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Connecticut Moves to Cut GHG Emissions

Source: PointCarbon.com The Governor of Connecticut, US, has accepted a set of recommendations that are estimated to reduce the states greenhouse gas emissions by 8.5%. The recommendations from Connecticuts Steering Committee on Climate Change includes restoration of the Conservation and Load Management Fund, establishing conservation funds for oil and natural gas, energy efficiency and CHP measures, a renewable energy strategy, forest and agricultural land preservation and more. "Governor Rowland's decision to accept the stakeholder recommendations to cut greenhouse gas emissions will put Connecticut in the forefront of US states taking action to reduce climate change," said Ned Helme, Executive Director of the Center for Clean Air Policy, in a press release. "Connecticut is the first state to develop a comprehensive climate change action plan and immediately translate it into legislative and administrative proposals for implementation." The measures will enable the State to achieve 52% of its overall 2010 goal of stabilizing emissions at 1990 levels, the target established by the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Climate Change Action Plan of 2001, said the press release. "The Connecticut plan also tackles the rapidly-growing transportation sector, calling for path-breaking efforts in transit, smart growth, land use policy, and freight policy, […]

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RAN Targets Largest Banks

After working with Citigroup to develop stringent project financing standards based on sustainable development guidelines, Rainforest Action Network is challenging the 10 largest U.S. financial institutions to follow suit. RAN is calling on the companies to phase out funding for the oil, gas, mining, and logging industries in endangered ecosystems; reduce funding for greenhouse gas producing industries, and work more closely with local populations, among other things. The changes would affect billions of dollars of loans a year. RAN calls on the companies to adopt standards that meet or exceed those of Citigroup, the largest bank, by Earth Day on April 22. The companies include: J.P. Morgan; Bank of America; Wachovia Corp.; Wells Fargo; Bank One; FleetBoston; U.S. Bancorp; SunTrust; Goldman Sachs and John Hancock. "Long-term investments in ecological and social sustainability is the only path to ensure the future health of the global economy," said Ilyse Hogue, a Rainforest director. "The bulk of our financial institutions are behind the global curve in confronting these challenges." After years of criticism from Rainforest, Citigroup in January agreed not to finance projects in "critical natural habitats" unless borrowers show they "will not significantly degrade or convert the critical natural habitat." It also […]

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Toyota Plans to Sell Hybrid Camry in 2006

Toyota Motor Corp says it will likely begin selling a hybrid version of its best-selling Camry in 2006. This could move hybrids from being a tiny niche into mainstream. The Nihon Keizai business daily says Toyota aims to sell 100,000 hybrid Camrys a year, mainly in North America. The company sells over 400,000 Camrys annually in the US, making it that market's most popular passenger car. Honda – the only other car firm currently selling hybrids – markets a hybrid version of its Civic sedan and plans an Accord hybrid in the U.S. market this autumn. But Honda's sales numbers are small and are expected to remain so for the time being. Analysts said that Toyota, Japan's largest auto maker, would probably be able to reduce costs by 2006 and sell a hybrid Camry at a price attractive to consumers. Toyota and Ford Motor Co announced this week that Ford would license Toyota's hybrid engine technology, underlining Toyota's overwhelming lead in gasoline-electric know-how. Nissan also uses Toyota's hybrid systems. "The point here is that other auto makers are so far behind and that's partly due to Toyota's hold on hybrid patents," said Nikko's Matsushima. The auto giant plans to roll […]

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European Steel Firms to Study Cleaner Production

Corus (London:CS.L), Arcelor (Paris:CELR.PA)and TKS are leading a consortium of steel firms in a 40 million euro research project on technologies to cut carbon dioxide emissions in steelmaking. The European Commission requested the industry look into this because its production processes are based 60% on coal and cokes, with significant carbon dioxide emissions. The companies have submitted a proposal to the EU executive for a five-year research project called ULCOS (Ultra Low CO2 Steelmaking). The EC may subsidize up to 50% of of the project. The consortium includes almost all European steel companies and some 40 industrial organisations, research institutes and universities.

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