The SEC on Climate Change

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted yesterday to issue interpretative guidance on what public companies must disclose to investors concerning climate change risks. A press release issued by the SEC states that the interpretative guidance is meant to clarify “certain existing disclosure rules that may require a company to disclose the impact that business or legal developments related to climate change may have on its business.”

Climate Change Rhetoric and Reality

As the UN conference enters its second and decisive week, the calls for strong global action to deal with climate change do not appear to be penetrating inside Copenhagen’s Bella Center.

One week down here in Copenhagen, and an enormous tide of words and images and sounds. There have been nonstop press conferences (the press briefing room at the Bella Center actually has bouncers to make sure the rhythm never stops), and an anarchist can’t throw a rock without hitting a blogger. On Sunday, I attended an incredibly beautiful service at the central Lutheran cathedral, where the Archbishop of Canterbury preached one of the most powerful sermons I’ve heard in years.

Global Carbon Emissions Increased Despite Recession

Despite an economic crisis dubbed the “great recession,” carbon emissions grew last year by two percent, to a total of 8.7 billions of carbon. Last year, every person in the world produced an average of 1.3 tons of carbon, according to a report by…

The Financial Crisis and Climate Change

The International Energy Agency on Tuesday called on world leaders to strike a deal to address climate change, warning that the current business-as-usual scenario is unsustainable and will lead to skyrocketing energy demand, price spikes and up to a 6 degree temperature rise.

The recession is projected to put a slight dent in emissions growth in 2009, the IEA said in releasing its latest World Energy Outlook, offering a small window of opportunity for the world to act. Without an international climate change agreement in Copenhagen next month, however, the savings “will count for nothing” because energy demand will continue growing once the economy revives.

Failing to act beyond 2010 would also cost the world an additional $500 billion each year, Reuters reported.

Coping With Climate Change

As the world warms, how different societies fare in dealing with rising seas and changing weather patterns will have as much to do with political, social, and economic factors as with a changing climate.

Chu Annouces 115 Million in Clean Energy Grants

Choosing Google’s Mountain View, Calif. campus as the venue for another big federal cleantech announcement, Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu launched a $151 million round of government…