According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy, global emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions decreased for the first time since 1998, dropping 1.1% to 31.13 billion tons after 2008′s peak of 31.55 billion tons.

However, despite this overall reduction, China’s greenhouse gas emissions have grown sharply as the nation rapidly industrializes and continues to construct new coal-fired power plants.  China is now the world’s leading emitter, having overtaken the United States in 2008.  This past year, China ‘s fossil fuel combustion released 7.5 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

China is not the only developing nation whose emissions have grown sharply.  India also saw an increase of 7%, and it has now overtaken Russia as the world’s third largest emitter.  In aggregate, the developing world now accounts for half of all global emissions.

United States emissions, on the other hand, fell by 6.5% to 5.9 billion tons in 2009, the lowest level since 1995.  However, “although the share of emerging markets is growing, the industrialized countries remain the preponderant source of historical greenhouse gases,” reminds Nick Robins, head of HSBC’s Climate Change Center of Excellence.

The United States and China, as well as the world’s other top emitters, now find themselves under tremendous pressure to either extend the Kyoto Protocol or formulate a successor to the climate treaty, which is set to expire in 2012.  Nations are also attempting to come up with domestic emissions reductions plans of their own.  “In terms of future emissions targets, China is ahead of the U.S. because it has set itself commitments to reduce carbon intensity, while the U.S. is struggling to get climate legislation through Congress,” remarks Robins.

Read the full article here…

What is the fastest and most immediate way to reduce the globe’s rapidly rising demand for energy?  According to a publication from leaders at the World Economic Forum, entitled Energy Vision Update 2010; Towards a More Energy Efficient World, energy efficiency is the answer.

By closing the “efficiency gap” between today’s wasteful production methods and other more streamlined options, we can reduce global resource strain, and potentially save billions of dollars.   For every dollar spent on efficiency methods, the report estimates savings of $2-$4 in what would have been wasted energy.

Important developments in this sector are occurring around the world, including massive smart grid investment in South Korea, construction of new high voltage transmission lines in China and development of smart grid software in high-tech hubs in the United States and India.

The following chart shows where we are now… and how far we still need to go.

To satisfy its booming energy and resources needs, India is stepping up investments in foreign oil and resources assets. The International Petroleum Company of India (ONGC) has already acquired offshore oil and natural gas resources in Myanmar, Russia, and Vietnam.  Just like fellow developing nation China, which has put billions of dollars into overseas resources, India is looking to acquire additional assets.

ONGC’s Chairman R.S. Sharma is reportedly petitioning the federal government to establish a sovereign wealth investment fund to continue making these investments, as India is heavily reliant on imported oil.  In fact, the relationship between India and Saudi Arabia has developed so much recently that the Saudis have committed to doubling crude oil shipments to India.

Read more…

China and India have formally agreed to ratify the Copenhagen Accord, the global climate agreement which stemmed from last year’s U.N. climate change convention in Copenhagen.

Over 100 countries have already approved the Accord, which aims to limit the increase in global temperatures to no more than 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, above pre-industrial levels.  The Accord also calls for spending on the scale of $100 billion a year to assist emerging countries in making adaptations to climate change.

China and India are two of the world’s fastest growing economies, and in recent years their rates of energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions have skyrocketed.  By joining the Accord, China and India have added legitimacy to the treaty and have demonstrated to the rest of the world that they are serious about addressing these important climate issues.

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World oil demand may rise higher than previously expected, says the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Paris-based energy advisor to 28 OECD nations.  The IEA’s 2010 oil demand estimate is now 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd), 120,000 barrels higher than previously predicted.

The IEA attributes the majority of this growth to demand from developing nations.  ”The demand growth is all coming from countries east of Suez,” said David Fyfe, head of the IEA’s oil industry and market’s division.  ”The emerging economies of China, India and the rest of Asia and the Middle East is where all the action is.”

Oil demand in developed nations, on the other hand, has hit a wall as consumers have moved away from oil as a power and heating fuel.  There may be some increased demand for transportation fuels and petrochemicals in industrialized nations, but overall demand will not compare to the 6.1% market growth predicted in booming emerging nations.

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New Delhi, 4 February 2010 – The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) today launched the Vision 2050 report ( 2.6 MB), a study that lays out a pathway leading to a global population of some 9 billion people living well, within the resource limits of the planet by 2050. The report, released at the World CEO Forum in New Delhi, India, was compiled by 29 leading global companies representing 14 industries.

This work results from an 18-month combined effort with CEOs and experts, and dialogues with over 200 companies and external stakeholders in some 20 countries.

The report presents new opportunities for business in a broad range of business segments with the foresight to lead their societies on a sustainable business development agenda. Entitled Vision 2050: The new agenda for business, the report “lays out the challenges, pathway and options that business can use to create an opportunity-rich strategy, both regionally and globally, that will lead to a sustainable world,” said Dr. Mohammad A. Zaidi, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Alcoa, who led the project as one of four co-chairs.

“The world already has the knowledge, science, technologies, skills and financial resources needed to achieve Vision 2050. However, concerted global action in the next decade will be required to bring these capabilities and resources together, putting the world on the path to sustainability,” explained WBCSD President Bjorn Stigson.

The publication outlines a future in which 9 billion people live well, enjoying health, food, shelter, energy, mobility, education and other basics of life. Syngenta CEO, Michael Mack added that “humanity has largely had an exploitative relationship with our planet; we can, and should, aim to make this a symbiotic one.” In the Vision 2050scenario, global society attains this standard of living at a sustainable rate, without further harm to biodiversity, climate and ecosystem services.

The report states that the world already has the resources to achieve Vision 2050,but there is a catch: “The radical changes highlighted in Vision 2050 demand a different perspective from business leaders, requiring them to rethink how they operate to stay on-track for a sustainable future,” added Samuel A. DiPiazza Jr., former CEO and Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers. This includes a radical transformation of global markets, governance and infrastructure, and a re-thinking of our ideas of growth and progress.

Vision 2050 spells out the “must haves” – the things that must happen over the coming decade to make a sustainable planetary society possible. These include incorporating the costs of externalities, starting with carbon, ecosystem services and water, into the structure of the marketplace; doubling agricultural output without increasing the amount of land or water used; halting deforestation and increasing yields from planted forests: halving carbon emissions worldwide (based on 2005 levels) by 2050 through a shift to low-carbon energy systems and improved demand-side energy efficiency, and providing universal access to low-carbon mobility.

As part of this transformation, Vision 2050 calls for a new agenda for business: to work with government and society worldwide to transform markets and competition. “Sustainability will become a key driver for all our investment decisions,” added Idar Kreutzer, CEO of Storebrand and another project co-chair. New rules for markets will reframe environmental challenges as economic challenges, driving innovation and competition in the direction of sustainability and away from resource- and energy-intensive production. Rationalizing prices to include such externalities as climate and biodiversity impacts will make corporate environmental efficiency a true competitive advantage across all industries and regions.

Business will lead market change by doing what business does best: forming partnerships, creating efficiencies and competitive advantage, seizing opportunities and meeting customer needs. At the same time, a shift toward sustainability will trigger trillions of dollars in new investments in infrastructure, technology and human services, creating new opportunities for business to thrive and grow. A recent study commissioned for this project with PricewaterhouseCoopers and released today indicates that this investment could reach US$ 3-10 trillion per annum in 2050.

Vision 2050, with its best-case scenario for sustainability and pathways for reaching it, is a tool for thought leadership, a platform for beginning the dialogue that must take place to navigate the challenging years to come. “It is hoped that the Vision 2050 work will be used for many years to come. It is designed to be a platform for companies when deliberating strategies and for dialogue with governments and society about how to realize the sustainable future,” concluded Per Sandberg, Project Director for Vision 2050.

Download

• Vision 2050: The new agenda for business – full report ( 2.6 MB)
• Vision 2050: The new agenda for business – summary report ( 2.4 MB)

Affluent countries are making good on their Copenhagen promises to provide monetary aid to poor nations grappling with the effects of climate change. Thus far, funding pledges for 2010-2012 are nearly $30 billion, including $15 billion from Japan and €7 billion from the European Union.

However, the “Copenhagen Green Climate Fund” planned in last month’s conference has not yet been implemented, making it likely that the donor countries will each determine how their aid packages are distributed and to whom.  Delegates from China, India, Brazil and South Africa have welcomed the pledge, calling the $10 billion expected to be released in 2010 an important symbol of rich countries’ willingness to help.

The Copenhagen Accord set forth a January 31^st deadline for nations to submit quantitative details on their voluntary emissions reductions targets and achievement strategies.  The United States has formally submitted its approval, and informed the United Nations of its intent to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions 17% from 2005 levels by 2020.  Todd Stern, the chief U.S. climate change negotiator, said final emissions targets will be submitted following Congress’ passage of energy legislation requiring carbon cuts.

Both India and South Africa are establishing massive seawater desalination plants in order to address the supply and treatment of domestic water resources.

India will begin construction on the nation’s largest desalination plant in the city in Nemmili next month.  The project is slated for completion in two years, at which point it will be capable of producing 100 million liters per day (MLD) of fresh water from sea water via reverse osmosis.  The desalination plant will help meet municipal water needs, which have previously been met via monsoon rains.  Changing climate and weather patterns, however, are making India’s monsoon season more unpredictable.  Read more here…

In South Africa, upgrades are being made to an existing desalination plant on the Eastern Cape.  Upon completion, the new plant will have a ready to serve a municipal population of nearly 50,000 people in the Ndjambe Municipality.   Read more here…

After a tense two weeks of negotiations and over two years of preparatory talks, delegates at the COP15 Copenhagen Climate Summit finally formulated a global agreement, reinforcing the need for strong international action on climate change issues.

The Copenhagen Accord is a non-binding agreement between developed and developing nations which aims to cap overall temperature rise to within 2° Celcius.  Over the next three years, $30 billion in financing from developed nations will help support emissions reductions projects in some of the world’s poorest countries.  Developed nations are working towards a long term, $100 billion a year financing plan by 2020.  Read more about the Copenhagen Accord…

The Copenhagen Accord is not a legally binding agreement, and many delegates are frustrated with the underwhelming results of the talks.  World leaders like Barack Obama, on the other hand, called the accord “an important breakthrough,” but stressed that much more action is needed to truly address the global threat of climate change.  Read more about world responses to the conference…

Denmark climate delegates, hosts of the upcoming Copenhagen climate talks, want to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2050, aim for peak world emissions by 2020, and restrict global temperature rise to at most 2 deg. Celsius over pre-industrial levels.  However, with the conference only days away, these targets face resistance from the biggest economies of the developing world, namely China, India, Brazil and South Africa.  Delegates from these nations told Reuters news that they “don’t want any figures under the heading of a shared vision in the Copenhagen draft.”

It appears as though the divide between rich and poor nations over climate policy is growing wider.  The industrialized world has criticized developing nations for prioritizing economic growth over the threat of global warming, while the developing world says it is not to blame for the majority of historical emissions of greenhouse gases, and requires funding from wealthy countries to support new climate policies.

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As the U.N. Copenhagen climate talks draw near, there is a great deal of confusion over the negotiating positions of China and India, two rapidly industrializing nations whose participation is critical to forming a new global accord.

Where do China and India stand on the issues?  A brief excerpt follows from from a piece by Fiona Harvey in FT Energy Source, the Financial Times blog on energy and the environment.

Are China and India required to put binding emissions caps in place? No, China and India are being asked to implement “nationally appropriate mitigation actions” or NAMAs.  Niether country has formalized such voluntary pledges.

What do China and India want from developed nations? Chinese and Indian delegates are looking for commitments from developed countries to cut emissions by 25-40%, as well as direct financing to help them adapt to  climate change and implement emissions reductions programs.

Is an agreement at Copenhagen likely? Despite the increasingly dismal outlook on the conference, there is still a possibility that an accord can be reached as negotiations often come down to the last moment.  If a treaty cannot be reached at this summit, it is likely that delegates will continue to press for a deal in the next year or so.

Read the full article…

Gujarat to Undertake $10 Billion Solar Project

The government of Gujarat is supporting a $10 billion solar power project that would catapult the Indian state to the top of the world’s stage.  The Gujarat government is setting aside an area of 58 sq. miles for the solar thermal plants, which will be obtained with help from the Clinton Climate Initiative, a part of the William J. Climate Foundation.  Officials say the project could be completed within the next five to seven years, and will also incorporate hybrid plants using solar and natural gas to help generate power and keep costs down.  “When there is sunshine we’ll generate using solar and when the sun is not shining we’ll generate using natural gas,” said Mr. S. Jagadeesan, Principal Secretary of the State Energy Department.   When it is fully operational, the plant will be capable of generating 3,000+ MW of energy, and will help to reduce the equivalent of 5.2 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

IBM Report Highlights New Metropolitan Transportation Ideas

As cities grow more populous and polluted, a new research report from IBM warns they will face severe traffic management challenges.  IBM’s publication, “Intelligent Transport: How Cities Can Improve Mobility,” states that by 2050, 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities for the first time in human history.  The 20 million cars on the road today in China will likely increase to 140 million by 2020, adding stress to the nation’s roadways.  These problems are not unique to the developing world.  The cost of congestion in the U.S. is reportedly $200 billion annually, and in Europe, traffic problems from the continent’s 300 million drivers costs the EU close to 1% of its GDP – €100 billion – every year.  IBM’s study conducted extensive interviews with urban planners and transport officials in over 50 cities around the world, and almost all have started planning improved transport and mobility schemes, including initiatives such as integrated fare management, traffic prediction and road user charging.

China & India are World’s Fastest Growing Car Markets

The Economist Foresees Hurdles for Electric Vehicles

Over the next 40 years, the number of passenger cars on the world’s roadways is expected to increase four-fold to 3 billion cars.  China is likely to supplant the U.S. as the world’s largest car market; by 2050, there could be as many cars in China as there are on the planet today.  By that time, India’s car fleet may have increased 50 times over.  Already, automobiles contribute 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and rapid fleet expansion, especially in developing countries, has severely increased local air pollution.  Faced with these predictions, a year and a half ago Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said if the industry did not start producing cars will little or no emissions, the world would “explode.”  Chevy and Nissan have recently made headlines with their new electric models, and across the board, mainstream auto companies are producing fuel efficient or hybrid lines.  However, despite the promise of electric vehicles, a recent article in The Economist says the industry’s two largest hurdles – pricing and charging- have not gone away and require attention.  The Nissan “Leaf” and Chevy “Volt” cost almost twice as much as conventional gasoline cars, and they require nightly charging to keep their batteries full.  Until prices come down and charging mechanisms become more convenient, electric cars “may remain little more than a promising niche technology,” the magazine writes.

India’s Emissions to Increase 4X within 20 Years

According to official estimates released yesterday, Indian greenhouse gas emissions stand to increase 4 times over within the next 20 years.  However, Jairam Ramesh, India’s environment minister, said India’s per capita emissions will remain below the average for developed countries, even with the anticipated growth in GDP.  India’s economy is growing rapidly, and the country is currently responsible for 5% of global emissions.  Thus far, India has resisted setting binding emissions targets for fear that such measures might hinder economic growth.  However, Ramesh argued against critics who say India is inactive on climate change, and stated that India does not have a “do nothing strategy.”  On the contrary, Ramesh says his country is ramping up efficiency initiatives to develop sustainable, and plans to participate in global U.N. climate talks later this year.

India to Generate 21,000MW Nuclear Power by 2020

India is speeding up development of domestic nuclear power and aims to generate 21,180 MW of electricity by the year 2020, said Mr. S. Kailas, associate director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.  Over the next 50 years, increased population and industrial growth in India will necessitate a 10-fold increase in electricity generation capacity.  He expects nuclear energy to play a large role in supplying that electricity.  Currently, 17 operational reactors at six different sites around the country provide 4,120 MW of capacity.  Three pressurized “heavy water” reactors as well as two “light water” reactors are currently under construction.  Nuclear energy has “come of age” said Mr. ML Savadatti, Vice Chairman of Karnataka State Council for Higher Education.  Compared to conventional sources of power, nuclear provides an economically viable alternative that will continue to be important until “major breakthroughs are accomplished in the areas of wind and solar energy,” he remarked.