined that becoming carbon neutral is both feasible and beneficial for the EU. He called for the European Parliament (EP) to confirm the proposed 55 pct 2030-target as the EU's new Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Climate Agreement, and to submit this to the UNFCCC by the end of this year. The EP is expected to vote next week on the EU Climate Law, which calls for 60 pct emission reductions in 2030. Timmermans also noted the EC would come up with proposals by June 2021 to revise key EU legislation such as the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), energy efficiency and renewable energy policies and strengthening CO2 standards for road vehicles to enable the EU to reach a more ambitious target.

As previously reported this past March, the EC proposed climate legislation requiring the EU to become climate-neutral by 2050 as part of the European Green Deal. This follows the December 2019 EC decision to endorse the 2050 climate-neutrality objective. On 17 September, the Commission amended its proposal to incorporate a new 2030 emissions reduction target. (Source: European Commissions, PR, EU News Room, Oct., 2020) Contact: EU, www.europa.eu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Neutral,  European Commissions,  EU ETS,  Climate Change,  

UK National Health Service
Date: 2020-10-05
In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) has announced a comprehensive plan to become the first national health system to eliminate nearly all of the greenhouse gases from their facilities, the use of electricity, vehicles and supply chains for medicines and medical devices, and others by 2040, on its way to zero-emissions by 2050.

The National Health Service pumps out 4 to 5 pct of England's carbon emissions. Globally, in the 36 countries with the largest economies, healthcare sectors accounted for more than 4 pct of global carbon dioxide pollution, more than aviation or shipping, according to the release. (Source: UK National Health Service, eg24 news, Oct., 2020) Contact: UK National Health Service, Sercimon Stevens, CEO, www.nhs.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News GHG,  Greenhousew Gas Emissions,  

Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality
Date: 2020-09-25
In Salem, the Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) reports it is initiating the process to develop rules for a new program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large stationary sources, transportation fuels and other liquid and gaseous fuels, such as natural gas, and other significant emissions sources.

To support the development of this new program, DEQ will convene a Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) that will provide diverse perspectives on policy proposals, including environmental justice impacts, fiscal impacts and public health implications. These discussions will inform the development of draft rules during 2021, which will then be submitted for public comment and proposed by DEQ to the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) which will make final decisions about the RAC membership. DEQ expects the RAC to meet regularly beginning in January 2021.

Download program details HERE. (Source: Oregon DEQ, PR, 23 Sept., 2020) Contact: Oregon DEQ, www.oregon.gov/deq/ghgp/Pages/capandreduce.aspx

More Low-Carbon Energy News Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality,  GHG,  Carbon Emissions,  Greenhouse Gas,  Climate Change,  

PepsiCo
Date: 2020-09-23
As previously reported, soft-drinks giant PepsiCo is reporting it will source 100 pct renewable electricity across all of its company owned and controlled operations globally by 2030 and across its entire franchise and third-party operations by 2040.

The move to renewable electricity could cut PepsiCo's GHG emissions by roughly 2.5 million metric tons by 2040, the equivalent of taking more than half a million cars off the road for a full year, according to the release. (Source: PepsiCo, PR, Sept., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,  

NASA
Date: 2020-09-21
A new study from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has found that GHG emissions-caused meltwater from glacial ice sheets contributes about one-third of the total global sea-level rise and could lead to a nearly 40 cms -- 15.7 inches -- rise by 2100.

The study, which was published in a special issue of the journal The Cryosphere, notes that Greenland would contribute 8 to 27 cm to global sea-level rise between 2000-2100 and Antarctica could contribute 3 to 28 cm. (Source: NASA, IANS, Jagran, 19 Sept., 2020) Contact: NASA, (301) 286-2000, www.nasa.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News NASA,  Climate Change,  GHG,  

California Air Resources Board
Date: 2020-09-18
In Sacramento, California legislators are considering Assembly Bill 2954 that would regulate carbon sequestration and related programs on 'natural' and agricultural, grazing, and forest lands and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) estimates emissions from natural and agricultural lands produce 8 pct of the state's GHG emissions.

If passed into law, CARB would be required to set GHG emissions reductions and carbon sequestration targets on the state's working and natural lands by January 1, 2023. CARB would also be mandated to identify policies and practices to achieve its objectives, along with tracking methods for the state to monitor progress.

Carbon sequestration practices such as mulching fields, reducing tillage, and planting ground-cover crops and others would be included in CARB's updated Scoping Plan.

California has stated a goal of achieving net-zero GHG emissions standards statewide by 2045, meaning measures such as those proposed by this bill must be incorporated by the state's legislature. (Source: CARB, EHS Daily Advisor, 17 Sept., 2020)Contact: CARB, Richard Perry, CEO, Melanie Turner, Information Officer, (916) 322-2990, melanie.turner@arb.ca.gov, www.arb.ca.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News California Air Resources Board ,  CCS,  Carbon Emissions,  Carbon Sequestration ,  

PwC
Date: 2020-09-16
International accountancy and consulting giant PriceWatershouse Coopers (PwC)has announced its commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030.

The PwC net-zero goal includes a science-based target aligned with a 1.5 degree C trajectory and commits the global company to reducing its total greenhouse gas emissions by 50 pct in absolute terms by 2030. This includes a switch to 100 pct renewable electricity in all territories, energy efficiency improvements and halving the emissions associated with business travel and accommodation within a decade. PwC will also invest in carbon removal projects, including natural climate solutions. For every remaining tonne (CO2 equivalent) that it emits, PwC will remove a tonne of CO2 from the atmosphere to achieve net-zero climate impact by 2030.

The PwC commitment includes supporting its clients to reduce their emissions as well as reducing those from the PwC network's operations and suppliers. (Source: PwC, PR, IndraStra Global, 15 Sept., 2020) Contact: PwC, Emma Cox, UK Leader for Climate Change and Sustainability, +44 (0)20 7583 5000, +44 (0)20 7212 4652 - fax., www.pwc.co.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News PwC,  Carbon Emissions,  Net-Zero Emissions,  

Climate Change
Date: 2020-09-14
In British Columbia, the Provincial Climate Action Secretariat's recently released inventory reports the province's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are rising despite reduction targets calling for a 40 pct decrease by 2030, 60 pct by 2040 and 80 pct by 2050.

In 2018, British Columbia's gross GHG emissions were 67.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) -- an increase of 4.5 MtCO2e (7 pct) from 63.4 MtCO2e in 2007, the baseline year for our emission reduction targets. Net emissions in 2018, after including 1.0 MtCO2e in offsets from forest management projects not covered in the inventory, were 66.9 MtCO2e. This is an increase of 3.5 MtCO2e (6 pct) from 2007.

When the B.C. carbon tax was first hatched in 2008, its was pitched as revenue neutral and would stop at $30 per tonne, but presently stands at $40 per tonne and emissions are still rising. Over the past three years, stats show emissions rose by 4 pct for gasoline-powered cars; 19 pct for pick-up trucks; 46 pct for light-duty diesel trucks; and 51 pct for railways.

At $40 per tonne, the carbon tax costs an extra 8.9 cents per litre of gasoline and 10.2 cents extra for diesel. For natural gas, the carbon tax often costs residential customers more than the actual fuel. (Source: Province of British Columbia, Climate Action Sec., Sept., 2020) Contact: British Columbia Climate Action Sec., ClimateActionSecretariat@gov.bc.ca, www2.gov.bc.ca

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

ARPA-E
Date: 2020-09-04
In Washington, the US DOE Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is reporting $16.5 million in funding for six projects as part of the Systems for Monitoring and Analytics for Renewable Transportation Fuels from Agricultural Resources and Management (SMARTFARM) program. These projects will develop technologies that bridge the data gap in the biofuel supply chain by quantifying feedstock-related GHG emissions and soil carbon dynamics at the field-level. These technologies will allow for improved efficiency in feedstock production and enable new ag-sector carbon removal and management opportunities.

SMARTFARM teams will work to design and develop systems to quantify feedstock production life cycle GHG emissions at the field level reliably, accurately, and cost-effectively. Selected projects are capable of delivering a positive return on investment when field-level carbon emissions reductions are connected to associated biofuel carbon markets. The program also focuses on potential economic benefits to feedstock producers and future carbon management markets, potentially complementing yield-based revenues with incentives for input efficiency and restorative practices. This focus will also help to lay the groundwork for market structures to shift away from national averages and toward lower uncertainty field-based estimates for incentivizing efficiency and other services.

Working to make the biofuel supply chain carbon-negative through the removal or sequestration of carbon would greatly improve biofuel's economic and environmental benefits. Achieving reductions in carbon emissions also encourages feedstock producers to adopt new technologies and practices to quantify their impact. SMARTFARM teams are working to develop robust quantification methods through these awards so that management practices can be linked to environmental and economic outcomes simultaneously.

Download SMARTFARM projects funding recipients and details HERE (Source: ARPA-E, Website PR, Sept., 2020) Contact: ARPA-E, Lane Genatowski, Dir., www.arpa-e.energy.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News ARPA-E,  Biofuel,  Renewable Fuels,  

EDS Systems
Date: 2020-09-02
Plano, Texas-based EDS Systems reports the launch of its cloud-based "EcoGauge" carbon tax analytics tool to assist organizations with the monitoring and management of their carbon emissions and to ultimately help reduce the administrative burden of compliance measurement and reporting, as well as carbon tax liabilities.

EcoGauge helps remove the complexity inherent in greenhouse-gas (GHG) reporting and provides a near real-time view on GHG emissions and the effect of a manufacturing process change. EcoGauge generates an instant report that classifies emissions by source and calculates liability in terms of the Carbon Tax Act and carbon tax compliance.

According to EDS, "EcoGauge is an effective solution for companies shifting to a more carbon-conscious mindset, because the cost of ignoring climate change will be far higher than the cost of reducing emissions through legislation such as the Carbon Tax Act." (Source: EDS, PR, Creamers, 2 Sept., 2020) Contact: EDS, Eckart Zollner, Bus. Dev., www.eds.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News EDS Systems news,  GHG Emissions news,  Emissions Monitoring news,  Carbon Tax news,  

Canadian Energy Research Institute
Date: 2020-08-19
A recent study from the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI) compared the province of British Columbia's $40 per tonne carbon tax and Alberta's Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program taxing heavy emitters $30 a tonne, to the European emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) and Quebec's cap-and-trade agreement with California and noted that overall, the EU ETS policy was more effective at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than the Carbon Tax policy or a Hybrid policy.

In keeping with the study findings, the CERI study proposed the following to lower emissions:

Both carbon tax and emissions trade systems have a great capacity to reduce GHG emissions; however, a level at which they are utilized is not adequate for significant change towards low carbon economies;

Strengthening existing and adding new carbon policies and actions, especially those that can deal with carbon leakage, is needed;

Current carbon prices in many jurisdictions remain insufficient to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement, even with extended carbon pricing policies in place to align with the specific GHG reduction targets;

Stronger complementary policies and actions are needed to achieve the total reductions in GHG emissions in a case of the BC carbon tax;

Lessons from ETS systems, especially California's cap-and-trade system, has revealed that the economy-wide approach can be more efficient than managing specific sectors differently;

Linkage of a cap-and-trade system with those in other jurisdictions (such as California's cap-and trade system linked with Quebec) could potentially reduce abatement costs, price volatility, and market power.

The Calgary-based Canadian Energy Research Institute is an independent, not-for-profit research establishment created through a partnership of industry, academia, and government in 1975. CERI aims to provide relevant, independent, objective economic research in energy and environmental issues to benefit business, government, academia and the public and to build bridges between scholarship and policy,combining the insights of scientific research, economic analysis, and practical experience. (Source: Canadian Energy Research Institute, PR, Western Standard, Aug., 2020) Contact: Canadian Energy Research Institute, (403) 282-1231, info@ceri.ca, www.ceri.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Canadian Energy Research Institute,  ETS,  Carbon Tax,  Carbon Emissions ,  

Thailand
Date: 2020-08-14
The International Energy Agency (IEA) is reporting Thailand, which relies heavily on fossil fuels for its energy needs, is considering carbon pricing in an upcoming Climate Change Act to lead a clean energy transition and green economic development while maintaining energy security, supporting innovation, increasing efficiency and driving retirement of emission-intensive assets. The upcoming Climate Change Act is expected to outline specific instruments to prepare for a national emission trading system, with a cabinet decision due in 2022.

According to the IEA, Thailand's experience of carbon market mechanisms began in 2007, when the government established TGO to implement and manage GHG emissions projects. In 2103, the public body launched the Thailand Voluntary Emission Reduction programme, a baseline and credit programme. By 2020 it had 191 registered projects that are due to reduce emissions by 5.28 Mt CO2-eq annually and the Thailand Carbon Offsetting Program which encourages public and private organisations to calculate their carbon footprint and buy carbon credits to offset their unavoidable emissions.

In 2015 TGO launched the Thailand Voluntary Emission Trading Scheme to serve as a pilot, setting up the infrastructure to develop a national emission trading system and identify gaps and opportunities. The first phase (2015-17) established and tested the market's design features and the measurement, reporting and verification system. During the second phase (2018-20) TGO aims to encourage wider participation and develop participants' trading capabilities.

Thailand is aiming to reduce GHG emissions to 20.8 pct below the business-as-usual level by 2030. (Source: IEA , New Europe, Aug., 2020)Contact: IEA, Fatih Birol, Exec. Dir., +33 1 40 57 65 00, www.iea.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Tax,  IEA,  

Husky Energy
Date: 2020-08-05
Calgary, Alberta-based Husky Energy today released its 2020 ESG Report that includs a GHG emissions intensity reduction target of 25 pct by 2025 and the company's aim to be net zero by 2050 under the Paris Climate Agreement.

To that end, the company notes it will continue to invest in new technologies and carbon offsets and will continue its technology partnerships with Svante on carbon capture. Additionally, all Husky business units will maintain a carbon management plan, including requirements to meet or exceed our 2025 25 pct emissions intensity reduction target, and all company senior executive contracts link compensation to meeting or exceeding carbon performance requirements. (Source: Husky Energy, PR, Aug., 2020) Contact: Husky Energy; Rob Peabody, CEO, Leo Villegas, Senior Manager, Investor Relations 403-513-7817, www.huskyenergy.com

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

Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
Date: 2020-07-27
A new report from the Boulder, Colorado-based Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) guides local governments through policy options and pathways to electrify new buildings -- a key strategy for meeting climate and public health goals. The report -- Building Electrification: How Cities and Counties are Implementing Electrification Policies -- with Adoptable Code Language -- provides insight to local governments seeking to encourage more all-electric buildings as a way to improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and cut GHG emissions in the built environment.

The report notes that with the electric grid increasingly powered by renewables and with advanced technologies like heat pumps and induction stoves now widely available, most experts agree all electric is the quickest way to zero-carbon buildings.

Cities and counties across the country, large and small, are evaluating, adopting, and implementing building electrification ordinances proving that electrification is not only necessary, but doable. Electrification policies range from simple incentives to all-electric requirements for new construction, with several intermediary options such as electric-ready or electric-preferred.

SWEEP is a public-interest organization promoting greater energy efficiency in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. (Source: Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, Website News Release, 27 July, 2020) Contact: Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, Jim Meyers, Buildings Program Director, 303.447.0078, info@swenergy.org, www.swenergy.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Southwest Energy Efficiency Project,  Energy Efficiency,  

Oil and Gas Climate Initiative
Date: 2020-07-22
The 12-member Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) is reported to have agreed to reduce the average carbon intensity of their aggregated upstream oil and gas operations to between 20 kg and 21 kg of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per barrel of oil by 2025.

OGCI members include: Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, BP, China's CNPC, Total, Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, Repsol, Petrobras, Occidental Petroleum, Eni and Equinor. (Source: OGCI, July, 2020) Contact: Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, +44 (0)203 922 0853, www.oilandgasclimateinitiative.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Oil and Gas Climate Initiative,  Carbon Emissions,  

Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Date: 2020-07-20
In the Golden State, the publicly-owned utility Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) reports its 2018, 1,755,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions reflected a 50 pct reduction of 1990 levels -- equal to the removal of 377,000 vehicles from the state's highways.

In 2018, the utility adopted a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, five years ahead of California's goal. The plan included a $7 billion investment over 20 years in nearly 2,900 MW of new carbon-free resources, including 1,500 MW of utility-scale solar, 670 MW of wind and 560 MW of utility-scale energy storage. (Source: SMUD, Utility Dive, 20 July, 2020) Contact: SMUD, 888-742-7683, www.smud.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Sacramento Municipal Utility District,  GHG Emissions,  Carbon Neutral,  

Vodafone
Date: 2020-07-20
In the UK, Berkshire-based telecommunications firm Vodafone Group Plc reports it remains committed to improving the energy efficiency of its base station sites and in its data and switching centres, which together account for 95 pct of the company's total global energy consumption. During 2020, Vodafone invested €77 million in energy efficiency and renewable projects, which led to annual energy savings of 186GWh. In 2019, the company achieving a 38.5 pct reduction in the total amount of GHG emissions per petabyte (PB) of mobile data carried.

Vodafone's energy efficiency initiatives are focused on sourcing and implementing more efficient network equipment, reducing energy demand by installing lower-energy power and cooling technologies, and cutting energy use by decommissioning and replacing legacy equipment. Vodafone's energy efficiency initiatives include:

Smart energy meters that enable businesses, municipal authorities and households to monitor, manage and reduce their energy use. Worldwide, Vodafone has over 12 million smart meter connections using its IoT technology, saving an estimated 1.6 million tonnes of CO2e.

Smart cities networked intelligently to improve the efficiency of energy-intensive services such as public transport, public road networks and street lighting. For example, in the city of Guadalajara, Spain, 13,500 LED lights were connected to a central management system, reducing street lighting energy consumption by 68 pct.

(Source: Vodafone Group Plc, IoT Business News, July, 2020) Contact: Vodafone Group Plc., www.vodafone.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Vodafone news,  Energy Efficiency news,  

Cook County Illinois
Date: 2020-07-17
In Illinois, Cook County has released its 100 pct renewables by 2030 Clean Energy Plan and achieving a 45pct reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and making County-owned facilities carbon neutral by 2050. To that end, the Plan calls for:

reducing carbon emissions through energy efficiency at County-owned buildings and maintaining the reductions through monitoring, education and other best practices;

renewing the County's electricity supply through on-site solar energy generation, procurement of renewable energy and energy storage; and

supporting the Clean Energy Plan action steps through policies such as new building standards for County facilities.

The County has begun implementing elements of the Plan and already reduced its GHG emissions by roughly one-third since 2010, primarily through energy efficiency. Solar installations are being designed for county buildings and lighting and a comprehensive building automation system upgrades are underway.

Download the Cook County Clean Energy Plan HERE. (Source: Cook County, IndiaPost, July, 2020) Contact: Cook County, Toni Preckwinkle, Pres., (312) 443-5500, www,cookcountyil.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,  Clean Energy,  Energy Efficiency,  Climate Change,  

IPCC,Kamloops,Climate Change
Date: 2020-07-13
In British Columbia, the city of Kamloops (pop. 90,200) city council reports it will this week begin considering a major community climate action plan to address greenhouse gas emissions from three major sources -- transportation, buildings and solid waste. Under the proposed plan, each sector 'must set a course to achieve zero-carbon emissions by 2050 to be congruent with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) direction.'

The Kamloops community climate action plan proposes the following:

Car-light community -- By 2050, 50 pct of trips in Kamloops to be active transportation and transit. Policy options could potentially include low-emissions "superblocks" prioritizing low-emissions vehicles , cycling and walking networks.

Zero emissions transportation -- By 2050, 85 per cent of kilometres driven by Kamloops-registered passenger vehicles owners to be zero-emissions vehicles. Immediate actions could include adopting an EV-ready bylaw, planning and budgeting for publicly accessible EV charging and policy review and financing for retrofitting buildings for EV charging.

Zero-carbon homes and buildings -- By 2030, all new and replacement heating and hot water systems to be zero emissions. Policy options could include setting targets for zero-carbon new buildings, encouraging low-carbon new buildings, calling for provincial zero-carbon building regulations, incentives for energy efficiency, incentives for energy efficient building materials and a retrofit program for existing buildings.

Zero-waste/circular economy -- Kamloops to be a zero-waste community by 2040. Policy options include: creation of a zero-waste research and innovation centre, collection and processing of organic waste, investigation into biofuel production from local organics for city uses such as for heating of civic facilities or fuel for vehicles, requirements for diverting waste and materials from construction and demolition sites. Immediate actions could include a feasibility study for biogas capture from organics collection and policy review to require or encourage building deconstruction and materials be reused.

Renewable energy (No target identified) -- Policy options could exploration of community and neighbourhood scale renewable energy systems and storage, support for related R&D. Immediate actions could include exploration of renewable energy opportunities with partners and renewable energy utility opportunities.

Zero-carbon civic operations -- Strive to reduce carbon emissions from municipal operations by 40 pct by 2030 and 100 pct by 2050. Policy options could include a corporate energy review, phasing out of fossil fuels in buildings and fleets, support for green commuting, internal carbon pricing and a creative community engagement and marketing plan. Immediate actions could include a corporate energy review, committing all new city buildings to zero carbon, transitioning buildings and fleets to electric/zero emissions and incentives for staff for e-bikes and transit passes.

Healthy urban ecosystem -- Increase the city's urban forest canopy cover to 20 pct by 2030 and 30 pt by 2050 to increase forests' carbon storage capacity and support biodiversity, The plan also calls for carbon off-setting linked with biodiversity and conservation and integrating green technologies with infrastructure upgrades.

The city notes that, in addition to emissions reductions actions already in place, the above efforts could potentially reduce GHG emissions by 538,000 to 556,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2050. In 2019 the city committed to maintain a 1.5 C temperature increase, as set out in the Paris Agreement as well as IPCC targets for emissions to be reduced by between 40 and 60 pct by 2030 or sooner. (Source: City of Kamloops, Civic Web, July, 2020) Contact: City of Kamloops , www.kamloops.civicweb.net; IPCC, www.ipcc.ch

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  IPCC,  

Ampyr Energy
Date: 2020-07-10
Climate Fund Managers (CFM), the manager of the Climate Investor One (CI1) financing facility, reports it is partnering with Singapore-headquartered Ampyr Energy for the development, construction and ownership of the 138 MW Balenahalli onshore wind farm project in Karnataka State, India. The project is expected to generate sufficient power for more than 145,000 persons and avoid roughly 130,000 tpy of GHG emissions.

The Climate Investor One (CI1) is the inaugural facility managed by CFM, focused on providing capital to renewable energy projects in developing countries. CI1 has a focus on Africa, South & Southeast Asia, and Latin America, and uses a whole-of-life financing approach intended to reduce implementation timelines.

AMPYR provides lower cost energy to large electricity users through renewable energy assets designed and developed specifically for its customers. The company develops, finances, owns and operates renewable energy projects with no capital outlay and no ongoing maintenance cost, according to its website. (Source: Climate Fund Managers, Ampyr Energy, Saur, 9 July, 2020) Contact: Ampyr Energy, info@ampyrenergy.com, www/ampryenergy.com; Climate Fund Managers, +31 (0)70 204 5205, info@climatefundmanagers.com. www.climatefundmanagers.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News India Wind,  Wind,  

University of Strathclyde
Date: 2020-06-29
In the UK, scientists from the University of Strathclyde, in cooperation with the City of Glasgow , are installing a network of 25 sensors to monitor CO2 and other greenhouse gases -- carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and PM2.5.T -- as part of a trial to provide Glasgow City Council with real-time information on emissions sources and level citywide. Glasgow is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030.

Results of the monitoring will be shared with the leaders of other global cities at a virtual conference in November, and will be presented at the COP26 environmental summit to encourage other cities to establish sensor networks.

The emission monitoring program is part of the Global Environmental Monitoring and Measurement (GEMM) project, a collaboration between the University of Strathclyde, Stanford University, the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley), The Optical Society, the American Geophysical Union, the Met Office and the National Physical Laboratory. (Source: University of Strathclyde Glasgow, PR, 27 June, 2020) Contact: University of Strathclyde Glasgow, www.strath.ac.uk; Global Environmental Monitoring and Measurement (GEMM) project, www.gemminitiative.org/en-us

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emission,  GHG,  Greenhouse Gas,  

Dow
Date: 2020-06-17
Midland Michigan-headquartered Dow has announced aggressive new commitments and targets to address both climate change and plastic waste:

By 2030, Dow will reduce its net annual carbon emissions by 5 million metric tons, or 15 pct from its 2020 baseline. Additionally, Dow intends to be carbon neutral by 2050, in alignment with the Paris Agreement, and is committed to implementing and advancing technologies to manufacture products using fewer resources and that help customers reduce their carbon footprints.

By 2030, Dow will help stop plastic waste by enabling 1 million metric tons of plastic to be collected, reused or recycled through its direct actions and partnerships. The company is investing and collaborating in key technologies and infrastructure to significantly increase global recycling.

To date, Dow has reduced its GHG emissions by 15 pct; Incorporated a carbon price into its business planning; and invested in renewable power capacity -- Dow is the number one user of clean energy in the chemicals industry and ranks among the top 25 global corporations in terms of renewable power use, according to the company's Sustainability Report.

Dow will also collaborate with leading academics, NGOs, auditing experts, technology partners and others in industry to incentivize the development and commercialization of low-carbon products and technologies that ultimately lower global GHG emissions and to ensure that companies are able to account for those GHG reductions., according to its Sustainability Report.

Download the Dow 2025 Sustainability Goals report HERE. (Source: Dow Chemical, PR, 17 June, 2020) Contact: Dow Chemical, Mary Draves, VP Sustainability, Kyle Bandlow, 989-638-2417 , kbandlow@dow.com, www.corporate.dow.com/en-us.html

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Neutral,  Carbon Emissions,  Dow Chemical,  

Michelin
Date: 2020-05-27
French tire maker Michelin reports its CO2 emissions-reduction targets have been validated by Science Based Targets (SBT), a leading independent collaborative organisation in this field.

Michelin aims to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by +38 pct by 2030 from a 2010 base year and to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel and energy related activities; upstream and downstream transportation and distribution; and end-of-life treatment of sold products by +15 pct by 2030 from a 2018 base year. Michelin also commits that +70 pct of its suppliers by emissions covering purchased goods and services will have science-based targets by 2024. (Source: Michelin Group. PR, 21 May, 2020) Contact: Michelin Group, www.michelin.com; SBTi, www.sciencebasedtargets.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Michelin ,  Carbon Emissions,  GHG,  

Iron Mountain
Date: 2020-05-15
Boston-based information management and storage specialist Iron Mountain Inc. reports it has cut its GHG emissions by 52 pct surpassing its original science-based target of 25 pct reduction by 2025.

The company is also on track to meeting its RE100 commitment of sourcing 77 pct of global electricity supply from wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources. The company also recently launched the Green Power Pass program to certify that 100 pct of the energy customers use at Iron Mountain's data centers comes from renewable sources and help businesses achieve their own emissions goals. (Source: Iron Mountain, Env. Energy Leader, 13 May, 2020) Contact: Iron Mountain Incorporated, (800) 899-4755, www.ironmountain.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News GHG. Carbon Emissions,  

Natural Gas Futures
Date: 2020-05-15
Natural Gas Futures (NGF) is reporting a collaboration with FortisBC Inc., Seaspan Ferries Corporation, and Solaris Management Consultants Inc. to provide technologies for low-emissions engine systems, and quantitative emission characterization for inventory and policy development purposes.

To reduce the climate impacts of transportation systems, several approaches have been identified through which greenhouse gas (GHG) emission can be reduced, primarily through CO2 emission reduction. These approaches include electrification of powertrains, bio-derived fuels, and fuels with lower carbon content. For large engine applications (e.g., marine, stationary power generation, remote applications), electrification is not yet realizable, and bio-fuels carry energetic penalties and may require significant engine modifications. For such applications, natural gas (NG) and natural gas from renewable sources (RNG) are attractive alternatives because of their lower CO2 and NOx emissions, and the significant North American NG reserves.

While natural gas is an attractive engine fuel to reduce these pollutants, it can also result in exhaust-stream CH4 emissions, which have a global warming potential (GWP) 28 times that of CO2 (on a 100 year timescale). Thus, all GHG emissions must be considered to ensure that the benefits of NG and RNG are realized, without also incurring unintentional increases in GHG or other emissions. The key objectives of this project are to:

Characterize in-use emissions and engine operation from NG engines, with a particular focus on CH4, CO2, PM, and NOX, under real-world operating conditions.

Develop strategies for GHG and other emission reductions, under the partner's operational constraints.

Provide data and guidance for policy development to support effective implementation of natural gas engines and ensure GHG reductions.

The project has received $356,566 in research grant funding. (Source: Natural Gas Futures, 13 May, 2020) Contact: Natural Gas Futures, University of British Columbia, 604 827 0790 ngf@cerc.ubc.ca, www.naturalgas.apsc.ubc.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Natural Gas Futures,  Carbon Emissions,  

EPA
Date: 2020-05-11
In the nation's capitol, the EPA reports its first-ever proposed rule on aircraft greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review.

The proposed rule builds on the EPA's 2016 finding that aviation emissions endanger public health and welfare. Unfortunately, the new rules proposal comes at a time when the airlines are struggling because of the COVID-19 crisis and can ill afford potentially expensive new obligations.

Internationally, the UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set its own GHG emissions reductions calling for an emissions freeze to be met through more energy efficient aircraft, increased use of biofuels and other "low-carbon" fuels, improved airline operations or the purchase of approved offsets.

The U.S., an ICAO member, has agreed to impose the freeze in 2021. The freeze, which becomes mandatory in 2027, is calculated on the average of 2019 and 2020, so the baseline is plummeting thanks to COVID-19. The industry now prefers that the baseline be based on 2019 alone, which is much more in line with their initial expectations.

Environmental groups claim ICAO provisions as too weak and oppose the baseline adjustments requested by the airlines and call for "technology forcing" EPA measures that go beyond ICAO. (Source: Competitive Enterprise Institute, 8 May, 2020)Contact: ICAO, Secretary General Fang Liu, www.icao.in

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

Rio Tinto
Date: 2020-05-11
In the Land Down Under, a recent meeting of London, UK-headquartered Anglo-Australian multinational metals and mining giant Rio Tinto shareholders found 37 pct of voting shareholders unsuccessfully called for a resolution that would require the company to set binding emissions targets.

While the resolution failed to pass, it attracted six times as much support as an identical one put up at the same meeting in 2019, according to the resolution's sponsor, environmental group Market Forces. Market Forces noted the vote "shows investors have woken up to Rio Tinto"s obfuscation and the huge risks to its business from climate change and transition." The resolution called on Rio Tinto to set science-based annual GHG emissions targets and disclose its performance against those targets. These would have included emissions classified as scope 3 -- those which are produced by Rio Tinto's customers. (Source: Rio Tinto, Guardian, 8 May, 2020) Contact: Market Forces, Julien Vincent, Exec. Dir., contact@marketforces.org.au, www.marketforces.org.au; Rio Tinto, www.riotinto.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rio Tinto,  Carbon Emissions,  

Serbia
Date: 2020-05-06
Balkan Green Energy News is reporting the Serbian government has committed roughly €4.25 million for energy efficiency projects implemented by state authorities, local municipalities and other state agencies in 2020.

The money can be used for building thermal insulation, HVAC upgrades and modernization, solar energy installations and energy efficient interior lighting projects as well as for project design work and training.

The programs goals include: financing activities and measures for improving energy efficiency; realizing energy savings and rational use of energy by applying cost-effective technologies and products; increased use of renewable energy sources; reducing GHG emissions and increasing public awareness of the importance of energy efficiency. (Source: Balkan Green Energy News, 4 May., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  

International Energy Agency
Date: 2020-05-04
The latest data show that the drastic curtailment of global economic activity and mobility during Q1, 2020 pushed down global energy demand by 3.8 pct relative to the same period in 2019. If lock-downs last for many months and recoveries are slow across much of the world, as is increasingly likely, annual energy demand will drop by 6 pct in 2020, wiping off the last five years of demand growth. If efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and restart economies are more successful, the decline in energy demand could be limited to under 4 pct, according to the report. However a bumpier restart, disruption to global supply chains, and a second wave of infections in the second part of the year could further curtail growth.

Download the IEA Global Energy Review 2020 - The impacts of the COVID-19 Crisis on Global Energy Demand and CO2 Emissions Report HERE. (Source: International Energy Agency, April-May, 2020) Contact: International Energy Agency, www.iea.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News GHGs,  Greenhouse Gas Emisions,  Climate Change,  

Climate Change
Date: 2020-04-29
In Wisconsin, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi is touting the 2020 Dane County Climate Action Plan - Today's Opportunity for a Better Tomorrow (CAP) calling for a greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction of 50 pct countywide by 2030 with the goal of carbon-neutrality by 2050. The plan's goal to reduce GHG emissions by 50 percent by 2030 exceeds the 45 percent worldwide reduction goal set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030. CAP climate change emission reduction strategies include:

Increase electric vehicles sales (and transition heavy-duty trucks to electricity or renewable natural gas (RNG) vehicles.

Reduce vehicle miles traveled by shifting from driving alone to increase use of public transit, carpooling and biking.

Cut energy consumption by 2 pct per capita by 2030 by increasing the efficiency of old and new residential and commercial buildings.

Process 50 pct of livestock manure in anerobic digesters reducing GHG methane emissions, limiting phosphorus in area lakes and creating a new revenue source for farms.

CAP notes these actions will result in major economic and health benefits, lead to energy security and great resilience to the harmful impacts of a changing climate, and address racial and economic equality to ensure the benefits of carbon reductions are equitably shared.

In 2017, Parisi created the Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change (OECC) to lead public and private efforts across the county to address climate change. The OECC led by its director, Keith Reopelle, created the Council on Climate Change -- a work group of 38 local governments, energy utilities, businesses, and environmental and community organizations that provided input into the development of the CAP to reduce GHG emissions across all 61 cities, towns and villages as well as the private sector. (Source: Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change, Herald Independent, 26 April, 2020) Contact: Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change, Keith Reopelle, Dir., www.daneclimateaction.org

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

Greenhouse Gas Emissions,EPA
Date: 2020-04-27
According to the just released US EPA 2020 Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks report on nationwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, since 2005, national GHG emissions have fallen by 10 pct and power sector emissions have dropped by 27 pct -- even as our economy grew by 25 pct.

From 2005 to 2018, total U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions fell by 12 pct. In contrast, global energy-related emissions increased nearly 24 pct from 2005 to 2018. (Source: EPA, 25 April, 2020)

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

Harvard College
Date: 2020-04-24
In Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University is reporting a new pledge to reduce carbon and other GHG emissions by monitoring its $40,9 billion endowment investment portfolio with a view to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The net-zero pledge is a first among U.S. endowments. Harvard's is the world's largest educational endowment fund.

The university's governing body, the Harvard Management Company (HMC), which administers the endowment, plans to reach net-zero by 2050 through a collaboration with faculty and other experts and careful work with asset managers to examine their portfolio's transparency and emission levels. HMC expects to formulate detailed plans to achieve net-zero emissions before the year end.

Harvard's new pledge aligns with HMC's sustainable-investing framework, which was adopted in 2014 when Harvard signed on to the U.N.-sponsored Principles for Responsible Investment, a six-point outline for a global standard. (Source: Harvard Gazette, 21 April, 2020) Contact: Harvard Management Company, www.hmc.harvard.edu

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

Minship,GoodFuels
Date: 2020-04-22
Bavarian ship management company Minship and its subsidiary Minmarine reports its bulk carrier ship Trudy recently completed a trial bunkering in Rotterdam GoodFuels' sustainable Bio-fuel Oil MR1-100 -- a second generation sustainable biofuel produced from certified feedstock labelled as waste or residue.

For the 8-10 day trial, the GoodFuels biofuel will be the only fuel burnt in the main engine of Trudy. During the trial, 90 pct of the CO2 emissions produced will not be counted under existing regulations for measuring GHG emissions. The trial is part of Minshipseffort to address shipping emissions and climate change concerns.

GoodFuels is a leading supplier of bio-based bunker fuel for the shipping sector, notably a wood-derived HFO substitute it calls "bio-fuel oil" which, as previously reported, has been used by Boskalis, Norden, CMA CGM, Wartsila and Ikea. (Source: Minship, ShipinSight, 20 April, 2020) Contact: Minship GmbH, Markus Hiltl, +49 9622 84800, www.minship.com; GoodFuels, Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO, +31 88 021 5100, info@goodfuels.com, www.goodfuels.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GoodFuel,  Marine Biofuel,  

Applied Energy,Resources for the Future
Date: 2020-04-06
A recent study from a team of researchers at Energy Innovation and Resources for the Future has found that it is possible -- and critical -- to bring industrial greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2070.

The study assesses the range of technologies and policies interventions available to enable global industry decarbonization. The paper noted that the industrial sector was responsible for 33 pct of global GHG emissions in 2014 -- including process emissions and indirect emissions from purchased electricity -- and that cutting emissions from this sector is critical to meeting international climate goals, such as those set by the Paris Agreement.

The paper finds that governments can accelerate research and development in sustainable manufacturing and incentivize new technology deployment and market scale-up through policy mechanisms such as R&D support, emissions standards, carbon pricing, and government procurement of low-carbon materials and industrial products. The paper also finds that, when used together, the right technologies and policies enable net-zero industrial GHG emissions by 2070. It particularly examines the role of the following technologies, innovation areas, and policy interventions that can be part of the emissions reduction strategy:

Electrification, use of hydrogen, energy efficiency, and carbon capture;

Material efficiency, longevity, re-use, material substitution, and recycling;

Specific technologies for iron and steel, cement, and chemicals and plastics:

Carbon pricing, research support, standards, government purchases, data disclosure. (Source: Resources for the Future, Applied Energy, Technology Network, 2 April, 2020) Contact: Resources for the Future, Dallas Burtraw, 202.328.5000, 202.939.3460 - fax., info@rff.org, www.rff.org; Energy Innovation, Jeffrey Rissman, 415-799-2176, www.energyinnovation.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Innovation ,  Net-Zero Carbon,  Carbon Emissions,  Resources for the Future,  

Inmarsat, IMO
Date: 2020-04-01
UK-based Global satellite communications provider Inmarsat has taken the role of a founding member in Asia's first decarbonising shipping initiative. The Singapore-based initiative is part of the Trade and Transport Impact (TTI) programme from venture development firm Rainmaking to bring global startups together to look into meeting UN targets on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Backed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the initiative expects to identify more than 1,000 projects offering models to tackle decarbonisation, with selected startups to be matched with maritime industry leaders willing to build collaborative pilot projects.

Other initiate participants include Cargill, DNV GL, Hafnia, Mitsubishi Corp's subsidiary MC Shipping, Vale, and Wilhelmsen.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is targeting a 50 pct cut in shipping GHG emissions by 2050, and average carbon intensity (CO2 per tonne-mile) reductions of 40 pct by 2030 and 70 pct by 2050 compared to 2008 figures. (Source: Inmarsat, Seatrade, Mar., 2020) Contact: Inmarsat, +44 (0)20 7728 1000 -- London, +65 6499 5050 -- Singapore, maritime@inmarsat.com, www.inmarsat.com; IMO, Stefan Micallef, Director of Marine Environment Division, +44 (0) 20 7735 7611, www.imo.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Maritime Emissions,  IMO,  Shipping Emissions,  ,  

Independent Commodity Intelligence Services
Date: 2020-03-30
According to global commodities markets and data specialist Independent Commodity Intelligence Services ICIS) , European greenhouse gases (GHGs) as regulated under the EU Emissions Trading System (EUETS) will likely drop 24.4 pct in 2020 because of the widespread COVID-19 pandemic lock-downs.

Access the ICIS Early Impact Assessment HERE (Source: ICIS, Mar., 2020) Contact: ICIS, Anie Begum, Brand & Communications Manager +44 20 7911 3126, anie.begum@icis.com, (888) 525-3255 -- General Inquiries, clientsuccess@icis.com, www.icis.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Greenhouse Gas Emissions,  GHGs,  EUETS,  

UC Davis
Date: 2020-03-25
According to a study from the University of California-Davis, concrete production contributes 8 pct of global greenhouse gases and caused $335 billion per year in damages while strategies to reduce the concrete sector's global GHG emissions could, under some scenarios, increase local air pollution and related health damages.

While CCS technologies could reduce GHG emissions from concrete production by as much as 28 pct , the study found it could actually increase human health impacts from air pollutants unless the technology itself is powered by clean energy.

Cement production is responsible for about 32 pct of the total climate damages and 18 pct of health damages of making concrete. That is followed by aggregate production, which is responsible for 34 pct of health damages and 4 pct in climate damages.

To reduce these impacts, the study suggests the following readily implementable methods to reduce climate damages: cleaner combusting kiln fuel; increase use of limestone filler or other low-impact mineral additions to partially replace cement; clean renewable energy; amine scrubbing and calcium looping which could reduce climate damage costs over 50 pct and 65 pct respectively. They are not yet readily implementable but may become so in the future.

While the effectiveness of strategies varies by region, the study says that overall, a mixture of the strategies could reduce climate and health damages by 85 pct and 19 pct respectively. (Source: UC Davis, Nature Climate Change, Daily Democrat, UC Davis, Mar., 2020) Contact: UC Davis, Assist. Prof.,Frances Moore, UCD Department of Environmental Science and Policy, fmoore@ucdavis.edu, www.ucdavis.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Concrete,  Cement,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  UC Davis,  

York University
Date: 2020-02-26
Estimates of the technologically and economically achievable potential for energy efficiency improvements in Canada are significant. Modelling by the International Energy Agency for example, suggests that under ambitious policy scenarios, Canada's GHG emissions could be reduced by approximately 200 million tpy of CO2e -- 28 pect of current emissions -- and with cumulative savings of $1.1 trillion between 2017 and 2050

In addition to offering the potential to make major contributions to a low-carbon sustainable energy transition, energy efficiency improvements can reduce energy costs to consumers, avoid the adverse environmental and social impacts of new energy supplies, improve productivity, strengthen energy security and enhance the resilience of energy systems to the impacts of climate change.

Despite their benefits, energy efficiency initiatives have struggled to achieve their full technological and economic potential to reduce to energy demand. These failures have been due to a range of market, institutional, financial, policy, regulatory, behavioural and informational barriers.

In recent years, new challenges have emerged beyond these traditional and well-understood obstacles. Changes in policy direction, often flowing from changes in governments, have resulted in significant retrenchments, and in some cases wholesale dismantlings, of energy efficiency strategies in North America. The Government of Ontario's decision to terminate its "Conservation First" strategy in March 2019 was among the most dramatic of these developments, but far from unique.

This study seeks to understand the dynamics behind these developments and to identify potential strategies and design principles to inform the development of more effective and resilient governance structures for energy efficiency in Canada. Specifically, the study examines a series of cases in which commitment and consensus around energy efficiency faltered, threatening the stability and, at times, the existence, of energy efficiency programming in a variety of Canadian (BC, Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) and the U.S. (Maine, Connecticut and Indiana) jurisdictions.

Download the York University Unpacking the Climate Potential of Energy Efficiency study HERE. (Source: York University, Sustainable Energy Initiative, Feb., 2020) Contact: York University, sei.info.yorku.ca, www.yoku.ca

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

Finnish Environment Institute
Date: 2020-02-21
The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) is reporting from Helsinki that only 16 of Finland's 310 municipalities failed to lower their GHG emissions by an average of 15 pct between 2005 and 2017.

On the high end of the reductions scale, Finnish Lapland is estimated to have lowered its emissions by 121 percent, while emissions grew in Ilomantsi in North Karelia, far eastern Finland.

The SKYE emissions figures are calculated according to standards set by the Carbon Neutral Municipalities Network which is backed by SYKE and the EU as part of a six-year climate project called Towards Carbon Neutral Municipalities and Regions.

Finnish emissions must still be slashed by 70-80 pct if to country is to reach its goal of carbon neutrality by 2035. (Source: Finnish Environment Institute, YLE News, 19 Feb., 2020) Contact: Finnish Environment Institute, Johannes Lounasheimo, +358 29 5251000, www.syke.fi › en-US

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  

Global Fire Emissions Database, Global Carbon Project
Date: 2020-01-27
The Global Fire Emissions Database is reporting fires in Australia's New South Wales and Victoria states in have emitted around 400 million tons of COs so far, "pushing country-level estimates for all of 2019 to a new record in the satellite era" of about 900 million tons of carbon dioxide.

In 2018, Australia emitted 421 million tons of carbon dioxide, making it the 16th-largest emitter worldwide, ranking just above the UK, according to the Global Carbon Project, a group of 76 scientists in 15 countries.

2019 was the hottest and driest year on record in Australia, and December saw the country shatter its record for the hottest-ever day nationally. (Source: Global Fire Emissions Database, The Independent, 25 Jan., 2020) Contact: Global Fire Emissions Database, www.globalfiredata.org; Global Carbon Project, www.globalcarbonproject.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Global Carbon Project,  GHGs,  Carbon Emissions,  Australia Carbon Emissions,  

National Biodiesel Foundation
Date: 2020-01-22
The impacts of U.S. biofuel policy on deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia are found to be insignificant, according to the latest research from leading economic modeling experts at Purdue University. The study looked at concerns from renewable fuel opponents claiming that biofuels are to blame for increased agricultural activity in southeast Asia.

Previous analysis published by U.S. EPA, California Air Resources Board and Argonne National Laboratory have quantified the benefits of using biodiesel in place of fossil fuel because of its significant reduction in GHG emissions. With a quantified reduction in CO2 emissions between 50 and 86 pct lower than petroleum, biodiesel and renewable diesel are experiencing increased use under federal and state policies.

Download the U.S. Biofuel Production and Policy Implications for Land Use Changes in Malaysia and Indonesia study HERE. (Source: Purdue University,National Biodiesel Foundation, Jan., 2020} Contact: National Biodiesel Foundation, 573-635-3893, 573-635-7913 - fax, www.biodieselfoundation.org

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