GMO-CARBON IN THE NEWS WEEK 40

EU carbon cost may force refiners to relocate, floor price expected to rise from starting price £16 to £30 by 2020.

LONDON: European Union plans to make oil refiners pay for carbon emissions from 2013 could accelerate European refinery closures and encourage them to relocate outside the EU to avoid higher operating costs that could run into millions of euros a year. The UK refining industry is seen as being at particular risk due to UK government plans for a carbon floor price that may be above the level set by the market. UK companies such as Ineos are worried they will be put at a competitive disadvantage. The UK government is planning to introduce the carbon price floor at 16 pounds ($25.09) a tonne from April 1, 2013, rising each year to 30 pounds a tonne in 2020. To read this article in full click here

EU Favors Continuation of Kyoto Protocol

NEW DELHI – Lending support to demands from developing countries for an extension of the Kyoto Protocol, the European Union Tuesday said it favored the continuation of the global pact that is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. "The Kyoto Protocol should be extended for some time, but I can't say what that sometime would be," E.U. Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik told a news conference. He didn't give any reason for the E.U.'s proposal for continuing with the pact. Mr. Potocnik's comments come ahead of the ministerial-level United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, scheduled for November in Durban. The Kyoto Protocol expires at the end of 2012 with no new treaty in the near horizon. Developing countries including India have demanded an extension of the Kyoto Protocol and are opposed to any legally binding emissions cut. An extension of the Kyoto Protocol would help fill the vacuum until a new agreement is in place. Several rich countries aren't in favor of extending the pact until the U.S. and China agree to binding emission cuts. The U.S. and China, two of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases, aren't signatories to the Kyoto Protocol. To read this article in full click here

Olympic attendees 'should offset carbon footprint'

The way in which people travel to the Olympics in London next year could help the event achieve its aim of being the most sustainable Games in history. Such is the opinion of Jonathon Porritt, London 2012 Sustainability Ambassador and Chairman of the BP Target Neutral Advisory and Assurance Panel, who says the emissions that will be produced by attendees getting to and from the athletics tournaments will "contribute pretty significantly" to its total carbon footprint. As a result, he is urging visitors to sign up to BP's not-for-profit Target Neutral carbon management scheme, which is aiming to set a world record for the greatest number of individuals offsetting the carbon emissions they produce through travelling to the same event. To read this article in full click here

China set to exceed carbon emission forecasts, figures show

China is on course to exceed forecasts for greenhouse gas emissions because its economy is growing faster than expected and becoming "locked in" to carbon-intensive activities, two studies warn this week. The reports cast new light on the enormity of the challenge faced by the world's biggest emitter, despite its impressive investments in renewable energy, clean technology and the efficiency of its power plants. Researchers from Climate Action Tracker praised China for a "major effort" to meet and possibly surpass its Cancún pledge to reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by 40-45% by 2020. To read this article in full click here

Cameron adds green insult to Osborne's low-carbon injury

So here's a green keyword count for the prime minister's speech today at the Conservative party conference: Green: 2. Climate: 0. Environment: 0. Carbon: 0. Both mentions of "green" were in passing. One was part of a wide-ranging blast by David Cameron at Labour's failings. The other - "green engineering" - also came as part of a list of technologies a new economy would be built on. It was quite simply an atrocious speech for the environment and for the hope that the government would use the economic crisis to invest in the green economy and put the UK on a sustainable long-term path. It's true, awful portent is only seen by taking into account the low carbon clanger dropped by Chancellor George Osborne on Monday. He didn't just ignore the opportunities of green growth, he actively spoke against them. To read this article in full click here

London 2012 Spectators Invited to set New Carbon Offset World Record

Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls lead call for ticketholders to neutralise their travel Carbon Footprint to the games. In supporting the ambition for London 2012 to be the most sustainable Games possible, BP Target Neutral announced today that they are inviting London 2012 ticketholders, from across the world, to try and set a new world record for the most number of people offsetting their travel carbon to a single event. In so doing, BP's not-for-profit Target Neutral carbon management scheme is seeking to create awareness of the environmental impact of all journeys and will invite ticketholders to sign up to have their travel carbon footprint offset at no cost to themselves. As the London 2012 official Carbon Offset Partner, BP Target Neutral will be providing the administration and funds to offset the carbon emissions from Games-related travel of ticketholders.  The more people that sign up, the more Target Neutral can support low carbon development projects worldwide.  To read this article in full click here