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USA: John Kerry has used his first major address as secretary of state on Wednesday to make an urgent call for comprehensive action on climate change. Kerry made no mention of the Keystone XL pipeline – the State Department will soon decide the $7-billion project’s future shortly (CBC)
Kerry was speaking at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville (PIC: State Dept)
China: Beijing has announced it will establish a carbon tax by adding CO2 to the scope of existing environmental levies. A statement published on the Ministry of Finance’s website detailed a series of tax reforms in the country. (RTCC)
Moscow: G20 Finance Ministers have commited to report on progress made to rationalize and phase-out, over the medium-term, inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption, while providing targeted support for the poorest. (G20)
USA: Renewable energy accounted for all new electric capacity added in the United States last month, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.Of the 1,231 megawatts of new generating capacity installed in January, wind provided 958 megawatts, solar chipped in 267 megawatts and biomass contributed 6 megawatts. (The Hill)
USA: President Barack Obama intends to nominate air quality expert Gina McCarthy to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and nuclear physicist Ernest Moniz to head the Department of Energy as early as this week (Point Carbon)
Poland: Environment minister Marcin Korolec says the EU carbon market needs a revamp “factoring in” the impact of cheap U.S. gas and the prospect of a US-EU free trade zone. (Point Carbon)
Estonia: The tiny Baltic country has become what is thought to be the world’s first country to launch a nationwide fast-charging network for electric vehicles. (BusinessGreen)