Carbon in the News week 22 - by Green Market Opportunities

CARBON IN THE NEWS 

WEEK 22 2012

Global carbon market value rises to record $176 billion 

Carbon market trading rose 11 percent to a record value of $176 billion in 2011 as an increase in secondary trading volumes offset lower prices and slowing economies, the World Bank said on Wednesday. Companies and governments are turning to emissions trading as a tool for fighting climate change, with the European Union by far the most active since its cap-and-trade scheme began in 2005. A record number of emissions products were traded in 2011, even though prices of EU carbon permits and international offsets plumbed new depths well below $10 a tonne late in the year, the bank said in its annual report on carbon markets. Worldwide emissions trading last year rose 17 percent in volume to 10.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, with permits in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) accounting for more than three quarters of the total. The rise in volume lifted the value of the EU market to $148 billion from a revised $134 billion in 2010, even though average EU carbon prices fell 4 percent year on year to $18.80 a tonne. To read this article in full click here

EU CO2 prices to treble on supply cut

May 30 (Reuters Point Carbon) - European carbon prices could treble from current levels to average above 19 euros ($23.80) over the next eight years provided European governments cut supply of permits, according to a survey by consultants PwC. In its annual GHG Market Sentiment Survey, PwC found that 80 percent of respondents were in favor of cutting supply in a bit to boost carbon prices from under 7 euros to a level that encourages firms to invest in clean technology that cut emissions. Of those, two-thirds preferred EU regulators to cut supply by taking on a deeper 2020 emissions target rather than a one-off permanent withdrawal of allowances from the market. The 27-nation bloc is currently working towards reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20 percent below 1990 levels by the end of the decade, although some nations have called for a 30 percent cut. To read this article in full click here

China Pledge to Invest $27 Billion in Renewable Energy in 2012

In 2011 global carbon dioxide emissions rose to the highest level ever recorded. The increase was mainly driven by the world’s largest emitter of CO2, China, who experienced their own record increase of emissions due to the high use of coal. According to the IEA, the 9.3 percent that Chinese emissions increased by, offset the decreased emission levels achieved in the United States and Europe. In an attempt to reduce their carbon emissions and promote energy conservation, China has pledged to invest $27 billion in renewable energy projects throughout 2012. China already has invested huge amounts of capital in hydroelectricity projects, off shore wind farms, and solar power; in which the governments support has famously reduced the prices of Chinese solar cells to incredibly low levels. The Finance Ministry has said that some of the $27 billion will be used to promote energy saving products, develop more solar and wind installations, and perform more research into hybrid cars. To read this article in full click here

Green Apple: Data Center Going 100% Clean Power

Apple, the world’s most valuable company, also has a big ol’ carbon footprint, associated not least with its cloud-based services. Now the IT giant has announced that its main data center in Maiden, N.C., will  meet all 20 megawatts of the power it requires at full capacity with renewable energy. In a first for Apple, 60 percent of this power will be generated onsite, via what the company believes will be the nation’s largest private solar array and the largest non-utility fuel cell installation anywhere in the U.S. (These are, essentially, utility-scale installations for a private company, which is pretty much what’s required to take a significant bite out of the energy needs of a data center this big.) CNET reports that Apple’s biogas fuel cell installation is set for completion later this year. When the solar arrays and fuel cells are up and operating, according to Apple, its Maiden data center will be the most environmentally sound data center ever built. Apple has been targeted by Greenpeace in its  “Clean our Cloud” campaign. The data center will help to support  iCloud, Apple’s storage and sync service, which relies on data centers to store user data. To read this article in full click here

Carbon Trade Exchange: giving credit where it's due

Many of the hurdles involved in buying carbon credits have been removed by the platform, which has attracted 124 members. A new electronic exchange is opening up carbon credit trading – once the preserve of large, well-off multinationals – to businesses large and small, speeding the flow of funds to clean technology projects across the world. Since its launch in August 2010 the Carbon Trade Exchange (CTX) has attracted 124 members in 22 countries who have purchased 350,000 tonnes of carbon credits. The platform proved immediately attractive to members, achieving a 24% share of the voluntary carbon market within three months of launch. That's because it takes away some of the major hurdles – including lack of price transparency and assurance, high legal costs and other financial risks – that once faced any business looking to buy carbon credits. For smaller companies, the costs and complexities were just too high, blocking off a rich source of investment. The CTX – a software-based platform, using cloud computing and a new electronic trading interface – provides a bridge between project developers and potential investors and an end-to-end solution for buying and selling credits. To read this article in full click here

Will London's 2012 Summer Olympics Set New Green Records?

The Olympic torch has arrived in the U.K. and is now making its way to London for the 2012 Summer Olympics. This capital city is striving to keep its pledge to ensure that these Games will include social innovation and be the greenest games ever. A new progress report, 'Delivering Change' was released this April suggests the London planning committee is set to meet or to surpass most sustainability goals both for the Games and for post-Games operations at the Olympics site. Looking at the London 2012 social innovation and eco programme as a whole, there are five major highlights that demonstrate where it has set new standards for sustainability. They are: 1) The Olympic Park is said to be the most sustainable Olympic Stadium ever built. The Park is the largest new urban parkland in Europe for 150 years. 2) London 2012 is the first summer Olympic and Paralympics Games to measure its carbon footprint over the entire project. 3) Sustainable transport means nine million ticket holders will experience sustainable travel. Plus there are a million extra journeys by walking and cycling in London each day of the Games. 4) All the catering is signed up to the Food Vision standards and ready to serve 14 million sustainably sourced meals. Finally, 5) There is a commitment to delivering a zero waste to landfill Games. To read this article in full click here

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