Australia’s new prime minister immediately signed documents to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. The previous conservative led government refused to sign on. This leaves the United States as the only developed country that has not signed on. Interesting stat: Environmental think tank, the Climate Institute estimates Australia’s GDP would fall only 0.1% if it aimed to reduce emissions 20% by 2020. Read more here.
Creating the legislation mandating California to reduce it’s emissions to 1990 levels come 2020 was easy. Now all the government has to do is figure out how to achieve this without stifling an economy whose energy is large from natural gas. Making this even more challenging is the piece of the legislation that does not allow a carbon market from being established until 2012. Interesting stat: California is the world’s 12th largest producer of greenhouse gases and its law is expected to affect some 800 manufacturing facilities. Read more here.
Everybody’s doing it… NREL, major Universities, Chevron.. everybody is researching the potential for algae to be the next feedstock and a means to get double the bang for your carbon output. Interesting stat: The Defense Department estimates that it costs $20 a gallon to convert algae to biodiesel or a useable fuel. Read more here.
