Browsing: <a href="/tag/energy-efficiency">Energy efficiency</a> <i class="grey">•</i> <a href="/tag/ccs">CCS</a>

As the G8 summit looms, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair releases a report telling G8 leaders the world needs a radical solution – involving cleaner coal and nuclear power – that steers the world away from carbon dependency.



Meanwhile, California outlines plans for a 30% emissions cut by 2020.

• The verdict is already in, Coalition and Greens tell Garrett
  
• UK clean coal critic to speak at Sydney forum
  
• Energy efficiency and NPV: how Roche got more than the low-hanging fruit

A PwC survey of more than 100 senior power utility executives across the globe - including 15 in Australia - shows industry expectations of 'clean coal' are generally low, and most believe nuclear power will edge out renewables as the technology having the biggest impact on greenhouse gas emissions.

It's Labor's first commitment period – with the Rudd government last night setting out where its climate change and environment cash will be spent over 2008-2012. New Budget climate measures will get $341.6 million in 2008-09 and a total of $2.3 billion over 2007-08 to 2011-12.



Meanwhile, Treasurer Wayne Swan says the review of the tax system – due to report by the end of 2009 – will 'look at the role to be played by environmental taxes'.

CE Daily looks at where the money will go and guides you through the maze of Budget papers.

• Modelling of 78% revenue loss will make us wary of clean coal investments, says brown coal generator
  
• Expect an initial carbon price 'north of $20'
  
• 'Busting the emissions trading myths'
  
• MRET, MLET or neither?
  
• NSW prospects not so bleak for carbon storage
  
• Transmission concerns a major barrier for renewables

The Rudd government should remove tax breaks for personal use of company cars and abolish the Fuel Tax Credits scheme that gives tax breaks worth more than a billion dollars a year to the mining industry, Australian Conservation Foundation chief Don Henry told the National Press Club today. (plus audio)



Henry also urged the government to remove tax concessions for aviation fuel and push for resource companies to boost their 'miserable' levels of spending on R&D into technologies such as carbon capture and storage.

The Victorian state government will, in the next 10 days, sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Clinton Initiative that will focus on carbon capture and storage and low-emission and energy efficiency technologies, Victorian Premier John Brumby has just announced.

• Federal government kicks off trading consultations
  
  
  
• Work out now what a carbon price signal means for you, industry association warns
  
  
  
• Victoria sets out CCS legislative timetable
  
  
  
• Greens urge Rudd and Brumby to follow UK lead on housing and energy
  
  
  
• APEC puts corporate social responsibility on the agenda

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.

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