Updates in Brief
Ray Anderson, sustainability pioneer, passed away August 9. Anderson had an internationally progressive and unwavering commitment to corporate sustainability long before the concept entered standard business considerations. A self-described “radical industrialist,” he set a firm ‘mission zero’ target of no negative environmental impacts for the company he founded, Interface, Inc. The goal has been fully embraced by his colleagues, a tribute to Anderson’s inspiring and visionary role.
California was home to the first allowance trade under Western Climate Initiative greenhouse gas cap-and-trade. At US$17/allowance, the transaction included 100 contracts representing 100,000 carbon allowances. The trade participants were NRG Power Marketing and Shell Energy North America.
The Canadian Federal Government announced $78 million in spending for the next two years to reduce national energy consumption. The investment focuses on voluntary initiatives and will provide advice on reducing energy consumption and buying efficient appliances, as well as introducing a more stringent set of voluntary building codes and consumer product standards.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard introduced the first of 18 carbon bills into Parliament, setting the stage for the country’s proposed carbon price scheme. The initiative has received multi-party support, with the governing Labor party supported by both Green and Independent MPs. The government intends to bring the tax into effect July 1, 2012.
General Electric, Goldman Sachs, Coca-Cola and Dow Chemical, among other major US companies, support the Aqueduct Alliance with the World Resources Institute, to disclose local water availabilities. The publicly-available database would allow investors to assess water risk exposure as well as inform public and private decision-making. The first region to be mapped will be the Yellow River basin in China.
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) released Guiding Principles for Hydraulic Fracturing. The guidance focuses on water management and applies to all CAPP natural gas-producing members, in all Canadian jurisdictions. In addition, CAPP committed to disclosing shale gas and tight gas water use and fracturing fluids.
US President Barack Obama cut short proposed regulations on narrowing smog standards after facing resistance from industry and congressional Republicans. Ending the proposed rule is estimated to save the federal government $19-90 billion.
Europe joined Japan in a World Trade Organization (WTO) complaint regarding the Ontario’s domestic content requirements under the feed-in tariff program and the Green Energy and Green Economy Act. Japan filed its complaint in September 2010, with Europe following in August 2011. Both jurisdictions suggest that the domestic content requirement to source up to 60% of inputs from Ontario violates WTO accords.
British Columbia will not host a fall election this year, as confirmed by Premier Christy Clark. However, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories will all be home to provincial or territorial elections before the end of 2011.
By Cheryl Johnson, cjohnson@delphi.ca
