Business Edition
nr 107
July 17, 2008
Special:
To our readers
The next issue of the GreenPrices Weekly will be published on 31 July. Meanwhile, follow the news on our website.
EU Parliament Committee waters down biofuels 10% target
The European Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI) last week voted to scale down the Commission’s initial proposal of 10% renewable sources in transport by 2020 to 8-10%, with an intermediate target of 4% by 2015, and with only part of it made up by biofuels. Read
more
Background and reactions to ENVI Committee vote on biofuels
Last week the decision of the Environment Committee to slow down the Commission's 10% biofuel proposal, despite exceeding expectations of many stakeholders on both sides of the issue, did not come as a surprise. Read
more
'Biofuel policies have been costly and ineffective'
OECD countries have been applying costly and ineffective ways of supporting biofuels production. The support, estimated at 7 billion Euros in 2006, only achieved a 1% net greenhouse gas emissions reduction in transport, says a report from the OECD published yesterday. Read
more
Editorial: Efficiency AND Biofuels
Just before Brussels goes on holiday, the discussions about the sustainability of the transportation industry as a whole, and biofuels specifically, reached a new high this week. Some reports from the UK and the OECD gave more food for thought, while the debate in Parliamentary and Council's sub-committees are peaking. Read more
Shipping sector considers greenhouse gas standards
Slowly but gradually, the shipping industry tries to get rid of its grubby image. The International Maritime Organisation is presently discussing global standards for CO2 emissions from ships. But will they be in time to withstand pressure from the EU, demanding mandatory standards? Read more
Gallagher report: No moratorium on biofuels but slowdown targets
A report has called for the UK to delay by three years its target of requiring 5% of all fuels sold domestically to come from renewable sources by 2010. The report also proposes an EU-wide target for renewable transport fuels of between 5 and 8% for 2020, while it clearly rejects calls for a moratorium on biofuels. Read more
UK government might delay biofuels target
Following the Gallagher Review publication and according to its recommendations, the UK Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly has announced she ‘intends to consult formally on slowing down the rate of increase in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, taking the level to 5% by 2013/14’ instead of 2010 and subject to further confirmation in 2011/12. Read more
Gallagher’s biofuels review on food, deforestation and GHG reduction
The Gallagher review has brought some light on the three growing concerns about the role of biofuels that have led to serious questions concerning their sustainability: rising food prices, accelerating deforestation, and doubts about the greenhouse gas benefits. Read
more
The Sustatement
This month's Sustatement:
“The 10% EU target is required to establish a 100% sustainable biofuels market within ten years”
This week, our guest commenting on this statement is Wolfgang Richert, Bioenergy Policy Advisor for Greenpeace International. Read more
Rotterdam aims to be a 'CO2 hub' for Europe
With an updated report about the possibilities for Carbon Capture, transport and Storage (CCS) in the harbour area, the city of Rotterdam is aiming at developing a mature industrial activity in fifteen years. The report was presented to the Dutch government, asking for support. Read
more
G-8 agrees to halve emissions by 2050
The Group of Eight countries have agreed to adopt a global goal of at least 50% reduction of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, leaders did not agree on mid-term targets, and did not set a base year from which emissions would be cut. Read
more
Mixed reactions to G8 agreement
The G8 agreement reached at the Summit in Japan has generated mixed reactions among politicians and environmentalist groups. EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso welcomed the outcome while WWF said ‘G8 duck responsibility and fail to lead.’ Read
more
GreenPrices Market Monitor July 2008
This week: Prices of Guarantees of Origin (GoO) traded on a voluntary basis, actual prices and volumes of the Swedish Elcertificates, and additionally figures related to various national green certificates markets in Belgium, Italy, Poland and UK. Read
more
In Brief
- Norway and Sweden go ahead with green certificates plan
- MEP calls for EU support to accelerate CCS deployment
- 'Certificates for Carbon Capture and Storage'
- Carbon market value €38 billion in first half 2008
- Barroso: Developed countries can commit to 60 and 80% reductions by 2050
- EU Commission proposes new ‘greening transport’ package
- EU to reduce standby electricity consumption
- GE renewable investments surpasses the $4 billion mark
- EU Parliament votes in favour of including aviation in EU ETS
- Commission launches consultation for future Strategic Review
- NASA ocean maps to boost offshore wind
- New Environmental Performance Index launched
- EU launches consultation for biomass sustainability scheme
- EU pushes for environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient products
SPECIAL GP REPORT
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GreenPrices Newsdesk