The head of the International Energy Agency told last week's major economies meeting in Hawaii a "CO2 incentive" of US$200 a tonne would be needed to deliver a 50% cut in emissions by 2050, the IEA revealed yesterday.
Meanwhile, the head of Australia's mining union, Tony Maher, has canvassed the creation of a new climate change pressure group and has urged resource companies to massively boost their spending on carbon capture and storage.
Treasury tells Rudd to put Australia 'on a clean energy footing' * Wong says we will set an interim target, as UN climate change chief urges major emitters to deploy climate change 'Marshall plan' * Victoria's Hazelwood power plant a cleaner fossil fuels case study as global energy agency suggests replacing or upgrading more than a third of the world's coal-fired capacity
* NSW environment group weighs in against NSW power industry privatisation * Program offers industry a 'low-risk' chance to test sustainability, Garrett says * 6-star green building flurry continues * Wood waste power plant proposed for WA
The European Commission last night unveiled plans for a sweeping overhaul of the EU's emissions trading scheme. It also proposed new measures to speed up the development of carbon capture and storage and to put Europe on a path to meet its 20% by 2020 renewables target.
And in comments likely to set off alarm bells for Australian exporters to Europe, EC President José Manuel Barroso floated the prospect of protecting the competitiveness of EU industry by requiring importers to obtain emission allowances.
CE Daily reports on the latest initiatives from the region widely seen as the global pacesetter on climate change policy. (with video
