CRC for Greenhouse
Accounting news
A year of research
The 2002-2003 Annual Report of the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Accounting, lodged with the CRC Programme last week, outlines a year of achievements in greenhouse accounting research.
Details: http://www.greenhouse.crc.org.au/crc/products/publications.htm
Forum on emissions from agriculture
The CRC for Greenhouse Accounting is facilitating the second Joint Australia and New Zealand Forum on Non-CO2 Greenhouse Emissions from 20 to 22 October.
The Forum, which is sponsored by the Australian Greenhouse Office, will be held at Lancemore Hill Conference Centre, about 60 kilometres north of Melbourne.
Details: http://www.greenhouse.crc.org.au/crc/ecarbon/nonc02forum/
Positioning Australia for the emission-constrained future
The seminar Positioning Australia for the emission-constrained future engaged more than 60 people in stimulating debate at the Melbourne Business School on 9 September 2003.
Organised by the CRC for Greenhouse Accounting in partnership with the Australasian Emissions Trading Forum, the seminar opened with the Secretary of Environment Australia, Mr Roger Beale, outlining the Australian Government’s position and the Ambassador for the Environment, Mr Chris Langman, describing processes for establishing long-term greenhouse policy. Other speakers included Ernst & Young senior Partner Mr John Buttle, Mr Malcolm Gray from the AETF, Dr Chris Mitchell from the CRC for Greenhouse Accounting, Dr Harry Schaap from the Electricity Supply Association of Australia, Mr Mike Waller from Heuris Partners, Mr Tony Wood from Origin Energy, and Ms Tricia Caswell fromGlobal Sustainability RMIT.
See copies of the presentations at: http://www.greenhouse.crc.org.au/crc/products/AETF/index.cfm
Australian News
National Greenhouse Gas Inventory
The 2001 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory released by the
Federal Government on 18 September reports total greenhouse
emissions for Australia of 542.6 million tonnes of carbon
dioxide equivalent (under inventory accounting provisions
for the Kyoto target), just 0.1 per cent (0.5Mt) below 1990
emissions (under the same accounting provisions).
This was achieved almost entirely through reductions attributed to land use change and reforestration: the accounts include a 69.2 per cent reduction (83.4Mt) in land use change emissions between 1990 and 2001 (though they acknowledge that 10.2 Mt of this attributed to 2000 to 2001 may not represent a true trend as estimates for this period are to be revised), and a sequestration of 11.1 Mt from plantation forestry established since 1990.
The only other area in which there were reduced emissions was industrial processes, down 1.2 Mt carbon dioxide equivalent from 1990 to 2001, primarily due to reductions in perfluorocarbon emissions from aluminium smelting.
Emissions from the energy sector increased by 28.9 per cent (82.7 Mt) from 1990 to 2001, accounting for 68 per cent of total net emissions in 2001.
Agricultural emissions increased by 11.2 per cent (10.7 Mt) from 1990 to 2001, and waste emissions increased by 11.7 per cent (1.8 Mt) in the same period.
Details: http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/inventory/index.html
See also emissions projections at http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/projections/index.html
Media release, Minister’s interview: http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/nav/new.html#greenhouse
and http://www.deh.gov.au/minister/env/2003/mr18sep03.html
Other reports: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/18/1063625159140.html
Australia still appears short of target: http://news.nasdaq.com/news/newsStory.aspx?&cpath=20030917\ACQDJON200309172329DOWJONESDJONLINE001616.htm
Australia among the big producers
(AFP through ninemsm, 17 September 2003)
Australians, Canadians and Americans are per head among the world's biggest greenhouse gas producers, say Canadian government figures.
Details:
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/World/story_51780.asp?MSID=6d40353f6b864cd7806381801f7fdc0a
Green Electricity watch
(EnviroInfo 19 September 2003)
Australian Inland Energy and Origin Energy have topped the green list in the second annual Green Electricity Watch scorecard.
Details: http://swiftek.modwest.com/cana/electricitywatch/downloads/RetailScorecard.pdf
Antarctic vortex blamed for dry
(Reuters through Planet Ark, 22 September 2003)
Australia may be facing a permanent drought because of an accelerating vortex of winds whipping around the Antarctic that threatens to disrupt rainfall, the product of global climate change, according to an international group of scientists studying the vortex.
Details: http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/22333/story.htm
Carbon sink in NSW
(Various, 25 September 2003)
Australia has decided against ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, but that has not stopped the Premier of New South Wales negotiating an international deal for a carbon sink.
Details: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s954007.htm
See also: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/25/1064083130675.html
and
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s954070.htm
Geo-sequestration studies
(CSIROnline, 22 September 2003)
A team of scientists from the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies is investigating 'geo-sequestration' of carbon dioxide as a practical and feasible way of reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.
Details: http://www.csiro.au/index.asp?type=mediaRelease&id=PrECOS2
Greener bricks
Austral Bricks has pledged to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent over the next three years.
Details: http://www.infolink.com.au/articles/62/0c019a62.asp
World News
Kyoto and emissions
Framework for energy taxation
(EuroActiv.com, 25 September 2003)
The European Parliament adopted a report on an EU framework for energy taxation although it was not satisfied with the content of the proposal.
Details: http://www.euractiv.com/cgi-bin/cgint.exe?204&OIDN=1506295&-home=home
Russia still dallying
(Guardian Unlimited, 30 September, and Reuters through UN Wire & Environmental News Network, 26 September 2003)
President Vladimir Putin has refused to commit Russia to ratifying the Kyoto treaty, backtracking on previous pledges, just days after Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Gordeyevsaid that Russia has no schedule for ratifying the Kyoto Protocol.
Details: Putin refuses to commit - http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1052264,00.html
and http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19311-2003Sep29.html
and http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Russia-Climate-Change.html (free registration required)
and http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-environment-russia.html (free registration required)
Deputy says there is no schedule -
http://www.unwire.org/UNWire/20030926/449_8834.asp
See also: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=3513419
and
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=3479687&startrow=1&date=2003-09-26&do_alert=0
and http://www.enn.com/news/2003-09-26/s_8823.asp
and http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L253653.htm
‘Impossible’ without US-led research
(US Newswire through Point Carbon, 17 September 2003)
The US Energy Secretary said that meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will be impossible without revolutionary new energy technologies being developed by US-led research.
Details: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=669&ncid=669&e=10&u=/030917/180/5aqwu.html
Research ‘undermined’
(Guardian Unlimited, 21 September 2003)
White House officials have undermined their own government scientists' research into climate change to play down the impact of global warming, according to an investigation by The Observer.
Details: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1046363,00.html
Kyoto ‘economic boon’
(Canadian Press through Point Carbon, 16 September 2003)
Canadian Industry Minister Allan Rock, who was cool to the Kyoto climate-change protocol during debate on ratification last year, is now touting it as a boon to the economy.
Details: http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=canada_home&articleID=1410185
Carbon credits offer
(NZ Herald through Point Carbon, 13 September 2003)
The NZ Government is offering 4 million carbon credits as a subsidy for projects that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, but businesses have to jump through a lot of hoops to get their hands on them, and cannot be sure what the credits will be worth if they do.
Details: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/businessstorydisplay.cfm?storyID=3523295&thesection=business&thesubsection=general&thesecondsubsection=&thetickercode=
See also: http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0309/S00337.htm
and http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2658522a1865,00.html
Regional teams
(US Newswire, 9 September 2003)
In the most comprehensive move yet in the continuing effort to address US carbon dioxide emissions, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham has selected seven regional teams to help develop the framework needed to develop carbon sequestration technologies and put them into action.
Details: http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=121-09022003
‘Bring on the carbon tax’
(The Age, 13 September 2003)
Without a carbon tax, New Zealand was heading for a future of more coal-fired electricity power plants, according to Wellington-based investment company Infratil.
Details: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/15/1063624980464.html
Road transport ‘serious problem’
(Press Association, 25 September 2003)
Greenhouse gases from road transport continue to be "a serious problem" in the battle to cut emissions, the British Government said.
Details: http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1978876
US States work together
(Various through Daily Grist & Point Carbon, 23 September 2003)
The governors of California, Washington and Oregon plan to develop a joint strategy to reduce greenhouse emissions.
Details: http://www.tribnet.com/news/local/story/3986775p-4008462c.html
See also: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-warming23sep23,1,4712831.story
and http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/breaking_news/6836249.htm
Looking for leadership on climate change: http://www.gristmagazine.com/maindish/powershift073102.asp?source=weekly
Call for more effort
(Xinhua Newsagency through Point Carbon, 10 September 2003)
Asian Development Bank President Tadao Chino has called for more efforts by the international community to reduce threats posed by global warming so as to secure sustainable development.
Details: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-09/10/content_1074685.htm
Energy
Investment needed
(Reuters through Forbes.com, 24 September 2003)
The European Union needs to invest $US2 trillion in its electricity and gas sector, mainly to replace retiring power generators, according to the International Energy Agency.
Details: http://www.forbes.com/markets/newswire/2003/09/24/rtr1090536.html
Tide power
(Reuters through Daily Grist, 20 September 2003)
Homes on the Arctic tip of Norway started getting power from the moon on Saturday via a unique sub-sea power station driven by the rise and fall of the tide.
Details: http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=3478552
See also: http://www.enn.com/news/2003-09-23/s_8684.asp
Solar contract
(Point Carton, 17 September 2003)
BP Solar, a subsidiary of BP France, in partnership with the Moroccan oil company Compagnie Marocaine des Hydrocarbures, has been awarded a contract for the supply and installation of solar power systems, expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an equivalent to 10,000 tonnes carbon dioxide over a 10-year period.
Details: http://www.e4engineering.com/item.asp?id=49926&type=news
‘Partial zero-emission’ vehicles
(USA Today, 16 September 2003)
Seven car companies have begun selling very low-polluting cars in California, where they are called PZEVs, for partial zero-emission vehicles, while Ford and Toyota are going nation-wide across the US with their versions.
Details: http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030916/5502389s.htm
Canadian wind
(Planet Ark, 15 September 2003)
The Canadian Prairie province of Saskatchewan plans to exploit the winds that howl across its vast, flat wheat fields, giving a boost to Canada's fledgling wind power industry.
Details: http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/22223/story.htm
Logging litter for fuel
(UN Wire, 23 September 2003)
By using the stumps, branches and tree tops left over by logging firms, nations will be able to produce more fuel and paper while cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions,scientistssaid in a new report releasedahead of theXII World Forestry Congress in Quebec City.
Details: http://www.unwire.org/UNWire/20030923/449_8687.asp
See also: http://www.enn.com/news/2003-09-23/s_8680.asp
Energy from manure
(Environmental News Network, 19 September 2003)
A coalition of Vermont groups has won a $747,000 federal grant to build technology that would convert manure from small farms into methane gas for energy.
Details: http://www.enn.com/news/2003-09-19/s_8597.asp
Climate and climate change
Reefs killed
Nature through UN Wire, 19 September 2003)
A gradual rise in sea temperatures caused by global warming killed 90 percent of coral reefs near the surface of the Indian Ocean in 1998 andcontinues to threaten the remaining 10 percent, accordingtoresearch published today in the science journal Nature.
Details: http://www.unwire.org/UNWire/20030918/449_8572.asp
See also: http://www.newsandevents.warwick.ac.uk/index.cfm?page=pressrelease&id=1308
Warmest in 2,000 years
(Various through Grist Magazine, 2 September 2003)
The Earth has been warmer since 1980 than at any time in the past 2,000 years,
according to a comprehensive study of climatic history.
Details: http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1032984,00.html
See also: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3198117.stm
Ice shelf breaks up
(Washington Post and New York Times through Daily Grist, 23 September 2003)
A 3,000-year-old ice shelf in the Arctic Ocean, the largest in the
Northern Hemisphere, has broken into pieces over the past two years.
Details: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/23/international/americas/23CLIM.html
and http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49558-2003Sep22.html
See also: http://www.unwire.org/UNWire/20030923/449_8690.asp
and http://www.enn.com/news/2003-09-23/s_8679.asp
New York Times opinion: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/25/opinion/25THU3.html (free registration required)
Carbon sequestration
Forests ‘vital’
(UN News Centre, 22 September 2003)
Warning that forests are vital in mitigating climate change and combating land degradation and desertification, the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has called for tangible results in sustainable management of this precious resource.
Details: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=8321&Cr=forest&Cr1=
Text of the FAO release: http://www.fao.org/english/newsroom/news/2003/22281-en.html
Sequestration pilot project
(UN Wire, 12 September 2003)
The Asian Development Bank is to carry out a carbon sequestration pilot project in Indonesian forests.
Details: http://www.unwire.org/UNWire/20030912/449_8359.asp
Trading
International talks
(Carbon Market Europe, 26 September 2003)
There are reports of continuing talks between the European Union and Canada and Switzerland for mutual recognition of allowances from emissions trading programs. Other Kyoto countries with emerging trading systems, such as Norway and Japan, are also considered likely to enter discussions.
Details: http://www.pointcarbon.com/wimages/Carbon_Market_Europe_26_September_2003.pdf
Emissions allowances agreement
(Platts Global Energy through Point Carbon, 24 September 2003)
Germany's government and the industry have agreed on the basic principles of the allocation of emissions allowances which are to be presented to the European Commission by March 2004.
Details: http://www.platts.com/features/emissions/relatedepa.shtml#18
Belgium trades its way out
(Expatica through Point Carbon, 10 September 2003)
Belgium has announced a plan to purchase unlimited gas emission rights from abroad in an effort to reach Kyoto norms.
Details: http://www.expatica.com/belgium.asp?pad=88,89,&item_id=34129
Deadline looms
(Bloomberg through Point Carbon, 10 September 2003)
Germany, France and other European states will probably miss a deadline to turn a European Union directive on greenhouse gases trading into national law, risking a slew of lawsuits from companies next year.
Details: http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000100&sid=aghvNxj60WAM&refer=germany
Conferences
Agricultural soil sequestration
Interest in agricultural soil carbon sequestration is at an all-time high around the world -- and growing. We are witnessing considerable activity in scientific research, government policy, and financial markets. Currently, one of the most critical questions is: How can soil carbon best be measured and monitored in order to ensure a valid carbon accounting system? Join fellow scientists, policymakers, and industry representatives in discussing this question at the Carbon Measurement and Monitoring Forum, hosted by the Consortium for Agricultural Soils Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas State, from 15 to 17 October 2003.
Details: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/ctec/Fall_Forum.htm
Partnerships
(Point Carbon, 12 September 2003)
Can agriculture and energy partner using soil carbon sequestration to offset greenhouse gases? This conference will be held in College Station, US, from 20 to 22 January 2004.
Details: http://ageco.tamu.edu/faculty/mccarl/acs/CASMGS_CONF_send.HTM
Forum on emissions from agriculture
The CRC for Greenhouse Accounting is facilitating the second Joint Australia and New Zealand Forum on Non-CO2 Greenhouse Emissions from 20 to 22 October.
The Forum, which is sponsored by the Australian Greenhouse Office, will be held at Lancemore Hill Conference Centre, about 60 kilometres north of Melbourne.
Details: http://www.greenhouse.crc.org.au/crc/ecarbon/nonc02forum/
More on conferences
For more news of conferences or to advertise your conference go to the Global Change Events Calendar at http://www.greenhouse.crc.org.au/gcec/
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