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EU: The Irish Presidency of the EU has said it will target a quick resolution to the looming debate on how to fix Europe’s carbon market. Irish Environment Minister Phil Hogan will seek a “first reading agreement” on proposals to withhold 900m carbon credits from trading to stifle supply and lift the price of emitting a ton of carbon. (European Parliament)
Science: The next Landsat satellites were launched yesterday to continue a now 40 year long continuous record of the earth. Landsat’s images are used to monitor changes on the earth’s surface including ice coverage, the growth of cities and the health of forests. (BBC)
The edge of the Vatnajökull ice cap in Iceland, Europe’s largest, as seen by Landsat. (Source: Flickr/EuclidvanderKroew)
UK: French utility firm EDF has asked the UK government to underwrite the costs of building new nuclear power stations. The government promised not to subsidise nuclear power and claims it is doing so, despite a complex scheme to guarantee a minimum price per unit of electricity. The new request, if fulfilled, could make the “no subsidy” claims harder to stand-by. (Financial Times)
China: The People’s Daily has joined the government in calling for less waste and more efficiency in China by promoting more sustainable consumption. “The pursuit of a decent life should not turn into an unscrupulous indulging in material satisfaction,” read an editorial in the paper. (Xinhua)
EU: Failure to fix the EU carbon market, which hit a record low of €2.81 last month could discourage action from other countries considering establishing similar schemes, according to negotiators involved in the UN climate change talks. (Point Carbon, subscription required)
Global: Wind power expanded by more than 20% last year with the US and China the leading installers of new turbines, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. The US witnessed a surge in installations in December as the threatened closure of a tax break loomed. It was eventually renewed. (GWEC)
Australia: Climate scientists in Australia have claimed that attacks on them by climate sceptics have decreased notably since the country passed its carbon tax laws. The attacks during the debate on the bill were described as unprecedented. (Sydney Morning Herald)