Global Warming Today articles from February 2004

Global Warming Today archives from February 2004

Waste Management Donates Emissions Credits to Houston.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Houston, TX-based Waste Management, Inc. recently announced it has agreed to donate 85,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions credits to the city of Houston to help offset the greenhouse gas impact of the upcoming Super Bowl. According to...

Researchers to Study 'Sinking' of CO2 Into the Ocean.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) recently announced that the Polarstern research vessel has been launched to explore the possibility of "sinking" carbon dioxide (CO2) into the ocean by "fertilizing" the Southern...

FOE U.K. Reports on ExxonMobil's Contribution to Warming.(Friends of the Earth)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Friends of the Earth (FOE) U.K. recently announced the release of two new studies which indicate that ExxonMobil and its predecessors "caused 4.7 to 5.3 percent of the world's man-made carbon dioxide emissions between 1882 and 2002 -- through...

Indian Meteorological Official Refutes Warming's Influence.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... The Times of India recently reported that Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology director G.B. Pant maintained during the Indian Meteorological Society-Pune's recent annual workshop in Maharashtra, India that global warming should not be...

EU Official Comments on Russia's Kyoto Stance.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... Reuters recently reported that while speaking at a German parliamentary hearing, European enlargement commissioner Guenter Verheugen, "hinted" that Russia's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol may be tied with its bid for World Trade...

Researcher Develops New CO2 Conversion Technique.(Electron Stream Carbon Dioxide Reduction)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... New Zealand research and development organization Holcomb Scientific, Ltd. recently announced that Vanderbilt University School of Medicine assistant professor Robert Holcomb has developed a new technology known as Electron Stream Carbon...

Researchers Say GHGs Leading to Atmospheric Thinning.(greenhouse gases)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2004... The American Geophysical Union (AGU) recently reported that a new study conducted by a team of Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) scientists indicates that "the highest layers of the Earth's atmosphere are cooling and contracting, most likely in...

Study Says Earth Recovered From Warming in Prehistoric Era.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2004... Researchers with Open University recently announced the release of a new study in the journal Geology, titled "Osmium isotope evidence for the regulation of atmospheric CO2 by continental weathering," which indicates that Earth underwent and...

DOE to Fund State Energy Efficiency Projects.(The Department of Energy)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2004... The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that, under the State Technologies Advancement Collaborative (STAC) program to support the research, development and demonstration of energy efficiency technologies, 13 projects have been...

CCX Releases January Trading Results.(The Chicago Climate Exchange)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... The Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) recently announced its trading results for January 2004, reporting more than double the December 2003 total volume, with 82,800 metric tons CO2 and a record day on January 29, when 22,100 metric tons were...

New Zealand to Enter Negotiations for NGAs.(Negotiated greenhouse agreements)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... The New Zealand government recently announced plans to enter negotiations for negotiated greenhouse agreements (NGAs) with New Zealand Aluminium Smelters, Ltd. and some of Auckland, New Zealand-based wood fiber processing company Carter Holt...

IPE Considers Launch of GHG Emissions Trading Contracts.(International Petroleum Exchange,greenhouse gas)(Brief Article)
February 5, 2004... Reuters recently reported remarks by International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) chief executive Richard Ward in which he revealed IPE's consideration of launching greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trading contracts, as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme...

Endesa Expects Coal Plants Will Remain Competitive.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2004... Reuters recently reported that Madrid, Spain-based private electrical group Endesa has expressed confidence that its coal-fired power plants will remain competitive even when the European Union's upcoming carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions rules go...

Russia Responds to French, German Pressure to Ratify Kyoto.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2004... Agence France-Presse recently reported that Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov has rejected efforts to tie together Russian/EU relations and ratification of the Kyoto Protocol following a renewed appeal for support of the treaty made by...

EIA Sees Increase in Voluntary GHG Reduction Reporting.(The Energy Information Administration Greenhouse Gases)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2004... The Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently announced that a total of 228 U.S. companies and other entities reported to its Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program that they had undertaken 2,027 projects to reduce or sequester...

Weekly Update.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2004... ENERGY MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP, February 10-11, 2004, Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, FL BUILDING ENERGY 2004: THE 29TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE NORTHEAST SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION, March 10-13, 2004, Boston University, Boston, MA ...

Fluor to Study Power Industry CO2 Capture, Recovery.(Fluor Corporation)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... Fluor Corporation recently announced it has been selected by the International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas Research and Development Program to conduct a study on the capture and recovery of C02 in the power industry. According to Fluor,...

Lowe's Named Energy Star Retail Partner of the Year.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... The EPA and DOE recently announced they have named Lowe's Companies, Inc. the Energy Star 2004 Retail Partner of the Year. According to EPA and DOE, the company was recognized for its "outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas...

Ukraine Parliament Commits to Kyoto Protocol.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that the Ukraine parliament has ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Although the country signed the climate change pact five years ago, AP said government officials refrained from ratifying the treaty...

Campaign ExxonMobil Criticizes Oil Company's Warming Stance.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Campaign ExxonMobil, "a shareholder campaign to convince ExxonMobil to take a responsible position on climate change," recently criticized the oil company, which it said "has [long] been regarded as the global oil industry company in the...

Shanghai Daily Says Warming May Lead to Major Sea Rise.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Reuters recently reported that the Shanghai Daily newspaper ran a story last week suggesting that global warming could potentially lead to a rise in sea levels capable of submerging the Chinese municipality within 600 years. According to...

RFA Says Ethanol Use Reduced GHG Emissions in 2003.(The Renewable Fuels Association , greenhouse gas )(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) recently announced that, according to the latest figures from Argonne National Laboratory, the use of ethanol-blended fuels reduced carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the U.S. by...

Sears Recognized for GHG Reduction Contributions.(Energy star program)(greenhouse gases)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2004... The EPA and Department of Energy (DOE) recently recognized Sears, Roebuck and Company with the Excellence in Appliance Retailing 2004 award for its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions reduction through its efforts in "energy-efficient...

Guatemalan Village Gets Paid for Reducing GHGs.(greenhouse gas)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2004... Portland, OR-based Green Empowerment, a nonprofit that promotes renewable energy in the developing world, recently announced that Mayan villagers in the Guatemalan highlands have received funds in connection with greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation...

Canadian Official Says Warming Threat Outweighs Terrorism.(David Anderson)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2004... Reuters recently reported that Canadian minister of the environment David Anderson believes the consequences of global warming outweigh the threat that terrorism poses to the international community. According to Reuters, Anderson said...

WEC Recognizes Johnson Controls for Reducing Emissions.(The World Environment Center)(Brief Article)
February 12, 2004... The World Environment Center (WEC) recently honored Johnson Controls, Inc. with its 20th Annual WEC Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development for "creating shareholder value through business and initiatives...

Matsushita Electric Develops Emissions Reduction Campaign.(Brief Article)
February 12, 2004... Kyodo News recently reported that Matsushita Electric Industrial Company is looking to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions associated with its transportation of products 15 percent from FY 02 levels by FY 10. According to Kyodo, the...

Australia to Explore Geosequestration Along With Coal Study.(Latrobe Valley Coal Resources 2100)(Brief Article)
February 12, 2004... Australian newspaper The Age recently reported that federal resources minister Ian Macfarlane has maintained that the federal government plans to explore geosequestration technology as it moves forward with the "Latrobe Valley Coal Resources...

Researchers Say Climate Change Threatens Cloud Forest Plants.(Brief Article)
February 13, 2004... Wake Forest University recently announced that the results of a new study have been published in the February 6 issue of the journal Nature which suggest that "many species of plants in the Amazon cloud forest may not survive the dramatic...

U.K. Official Says EU Prepared to Begin ETS by 2005.(CO2 Emissions Trading Scheme)(Brief Article)
February 13, 2004... Reuters recently reported that U.K. energy minister Stephen Timms has expressed confidence that, "despite very slow progress in preparation," the European Union is on target to initiate the carbon dioxide (CO2) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) by...

Greenpeace Comments on Russia and Kyoto Protocol.(Brief Article)
February 13, 2004... In a recent interview with Reuters, Greenpeace executive director Gerd Leipold voiced his opinion on Russia and the U.S. and their respective relationships to the Kyoto Protocol. "Unfortunately, to Mr. Putin, Kyoto is more a political...

Weekly Update.(Calendar)
February 13, 2004... ENERGY MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP, February 10-11, 2004, Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, FL WORLD SUSTAINABLE ENERGY DAYS 2004, March 3-5, 2004, Stadthalle Wels, Wels, Austria CLEAN AIR CANADA'S NORTH AMERICAN EMISSION REGISTRIES...

Five U.S. Power Companies Commit to WWF PowerSwitch!(The World Wildlife Fund)(Brief Article)
February 17, 2004... The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently announced that five U.S. electric power companies have committed themselves to the WWF PowerSwitch! Challenge, a climate change initiative that calls on industry to "support binding limits on national CO2...

UND EERC Tests New Power Plant Heat Exchanger.(The University of North Dakota , Energy & Environmental Research Center )(Brief Article)
February 17, 2004... The University of North Dakota (UND) recently announced that researchers at its Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) have developed a new method for improving the efficiency of and reducing emissions from coal-fired power plants by...

Russian Official Questions Environmental Benefit of Kyoto.(Brief Article)
February 17, 2004... Russian Information Agency Novosti recently reported that Russian vice premier and minister of agriculture Alexei Gordeyev expressed to reporters his belief that the Kyoto Protocol will not help improve the environment under "present day...

EC Releases Report on Vehicular CO2 Emissions.(The European Commission )(Brief Article)
February 18, 2004... The European Commission (EC) recently announced the release of the "4th Annual Report on CO2 Emissions from New Cars," which reveals that CO2 emissions from new passenger cars sold in the European Union (EU) decreased by 10.8 percent between...

NZ Signs MOU to Research Agricultural GHG Emissions.(memorandum of understanding for greenhouse gas emission reduction)(Brief Article)
February 18, 2004... The government of New Zealand recently announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with "agricultural sector groups" aimed at developing safe, cost-effective methods of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock by...

New Members Join U.K. Carbon Management Program.(The Carbon Trust )(Brief Article)
February 18, 2004... The Carbon Trust recently announced that airport operator BAA and the Manchester Airport both recently joined the Carbon Trust's new carbon management program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Carbon Trust, the...

New Zealand Landfill Gas Scheme Wins Carbon Credits.(Brief Article)
February 18, 2004... The New Zealand government recently announced the awarding of carbon credits to the Palmerston North City Council's Awapuni Landfill for a scheme to capture methane emitted from the landfill and use it to generate electricity. "This scheme...

New Study Details Effects of Climate Change on Coral Reefs.(Pew Center report)(Brief Article)
February 19, 2004... The Pew Center recently announced the release of a new report, titled "Coral Reefs & Global Climate Change: Potential Contributions of Climate Change to Stresses on Coral Reef Ecosystems," which concludes that "recent global increases in reef...

Scientists Say Trees May Not Absorb Excess CO2.(Brief Article)
February 19, 2004... Duke University recently announced that the first seven years of results from the school's Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) experiment do not "reinforce the optimism of those who believe trees can absorb extra CO2 by growing faster."...

DOE Secretary Comments on U.S. Climate Change Initiatives.(Department of Energy)(Spencer Abraham)
February 19, 2004... Department of Energy (DOE) secretary Spencer Abraham recently released a statement on the Bush administration's global climate change initiatives, defending the government's approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and referring to...

Researchers Say Warming May 'Squeeze Western Mountains Dry'.(Brief Article)
February 20, 2004... The Department of Energy's (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) recently announced the release of a new climate change model which suggests that global warming may "diminish the amount of water stored as snow in the western U.S....

Spanish Coal Plants to Remain Open Despite Kyoto Targets.(Brief Article)
February 20, 2004... Reuters recently reported that Spanish Energy Secretary Jose Folgado has insisted that the country's coal-fired energy plants remain open and receive enough emissions credits to remain competitive in the energy market. "It is absolutely...

U.K. to Set Strict CO2 Limits on Energy, Petroleum Sectors.(Department of Trade and Industry)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2004... Reuters recently reported that the U.K. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) plans to introduce stricter carbon dioxide (CO2) emission limits for both the energy sector and the offshore oil and gas industry. According to Reuters, DTI will...

Weekly Update.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
February 20, 2004... WORLD SUSTAINABLE ENERGY DAYS 2004, March 3-5, 2004, Stadthalle Wels, Wels, Austria CLEAN AIR CANADA'S NORTH AMERICAN EMISSION REGISTRIES CONFERENCE, March 7-9, 2004, OMNI Hotel-Montreal, Quebec, Canada BUILDING ENERGY 2004: THE 29TH...

Environmentalists Tout Kerry's Stance on Warming.(John Kerry)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2004... Reuters recently reported that U.S. environmentalists believe democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry would play a much more active role in combatting the effects of global warming than President Bush if elected to office. Specifically,...

Scientist Says Soybeans Could Benefit From Warming.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2004... United Press International (UPI) recently reported that while attending the Association for the Advancement of Science's annual meeting in Seattle, WA earlier this month, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign researcher Andrew Leakey...

Mitsui Purchases Australian Carbon Credits.(Global Renewables'Urban Resource)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2004... Mitsui & Co. (Australia) Ltd. recently announced the forward purchase of up to 500,000 tons of carbon credits from Global Renewables' Urban Resource -- Reduction, Recovery and Recycling (UR-3R) waste-to-resource facility to be located at...

World Energy Council Official Comments on Kyoto.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2004... Reuters recently conducted an interview with World Energy Council secretary general Gerald Doucet in which the official referred to the Kyoto Protocol as "irrelevant," arguing instead for increased investment in sustainable energy. "Kyoto...

AEP, Cinergy to Report Publicly on GHG Activity.(Brief Article)
February 24, 2004... The Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES), a U.S. coalition of environmental, investor and advocacy groups "working together for a sustainable future," recently announced that electric power companies American Electric...

SkiCool Program Offers VT Skiers Option of 'Green' Passes.(NativeEnergy)(Brief Article)
February 24, 2004... Smuggler's Notch Resort and NativeEnergy recently announced they have partnered in developing a new program known as SkiCool that offers local skiers and riders the option of buying a 50 cent Green Pass, two-dollar Green Badge or $10 Green Lift...

New Zealand Wind Farm Receives Carbon Credits.(planned Wainui Hills wind farm)(Brief Article)
February 24, 2004... The government of New Zealand recently announced plans to award up to 378,000 carbon credits to the planned Wainui Hills wind farm in Wellington. According to government officials, the new wind farm, which is expected to operate between 10...

Dow Corning Joins Chicago Climate Exchange.(Brief Article)
February 25, 2004... Dow Corning recently announced it has joined the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), a multi-sector, multi-national market to reduce and trade greenhouse gas emissions, as a charter member. Dow Corning noted that CCX requires members to reduce...

New England JMC Receives Energy Efficiency Award.(Joint Management Committee)(Brief Article)
February 25, 2004... The New England Joint Management Committee (JMC), a consortium of utilities and energy efficiency service providers, recently announced it has received a 2004 Leadership in Energy Efficiency Award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)....

WWF Report Details Warming's Effect on Great Barrier Reef.(Brief Article)
February 25, 2004... The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently announced the release of a new report, titled "Implications of Climate Change for Australia's Great Barrier Reef," which indicates that global warming may continue to degrade the corals of the Great...

Harvard Hosts Collegiate Meeting on Global Warming.(Brief Article)
February 25, 2004... Harvard University newspaper, the Harvard Crimson, recently reported on the success of the Northeast Climate Conference, an environmental convention organized by the university's Environmental Action Committee and Climate Campaign, a global...

CSIRO Cites Role of Savannas in Australia's Carbon Economy.(Brief Article)
February 26, 2004... The Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) recently reported that the tropical savannas of northern Australia could potentially play an important role as land-based CO2 stores in the country's emerging carbon...

EC Launches Register of Industrial Polluters on Web.(Brief Article)
February 26, 2004... Reuters recently reported that the European Commission (EC) has instituted an online register, known as the European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER), of the sources of industrial pollutants throughout the European Union (EU), including...

Pentagon Planning Scenario Envisions Warming Fallout.
February 26, 2004... Greenpeace recently reported that a "secret" report commissioned by Pentagon defense adviser Andrew Marshall and obtained by U.K. newspaper The Observer recommends that global warming "be elevated beyond a scientific debate to a U.S. national...

CCX Announces New Associate Member.(Natural Capitalism, Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 27, 2004... The Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) recently announced that Natural Capitalism, Inc. (NCI) has joined the market as an associate member. "[CCX] is probably the best mechanism in the world to solve what is almost certainly the world's worst...

Scientists Say Thawing Permafrost Increases GHG Emissions.(Brief Article)
February 27, 2004... The American Geophysical Union and Lund University recently announced that an international research team led by Lund's GeoBiosphere Science Center has published a new report in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, titled "Thawing...

Australian Energy Official Discusses GHG Reduction Goals.(Brief Article)
February 27, 2004... Australian newspaper The Age recently reported that Australian Gas Light Company managing director and Energy Supply Association of Australia chairman Greg Martin earlier this week said the federal government should spearhead the development of...

Toyota Tsusho Looks to Sell Carbon Emissions Rights in Russia.(Russia's Energy Carbon Facility)(Brief Article)
February 27, 2004... Industry officials in Japan recently reported an agreement between Toyota Motor Corporation group trading company Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Russia's Energy Carbon Facility (ECF) to conduct feasibility studies on the development of a carbon...

Weekly Update.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
February 27, 2004... WORLD SUSTAINABLE ENERGY DAYS 2004, March 3-5, 2004, Stadthalle Wels, Wels, Austria CLEAN AIR CANADA'S NORTH AMERICAN EMISSION REGISTRIES CONFERENCE, March 7-9, 2004, OMNI Hotel-Montreal, Quebec, Canada BUILDING ENERGY 2004: THE 29TH...