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WASHINGTON — In what appears to be a boost for the renewable fuels industry and the campaign for green jobs, EPA administrator Lisa Jackson Feb. 3 finalized the rule for the National Renewable Fuel Standard program, saying that the agency has concluded corn-based ethanol is a low-carbon fuel that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 21 percent compared with the gasoline it will displace.Renewable fuels have to reduce emissions by 20 percent to meet EPA’s standards.Some environmentalists had charged that corn-based ethanol uses more energy than it produces and would cause environmental harm through the shift of land in other countries to food and feed production.

via New biofuels strategy unveiled.

The three projects, which will consist of photovoltaic ground-mounted solar panel power systems, will generate a combined peak output of 50 megawatts of DC power. Two of the projects will be located in the state's Kern County, while the third station will be built in San Bernardino County.

The projects will begin construction in 2012 and are currently slated to be completed by early 2013.

via California power provider to purchase 100 percent of power from new solar energy facilities | Cooler Planet News.

“Wherever we do make projections of the future, we provide a range, and that range is something that is totally defensible,” he said.

However, he admitted that, “it’s not as though we have gone through everything for a second time to apply a fine-tooth comb and see whether there are any other errors. There are others who are now working overtime on that kind of job.”

Mr Pachauri declined to name anyone behind the concerted attack on the IPCC, saying it was probably backed by powerful corporate interests determined to thwart concerted action against global warming.

via FT.com / World – Embattled UN climate boss defends record.

The 14th AU Summit unanimously nominated again Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to represent Africa in international fora in the coming consecutive global climate conferences.

The Summit commended the leading role of PM Meles at Copenhagen Climate Conference where there was hard time to negotiate with many stakeholders.

PM Meles presented a report on the negotiation and outcome of the Copenhagen Climate Conference to the AU Summit on Monday.

via Ethiopia – AU nominates Meles as AU Chief Negotiator at global climate conferences.

The UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s letter to the chair of the UK Parliament’s Liaison Committee, Dr Alan Williams MP.

Dear Alan,

Ahead of my appearance at the Committee on Tuesday I thought I would write to set out my reflections on the way forward for international action on climate change following the Copenhagen conference last month.

Over the next few weeks the initial phase of the Copenhagen Accord will be completed. If those countries which agreed the Accord in Copenhagen inscribe into it the commitments they made in the run-up to the conference – and I believe it is very much in the global interest that they should do so – the international community will have taken the first steps towards an historic transformation in the trajectory of global emissions. For the first time, the world will see, collected together, strong mitigation commitments by countries representing more than 80% of global emissions.

If those commitments are then implemented to their maximum potential, they could lead to emissions peaking by around 2020 or before, representing the crucial first step towards the level of reductions required to hold global temperature increases to under 2 degrees. We will still have to do more – and we must review this in 2015 as the Accord states. But these commitments will nevertheless represent a turning point in the global battle to combat climate change.

It is important that the European Union maintains its commitment to move to a 30 per cent reduction in emissions if others are also ambitious. I believe it is strongly in the Ell’s economic interest to incentivise low carbon energy and technology investment through this goal. I am pleased that others such as Japan and Australia have maintained their ambitious targets and plans as well. So in the coming period I propose a dialogue among those developed countries whose final ambition level is still to be determined to ensure that together we make the greatest possible emissions reductions.

The Copenhagen Accord represents important progress. Agreed by a wide and representative group of countries and supported by many others, the Accord sets out significant advances, including on the commitment to two degrees, on finance, and on measurement, reporting and verification. It is a valuable basis on which to build further international co-operation, and I welcome the fact that many countries who were not directly involved in its negotiation are now associating themselves with it.

Yet at the same time we must all learn the lessons of the Copenhagen conference. The process up to and at Copenhagen was clearly flawed. We all need to work to ensure that the UNFCCC is an institution that can bear the huge expectations we are putting on it. I am conscious in particular of the need to find new ways of working that build trust among all parties, and that recognise in particular the views and circumstances of smaller and more vulnerable countries. The UN Framework Convention remains the vehicle for an agreement, and commitment to the Accord is a tool for achieving that, not an alternative to it.

But we must recognise too that climate change will not wait for such agreement – which will take time to negotiate and more time to enter into force. Every year of delay means a greater build-up of greenhouse gases, and more acute impacts on the most vulnerable.

Every year of delay raises the cost of acting. So following Copenhagen I believe there are now two urgent tasks. We must all accelerate action to tackle climate change; and we must drive forward the Long-Term Cooperative Action and Kyoto Protocol negotiating tracks to a UN agreement at COP16 in Mexico. The British Government’s end goal remains a legally binding outcome.

The Copenhagen Accord allows us to get on with the critical business of tackling climate change in each of our countries. In the UK we published our comprehensive Low Carbon Transition Plan last year and are now implementing this right across the economy. Through a major expansion of renewable and nuclear energy and the deployment of carbon capture and storage, by increasing energy efficiency in homes and businesses, by developing a new smart grid and decarbonising transport, the UK is on course to the 34% reduction in emissions by 2020 and 80% by 2050 that are now embodied in UK law and in the ‘carbon budgets’ of every government department.

As all countries implement their own domestic plans, the global opportunities for green growth will be enormous. Low carbon policy will create demand for low carbon technologies, creating jobs and business opportunities, reducing costs and stimulating innovation. Already a $3 trillion global market, I am convinced that the benefits will flow not just to developed economies but to emerging and developing ones as well.

Second, to enable this investment and growth to be shared among all countries, we must get the Fast Start Finance agreed in the Copenhagen Accord flowing as soon as possible through existing channels. Finance is needed urgently for mitigation, adaptation, technology development and transfer and capacity-building. The UK is currently working with other donors to ensure this. But we need also to begin a dialogue between developed and developing countries on how climate finance will be governed in the future. We must move forward swiftly on the architecture, including the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund, based on the principles of equity and effectiveness agreed in the Accord.

The need for immediate action is particularly important in forest protection, where Copenhagen saw the emergence of new partnerships between developing and developed countries. I very much welcome the initiative taken by France and Norway with rainforest countries to move forward the REDD+ discussions. We cannot afford to delay in implementing the far-reaching commitments on reducing deforestation which many countries have made, and to utilising the finance which has been committed.

The same is true in the field of adaptation. Copenhagen reinforced the urgent need for the poorest and most vulnerable countries to be assisted now in developing and implementing climate-resilient development plans. We must use the fast start funding to do this.

Third, we need to set up a High Level Panel to examine long-term funding sources, including new and additional public finance, private finance and carbon markets. Fast start funding is important but it is only a start. We need to begin now the process of ensuring a trajectory from 2013 towards the 2020 goal agreed in the Accord of $100bn pa in finance flows to developing countries.

Fourth, we must agree together and then start to implement the details of the transparency architecture agreed in the Accord, including new inventories, reporting, and the processes of international consultation and analysis. I will be discussing with our partners in Europe how we can assist in these processes.

Finally, we must increase co-operation between governments and with industry on the development and deployment of low carbon technologies. Affordable technologies are particularly vital to enable developing countries to pursue the economic growth required to lift their people out of poverty while respecting the ecological limits of the planet.

Building on the valuable collaboration established over the last year we must move forward urgently on the Technology Mechanism agreed by the Accord.

At the same time as we get on in these ways with taking immediate action to combat climate change, we must also re-establish the negotiations towards COP16 in Cancun at the end of this year. To this end the UK will do all we can to support Denmark’s and Mexico’s roles as Presidents of COP15 and COP16 and in establishing trust between all the parties. We look forward particularly to the ministerial meeting proposed by Chancellor Merkel.

In the longer term I believe there is widespread recognition that we need to strengthen the negotiation processes and institutional machinery of the United Nations, and we look forward to discussing how this might be done with other parties.

Let me assure you of the British Government’s unstinting commitment both at home and internationally as we embark on this vital year in the global battle to tackle climate change.
I am placing copies of this letter in the Libraries of the House.

Yours sincerely

Gordon Brown

ADDIS ABABA, 1 FEBRUARY 2010—The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) today urged African leaders attending the 14th Ordinary Summit of the Africa Union to reject the Copenhagen Climate Change Accord, or at best adopt a wait-and-see attitude, noting that both the conduct and outcome of the summit were unacceptable.

In a Statement released at a civil society Forum at an Addis Ababa Hotel, PACJA acknowledged, appreciated and conveyed support to African Ministers and Negotiators, who stood for and defended the interests of the countries and continent of Africa during the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in December 2009, but urged Africa to be cautious when engaging in new rounds of negotiations.

It said Africa’s science-based position must not be abandoned, lending the Alliance’s support to the two-track negotiating process under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and calling upon all Parties to recognise the supremacy of the (UNFCCC) in addressing climate change.

‘We reiterate our displeasure and deep concerns about the way the Copenhagen climate talks was conducted,’ said PACJA coordinator Mithika Mwenda.

The Copenhagen Accord raises serious issues that must be considered by all African countries when deciding how to respond to it:

The Accord’s 2 degree global goal threatens Africa with catastrophic harm. Based on IPCC Fourth Assessment Report analysis, 2 degrees of global warming implies over 3 degrees of warming in all regions of Africa. We concur with Reverend Desmond Tutu that “a global goal of about 2 degrees C is to condemn Africa to incineration and no modern development”.
· The proposed review of the Accord’s global goal to 1.5 degrees would occur too late — well after the date by which global emissions would have to peak and decline in order to secure this goal and to safeguard Africa’s future.
· The Accord fails to include appropriate provisions to enable developing countries to adapt to climate change. It calls for “adequate” financial resources, for example, but fails to provide the same. The Accord reflects the inherent failure of an exclusive process to represent the interest of vulnerable countries that it excludes. An inclusive process under the UN is the only safeguard for poor and vulnerable countries.
· The proposed inclusion of “bottom up” Annex I emission reduction pledges threatens the establishment of further commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, fails to require a science-based aggregate target, and threatens to shift the burden of mitigating climate change to developing countries. We call for a science-based, not a pledge-based, approach to setting Annex I targets.
· The Accord would commit developing countries to new obligations regarding mitigation actions (which must be listed in an Annex), and for their measurement, reporting and verification. It does not link these to the provision of adequate finance and technology. Nor does it include new obligations on MRV for developed countries.
· The proposed $10 billion in short-term financing for the period 2010 to 2012 is hopelessly inadequate. Some developed countries have already confirmed that this will not be “new and additional” and over and above ODA. Developing countries, which are already suffering billions in climate-related damage, will have their ODA budgets raided to address climate change. The African Group has called for short-term financing of around $400 billion, with $150 billion immediately available as “special drawing rights”. We should not retreat on our demands.
· The proposal of $100 billion in longer-term financing is not a commitment to “provide” it from public sources, but merely to “mobilize” finance. US$100 billion is considerably lower than the amount proposed by the European Union ($100 billion Euro is over $140 billion USD). Assessments by the United Nations and other organizations confirm that much higher levels of financing will be required. Based on a goal of stabilizing concentrations of carbon dioxide below 350ppm – a goal essential to the survival and prosperity of Africa – the Africa Group has called for longer term financing by Annex I countries equivalent to 5% of their GDP.
· The Accord calls for a Copenhagen Green Climate Fund but provides no indication of whether it will operate under the authority of the Conference of Parties. The Accord fails to address a range of factors called for by the African Group and other members of the G77 and China.
· The Accord’s provisions on a range of issues – including adaptation, REDD, technology and finance – are inadequate.
· The Accord includes terms that are (and deliberately) legally unclear and, in some cases, legally void. A document agreed outside the UNFCCC process, for instance, cannot require the UNFCCC Conference of Parties or Secretariat to undertake certain actions. Agreeing to these terms introduces legal uncertainty into the UNFCCC process.

‘In our view the process by which the Accord was agreed (and its future role) risks establishing a dangerous precedent within the UN system. It risks creating a parallel system that may undermine the UNFCCC process and agreement on a deal under the UN that will truly safeguard Africa’s future,’ PACJA noted, adding, “based on these concerns, we encourage the countries of Africa to join their counterparts in other regions – including small island states such as Tuvalu — in rejecting the Accord. We support the statement by the representative of Tuvalu in Copenhagen that the future of his country would not be sold for “30 pieces of silver”

The research, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, found that algae production can be energy intensive and can end up emitting more greenhouse gases than it sequesters.

Sapphire Energy A study citing limitations of algae fuel production is being widely assailed by algae producers.

In response, the Algal Biomass Association, a trade organization of companies involved with developing algae biofuels, said the researchers used old and outdated data.

via Biofuel Companies Attack Algae Study – Green Inc. Blog – NYTimes.com.

The research, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, found that algae production can be energy intensive and can end up emitting more greenhouse gases than it sequesters.

Sapphire Energy A study citing limitations of algae fuel production is being widely assailed by algae producers.

In response, the Algal Biomass Association, a trade organization of companies involved with developing algae biofuels, said the researchers used old and outdated data.

via Biofuel Companies Attack Algae Study – Green Inc. Blog – NYTimes.com.

The US aims for a 17 percent emissions cut in carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for global warming by 2020, from 2005 levels on condition other countries submit their targets to the Copenhagen Accord.

John Kerry, the Democratic U.S. senator insisted that Congress would put a price on carbon, forcing companies to pay for their global warming pollution. But there will be different ways to price it, and not pinned down to one approach (Cap and Trade).

via U.S. embraces Copenhagen pact, Senators rework bill | Reuters.

New Delhi – The Copenhagen accord should be seen as part of the two-track negotiating process towards reaching a climate accord in Mexico City in December, ministers from Brazil, South Africa, India and China (BASIC) said Sunday. The BASIC ministers, in a joint statement, also called for the convening of a meeting of the two main negotiating groups at Copenhagen – the developed and developing countries – by March.

“These negotiating groups should be called in March and at least six meetings should be held in the year 2010 so that we have a successful conclusion at Mexico City,” India's Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said at the conclusion of a meeting of the BASIC ministers in New Delhi.

Brazil's Minister for Environment Carlos Minc, his South African counterpart Buyelwa Sonjica, and the vice-chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission Xie Zhenhua attended the meeting convened by Ramesh.

Twenty-nine nations including the BASIC group agreed to the Copenhagen accord, a non-binding agreement that emerged from the fractious conference in the Danish capital in December.

via BASIC countries want climate negotiations by March : Environment.