TalkClimateChange

Editor’s note: Daryl is actually feeling fine - we checked after reading this..
I’ve just read an article on MSN / Sympatico called “The cheapest way to save the Earth“, which actually made sense to me - and it is about lifestyle changes!
Now a caveat: I don’t actually agree with it all, but I do […]

Plans were approved this week to build what has been described as an “ultra mega power project” in the form of a $4.2 billion, 4,000 MW coal fired power station in Gujarat, India.
Environmentalists will be dismayed to hear of this decision, which will generate up to 23 million tons of Co2. However, many arguments against […]

 
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh go the wind turbines that are popping up slowly across the world’s wind corridors.
With demand growing, new production facilities are being created, with all the green jobs that environmental lobbyists promised. The transition into the new green economy has began with the promise that we will all be stronger for it, especially […]

I think we can all agree the unintended consequences of mandated levels of bio-fuels have had some really devastating results globally. The World Food Programme says the increase in food costs has devastated their 2008 hunger relief programs. Mono-agriculture has reduced crop diversity and added to the problems of nitrogen contamination of water systems as […]

This post hopes to demonstrate that environmentalism and common sense are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
People want cheap air travel, yet they don’t want additional runways. People want cars, but they don’t want traffic jams. They also want mobile phones without antenna masts, fast food without calories and a whole host of other benefits […]

Today I had lunch with an investment banker. At some point the discussion turned to climate change, and I hinted at some of the potential business implications, as well as the not insignificant economic effects that we are already seeing.
"But how can one really make any money out of this stuff?" was his earnest […]

Yesterday the European Union announced a new energy emissions plan in its latest bid to fight climate change. As usual, nobody is happy, with businesses warning of higher prices and environmental groups claiming that the measures fall short of the actions needed.
In typical EU style, the plan aims to please everybody and is a […]

As Gordon Brown’s tour or India and China continues, the  British government has levelled criticism at India’s lack of commitment to dealing with climate change.
British Environment Secretary Phil Woolas recently drew a comparison of the two emerging economies, describing the Chinese Central Government as “part of the solution and not part of the problem“ whilst […]

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is currently touring China, reportedly visiting ‘green’ sites including gas fired power stations – a step forwards from the dirtier coal powered varieties which are mostly powering Chinas’s industrial rise.
During his visit, Mr Brown may also learn some valuable lessons in renewable energy. Whilst the EU is likely to will […]

Norway has boldly announced plans to become a carbon neutral country by 2030, ahead of their original goal of 2050.

The plan will be achieved through domestic emissions cuts of approximately 66%, and through investment in overseas environmental projects which will offset Norway’s remaining emissions. Norway already has significant hydro electric power generation capacity by virtue […]

If you live in the UK you will not have escaped the big furore over nuclear power this week following the release of the British Government’s energy policy which has decidedly committed the country to the nuclear path, signalling the first live shot in the climate change battle.
People want energy, people don’t want energy production. […]

The results of poll were announced yesterday, revealing that two thirds of the UK population have no confidence that world leaders can agree on future solutions to climate change at the Bali summit.
But forget future solutions - the world has proven that we can’t even execute previous solutions; Despite the rhetoric of various national leaders, […]

Although often maligned for their rising contribution to greenhouse gasses, China has a significant renewable energy program. The completion of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River year brought the world’s biggest hydro-electric power station on line,  and there are plans for 19 additional damns before 2020.

However, this project has shown the risks of […]

Leaked documents reveal that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been advised to step back from previous commitments to generate 20% of all Europe’s energy from renewable sources.
Government minister John Hutton advises that such energy generation schemes will be prohibitively expensive and face “severe practical difficulties”.
Britain initially backed European renewable energy plans as ex PM […]