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EU to dial back measures against global warming

Kyodo News InternationalMay 18, 2013 07:46
The European Union, which has spearheaded efforts to curb global warming, is set to adopt a change of focus in response to concerns over costs and the impact on companies in economically depressed Europe. Under the change, the European Uniln will prioritize the supply of energy at affordable prices over cutting greenhouse gas emissions which impose burdens on industries, in a turnaround of the region's energy policy, an EU official said Saturday.

EU says emissions down, but pollution scheme falters

Agence France-PresseMay 16, 2013 09:17
EU greenhouse gas emissions, blamed for global warming, dropped slightly last year but the much-vaunted system for cutting such pollution ran into even more trouble, the European Commission said on Thursday. It said that total carbon dioxide output from industrial installations covered by the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS) was down 2.0 percent in 2012, reflecting the economic slowdown. At the same time, a massive surplus of ETS pollution credits was building up, depressing prices.

Technology will be key to conquering climate change in long run, Harper says

The Canadian PressMay 16, 2013 05:00
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Global warming will only be brought under control by deep international collaboration and intense investment in technology — not yelling on street corners, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says. Harper was in New York all day Thursday, addressing an influential group of American academics at the Council on Foreign Relations and meeting separately with a tight-knit group of business leaders.

Harper heads to New York to face grilling on Canada's environmental record

The Canadian PressMay 15, 2013 15:00
OTTAWA - When Stephen Harper takes the stage at a leading U.S. think-tank on Thursday to talk about Canada's energy prospects, his pitch will more than likely mention that Canada is halfway towards meeting its greenhouse gas emissions target. The question on many American minds is: what will Canada do to make up the other half?

Better oil price needed for emissions controls to work: environment minister

The Canadian PressMay 12, 2013 13:30
OTTAWA - The ability of the oil and gas sector to absorb tough government controls on their greenhouse gas emissions depends on Canada getting a better price for its oil, Environment Minister Peter Kent says. The extra revenue would allow companies to invest heavily in leading-edge technology that would curtail pollution, he said in an interview from London. "What we have to do, one way or another, is get rid of the U.S. discount," Kent said. "That would certainly provide great latitude to invest in the technology....Keystone or not."

EU ministers urge July decision on carbon market: draft

May 8, 2013 15:02
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Governments and members of the European Parliament must decide on a plan to prop up the EU carbon market by July at the latest, a joint statement from nine energy and environment ministers, said. The statement, seen by Reuters, is expected to be published officially on Tuesday to coincide with discussions among members of the European Parliament on the European Commission plan.

Nations seek flexible climate approach, but no breakthrough in Bonn

May 8, 2013 14:38
By Environment Correspondent Alister Doyle BONN, Germany (Reuters) - New, more flexible ways to fight climate change were sketched out on Friday at the end of a week of talks between 160 nations, but there was no breakthrough in bridging a deep divide between China and the United States. The meeting of senior officials in Bonn, Germany, aired formulas to resolve disputes between rich and poor on sharing out the burden of curbing greenhouse gas emissions as part of a new U.N. deal, a successor to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

Merkel: some action needed on reforming CO2 trading

May 8, 2013 14:34
HAMBURG (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday economic growth assumptions behind the European Union's carbon permit trading system no longer applied and action should be taken about backloading supply in the market after September's election. The news of Merkel's first cautious backing for reform seeking to boost prices in the EU's flagship emissions trading system (ETS) sent carbon prices sharply higher, as traders interpreted it as likely support for the passing of the plan.

Minister-level climate talks end with pledge to fight global warming

Kyodo News InternationalMay 7, 2013 15:30
Ministers and representatives from 32 countries and the European Union wrapped up two days of talks in Berlin on Tuesday with a joint statement urging developed nations to take the lead in stopping global warming. The talks were aimed at laying the groundwork for the 19th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP19), to be held in Warsaw, Poland, in November.

EU lawmakers to vote on reform of 'polluter pays'

Agence France-PresseMay 7, 2013 09:00
EU lawmakers will vote again on controversial plans to make polluters pay more for the greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming, after narrowly rejecting the proposal last month, a top MEP said on Tuesday. The European Parliament's Environment Committee will issue a new report on June 19 on the plan to freeze pollution credits covering 900 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, committee head Matthias Groote said on his Twitter account. The "report will then be submitted to a vote in (parliament's) July plenary session," Groote added.
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