Our network

Carbon and De-carbonization

Why I am opposed to Northern Gateway

February 6, 2012 by Simon Donner
with 165 views
0

After a few months of thinking, I came to the conclusion that there is no choice but to oppose the construction of the Northern Gateway pipeline. There are many worthy arguments on either side of this issue, from the economy to First Nations rights, and from the preservation of the BC coastline to the reality of oil consumption here and... [read more]

The Future of Oil & Gas: Exploring New Innovation in Old-Fashioned Energy Webcast Recap

February 6, 2012 by Sheila Oliva
with 304 views
8

In case you missed it, last week The Energy Collective hosted a webcast on the topic of oil and gas and what the future held for these fossil fuels. As recent research has shown, despite the unprecedented levels of growth and attention wind, solar and biofuels receive as energy sources, the globe’s hunger for energy will guarantee that... [read more]

Decarbonizing California requires relying more on electricity, once it's low carbon

February 4, 2012 by Karen Street
with 186 views
7

A 2006 California law, Assembly Bill 32, obligates the state to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 (30% below business as usual), and to 80% below that level by 2050 (90% below business as usual). How is it to done? A team from UC, Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, and elsewhere examines this... [read more]

exclusive

Audio Archive: The Future of Oil & Gas: Exploring New Innovation in Old-Fashioned Energy

February 3, 2012 by Henry Spethmann
with 225 views
0

While renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biofuels experience unprecedented levels of growth and attention, such projections seem to confirm that these fossil fuels will make up large parts of our energy mix for quite some time to come.With that in mind, it's important to ask: What significant innovations, if any, are... [read more]

Who to trust about climate change

February 2, 2012 by Simon Donner
with 356 views
1

My sister is a neurologist. She's highly active in her field and is often asked by the media to comment about her particular area of expertise within the field of neurology. It is great having a sibling who is a medical doctor. Though she and I do technically both have the title "Doctor", I have zero medical expertise, outside of some... [read more]

Carbon Capture Takes Center Stage In 2012

February 2, 2012 by Nino Marchetti
with 211 views
0

For two reasons, 2012 will be a milestone for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies, marking the beginning of its practical utilization.In December, the next step of the ongoing international climate change talks will be hosted by Qatar, which, with Saudi Arabia, has long pushed to have CCS included among approved... [read more]

UN panel urges phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies

January 31, 2012 by Jake Schmidt
with 368 views
13

Why the UN recommends phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and moving to low carbon energy production. Think anyone will remember this by the time Rio+22 happens? [read more]

What's the deal with personal carbon trading?

January 25, 2012 by David Thorpe
with 147 views
0

Personal carbon trading is at the heart of a new proposal from academics to reducing energy use in buildings and help meet the aims of the Green Deal. It comes in the form of a strategy document, Achieving Zero, being launched today by Dr. Brenda Boardman of Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute, which she hopes will help... [read more]

The Future of Global Climate Policy: Taking Stock of Our Climate Outlook (Part 1)

January 23, 2012 by Matthew Stepp
with 194 views
0

  Significantly limiting humanity’s impact on the global climate is quite simply an enormous task. Unfortunately, thanks to budget austerity and federal gridlock, any hope of implementing sweeping U.S. climate/energy policy has been optimistically pushed back to 2013 or beyond (though some incremental improvement is possible). And... [read more]

How overturning conventional energy wisdom could resurrect real progress in climate talks

January 23, 2012 by Jim Pierobon
with 308 views
0

Ever since the Copenhagen round of global climate talks failed in 2009, there have been no shortage of prescriptions and declarations about what needs to change. The subsequent failures in Cancun in 2010 and Durban last year underscore the need for a new way of thinking. There is no denying the world  needs, and is going to be using... [read more]

A Surprising Call From The Investment Community

January 20, 2012 by David Hone
with 265 views
3

A recent report from a UN session on climate risk and energy solutions had a leading speaker at the event argue that "Putting a price on climate-warming carbon emissions, which has been instituted in parts of Europe and elsewhere with limited success, would be “nice to have” but not essential. . . .". It may be the case that this reflects a significant level of frustration in the investment community, driven by weak carbon prices, inaction in several major economies and uncertainty with policy implementation where action is underway. Nevertheless, to argue that an issue such as climate change can be addressed without government action is a worrying development. [read more]

exclusive

Audio & Slides: "How to Save a Planet On a Budget" Part 1 - Carbon Markets

December 19, 2011 by Amelia Timbers
with 337 views
0

Welcome to the audio archive & slides for the first chunk of our green finance summit "How To Save The Planet on A Budget". This first session focuses on carbon: 1. Carbon: Pricing It, Taxing It + Trading It, Moderated by Gernot Wagner Featuring: Janet Peace, Lee Thiessen, Lucas Merrill Brown [read more]

Durban - Success, Failure or . . . . ?

December 16, 2011 by David Hone
with 188 views
5

After two busy weeks, the Durban COP was extended by a full day and then went well into a second, with long nights of negotiation along the way. Eventually a deal emerged which has polarized both the media and blogsphere between being the salvation of mankind or the quick route to runaway warming. In reality it is neither, but if that is the case then where are we? [read more]

Will Britain Exceed Its Carbon Reduction Targets? Post 2

December 9, 2011 by David Thorpe
with 147 views
0

This is the second of two posts that examine the UK's claims and efforts to reduce its carbon emissions. Its conclusion: the UK must stop burning coal to win the battle to cut carbon emissions. The Government claimed last week in its Carbon Plan that it is on track to meet its carbon reduction target, but this is contradicted by other... [read more]

Learn to Love the Gas Tax

December 4, 2011 by Rob Perks
with 330 views
1

The North Carolina legislature just narrowly derailed a bill that would have prevented any possible increase in the state's gasoline tax. That's a good thing. By that I mean it's good that the state Senate declined to act on the bill after it passed in the House. You see, if enacted, the state's 35 cent per gallon... [read more]