Business Edition
nr 92
March 20, 2008
Special:
EU biofuels criteria praised and criticised
This week stakeholders in the biofuels market again argued on the EU sustainability criteria for biofuels. A new report says that a new EU scheme could effectively monitor sustainability, however, NGOs don’t believe that certification will address issues such as local environmental threats, security of food supply and biodiversity. Read more
'Plenty of space for biofuels in Europe'
No major changes in land use or no major environmental consequences would be needed to reach the 10% EU biofuels target for 2020. This is one of the conclusions from a research project executed for the European Commission. Read more
Norway to join Sweden in common green certificates market
Norway is set to start talks with Nordic neighbour Sweden to join its green certificate scheme to promote investment in renewable energy. The terms of the cooperation, to be sent to the national parliaments, are expected to be ready by the summer. Implementation is expected by mid 2009. Read more
New guide to voluntary carbon offset standards
Amid the controversy surrounding the credibility of project-based carbon offset credits in the voluntary market, WWF and the Stockholm Environment Institute have released a report that discusses the pros and cons of this market. It compares - but not evaluates - the seven different voluntary offsets accreditation standards against the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) benchmark. Read more
Editorial: Carbon offset: can we make it simple?
To decide which carbon offset product to buy when trying to be environmentally responsible can put any buyer or seller in a tough situation, to say the least. The proliferation of more than 20 carbon offset standards in recent years makes it hard to non-experts to choose the right quality of carbon offset. Read more
$250 billion renewables market expected for 2017
A recent report by US clean-tech marketing research firm Clean Edge shows a 40 percent increase in revenue growth for solar photovoltaics, wind, biofuels, and fuel cells in 2007, up from $55 billion in 2006 to $77.3 billion in 2007. The study also notes revenues in these four key sustainable energy sectors will more than triple to $254.5 billion by 2017. Read more
Tight timetable for EU climate action package
Last week, EU leaders agreed to adopt a package of measures to fight global warming and promote green energy in December this year. However, disputes over how to achieve the targets persist. Meanwhile, at a summit between trade unions and EU authorities concerns about ‘carbon leakage’ emerged. Read more
Little progress in G20 climate talks
During a high-level meeting on climate change and clean energy last weekend, twenty of the largest greenhouse gas emitting countries did not yet come to an agreement on how to share the efforts for drastic emission reduction in the next decades. A proposal by chairman Japan for a new burden sharing methodology was received very mildly. Read more
In Brief
- McCain: US needs a cap-and-trade system
- UNEP: “Room to act is melting away”
- UK to miss renewable energy target
- RWE Innogy acquires 300 MW wind farm projects in Hungary
- Companies want government backing to expand Spain’s hydro capacity
- Environmental issues must be decided at EU level
- Brown: tax incentives for green products
- Large Vattenfall/Siemens windpower deal
- GE partners Invenergy for 250 MW wind projects in US
- Steelcase Inc. makes historic investment in wind power
Agenda Read more
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Rolf de Vos
Editor in chief
GreenPrices Newsdesk