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Updates in Brief - January 2011

  • Manitoba launched consultations for cap-and-trade under the Western Climate Initiative umbrella. The public comment form is available here until consultations close March 11th.
  • Quebec adopted emissions reporting regulations, in effect as of December 30, 2010, requiring 2011 emissions reporting for sources with emissions exceeding 10,000 tCO2e/yr  by no later than June 1, 2012. Verification in accordance with ISO 14064 and 14065 standards will be required for facilities emitting in excess of 25,000 tCO2e/yr. The province also announced the creation of a multi-stakeholder Climate Change Advisory Committee (press releases are currently available in French only).
  • EPA extended the public comment period on draft guidance documents for geological sequestration rules until Feb. 8th. The proposed rules address a new class of injection wells and criteria for protecting underground drinking water sources.
  • EPA released the final rule on 2011 renewable motor fuel standards, including 8.01% required renewable fuel to gasoline and diesel volume. Volume percentage standards were also outlined for cellulosic biofuel (0.003%), biomass-based diesel (0.69%) and advanced biofuel (0.78%). The cellulosic biofuel requirement is lower than the Energy Independence and Security Act target, but the EPA expects lower commercial availability of the fuel in 2011 than previously forecasted.
  • Climate Resilient Communities Program launched by eight ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability member municipalities. The program focuses on sustainable development, providing resources for local governments to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.
  • Gigaton Awards celebrate market-driven climate change solutions during COP16. Six companies were recognized as climate change mitigation leaders in their respective industries at the inaugural event. Winners and their sectors are: Suzlon (Energy), Vodafone Group (Telecommunications), Reckitt Benckiser Group (Consumer Staples), Nike (Consumer Discretionary), 3M (Industrials) and GDF Suez (Utilities).
  • US Supreme Court to review American Electric Power v. Connecticut, permitting private parties and states to file lawsuits alleging greenhouse gas emissions, and their contributions to climate change, constitute a public nuisance.