Policy: UK Gov publishes CO2 Offsetting code of practice

The UK government has opened consultation on a draft standard for carbon offsetting. The aim of the code of practice is so that people will be able to tell whether the offsetting schemes they are using, or thinking of using, really do take that carbon out of the global carbon economy for good and whether they can trust the schemes they are using.

Defra launched a consultation on a Code of Best Practice for the provision of carbon offsetting to UK customers on 18 January 2007. The purpose of establishing a Code is to ensure consumer confidence the emerging carbon emissions offsetting market. The consultation will finish on 13 April 2007 and the intention is to have the Code operating by November 2007.

UK Government (DEFRA) Carbon Offsetting page: Link

Action: London Borough of Richmond introduces parking fees linked to emissions levels

Liberal-Democrat controlled Richmond upon Thames Council in southwest London has introduced a sliding scale of parking fees linked to vehicle emission levels. The cost of parking the most polluting vehicles will rise to 300 pounds from 100 pounds.
A sliding scale of charges for permits will come into force from around April, based on the government's car tax bands. Band A, electric cars, will be free. Band B, which includes the Toyota Prius hybrid and the Renault Megane dCi 106 diesel hatchback, get a 50 percent reduction. Hardest-hit will be owners of 4x4s like the BMW X5, the Renault Espace people-carrier and saloons like the Jaguar X-type.

Action: UK Retailer Tesco installes $13m BIPV roof array

In January 2007, Los Angeles-based Solar Integrated Technologies won a US$13 million contract to put solar panels on the roof of Tesco USA's new distribution centre in Riverside, California. The BIPV roofing system will provide a fifth of the depot's power supply, and save 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Tesco accounts for almost one pound in every three spent in British supermarkets.

Tesco has also pledged to spread an environmentally friendly message to its millions of customers and to set an example by spending over 500 million pounds (US$987 million), cutting prices on energy-efficient products and reducing pollution.

Australian Government research body publishes national energy options analysis

The CSIRO created the concept of the Energy Futures Forum (EFF) in 2003 as a means of engaging in developing and assessing pathways for the future of energy in Australia. It published the findings of extensive research into the future energy options for Australia in December 2006.

Report: Link

Policy: UK Gov - Zero Carbon Homes by 2016

UK Government publishes new report: ‘Building a Greener Future: Towards Zero Carbon Development’ that proposes a requirement that by 2016 all new homes should be net zero CO2 emitters.

The energy used to heat, light and run homes in the UK accounts for 27 per cent of all UK CO2 emissions - around 40 million tonnes.

Energy efficient and insulated buildings, which draw their energy from zero or low carbon technologies and therefore produce no net carbon emissions from all energy use over the course of a year, will help reduce carbon emissions as well as lowering fuel bills for households.

The report is part of a number of such measures, including:

• a framework for progressively tightening building regulations up to 2016 to increase the energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of new homes;
• publication of the Code for Sustainable Homes, which aims to increase the environmental sustainability of new homes and give homeowners better information about the sustainability of their home. It sets out a star rating from one to six (with six being the most sustainable) which can be applied to all new homes
• From April 2008, after a voluntary phase, all new homes should be required to have a mandatory Code rating, indicating whether they have been assessed and the performance of the home against the Code;
• the requirement that by 2016 all new homes should be net zero CO2 emitters.
• a draft Planning Policy Statement on climate change, which expects planning strategies to be tested on their carbon ambition and, in providing for new homes, jobs and infrastructure needed by communities, shape places with lower carbon emissions and resilient to climate change.
• consultation on regulations to set minimum standards for water efficiency in new homes and new commercial buildings.

Gov Press Release: Link

UK Retailer announces carbon neutrality target among raft of green measures

UK retailer Marks&Spencer (M&S) announced in January 2007 that it would spend around 200 million pounds (US$394 million) over the next five years going "green". It aims to become carbon neutral by 2012. Proposed measures include ensuring:

• all its packaging and clothing is biodegradable or compostable;
• none of its waste is dumped in landfill sites;
• it will label all products on its shelves that have been flown in from suppliers;
• trial using food waste to power its stores;
• trial using electric vehicles (Smith Trucks, manufactured by Tanfield Group Plc) for city centre logistics operations, with a view to replacing existing trucks where possible.

Policy: Building Green Guidance Report published by UK Gov

The UK Environment Agency has published a report providing practical advice on reducing the environmental impacts of new development, titled ‘Building a better environment’. It argues that development doesn’t have to harm the environment – if it is well located, planned and designed, it can actually make improvements to the environment and provide a better place for people to live.

The report includes guidance on:

• Managing the risk of flooding
• Managing surface water
• Using water wisely
• Wildlife and green space
• Preventing pollution
• Managing waste
• Land affected by contamination
• Sustainable construction
• Recreation, society and health

Report: Link

Policy: EU proposes common energy market with binding renewables targets

On 10 January 2007 the European Commission released ‘Energy for a Changing World’ an integrated energy and climate change package comprised of 9 major policy papers, namely:

• An Energy Policy for Europe
• Renewable Energy Road Map
• Progress in renewable electricity
• Progress in Biofuels
• Internal Market for Gas and Electricity
• Gas and Electricity Infrastructures
• Nuclear Energy
• Sustainable Power Generation from Fossil Fuels
• Strategic Energy Technology Plan

As part of the policy package, the EC committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, in particular through energy measures.

Link

The European Commission has urged its members to sign up to this new common EU energy policy. There are three central pillars to the proposed integrated EU energy policy.
1) A true internal energy market;
2) Accelerating the shift to low-carbon energy;
3) Energy efficiency through the 20% target by 2020.
In addition, 10% of vehicle fuel should come from biofuels.

The EU wants to make these targets to be binding for the first time. It also wants to make sure all new power stations are carbon neutral in 13 years - they should be built in such a way that carbon can be captured and buried - as well as ensuring there is a big increase in renewable power like wind and wave energy.

The EU wants to fully open up the existing energy market to enable half a billion citizens to get their electricity or gas from anywhere else in Europe.

Media: Link

Impacts: 2006 warmest year in US

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported that 2006 was the warmest year in United States since record keeping began in 1895.

Link

Action: California introduces solar incentive programme

The California Pubic Utilities Commission (CPUC) has issued requirements for a new energy program that aims to make the state one of the world's biggest producers of solar energy.

The CPUC issued a guide about the rules for installing and operating solar photovoltaic projects. California aims to install 1 million rooftop solar panels on homes, businesses, farms, schools and public buildings over the next 10 years to produce 3,000 megawatts, or the equivalent of six large power plants.

The program has a budget of US$2.2 billion that will pay incentives for solar projects beginning on Jan. 1, 2007.

The solar handbook is available on the CPUC's Web site at: link

Action: Norwegian Government to offset employee flight emissions

Norway has announced plans to offset the greenhouse gases produced by public employees when they fly abroad by buying emissions credits. The government will buy credits to be invested in projects which reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Link