UKCCSC News 10 July 2009

Hi Folks,

I expect that everyone has heard about the meetings in Italy. As far as I can tell, there seems to have been both a G8 meeting and one of the Major Economies Forum, with different outcomes. The Major Economies Forum issued a communique, we’ll settle for the draft version published by the Guardian. It is conspicuously missing numbers, here’s a bit with one:

“We are establishing a Global Partnership to drive transformational low-carbon, climate-friendly technologies. We will dramatically increase and coordinate public sector investments in research, development, and demonstration of these technologies, with a view to doubling such investments by 2010…”

Twice not much isn’t much more.

https://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/09/climate-change-g8

The G8 went 1 step better and put some numbers in (Independent 10 Jul):

“We also support a goal of developed countries reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in aggregate by 80 per cent or more by 2050 compared to 1990 or more recent years”. The Inde italicised the last 4 words (actually they didn’t on the web but they said they did, heigh ho) and pointed out that they render the whole exercise meaningless.

https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/the-big-question-will-it-really-be-possible-to-meet–the-g8s-climate-change-targets-1740136.html

2) You may have had a e-mail from the Global CCS Institute (Australia Branch) with news of their Global Launch, with a typo in the key URL – the best laid plans of mice and men etc.

“A very public and strong statement of support was delivered by the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, at the international launch of the Global CCS Institute at the G8 meeting held in L’Aquila, Italy on 9 July”

https://www.globalccsinstitute.com/news/latest_news.html

Not a very sustainable-looking URL but it works for now.

Barack Obama’s personal endorsement is here:

https://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE5685U220090709

3) I found this about 30 minutes after sending the last News, oh well, better late than never? Not really CCS but useful anyway, DEFRA have published predictions of how the UK climate will change for the rest of the century.

https://ukclimateprojections.defra.gov.uk/

George Monbiot has a good article on the subject in the Guardian:

“And if Spain in 2080 looks like north Africa does today, what is north Africa going to look like? The Danakil depression? The seventh circle of hell?”

My memory said the 7th circle was cold, but I was mixing it up with the 9th circle. If only I’d had a public school education.

https://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2009/jun/18/monbiot-climate-impacts

4) “EU to offer China help in burying CO₂ emissions” Reuters (19 Jun)

“The European Union will start a consultation process on how finance and technology should be delivered to China and later India. This could be critical in securing their commitment to a new global deal on climate change at talks in Copenhagen in December.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLJ65010020090619

5) Perhaps Mr President should be trying to keep his own house in order instead of getting Australia to sort the mess out?

“Cap-and-trade mess” FT.com (Jun 28)

“The US House of Representatives has passed a bill to limit greenhouse gases. The White House lobbied hard for it: “A bold and necessary step,” said Barack Obama. Many hailed its passage as a triumph. In fact there is little to celebrate.”

https://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f9dbc260-6404-11de-a818-00144feabdc0,dwp_uuid=728a07a0-53bc-11db-8a2a-0000779e2340.html?nclick_check=1

6) Still in the Good ol’ US of A:

“China joins carbon tax protest” FT.com (3 Jul)

“Beijing on Friday joined a growing clamour of complaint about US plans for a carbon tax on imports from countries without their own emission caps, warning it could set off a global trade war.”

https://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/76f0e4b0-67fc-11de-848a-00144feabdc0,dwp_uuid=728a07a0-53bc-11db-8a2a-0000779e2340.html?nclick_check=1

7) Still in the USA, some of the American Recovery and Reinvestment cash is being committed to projects:

“Obama Administration’s Action Paves the Way for Hydrogen Energy’s Low-Carbon Power Plant in California with $308 Million of Funding” MarketWatch (Jul 1)

“Hydrogen Energy International has won $308 million of Department of Energy (DOE) funding for its Kern County, California, Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant which will capture and permanently store 90% of its carbon dioxide.”

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/obama-administrations-action-paves-the-way-for-hydrogen-energys-low-carbon-power-plant-in-california-with-308-million-of-funding

8) And there’s more:

“The department said Wednesday it will give $100 million to an existing coal-fired plant in North Dakota run by Basin Electric Power Cooperative” Trading Markets.com (July 1)

“The Basin Electric project would add capture and storage technology to a portion of an existing unit at the cooperative’s Antelope Valley plant, partnering with Powerspan and Burns & McDonnell.”

https://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2401320/

9) “Germany Delays Carbon-Storage Law” IndustrialInfo.com (Jul 1)

“The current coalition government has decided to put off any plans to introduce a carbon-storage law until after the general elections in September.”

https://www.industrialinfo.com/showAbstract.jsp?newsitemID=148121

10) Canada is also spending Big Bucks:

“…the Alberta government announced Tuesday that seven companies will divvy up $2 billion from the province of Alberta to fund three carbon capture and storage pilot projects.” The Canadian Press (30 Jun)

And the winners are (wait while I fumble open the golden envelope):

“Epcor, Enbridge, Shell Canada, Chevron Canada, Marathon Oil Sands, Enhance Energy and Northwest Upgrading”

https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hu3B_MReCwA106JvyPH9s1tXCE7A

11) More large sums:

“EU mulls €7 billion subsidy for carbon capture” EurActiv (30 Jun)

“The European Commission yesterday (29 June) estimated that up to €7 billion could be made available to fund carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology from the EU’s emissions trading scheme (EU ETS). Meanwhile, renewables projects would get around €5 billion.”

https://www.euractiv.com/en/climate-change/eu-mulls-7-subsidy-carbon-capture/article-183621

12) Sadly this month’s holiday offer is to the Big Smoke (or should that be Big Congestion Charge?):

The 3rd Annual European Carbon Capture & Storage Summit, 18 – 19 November 2009, London

https://www.cityandfinancial.com/conferences/index.asp?id=266

That’s all Folks

Mark