timhowardlaw

Low Sulfur Marine Fuels Offshore US

The International Maritime Organization adopted rules requiring low sulfur marine diesel fuel for any vessel entering or traversing the offshore waters within 230 miles of the coast of the United States and Canada. The two nations requested that the IMO adopt the rules. The rules take effect in 2012. The purpose of the rules is to reduce the climate change impact of marine fuels. The Marine Environment Protection Committee of the IMO took the action, and adopted the rules as an amendment to the Marine Pollution Convention (MARPOL). The action establishes the North American Emission Control Area. Northern Europe already had such controls.

timhowardlaw

Hydraulic fracturing position by three oil majors

The Houston Chronicle reported Thursday, March 25 that BP, ConocoPhillips and Shell Oil Company sent to  certain Senators a paper titled “Sense of the Senate Language”.  The paper advocated  that the states adopt standards for disclosure regarding the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing of subsurface formations.  The New York Times picked up the story, and commentators noticed too.  If the paper’s interpretation of the “sense of the Senate” is accepted or even adopted by further Senate action, the EPA may not have authority to engage in rulemaking or to regulate at least some aspects of hydraulic fracturing.  There were indications that some senators, or committees, requested the comments by the oil companies.  If true, this signals a greater receptiveness  to the views of industry by the senate, as compared to the recent experience with climate change hearings and proposed legislation.  Climate change legislation could contain the proposal put forth by the three companies.  Hydraulic fracturing might be one of the areas of greatest activity and importance as the climate change debate continues.

timhowardlaw

United Kingdom Government stresses carbon capture and storage

The governmnet of the United Kingdom announced a strategy for the development of carbon capture and storage (“CCS”) as a key component of its program to address climate change.  The government will develop four commercial-scale CCS projects as a way of demonstrating the necessary stages of the process.  Parliament is now preparing legislation to implement this program.  CCS is one of the three options in the UK Government’s Carbon Abatement Technologies strategy.  The UK intends to be the leader in CCS technology and applications.

timhowardlaw

East Anglia University replies

The University of East Anglia, Climatic Research Unit, replied to the allegations concerning the suppression of academic content. On November 24, 2009 the Unit published statements on this matter, see http://www.uea.ac.uk/mac/comm/media/press/2009/nov/homepagenews/CRUupdate The Unit points to corroborating studies by the National Climatic Data Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Goddard Institute of Space Studies, of the National Aeronautic and Space Administration.

timhowardlaw

Carbon controversy

Controversy continues about the openness of academic and current journals concerning the issue of anthropogenic global climate change. The Climate Research Institute of East Anglia University is a leading source of work on global climate change. Members of the Institute were charged with discussing in emails how to prevent the publication of research showing skepticism toward human caused climate change. The story was repeated in several publications. Stay tuned for more developments.