– The day’s top climate change stories as chosen by RTCC
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Latest news: Tuesday 2 October
Last updated: 1720
UK: Supermarket chain Asda has announced it will expand its online Sustain and Save Exchange programme after the scheme provided solution which saved the company £13 million over the past year. (E2B Pulse)
Canada: California is on track to link its forthcoming emissions trading scheme to Quebec’s in 2013, pushing the state one step closer to its goal of connecting to a wider carbon market. California is already in talks to link up with the North American Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a dozen Chinese provinces and Australia (Reuters Point Carbon)
Poland: Environment group ClientEarth have said they may again move to block the construction of a $3.7 billion coal-fired power plant by Polish utility PGE. (Reuters)
UK: The government’s flagship Green Deal scheme had its soft launch yesterday but so far only has two approved providers – well short of the 50 plus said to be needed to make the scheme work.
HMG’s flagship #GreenDeal scheme launched today w/ 2 approved providers, far short of the 50+ providers thought needed to make scheme work.
— Kat Watts (@watts_kat) October 2, 2012
UNFCCC: Analysts have cut their price forecasts for carbon permits to 2020 further this week as over-supply continues to put pressure on prices. The certified emissions reductions (CERs) have lost more than 70% of their value over the past year. (Reuters)
RTCC: #ForestWeek continues today, with some more great reports from our partners at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). Today we focus on how to unite climate change mitigation and adaptation with a case study from the Congo Basin and bring you an update on REDD+ and some of the challenges the scheme has faced to date.
Brazil: Major emerging economies’ obligations to cut emissions under a climate change agreement should not be the same as those of rich countries, Brazil’s chief negotiator has said. Ambassador Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado said the country is committed to working towards a global pact to cut emissions but that the agreement should adhere to the UN’s principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.” (Reuters)
UNFCCC: UN climate chief Christiana Figueres said she expects good progress in the next round of climate talks in Doha, in November, but that efforts still fall short on what is needed to keep global temperature rises below 2°C. (Gulf Times)
Speaking in the US, she also said she is optimistic that scepticism of scientific views on global warming is beginning to wane in the country. (The Hill)
Caribbean: Member states of the UNFCCC must pay attention to the devastating effects of climate change on the world’s most vulnerable countries, Caribbean ministers have said. Speaking at the 67th Assembly’s General Debate, they said greater international cooperation is needed to achieve a climate agreement. (UN News Centre)
Australia: The Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half of its coral cover over the last three decades, according to new research. The new study found population explosion of coral-eating starfish, storms and rising sea temperatures were to blame for the rapid decline. (Guardian)
Saudi Arabia: In the ongoing battle over the inclusion of aviation in the European Union ETS, Saudi Arabia is said to have ordered its national airline not to comply. (Bloomberg)
Renewables: Turning air into liquid could be the solution on how to store ‘wrong time’ energy. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers says liquid air can compete with batteries and hydrogen as a way to store the excess energy generation from renewables. (BBC)