US Securities Exchange Commission Issues New Disclosure Guidelines for Climate Risks
Feb 05, 2010
The SEC released interpretive guidance on existing disclosure requirements as they relate to business or legislative events on the issue of climate change.
Weaker Copenhagen Pledge means 2020 GHG Reduction Target is an Increase over 1990 Levels
Feb 01, 2010
On Saturday, the Canadian government submitted its non-binding GHG reductions target to the United Nations, lowering its greenhouse gas reductions commitment and changing its baseline year.
Meaningful Sustainability Indicators
Jan 28, 2010
Developing meaningful and constructive sustainability indicators is a challenge for even the most progressive organizations.
US Democrats Lose Senate Supermajority
Jan 20, 2010
A crucial Senate seat traditionally held by the Democrats was lost to the Republicans in a special bi-election.
US Senate Vote Could Totally Revamp Climate Legislation
Jan 19, 2010
A head-to-head race for a Massachusetts senate seat is holding health care and climate change legislation in the balance.
Quebec’s Controversial Vehicle Emissions Standards Take Effect Today
Jan 14, 2010
Sweeping new rules governing vehicle emissions take effect today in Quebec.
US Environmental Protection Agency Faces Attacks from Two Sides
Jan 13, 2010
The US EPA is facing criticism on multiple fronts.
Republican Senator Considers Measures to Limit EPA Authority on GHG Regulation
Jan 07, 2010
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) continues efforts initiated last fall to curtail the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to regulate GHGs.
Prorogation will have a Mixed Impact on Canadian Environmental Policy
Jan 07, 2010
Instead of facing members of the opposition between now and March, Environment Minister Jim Prentice will have the opportunity to spend more time with the civil servants in his department.
Tightrope Frays at Copenhagen’s Three-Ringed Circus
Dec 16, 2009
The UN Climate Change negotiations in Copenhagen are starting to look more like a three-ringed circus, and the tightrope on which the negotiators are carefully treading is starting to fray.
Kerry-Graham-Lieberman Bill bridges US House and Senate Climate Bills
Dec 10, 2009
A non-partisan bill currently being drafted by Democratic, Republican, and Independent senators aims to reconcile the proposed House and Senate climate bills.
EPA Ruling could give Obama more leverage at Copenhagen
Dec 09, 2009
On Monday, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruled with finality that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions endanger public health and safety.
COP15 in Copenhagen Begins
Dec 08, 2009
The 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP15 to the UNFCCC) began in Copenhagen yesterday.
Rich Rewards on the Horizon for Early Actors on Climate Change
Dec 01, 2009
A poll conducted in late November asked Canadians about their feelings towards the government’s actions on climate change, and a strong majority of people from every region are embarrassed about Canada’s inaction on climate change.
Why N.S. Extended its Renewable Energy Deadline
Nov 12, 2009
Independent power producers in Nova Scotia got some wind back in their sails with an October 9th announcement from the NS Department of Energy.
Environment Minister Changes Tack, Will Sail to Copenhagen Without a Map
Nov 11, 2009
G20 Punts Responsibility for Fossil Fuel Subsidy Phase-Out
Nov 10, 2009
Group looks to the IEA, OPEC, OECD, and World Bank for guidance
Boxer-Kerry Climate Bill Passed, Despite GOP Boycott
Nov 06, 2009
Senate vote brings US climate legislation one step closer to reality.
Will Industry Beg to be Regulated?
Oct 14, 2009
The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled on Sept. 21st that power companies can be sued based on injuries caused by climate change. Recently, eight US states, the City of New York, and three non-profit land trusts sued six power companies.
Policy on Carbon Capture and Storage Advances
Oct 14, 2009
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology continues to be broadly supported at the political and industrial level.
A Green FIT for Ontario
Oct 14, 2009
Under the aegis of the Green Energy Act, the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) formally launched the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program in late September.
The G20 Bloviates while Independent International Policy Advances
Oct 14, 2009
The world’s most powerful leaders lectured about the pressing need to address climate change, encourage a green economic recovery, and expedite financial flows to developing countries at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh. But real action on most environmental fronts was substantially absent from their final communiqués.
Update from Asia
Sep 17, 2009
Climate change and greenhouse gas reductions were prominently featured in Asia’s two largest economies in August.
Against Waxman-Markey: Legitimate Opposition or Self-Interested Lobbying?
Sep 09, 2009
Without doubt, the US American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) – also known as the Waxman-Markey bill – is a massive piece of legislation. At over 1400 pages, the bill is not only a huge document but if it does eventually become law it will have enormous and far reaching impacts on both the US and global economy.
Three Amigo’s Summit Lays Groundwork for North American Offsets System
Sep 09, 2009
Prime Minister Stephan Harper, US President Barak Obama, and Mexican President Felipe Calderón met at the North American Leader’s summit in Guadalajara in early August to discuss trilateral issues facing the three countries. Among security, economic and trade issues, the leaders discussed a coordinated approach to managing climate change and energy issues.
Incorporate the Cost of Carbon into your Business Planning
Sep 09, 2009
Legislators in Canada, the US and Mexico are all in the process of defining laws that will eventually see the development of carbon markets across the continent. This legislation will ultimately move the engine of our economies away from traditional fossil fuels and toward cleaner forms of energy in an attempt to mitigate climate change. Clearly, a transformation of this magnitude will have profound economic impacts and will invariably create both big winners and big losers.
Nova Scotia Power Capped
Sep 09, 2009
Following through with its Climate Change Action Plan, Nova Scotia has introduced regulated caps on Nova Scotia Power that will reduce emissions from the power generator by 25% over 2007 levels by 2020.
All Political Parties could Gain by Tinting their Platforms Green
Sep 09, 2009
Polling data helps to inform policymakers as they craft their political platforms. A recent poll revealed that more than 7 in 10 Canadians consider the environment to be more important today than they did a few years ago. While the responses were fairly consistent across income and gender lines, they split across political lines.
Mandatory GHG Reporting – the Writing’s on the Wall
Sep 09, 2009
Whether you believe in climate change or not one thing is certain: in a blink, tens of thousands of North American CEOs, directors, managers and shareholders will have to face a new reality. GHG reporting regulation is coming to the continent and as early as 2010 it will likely affect between 15,000 and 20,000 North American businesses.
Canada’s Draft Offset Rules Released
Jul 17, 2009
A revised Overview of Canada’s Offset System and accompanying documents were released on June 10, and are open to comment for 60 days. Together, these documents outline the architecture of the proposed future federal offset system.
The UK’s Transition Plan: Model for a Low Carbon Economy
Jul 17, 2009
Moving Forward: Designing a Cap-and-Trade System for Ontario
Jul 17, 2009
In late May, the Ontario Government released Moving Forward: A Cap-and-Trade System for Ontario to advance its work on the design of a cap-and-trade system. The scheme explicitly states Ontario’s intention to harmonize with the approaches of other provinces, US states and emerging federal systems.
Quebec Passes Cap-and-Trade Legislation
Jul 17, 2009
Quebec advanced its climate change profile by passing into law a flexible, market-based GHG mitigation mechanism.
G8 Agree on 2°C Warming Limit - But Not on Reduction Targets
Jul 17, 2009
At their recent July 8-10 summit in Italy, the leaders of the G8 agreed to limit global temperature rise to 2°C but failed to articulate this aspiration in terms of the amount of GHG reductions required to achieve that goal. Critics argued that a temperature goal without an accompanying concrete GHG reduction target leaves the necessary level of effort open to individual interpretation, and will likely result in inadequate global GHG cuts.
MGGRA Publish Recommendations to Influence Future Federal Schemes
Jul 17, 2009
In June, the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord published their Final Design Recommendations for a regional cap-and-trade program.
Although they prefer “a cap-and-trade program at the federal level…rather than a regional program,” it is hoped that the recommendations will influence the “current national debate” and highlight that the Midwest has “particular resources and special economic circumstances” that need to be considered in a federal scheme.
Waxman-Markey Faces Senate Challenge
Jul 17, 2009
The 2009 American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) was narrowly passed by the House of Representatives in June and will form the basis for new climate legislation to be developed by the US Senate over the coming months.
The US EPA’s Endangerment Finding: A Paradox in the Making?
Jun 10, 2009
The Environmental Protection Agency may have been angling for a stronger Climate Bill when it released its endangerment finding, but despite a baited hook, this big fish got away. Six key greenhouse gases were found to “threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations,” according the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Low Carbon Fuel Standard in California and Canada’s Oil Sands Sector
Jun 10, 2009
In April 2009, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted a regulation that implements Governor Schwarzenegger’s Low-Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The standard – a first of its kind worldwide – will come into force starting in 2011 and requires a reduction in the carbon intensity of all fuels sold in California by 10% by 2020.
Canada Establishes Rules for Cap-and-Trade
Jun 10, 2009
The Canadian government recently indicated that it is still committed to the 2020 goal of a 20% reduction in GHG emissions from 2006 levels.
Under “Turning the Corner” released last year, the initial intention was to have a cap-and-trade system approved and running by 2010. However, after much delay and a start date pushed to 2012, the federal government has finally announced some details of a cap-and-trade system to meet its reduction commitments.
Phasing Out Coal in Canada
Jun 10, 2009
Environment Minister Jim Prentice recently announced that Canada will phase out coal-fired power plants.
Carbon Tax and Cap-and-Trade: The New Environmental Hybrid
Jun 10, 2009
It’s not only automakers that are banking on hybrids to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Lawmakers are increasingly taking a ‘hybrid approach’ to reducing GHGs by implementing both cap-and-trade systems and a carbon tax. While these approaches have traditionally been seen as opposing, BC and Quebec are hoping to leverage both mechanisms to meet climate change targets.
Ontario Joins the International Climate Action Partnership
Jun 10, 2009
In the summer of 2007, Ontario introduced its Action Plan on Climate Change, which established the goal of a 6% reduction in greenhouse gases below 1990 levels by 2014, 15% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.
Waxman-Markey Clears First Hurdle
Jun 10, 2009
The 2009 American Clean Energy and Security Act, co-sponsored by Senators Henry Waxman and Ed Markey, made it through the US House of Representatives’ Committee on Energy and Commerce following weeks of debate.
