Elizabeth Halterman

December 11, 2010

Chinese Entrepreneur Pushes for Climate Change Policies

Zhang Yue, one of China's wealthiest entrepreneurs, and owner of Broad Air Conditioning, is doing his part to promote climate change policies that will make it more costly to use electric utilities that come from burning coal. His company produces absorption chillers, a type of air conditioning that is expensive to install, but less expensive to operate in the long run, since they are powered by diesel or natural gas.

Source:

Keith Bradsher, Chinese Tycoon Focuses on Green Construction, N.Y. Times, Dec. 7, 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/business/global/08tycoon.html.

USDA Funds Seven Programs to Help Restore Puerto Rican Coral Reefs

Over the next fiscal year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide over $ 200,000 to fund seven independent local projects in Puerto Rico in an effort to restore and protect coral reefs. The programs were chosen by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and aim at reducing nutrient and sediment runoff from sugarcane and coffee plantations.

Source:

Amanda Peterka, USDA Funds Projects to Help Restore Degraded Coral Reef in Puerto Rico, E & E News: Greenwire, Dec. 8, 2010, http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2010/12/08/25/.

Belize Fisheries Minister Bans Trawling To Protect Coral Reefs

Belize has joined a small group of countries that have put forth a blanket prohibition on trawling, or dragging fishing nets along the sea floor. The ban against trawling will become effective December 31, with hopes of protecting marine habitats while also promoting the quickly-growing tourism industry focused on scuba diving.

Source:

Paul Quinlan, Belize Bans Trawling in Bid to Protect Reefs, E & E News PM, Dec. 8, 2010, http://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2010/12/08/10/

In Cancun, Japan Advisor Pushes for Global Carbon Market

Japan's primary climate-protection negotiator has proposed a $ 6.3 trillion carbon market during an interview at the United Nations talks in Cancun. The program has little support, even from Japan. The plan calls for a global cap on carbon emissions, and proposes a worldwide allowance of 660 billion tons through 2050.

Source:

Matthew Carr, Japan Adviser Nishimura Proposes $6.3 Trillion Carbon Market for Climate, Bloomberg, Dec. 9, 2010, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-09/japan-advisor-nishimura-proposes-6-3-trillion-carbon-market-for-climate.html

Final Day of Talks in Cancun Show Little Hope for the Kyoto Protocol

Today is the crucial day for negotiations in Cancun surrounding the Kyoto Protocol. Many participants to the talks feel that if the stalemate cannot be broken today, then all hope may be lost for the future of a negotiated international treaty on emission caps.

Source:

Lisa Friedman, Future of Kyoto Protocol Remains in Serious Doubt as Cancun Talks Enter Final Day, E & E News: ClimateWire, Dec. 10, 2010, http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2010/12/10/1/.