Carbon Offsets Daily » Top Stories

World leaders gather to cut carbon emissions

admin — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 00:00:56 +0000

| Sourced From Marketplace.publicradio |

In Cancun, Mexico, leaders from all over the planet are gathered to try again on an agreement to cut carbon emissions. Many of those same leaders met a year ago with no success. There’s not much hope for this year, but negotiators do see some bright spots.

TEXT OF INTERVIEW

STEVE CHIOTAKIS: Today in Cancun, Mexico, leaders from all over the planet are gathered to try again on an agreement to cut carbon emissions. Many of those same leaders met a year ago with no success. There’s not much hope for this year, but negotiators do see some bright spots.

From the Sustainability Desk, Marketplace’s Eve Troeh is in Cancun for the conference, and she’s with us this morning. Good morning Eve.

EVE TROEH: Good morning.

CHIOTAKIS: Catch us up. Where did things leave off from Copenhagen last year?

TROEH: They left off with some dashed hopes. People really wanted to see a price set and a binding limit on carbon polution around the world. That didn’t happen. What we did see was a promise from wealthier, developed countries to give money to developing countries to help them out with climate change. They promised $30 billion by next year — and $100 billion by 2020. In Copenhagen we also saw world leaders sign a letter, saying waht they would do for climate change in their own countries. That’s not backed by a law, but it is something in writing. And that showed some progress.

CHIOTAKIS: So, where does Cancun pick up, Eve?

TROEH: No one here is even talking about catching that big fish, that would be the legally binding global agreement on carbon. Instead the goal is to sort of fill in details of those general commitments signed in Copenhagen last year. Like this money going from rich countries to poorer ones — how will the UN set up a fund for that, and who will run it? One expert I talked to yesterday called this a more normal climate conference, compared to last year. That might seem like a let down but we’re talking about a global deal on carbon. Which would essentially steer the entire world economy away from fossil fuels. So slow grinding change is just the reality on that for now.

CHIOTAKIS: Slow grinding. Alright, Marketplace’s Eve Troeh from Cancun. Eve, thank you.

TROEH: Thank you.

Interview – ONGC aims over dozen CDM projects by 2013

admin — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:00:04 +0000

Top oil producer Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) has identified more than a dozen projects to generate carbon offsets by 2013 as part of a drive to green its operations, a senior official said on Friday.

Continue Reading at MoneyControl

Interview: Exciting opportunities exist for U.S.-China carbon exchange collaboration

admin — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 16:00:35 +0000

CHICAGO, April 5 (Xinhua) — There are some very exciting opportunities for collaboration between the United States and China in carbon exchange, said a senior executive in Chicago Monday.

Richard L. Sandor is chairman and founder of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), the world’s first and North America’s only voluntary, legally binding greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system. Sandor is also chairman of the Chicago Climate Futures Exchange ( CCFE), the world’s leading futures exchange for environmental products.

Continue Reading at News.Xinhuanet

UPS and 12 other shippers offering carbon offsets

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:54:55 +0000

13 shipping companies offering carbon offsets:

1. uShip (Carbon Offsets from

17 Airlines, Airports and Airplane Ticketers that offer Carbon Offsets

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:18:14 +0000

1. Continental (Carbon Offsets from Sustainable Travel International) More…
2. Delta (Carbon Offsets from The Conservation Fund) More…
3. Virgin (Carbon Offsets from MyClimate) More…
4. Cathay Pacific (Carbon Offsets from ???) More…
5. SAS (Carbon Offsets from The Carbon Neutral Company) More…
6. Expedia (Carbon Offsets from TerraPass) More..
7. JetBlue (Carbon Offsets from Carbonfund) More…
8. Travelocity (Carbon Offsets from The Conservation Fund) More…
9. World Class Charters (Carbon Offsets from The Conservation Fund) More…
10. Virgin America (Carbon Offsets from Carbonfund.org) More…
11. Virgin Charter (Carbon Offsets from TerraPass)
12. Japan Airlines (Carbon Offsets from Carbon NeutralC ompany) More…
13. SFO Airport (Carbon Offsets from 3Degrees) More… Another…
14.United Airlines (Carbon Offsets from STI) More…
15. Avantair (Carbon Offsets from TerraPass) More…
16. Jet Republic (Carbon Offsets from ClimateCare, a division of JP Morgan) More…
17. SWISS (Carbon Offsets from Myclimate)

Credibility of project-based offsetting in tatters

Jane — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:35:30 +0000

Over the weekend there was news that a company called SGS was suspended by the United Nations from its role as an auditor of carbon offset projects. SGS had been appointed by the UN to check that offsetting projects were being set up properly and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The UN did a spot check and found a number of discrepancies at the company. It’s not the first time this has happened – a similar company called DNV was suspended last year for failing to carry out its job properly. These companies play a vital role in the formal carbon offsetting system – they provide the assurance that projects actually exist and are delivering environmental benefits. In such a complex market this type of assurance is crucial – otherwise buyers’ money can disappear into the network of middle men, consultants and brokers.

While the system can be tightened up to some extent, the concept of funding environmental projects by selling carbon credits is tricky because it depends on a complex network of intermediaries and advisers. In the best scenario, this network carries a heavy administrative burden. In the worst scenario, parts of the network can fail to do their job or even act fraudulently.

Fortunately, there are better ways to approach carbon offsetting. Retirement of EU Emission Allowances does not rely on project consultants and auditors – it simply reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that can be released by European industry. It creates long-term behavioural change and ultimately reduces our dependence on fossil fuels, moving us more swiftly to a low carbon economy. It won’t solve climate change alone, but making sure your money does something worthwhile and your business isn’t exposed to the risk of this sort of controversy is a good place to start.

Read the full Sunday Times article

Posted by Jane Burston, Director at Carbon Retirement

About Carbon Retirement

Carbon Retirement works by removing pollution permits from Europes emission trading scheme, which cuts the volume of carbon dioxide European industry can emit. This forces investment in low carbon technology and provides a reliable alternative to carbon offsetting. For more information, visit CarbonRetirement.com.

71 Brands using Carbon Offsets

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:42:52 +0000

71 of the top brands using carbon offsets in the industries of Airlines, Auto, Bottled Water, Consumer Products, Credit Card, Energy, Events, Facebook, Fashion, Online Retail, Publications, Shipping, Shopping Malls, Travel

Airlines

Continental (Carbon Offsets from Sustainable Travel International) More…
Delta (Carbon Offsets from The Conservation Fund) More…
Virgin (Carbon Offsets from MyClimate) More…
Cathay Pacific (Carbon Offsets from ???) More…
SAS (Carbon Offsets from The Carbon Neutral Company) More…
Expedia (Carbon Offsets from TerraPass) More..
JetBlue (Carbon Offsets from Carbonfund) More…
Travelocity (Carbon Offsets from The Conservation Fund) More…
World Class Charters (Carbon Offsets from The Conservation Fund) More…
Virgin America (Carbon Offsets from Carbonfund.org) More…
Virgin Charter (Carbon Offsets from TerraPass)
Japan Airlines (Carbon Offsets from CarbonNeutralCompany) More…
SFO Airport (Carbon Offsets from 3Degrees) More…
United Airlines (Carbon Offsets from STI) More…
Avantair (Carbon Offsets from TerraPass) More…
Jet Republic (Carbon Offsets from ClimateCare, a division of JP Morgan) More…

Auto

Enterprise (Carbon Offsets from TerraPass) More…
National Car Rental (Carbon Offsets from TerraPass) More…
Alamo Rental Car (Carbon Offsets from TerraPass) More…
Allstate (Carbon Offsets from Carbonfund.org) More…
Volkswagen (Carbon Offsets from Carbonfund.org) More…
Land Rover Portland (Carbon Offsets from The Conservation Fund) More…
VroomVroomVroom (Carbon Offsets from The CarbonNeutral Company) More…
Land Rover (Carbon Offsets from ClimateCare) More…
Jaguar (Carbon Offsets from ClimateCare) More…
Greyhound Australia (Carbon Offsets from Cleaner Climate) More…
Europcar lists CO2 emissions (Carbon Offsets from Climate Care) More…

Bottled Water

Figi (Carbon Offsets from Conservation International / ICF International) More…

Consumer Products

Biolage (Carbon Offsets from The Conservation Fund) More…
The North Face (Carbon Offsets from The Conservation Fund) More…
Parducci – 1st U.S. Carbon Neutral Winery (Carbon Offsets from 3 Phases Energy Services Bonneville Environmental Foundation Native Energy) More…
Grove Mill – Winery More…
Domino CarbonFreeÂ

UPDATE: Model Application Materials for RGGI Offsets Now Available Online

admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:02:12 +0000

| Sourced From RGGI.Org |

Australia delays carbon trading scheme by a year

admin — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:43:29 +0000

| Sourced From BusinessGreen.com |

The Australian government yesterday risked the ire of environmental and carbon trading groups with the announcement that it is to delay its high-profile emissions cap-and-trade scheme by a year as a result of the recession.

Prime minister Kevin Rudd said that following intense lobbying from business leaders, the scheme, which was due to launch in July 2010, would now not come into effect until July 2011.

“The worst global recession since the great depression means we must adapt our climate change measures but not abandon them,” he said.

He added that the government would also move to provide businesses with greater clarity around the costs of carbon trading by announcing a fixed price for carbon permits during the first year of the scheme of A$10 (

CDM achievements far outweigh difficulties and flaws

admin — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:32:21 +0000

| Sourced From EngineeringNews.co.za |

A panel of climate experts, economists, and government officials have noted the difficulties, and discussed ways on how to increase participation by developing countries in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

At a three-day United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (Unctad) meeting in Geneva at the end of April, delegates concluded that the CDM’s achievements in its four years of existence far outweighed its difficulties and flaws.

Unctad has further been asked to assist in streamlining further investments under the CDM and to support developing countries in developing nationally appropriate mitigation actions that include innovative policy approaches related to reduced deforestation, clean energy production and use, and clean transportation options.

South Africa, through the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism in particular, has established a long-term mitigation scenario with regard to climate change. This would inform South Africas legally binding climate change policy going forward.

Unctad was also invited to join efforts with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, Risoe Centre, and the World Bank to boost emission reduction projects in a greater number of developing economies.

Among the issues discussed at the meeting were the state of play of the current negotiations on a climate deal for the post-2012 period (when commitments of the Kyoto Protocol would expire), scenarios for the future carbon market with the participation of the European Union and the US, and the challenges developing countries faced in benefiting from the CDM.

The CDM is an international programme designed to create a market system for reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

The CDM allows industrialised countries, which have emissions-reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol, to achieve these reductions through individual projects in developing economies.

Investments to generate these reductions are compensated with certified emission reductions units (CERs – denominated in units of one ton of carbon dioxide – CO2).

Currently, ten developing countries account for 85% of all CDM projects. The hope was that numerous developing countries would be able to benefit from CDM, which could attract funding for projects such as industrial energy efficiency, methane capturing from urban landfills, low emission transportation modes, and reforestation.

Unctad said that the CDM has successfully created a vigorous carbon market for developing and developed countries alike.

In four years, by April 2009, the CDM had issued CERs amounting to 277-million tons of CO2, generating

China carbon credits a boon amid market slump: Camco

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:56:32 +0000

| Sourced From Reuters |

BEIJING (Reuters) – China should be praised for its lead role in a U.N.-backed scheme to cut carbon emissions and efforts to cap its flow of credits should be resisted, a leading British-based clean-energy project development firm said.

Continue Reading on Reuters

New Report Sheds Light on Corporate Attitudes Toward Forestry Carbon Offsets

admin — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:52:52 +0000

| Sourced From GreenBiz.com |

OXFORD, U.K. and OAKLAND, Calif. — A new study released today from EcoSecurities, Conservation International, the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance, and ClimateBiz.com analyzes the perceptions and expectations driving corporate decisions to buy forestry carbon offsets.

The study, “The Forest Carbon Offsetting Survey 2009,” sampled 120 corporations and 21 carbon market companies about their attitudes toward carbon offsets from forestry projects. The findings reveal the types of forestry projects and standards considered most desirable, as well as regional differences in perception of forestry carbon offsets.
forestry report cover

Buyers, for example, overwhelmingly consider avoided deforestation and reforestation projects as the most worthy, while those outside Europe are more likely to view forestry carbon offsets favorably.

The study, one of the first to explore corporate attitudes toward forestry carbon offsets, comes at a time of increasing debate on the sector’s role in addressing climate change Post-Kyoto. Deforestation is responsible for roughly a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions.

“With the U.S. significantly increasing its focus on climate change and the U.N. COP15 negotiations taking place at end of 2009, this is an extremely important year for forestry,” Pedro Moura Costa, EcoSecurities president, upon the release of the study. “It’s tremendously encouraging to see that companies are starting to recognize the benefits from forestry projects, not only in terms of the robustness of the carbon offsets, but also in creating sustainable co-benefits and helping to reduce the problem of climate change and deforestation.”

Offset buyers in the study — roughly 90 percent — view avoided deforestation and native tree reforestation projects as the most desirable of all forestry projects, followed closely by agroforestry and peatland conservation, with 81 percent and 75 percent, respectively. In comparison, only 40 percent see commercial tree planting as an attractive forestry project.

The most important factor companies considered when buying forestry carbon offsets was the type of standard used, with the Voluntary Carbon Standard and Clean Development Mechanism being the most recognized and most desirable for more than half of respondents. Yet there remains a gap in knowledge of standard type; between 40 percent and 60 percent admitted they just don’t know enough about other standards. Buyers also prized the experience and reputation of the project developer and the co-benefits created by forestry projects, such as impacts on local communities and ecosystems.

Approval of forestry carbon offsets, however, is not universal. The survey shows a difference in attitudes by region: Companies outside of Europe are more likely to view forestry carbon offsets in a positive light, which may be explained in part by the exclusion of forestry offsets from the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).

The partners behind the report will hold two webinars on the results.

Report warns EU carbon market will be long through to 2012

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:33:15 +0000

| Sourced From BusinessGreen.com |

Falling industrial output means the EU emissions trading scheme will face an oversupply of emissions allowances (EUAs) during the current phase of the market, which runs from 2008 to 2012, according to new research from Barclays Capital.

The price of EUAs has rallied to about

GreenWorld Launches ShopGreen

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:45:07 +0000

Free Web Application Helps US-Based Online Retailers and their Customers ‘Go Green’

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 15, 2009 — GreenWorld, a start-up dedicated to providing the best carbon offset applications on the web, today announced the launch of ShopGreen

Qatar Airways Teams Up With IATA For Global Initiative Carbon Offset Trading Scheme

admin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:07:43 +0000

| Sourced From FinChannel.com |

The FINANCIAL — Qatar Airways has signed a ground-breaking agreement with aviation industry body IATA to spearhead a truly global carbon offset trading scheme designed to help fund global environmental projects.

Under the revolutionary programme, when passengers book their tickets, they can choose to pay a little extra to offset the carbon footprint for the particular flight being taken, with proceeds going towards international programmes recognised by non-government organisations.

“The IATA system calculates the carbon footprint for different flight sectors and passengers are able to select which of the many programmes to support with the extra they contribute,” Qatar Airways reported.

A number of international community projects in developing nations will benefit from the programme, which is yet another committed move by Qatar Airways as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the carbon offset trading scheme was a further step by the airline to forge ahead with an environmentally-friendly programme.

States Initiate Bidding Process for Fourth RGGI CO2 Allowance Auction

admin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:08:21 +0000

| Sourced From RGGI.Org |

For Immediate Release Contact:Emilee Pierce
April 13, 2009 212-417-3179

Worlds First Carbon Capture Plant to Begin Operations

admin — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:10:18 +0000

| Sourced From EcoWorldly.com |

At a power plant at Lacq, energy company Total has upgraded an existing gas-fired boiler with CCS technology

Japan power firms make scant progress with CO2 cuts

admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:56:09 +0000

| Sourced From Reuters |

TOKYO, April 10 (Reuters) – Japan’s electric power companies made little progress in producing low-carbon electricity and lowering emissions in the past year, industry data showed on Friday, mostly due to an outage at a nuclear power plant.

Continue Reading on Reuters

Rental Car Group Signs Up 175,000 Customers for Carbon Offsets

admin — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:45:32 +0000

| Sourced From Environmental Leader |

More than 175,000 rental car customers have participated in a carbon offset program offered by Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental, all owned by the Taylor family of St. Louis, since the programs launch in 2007.

Continue reading on Environmental Leader

Airlines call on UN to impose carbon caps

admin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:05:48 +0000

| Sourced From Business Green |

BA, Cathay Pacific, Air France/KLM and Virgin Atlantic to present UN with proposals for global aviation cap-and-trade scheme

They might be regarded as environmental pariahs by many green groups, but four of the world’s largest airlines will today call on governments to impose demanding carbon caps on their industry as part of any post-Kyoto deal.

The Aviation Global Deal group, which includes British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Air France/KLM and Virgin Atlantic, as well as airport operator BAA and NGO The Climate Group, will present a draft policy framework to negotiators at the close of the UN climate change talks in Bonn, Germany, calling for an ” ambitious, equitable and effective” regime of emission caps.

The proposals call for a global cap-and-trade scheme for the industry that avoids a “patchwork of regional initiatives” and provides clear incentives for airlines to cut carbon emissions.

It also recommends that airlines’ CO2 emissions are calculated on the carbon content of its annual fuel purchases in order to incentivise the development of new low carbon fuels such as biofuels, and calls for the revenue raised through the scheme to be earmarked for investment in climate change adaptation and mitigation schemes and green aviation R&D.

Mark Kenber, policy director at The Climate Group, hailed the move as “a significant step forward” that proved that leading aviation players had ” constructive ideas about how to transition to a low carbon economy”.

The presentation of the policy framework comes just days after the Air Transport Action Group, which includes the world’s leading airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, airports and air traffic control organisations, closed its annual summit in Switzerland with the release of a communiqué also calling on the UN to develop a global approach to cutting aviation emissions.

“Delegates urged governments to take a global sectoral approach for aviation rather than the current patchwork of national and regional emissions management schemes,” said Paul Steele, executive director of the Air Transport Action Group. “Such schemes are generally ineffective in reducing emissions, are complicated for a global industry to administer and could lead to competitive distortion.”

The communiqué also called for an industry wide push for greater use of biofuels, and set the industry a target to develop to sustainability criteria for biofuels by the end of the year that would ensure that “any biofuel feedstock supplying the industry did not compete for land or water with food crops”.

It was issued at the end of a summit that saw a deal finalised that will see fuel saving continuous descent approach procedures implemented at 100 European airports by 2013, saving an estimated half a million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. It was followed by the launch of a global project to implement satellite-controlled Performance Based Navigation (PBN) that should result in further significant emissions cuts through the wider optimisation of routes.

Too many enterprises in denial about carbon management

admin — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:32:31 +0000

| Sourced From Express Computer |

A high proportion of IT professionals responsible for

World largest hydropower CDM project launched in Gansu

admin — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:30:10 +0000

| Sourced From iStockAnalyst.com |

Apr. 1, 2009 (Xinhua News Agency) — World largest hydropower CDM project launched in Gansu
Bingling Hydropower Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project, the world’s largest hydropower CDM project, has been launched in Northwest China’s Gansu province.

Bingling Hydropower station has a total installed capacity of 240 megawatts and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 760,000 tons per year.

It is the first hydropower station invested by Gansu Power Investment Bingling Hydropower Development Co., Ltd in Gansu’s section of the Yellow River, It was kicked off in June 2005. In May 2008, the Certified Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement was signed with Enel, the National Power Company of Italy.

In February 2009, Bingling Hydropower CDM successfully finished registration in the Executive Council of CDM projects of the UN.

Rich urged to make deeper CO2 cuts

admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:58:31 +0000

| Sourced From Reuters |

BONN, Germany (Reuters) – China, India and other developing nations joined forces on Wednesday to urge rich countries to make far deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions than planned by 2020 to slow global warming.

Continue Reading on Reuters

China passes 500 mark for U.N. clean energy projects

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:07:54 +0000

| Sourced From Reuters |

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – China, the world’s top greenhouse gas polluter, has passed a milestone in the number of U.N.-backed clean energy projects, with the world body approving more than 500 such schemes so far.

Continue Reading on Reuters

2010 Games officials eye global warming costs

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:52:44 +0000

| Sourced From Reuters |

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) – Organizers of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games said on Monday they are confident they can find sponsors to help with the estimated C$4.5 million ($3.6 million) cost of keeping the event from adding to global warming.

Continue Reading on Reuters