Sustainability Outlook Headlines

The Scientific Consensus Concerning Global Climate Change

The scientific consensus concerning global climate change describes the overwhelming consistency of opinion among scientists regarding two contemporary climate observations: 1. the climate is warming, and 2. the cause of this observed warming is human activity. These are the two major assertions of the 2007 Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

What may be surprising is that this consensus is not new. In 1979, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences noted, "A plethora of studies from diverse sources indicates a consensus that climate changes will result from... Read more..

Oil demand to be boosted by China, India, IEA says

World oil demand will grow faster than earlier expected through 2015 due to stronger economic growth, particularly in developing countries like China and India, the International Energy Agency forecast forecast Wednesday. The IEA, which advises oil-consuming countries, said world oil demand will grow by an average of 1.4 percent annually through 2015. That compares with last year's forecast of average annual demand growth of 0.6 percent over the 2008-2014 period. Demand would reach 92 million barrels a day by 2015, assuming annual economic growth of 4.5 percent from 2010.

UN climate panel names new authors after criticism

The U.N. science body on climate change, accused of ignoring its critics and allowing glaring errors to creep into its work, announced Wednesday that a broader range of experts will write its next report on global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change included more women and scientists from developing countries, but also selected authors with a wider range of backgrounds than previously - partly in response to recent criticism that earlier groups refused to address dissenting views.

India, Canada may ink seven new pacts, four other agreements

India is expected to sign agreements for cooperation in civil nuclear energy and social security besides Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) in mining, higher education, and culture during Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's upcoming visit to Canada for the G20 Summit.

Climate Change Researchers: Not all Expertise is Equal

Climate change skeptics often argue that the science is still open to question and that researchers need to carry out further study. However, a new paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that experts in the field share a "striking agreement" with the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

EU Carbon Permit Price Gains May Outpace UN Credits

European Union carbon emission permit prices, which increased 22 percent this year, may extend gains while comparable UN certified emission credit units may lag behind, Nomura International Plc’s analyst said. Prices of EU’s emission permits may rise to 20 euros ($24.50) a metric ton this year because of demand in the EU, said Laurent Segalen, managing director for commodities trading at Nomura International. That’s 30 percent higher than current levels.

India, Canada to sign historic nuclear agreement this week

India and Canada are set to sign a civil nuclear agreement that will allow New Delhi to secure uranium, nuclear equipment and technology to meet its energy needs during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit in Toronto for the upcoming G-20 Summit. The four-day visit commences on June 26. Canada will become the latest country with which India shall have civil nuclear deal since the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) allowed New Delhi to resume global nuclear trade in September 2008.

Astronaut Harrison Schmitt: Climate change alarmists ‘intentionally mislead’

Last month Apollo 17 astronaut and moonwalker Harrison Schmitt added his voice to the growing chorus of scientists speaking out against the anthropogenic [manmade] global warming (AGW) theory.  In strongly worded comments he said the theory was a ‘political tool.’  Now, in a speech at the International Conference on Climate Change he outlined his argument in great detail saying, “the science of climate change and its causes is not settled.”

Schmitt recalled as a child in Silver City, New Mexico helping his father, also a geologist, take rain measurements.  Those early experiments... Read more..

Report: 97 percent of scientists say man-made climate change is real

Forget the four out of five dentists who recommend Trident…. Try the 97 out of 100 scientists that believe in man-made climate change.

This data comes from a new survey out this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The study found that 97 percent of scientific experts agree that climate change is "very likely" caused mainly by human activity.

The report is based on questions posed to 1,372 scientists. Nearly all the experts agreed that it is "very likely that anthropogenic greenhouse gases have been responsible for most of the unequivocal... Read more..

30 nations to meet in Nepal

Nepal is all set to organise the first high level meeting of the ministers of more than thirty mountainous countries in Kathmandu in September.

The team led by the secretary of Ministry of Environment Dr Ganesh Raj Joshi had organised the meeting of mountain countries two weeks ago in Bonn of Germany where more than 15 countries had aired their views on solidarity for such initiative. The ministry had taken consent from the Cabinet to organise the meeting.

According to a source at the ministry, there were few rounds of talks with the donor countries and they had shown their... Read more..

Carbon Gap Narrows on Outlook for Fewer Credits: Energy Markets

The gap between carbon permits in the European Union and United Nations markets reached the narrowest in three months on speculation that the world organization will restrict credits for hydro-fluorocarbons.

A UN panel meets this week in Bonn to consider limits on how many credits are provided to investors who pay to reduce so- called HFCs, which can trap about 12,000 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide, after allegations of misuse.

EU carbon permits for 2012 have advanced 17 percent this year as the economic recovery leads to greater demand for power from... Read more..

India cuts carbon stockpile, no rush to sell rest

"Selling has accelerated but there are still a lot of CERs floating in the market," said Pamposh Bhat, country director, India, for consultancy Perenia Carbon, which helps clean-energy project developers to create and sell CDM carbon credits.

"Indian sellers are willing to sell on the spot market, but the asking price is very high," she said.

India has 513 CDM projects registered by the United Nations, with total CER issuance for the country at nearly 80 million, well behind China's more than 200 million, UN data shows.

"I think the number has come down drastically,"... Read more..