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TOP STORY
California stakeholders question LCFS crediting plans for ZEV infrastructure
A new provision from California regulator ARB to provide Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits for two types of fuelling infrastructure for zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) may raise concerns about the programme’s commitment to technology neutrality and environmental integrity, according to stakeholders at the agency’s public workshop on Monday.
EMEA
EU Market: EUAs drop below €15 as market struggles to absorb auction volume
EU carbon prices dropped below €15 for the first time in almost two weeks on Tuesday as a weak auction result suggested the market could struggle to absorb the wave of heightened volume ahead.
ASIA PACIFIC
Australia badly lagging on climate ambition -report
Australia’s Paris Agreement commitment is “grossly inadequate” and the target would have to be dramatically ramped up for the coal-reliant nation to do its fair share to keep climate change under control, a report found Tuesday.
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CARBON FORWARD 2018
SAVE THE DATE: Carbon Forward 2018 – Survive and thrive in the global carbon markets
Don’t miss the 3rd annual Carbon Forward conference and training day – Oct. 16-18, 2018 in London.
Spend two days with top experts, players, and decision-makers from the global carbon markets as they address today’s most attractive opportunities and pressing challenges. And join us for the EU ETS pre-conference training day organised by carbon market experts Redshaw Advisors, where you will learn how to effectively manage your carbon risk ahead of the looming overhaul of the bloc’s emissions trading scheme.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Every reason but emissions – A group of US Republican senators sent a letter to President Trump last week urging him to advance the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol to the Senate for ratification. The climate treaty, which aims to restrict the potential potent GHGs used for refrigeration and cooling, was touted by the 13 senators for its potential to protect American jobs and grow the economy, though no mention of “emissions”, “climate change”, or “Obama” (under whom the pact was signed) was found in the letter, highlighting the polarising nature of the topic. US-based industry leaders like Honeywell have also supported the treaty as they increase production of alternative coolants. (Climate Nexus)
Cheaper across the map – Electric vehicles are more efficient than internal combustion vehicles, but fuel cost comparisons can be complicated because the price of gasoline and residential electricity vary considerably by state. To address this, the US Department of Energy developed an eGallon tool that shows the fuel cost of operating a vehicle on regular gasoline versus electricity for any given distance. Using this tool and comparing the cost difference between gasoline operation and electric operation, a map compiled by the DoE highlights that all states showed cost savings for electric operation. The average fuel cost savings for all states was 60% and each of the states except for Hawaii had savings of greater than 20%. The state of Washington provided the greatest fuel cost savings (74%) for electric vehicle owners. Residential electricity rates, which are high in Hawaii and low in Washington state, greatly influence the level of savings.
Solar stagnation – Solar power capacity grew in the US year-on-year during the first quarter of 2018, but is expected to remain overall as newly-imposed import tariffs and other forces weigh on the technology. According to a new report from the Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research, the US added 2.5 GW of solar capacity during Q1, and in the near term 2018 is expected to be somewhat insulated from the Section 201 tariffs. However, in the long term the new fees have already led some developers to cancel projects, with others seeking to renegotiate their power purchase agreements due to higher costs from the duties. (Axios)
Their GHGs are a wee scunner – Greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland have almost halved since 1990, according to the latest figures. According to the BBC, government statistics show levels in 2016 were 49% below the 1990 baseline, with a 10.3% drop on the previous year. The adjusted figure, which includes Scotland’s share under the EU ETS, fell by 45.2% over that period. The drop has been largely attributed to the 2016 closure of the Longannet Power Station. Ministers announced in May that they intend to set a target to reduce levels by 90% by the middle of the century. They say the latest figures put Scotland second only to Sweden (51%) and ahead of Finland (42%), Germany (25%) and Denmark (23%) among western Europe’s EU-15 member states.
‘Toba task force – A group from academics, business, sustainable development and conservation will help the Progressive Conservative government implement its made-in-Manitoba climate change plan, which includes introducing a C$25/tonne carbon tax, CBC reports. The group will be chaired by Colleen Sklar, the executive director of the Partnership of the Manitoba Capital Region, and also includes David McLaughlin, who was the lead architect of the Tories’ green plan. Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires says the advisory council will look at initiatives such as a carbon savings account and other programs.
And finally… Bye bye baobabs – Climate change may be responsible for killing some of the world’s oldest trees, according to new research. A paper published Monday in the journal Nature Plants documents the rapid decline of some of the oldest specimens of the African baobob tree, which can grow to be over 2,000 years old and over 100 feet around. Researchers found that 9 of the 13 oldest baobobs and 5 of the 6 largest have died over the past decade, and while the study calls for more research, they suspect that climate change has a hand in the deaths of the trees. (Climate Nexus)
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