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Green Notes - 12 May 08

By Chinthana ⋅ May 13, 2008 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

• The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached a record high, according to new figures that renew fears that climate change could begin to slide out of control. The figures, published by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on its website, also confirm that carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, is accumulating in the atmosphere faster than expected. The annual mean growth rate for 2007 was 2.14ppm – the fourth year in the past six to see an annual rise greater than 2ppm. Martin Parry, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s working group on impacts, said: “Despite all the talk, the situation is getting worse. Levels of greenhouse gases continue to rise in the atmosphere and the rate of that rise is accelerating. We are already seeing the impacts of climate change and the scale of those impacts will also accelerate, until we decide to do something about it.”
• The idea was rejected 10 years ago by former prime minister Jean Chretien in the midst of his three consecutive majority governments, but Liberal Leader Stephane Dion now appears to be banking on a carbon tax to help win the next election. But they say Dion is determined to forge ahead with the politically risky scheme. He’s convinced that the bold step is needed to rescue both the environment and his reputation, which has been savaged by relentless Tory depictions of the Liberal leader as a dithering, spineless weakling.
• “We stand warned by serious and credible scientists across the world that time is short and the dangers are great,” McCain will say in Portland, Oregon, according to prepared remarks. “The most relevant question now is whether our own government is equal to the challenge.” After spending several weeks staking out positions on taxes, Iraq and judges designed to appeal to conservatives, John McCain is shifting his attention to independents and Democrats, with proposals on climate change. As for greenhouse gases, Sen. McCain and many Democrats believe the U.S. should force industry to reduce emissions through binding caps. President Bush and many Republicans warn that binding targets could put the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage against fast-growing countries, such as China, that haven’t committed to emissions reductions.
• Duke Energy Carolinas is ramping up plans to generate some of its own renewable energy, with the company primarily warming up to solar power which includes a $100 million investment in rooftop solar energy, a program that will involve working with commercial and even residential customers. The utility is following the lead of Southern California Edison, which announced a $250 million dollar plan to install solar energy systems on commercial rooftops earlier this year. Duke’s plan to spend $100 million on its own solar generation, is good news for an energy company that generates 70 percent of its power from coal, making it the third-largest consumer of coal in the United States.