Around the Web (1/8/2009)
A roundup of recent news and articles from around the web relevant to climate change law and litigation.
- “11 Eastern States Commit to Regional Low Carbon Fuel Standard” (Environment News Service). “Pennsylvania has signed a letter of agreement with 10 other eastern states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels and other sources by developing a regional low carbon fuel standard. Vehicles using low carbon transport fuels include cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells; electric cars such as plug-in hybrids; cars fueled with ethanol, especially cellulosic ethanol made from non-food plant materials; and cars fueled with biodiesel.”
- “Climate Battle: Congress To Delay Action on Cap-and-Trade?” (Wall Street Journal “Environmental Capital” Blog). This article discusses uncertainties about the possible time frame for federal action on cap-and-trade legislation.
- “The Bonanza Wars Continue into 2009” (Constitutional Accountability Center’s “Warming Law” Blog). “Last Tuesday, the Sierra Club, joined by a number of other environmental organizations, filed a petition asking EPA Administrator Stephen P. Johnson to reconsider a memo he issued last month to regional administrators purporting to ‘interpret’ relevant statutory language in a manner that does not require the imposition of limits on CO2 emissions in a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit for “major emitting facilities,” including coal-fired power plants. Among other things, the petition claims the memo violates the ‘Bonanza’ ruling issued in November by the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board.”
- “In China, overambition reins in eco-city plans” (Christian Science Monitor). “If all had gone to plan, by now the first residents of China’s newest city would be unpacking boxes. An experiment in sustainable living, Dongtan was billed as a urban center where green technologies and smart design could slash the carbon footprint of up to a half-million people. On recent rainy afternoon, the onsite view was less electrifying: miles of sodden farms and wetlands, and not an ecobuilding to be seen.”
Around the Web (10/29/2008)
A roundup of recent news and articles from around the web relevant to climate change law and litigation.
- “Dynegy Required to Disclose Climate Change Risks” (Bloomberg.com). “Dynegy Inc., owner of power plants in 11 states, must disclose significant financial risks associated with climate change stemming from its operations under an accord announced by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.” See also Global Climate Law Blog’s post of 10/25/08: “Dynegy Inc. agrees with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to disclose material risks related to climate change.”
- “How Green is the High Court?” (National Law Journal, Law.com). This article discusses past and upcoming environmental cases in the Supreme Court, some with significant implications for climate change litigation. “The justices this term have taken five environmental cases for decision thus far – a significant number for a relatively small docket.”
- “Europe Forcing Airlines to Buy Emissions Permits” (New York Times). “European Union governments gave formal approval Friday to a potentially costly system of capping greenhouse gases from any airline flying into or out of the trade bloc — just as the airline industry reported new evidence of the impact of a worsening economy.”
- “Street Cred: Goldman Sachs Buys Into Carbon-Credit Developer” (Wall Street Journal “Environmental Capital” Blog). Goldman Sachs appears to be “betting that the U.S. government is going to impose a cap-and-trade system for global-warming emissions sooner rather than later . . .” Goldman has announced a partnership with Salt Lake City-based carbon-offset project developer Blue Source LLC.
- “EDF Will Sue the EPA for Failing to Regulate Landfill Methane Emissions” (WarmingLaw.com). “Late last week the Environmental Defense Fund announced its intent to sue the EPA for failing to update its emissions standards for landfill methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas.”
- “Update on the California Preemption Case: Automakers Appeal to the Ninth Circuit” (WarmingLaw.com). Automakers and car dealers filed notices of appeal in the Ninth Circuit challenging last year’s ruling by a California federal judge, which denied the industry’s claim that California’s Clean Cars program is preempted by federal law.
Around the Web (10/15/2008)
A roundup of recent news and articles from around the web relevant to climate change law and litigation.
- “Arctic Melt Unnerves the Experts” (New York Times “Dot Earth” Blog). “Enshrined in history as an untouchable frontier, the Arctic is being transformed by significant warming, a rising thirst for oil and gas, and international tussles over shipping routes and seabed resources.” See also Global Climate Law Blog’s post of 9/9/2008: “Opening of Northwest Passage triggering international disputes.”
- “Debate Over Climate Change at Columbia” (New York Times “Green Inc.” Blog). A report on a debate over international climate policy between Yvo DeBoer, the head of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Jeffrey Sachs, the economist who heads Columbia University’s Earth Institute.
- “Poland Leads Charge to Delay European Climate Reforms” (New York Times “Green Inc.” Blog). “A look at how Poland, the country hosting the next round of climate-treaty talks, is fighting European Union efforts to reform restrictions on greenhouse-gas emissions.”
- “Agreement Reached to Save Sumatran Forests” (New York Times “Dot Earth” Blog). “At the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, Spain, WWF and Indonesian authorities announced a political agreement to ‘agree to save and conserve the ecosystem of Sumatra Island.’” . . . “According to the environmental group WWF, Sumatra has lost 48 percent of forest cover in the past 23 years releasing vast amounts of planet-warming gases – making the Sumatran forest problem a global problem.”
- “Financial Fallout: Market Tumbles Shake Nuclear Clean-Up Funds” (Wall Street Journal “Environmental Capital” Blog). “The Wall Street meltdown is making it tougher to build new nuclear power plants, but it’s doing more than that. It could also make it tougher to tear down the existing ones.”
- “Reframing the Debate on Global Warming” (Constitutional Accountability Center’s “Warming Law” Blog). “[T]he country’s recent devolution into financial crisis may have significantly altered the political climate for tackling global warming.” This article addresses “whether there will be the political will in Washington in 2009 for strong, cap-and-trade climate change legislation.”
