China’s greenhouse gas emissions will exceed U.S. emissions by 50% in 2015

China’s greenhouse gas emissions are continuing to grow at an alarming rate. In 2010, emissions were 20% higher than the United States’ but by 2015, emissions could top 50% higher, according to Ye Qi, the director of the Climate Policy Initiative and professor of environmental policy at  Tsinghua University. Despite China aggressively reducing energy intensity and building renewable energy capacity, total energy use has grown dramatically. ”There... Read More

Bill Gates at TED 2010: Innovating to Zero

I just watched Bill Gates’ talk at TED 2010 online: Innovating to Zero. It is an interesting talk, though I have some critiques which I will discuss below. Gates has devoted his energies since leaving Microsoft to his foundation which focuses mainly on health and development issues, such as developing a malaria vaccine, combating HIV/AIDS, and improving agriculture. During this year’s presentation, his main argument went as follows: 1.... Read More

Minnesota Plans to Implement Worlds First Carbon Tariff

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has authorized a measure that would add a fee of between $4 and $34 per ton of carbon dioxide to electricity generated from coal-fired power stations in North Dakota that is exported to Minnesota. By adding this fee to coal power, it is hoped that it will spur the further development of renewable energy sources. Coal Creek Station, Underwood, ND. (Actually owned by a Minnesota electric utility) Source: Great... Read More

Weekly gRound-Up: 11/7/09

Here are some items in the news that we found this past week that are worth a read: At the Intersection of Conflict and Environment What is the role of natural resources and the environment in conflict and post conflict settings? Watch an interview with David Jensen by Geoff Dabelko at the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program. David is a Policy Manager at UNEP’s Post Conflict and Disaster Management Branch,... Read More