Global Warming Today articles from October 2005

Global Warming Today archives from October 2005

FirstEnergy, Powerspan to Test CO2 Removal Technology.
October 3, 2005... FirstEnergy Corporation and Powerspan Corporation recently announced plans to begin pilot testing a new carbon dioxide (CO2) removal technology later this year at FirstEnergy's R.E. Burger Plant in Shadyside, OH. According to FirstEnergy,...

New Study Finds Continuing Decline in Arctic Sea Ice.
October 3, 2005... Researchers at the University of Colorado (UC)-Boulder's National Snow and Ice Data Center recently collaborated with scientists from NASA and the University of Washington on a study which finds that extremely low summer sea-ice coverage in the...

EC Proposes Strategy for Curbing Aviation Emissions.
October 3, 2005... The European Commission (EC) recently presented a plan for reducing air travel's contribution to climate change, maintaining that the most promising way to tackle aviation emissions is to bring aircraft operators into the European Union's...

Swiss Re Joins Chicago Climate Exchange.
October 4, 2005... Life and health reinsurer Swiss Re recently announced it will join the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). "Swiss Re believes that companies need to make an active commitment to raising awareness of climate change, evaluating the current and...

Alberta Building Projects Qualify for Government Incentives.
October 4, 2005... Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) recently announced that three commercial building projects in Alberta are being rewarded for making their new buildings more energy efficient, with the PCL Learning Centre in Edmonton, River Valley School in...

Vegfed Urges New Zealand Government to Scrap Carbon Tax.
October 4, 2005... The New Zealand Vegetable & Potato Growers' Federation (Vegfed) recently called on the federal government to scrap the carbon tax and "get real" about helping growers address climate change. "Over the past months, New Zealanders have faced...

Delphi to Offset Climate Impact Via Carbonfund Partnership.
October 5, 2005... The Delphi Group and Carbonfund recently announced they have entered into a partnership to reduce Delphi's global climate impact to zero. According to Carbonfund, Delphi will completely offset its carbon dioxide footprint through the...

German Researchers Predict Growing Climate Change.
October 5, 2005... Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology presented late last week their first model calculations from the German High Performance Computing Center for Climate and Earth System Research, which suggest that the climate will change...

Russian Companies Urge Adoption of Kyoto Pact.
October 5, 2005... Reuters recently reported that two leading Russian firms have joined in sending a letter to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov encouraging the Russian government to enact legislation needed to implement the Kyoto Protocol. The news...

Climate Trust Fund Vehicular GHG Reduction Project.
October 6, 2005... The Climate Trust recently announced it has awarded funding to Shurepower, LLC to support the launch of a truck stop electrification network at truck stops in Oregon and Washington to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from...

EPA Finds Energy Star Program Cut GHGs by 57 MMT in 2004.
October 6, 2005... The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a new report which finds that the agency's Energy Star program, which encourages businesses and individuals to use energy more efficiently, prevented the emission of 57 million metric...

Presidio MBA Students Launch New 'DriveNeutral' Program.
October 6, 2005... The Presidio World College of San Francisco's School of Management recently announced that MBA students Jason Smith, Kim Fox, Bob Gower and Jorgen Vos, together with Presidio board member Shep Burton, have created a new program, dubbed...

Next Week's Publishing Schedule.
October 7, 2005... EIN will not publish its newsletters on Monday, October 10, in observance of Columbus Day. We will resume our regular production schedule on Tuesday, October 11. (EIN EDITOR: 10/6)

Schwarzenegger Signs Bill Designed to Increase Efficiency.
October 7, 2005... California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation late last week designed to increase energy efficiency in an effort to protect the state's environment. State senate bill SB 1037, authored by senator Christine Kehoe, requires...

BASF Recognized for Efforts to Address Climate Change.
October 7, 2005... BASF recently announced that the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) has named the company "Best in Class" for its approach to addressing climate change. The company has also again been included in the Climate Leadership Index. According to...

WWF, CECS Announce New Emission-reduction Commitments.
October 7, 2005... The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently announced that the cities of Aspen, CO and Annapolis, MD, along with paper producer NorskeCanada, have reached agreements with WWF and the Center for Energy & Climate Solutions (CECS) committing to actions...

Weekly Update.
October 7, 2005... ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SUMMIT -- ENERGY POLICY & REGULATION: IMPLICATION FOR STRATEGY, FINANCE & INVESTMENT and GLOBAL WARMING POLICY & STRATEGY: PLANNING IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF UNCERTAINTY, November 1-4, 2005, Almas Temple, Washington,...

Boise Cascade Joins EPA Climate Leaders Partnership.
October 11, 2005... Boise Cascade recently announced it has joined the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Leaders Partnership, a voluntary program designed to help companies set "aggressive" greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals. According to...

University of Ohio Awarded Cinergy Grant for Eco-House.
October 11, 2005... Cinergy Corporation recently awarded Ohio University a $43,500 grant for the school's Dairy Lane Eco-House, which was established to create a venue for showcasing "leading-edge" green technologies. The grant was made through Cinergy's...

Report Says Climate Change Threatens Migratory Birds, Animals.
October 11, 2005... The U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) recently announced the release of a new report, commissioned by Defra and prepared by a group led by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), which warns that climate change...

WWF Names Europe's Most Polluting Power Stations.
October 12, 2005... The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently announced its ranking of "the continent's worst climate-polluting power stations," which finds that 27 of the 30 "dirtiest" plants are coal-fired, with Agios Dimitrios in Greece, Frimmersdorf in Germany...

DSF Report Finds Little Climate Action at Provincial Level.
October 12, 2005... Canada's David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) recently released a new report which finds that provincial and territorial action on climate change is "scattered, piecemeal and, in some cases, almost non-existent." The "All Over the Map" report,...

PNNL Assesses Impact of Warming on U.S. Regional Air Quality.
October 13, 2005... The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) recently announced that its new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-funded computer simulation indicates that, by mid-century, air quality throughout the Western U.S. will deteriorate. ...

CryoSat Monitoring Mission Lost Due to Launch Failure.
October 13, 2005... The European Space Agency (ESA) recently announced that Khrunichev Space Center first deputy director general Yuri Bakhvalov officially confirmed this weekend, on behalf of the Russian State Commission, that the launch of the CryoSat satellite,...

HSBC Achieves Carbon Neutrality Ahead of Schedule.
October 13, 2005... The HSBC Group recently announced it has reduced its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to zero three months ahead of the bank's January 2006 deadline. "...[T]he bank has pledged to cut its net emissions to zero and will embark on a carbon...

NatureWorks Announces to Make Polymer Greenhouse Gas Neutral.
October 14, 2005... NatureWorks, LLC recently announced it will take steps to achieve a greenhouse gas (GHG)-neutral position for its NatureWorks PLA corn-derived polymer. The company plans to achieve the GHG-neutral position through the purchase of renewable...

NIOZ Study Finds North Sea Functions as Efficient CO2 Sink.
October 14, 2005... The Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) recently released a new study conducted by NIOZ researcher Yann Bozed which concludes that the carbon dioxide (CO2) storage capacity of the North Sea is "almost three times as high as the...

Actor Encourages Climate Action Via Online Hybrid Sweepstakes.
October 14, 2005... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that Larry David, star of the HBO television series "Curb Your Enthusiasm," joined with MTV's college network mtvU last month in officially launching the "Curb Global Warming Sweepstakes," the winner...

Weekly Update.
October 14, 2005... ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SUMMIT -- ENERGY POLICY & REGULATION: IMPLICATION FOR STRATEGY, FINANCE & INVESTMENT and GLOBAL WARMING POLICY & STRATEGY: PLANNING IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF UNCERTAINTY, November 1-4, 2005, Almas Temple, Washington,...

Japan Selects Participants for New Voluntary ETS.
October 17, 2005... Japan for Sustainability (JFS) recently announced that the Japanese Ministry of the Environment has selected 34 companies and corporate groups as participants in the nation's Voluntary Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which commenced in FY 05....

AAFC to Provide Funding to Farmers to Reduce GHGs.
October 17, 2005... Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) recently announced that it will provide $15 million Canadian (about $12.6 million U.S.) to farmers in Canada to assist them in adopting sustainable land use practices and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG)...

Sierra Club Launches National 'Cool Cities' Campaign.
October 17, 2005... The Sierra Club recently announced the launch of its new "Cool Cities" campaign, which encourages local leaders throughout the country to pursue innovative solutions to reducing global warming pollution. "Mayors around the country aren't...

Diatom Opens Carbon Credit Trading Business in California.
October 18, 2005... Laguna Beach, CA-based Diatom Corporation recently announced it has commenced operation of its Foster City, CA-based carbon credit trading business. According to Diatom, the company will work with Planktos, Inc. to provide low-cost...

IETA Voices Support for EC Communication on Aviation Emissions.
October 18, 2005... International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) president Andrei Marcu recently welcomed the European Commission's (EC) "Reducing the Climate Change Impact of Aviation" communication, which was adopted late last month. According to...

CALSTART to Host Transportation Energy Future Conference in CA.
October 18, 2005... CALSTART will host its second annual "2020: California's Transportation Energy Future" conference on December 1 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles, CA. Attendees of the one-day conference will hear about and...

Alcan Named to CDP Climate Change Leadership Index.
October 19, 2005... Aluminum and packaging company Alcan, Inc. recently announced it has been selected as one of two Canadian companies on the Carbon Disclosure Project's (CDP) 2005 Climate Leadership Index. According to Alcan, the company's greenhouse gas...

U.K. Minister Says Kyoto Agreement Unlikely in Montreal.
October 19, 2005... Reuters reported earlier this month that U.K. minister of the environment Margaret Beckett warned a group of business leaders meeting in London that upcoming talks on the Kyoto Protocol, to be held in Montreal, Quebec next month, are not...

EMA to Host 9th Annual Fall Conference in San Francisco.
October 19, 2005... The Environmental Markets Association (EMA) will host its 9th Annual Fall Conference from November 6 through 9 at the Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco, CA. EMA will offer a pre-conference "Introduction to Emissions Trading Workshop" on...

Encore Ceramics Installs Solar System, Purchases Green Tags.
October 20, 2005... The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) recently announced that Grants Pass, OR-based tile manufacturer Encore Ceramics, Inc. dedicated late last week the installation of a 29-kilowatt solar power system atop the roof of its manufacturing...

Australian Official Expects Postponement of APPCDC.
October 20, 2005... Reuters reported earlier this month that Australian industry minister Ian Macfarlane said he does not expect the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APPCDC), which includes the U.S., Australia, Japan, India, South Korea...

Halloween Novelty Song Retooled as Anti-warming Appeal.
October 20, 2005... Clear the Air, a national public education campaign to combat global warming and improve air quality by reducing emissions from coal-burning power plants, recently announced that Bobby "Boris" Pickett, co-creator of and vocalist on the 1962...

URI, HCMR Complete Carbon Cycle Research Cruise.
October 21, 2005... The University of Rhode Island (URI) recently announced that URI scientists, in conjunction with researchers from Greece's Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR), have completed their second research cruise of 2005 to study the ocean's role...

New Report Reveals Effects of Climate Change on Puget Sound.
October 21, 2005... The Puget Sound Action Team (PSAT) recently announced the release of a new report, titled "Uncertain Future: Climate Change and Its Effects on Puget Sound," which reveals that "a warming climate has already profoundly altered the Puget Sound...

Weekly Update.
October 21, 2005... ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SUMMIT -- ENERGY POLICY & REGULATION: IMPLICATION FOR STRATEGY, FINANCE & INVESTMENT and GLOBAL WARMING POLICY & STRATEGY: PLANNING IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF UNCERTAINTY, November 1-4, 2005, Almas Temple, Washington,...

UQM Named to KLD Global Climate 100 Index.
October 24, 2005... Alternative energy technologies developer UQM Technologies, Inc. recently announced it has been named to the KLD Global Climate 100 Index. According to UQM, the index was created by independent investment research and index provider KLD...

EcoSecurities Launches Operations in Indonesia.
October 24, 2005... EcoSecurities, Ltd., an originator, developer and trader of carbon credit projects, recently announced it has commenced activities in Indonesia focusing on regional Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects. According to EcoSecurities,...

PA Governor Announces Efficiency Grants for Small Businesses.
October 24, 2005... Pennsylvania governor Edward Rendell awarded earlier this month 97 grants totaling $488,830 to help small businesses enhance energy efficiency or promote pollution prevention. "As energy prices continue to rise, we are looking at options...

LLNL Climatologist Wins DOE Distinguished Scientist Fellowship.
October 24, 2005... The Department of Energy's (DOE) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) recently announced that climate scientist Benjamin Santer, who has worked in the laboratory's Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison (PCMDI) for 13...

New Toyota Dealership to Seek LEED Certification.
October 25, 2005... Pat Lobb Toyota recently announced it will seek Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for its new dealership in McKinney, TX. According to the dealership, the facility, which is being designed by the Dallas...

Alcan Joins Pew's Business Environmental Leadership Council.
October 25, 2005... Alcan, Inc. recently announced it has joined the Pew Center on Global Climate Change's Business Environmental Leadership Council (BELC). According to Alcan, BELC, which is focused on formulating policy to help reduce greenhouse gas...

EcoSecurities Project Issued Tranche of CERs by CDM EB.
October 25, 2005... EcoSecurities, Ltd. recently announced that its La Esperanza hydroelectric plant in Honduras has been issued one of the world's first tranches of certified emissions reductions (CERs) by the Clean Development Mechanism Executive Board (CDM EB)....

DOE Issues New Appliance Efficiency Standards.
October 26, 2005... The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced publication in the Federal Register of a final rule to codify 15 energy efficiency standards for residential appliances and commercial equipment. According to DOE, the rule pertains to such...

LogicaCMG to Assist With Italian CO2 Reduction Efforts.
October 26, 2005... LogicaCMG recently announced that, together with partner E3 International, it has been selected to support the Italian government's national emissions registry for use under the European Union's (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). ...

Report Urges Nova Scotia to Ramp Up Energy Efficiency Efforts.
October 26, 2005... GPI Atlantic, an independent nonprofit research organization, recently announced the release of a new report which indicates that Nova Scotia's heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels is unsustainable and recommends "immediate action in the...

ENDESA Announces Plan to Purchase CO2 Emissions Rights.
October 27, 2005... ENDESA recently announced its plan to purchase 15 million carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rights through 2012 using the joint application clean development mechanisms in the Kyoto Protocol. According to ENDESA, the company will set up...

Finland to Buy CO2 Credits to Comply With Kyoto Goal.
October 27, 2005... Reuters reported earlier this month that Finland's minister of trade and industry Mauri Pekkarinen has revealed that the government will purchase enough carbon dioxide (CO2) emission credits to meet approximately 25 percent of the nation's CO2...

Group Criticizes Ford for Glossing Over CO2 Emission Increases.
October 27, 2005... Global Exchange, "a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world," recently lambasted Ford Motor Company's new "Report on Sustainability," asserting...

OECD Releases Environmental Review of Czech Republic.
October 28, 2005... The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently released a new report examining the Czech Republic's environmental performance. The organization said the "Environmental Review of the Czech Republic" reveals that...

DOE Awards Low-emission Engine Development Grant to Waukesha.
October 28, 2005... Waukesha Engine recently announced it has been awarded a $7.6-million grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) for a product development effort designed to improve engine efficiency and reduce emissions levels. According to Waukesha, the...

IEF Names 'Global Warming Today' Official Newsletter.
October 28, 2005... EIN Publishing is pleased to announce that the International Energy Foundation (IEF), "a nonprofit group of scientists, researchers, engineers and others from around the world working together," has selected our Global Warming Today and...

Weekly Update.
October 28, 2005... ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SUMMIT -- ENERGY POLICY & REGULATION: IMPLICATION FOR STRATEGY, FINANCE & INVESTMENT and GLOBAL WARMING POLICY & STRATEGY: PLANNING IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF UNCERTAINTY, November 1-4, 2005, Almas Temple, Washington,...

HTC Hydrogen Launches U.S. Commercial Marketing Operations.
October 31, 2005... HTC Hydrogen Technologies Corporation (HTC Purenergy) recently announced the launch of its commercial marketing operations in the U.S. HTC Purenergy has entered into a strategic alliance agreement with the Vista Energy Group, Inc., under...

Defra Joins Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Program.
October 31, 2005... The U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) recently announced it has joined the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Program -- an initiative piloted in 2003-04 designed to help large public and private sector organizations...

Canadian TV to Broadcast New Green Home Building Series.
October 31, 2005... C21Media.net recently reported that Canada's CBC Television has picked up a new six-part series, titled "Code Green Canada," in which a dozen homeowners will compete in modifying their residences to be more energy efficient, with the winning...