International Council on Clean Transportation / Chuck Shulock, Ed Pike, Alan Lloyd, and Robert Rose http://www.theicct.org/pubs/ICCT_VEPstudy_March2011.pdf [From Report Page] Transforming the passenger and light-duty vehicle fleet into one more heavily reliant on electric vehicles will demand collaboration among government, industry, other stakeholders, and the public—no simple venture to manage at any time. To help chart … Continue reading »
Posted on March 11, 2011 …
Improving Energy Market Regulation Domestic and International Issues
Council on Foreign Relations / by Daniel P. Ahn http://tinyurl.com/4qpjut7 Highs and volatile energy prices have driven the regulation of commodity financial markets to the forefront of the U.S. and G20 policy agendas, including the upcoming 2011 G20 meeting in France. Integrated commodity markets require international policy coordination, but not all policy initiatives are equally … Continue reading »
Implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
US NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service http://www.legislative.noaa.gov/Testimony/Schwaab030811.pdf [PEN-e posting] This testimony of Eric Schwaab, Assistant Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and the Coast Guard, on March 8, 2011 states that the U.S. is making good progress toward meeting the … Continue reading »
Flood Insurance: Public Policy Goals Provide a Framework for Reform
Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-429T?source=ra Congressional action is needed to increase the financial stability of NFIP and limit taxpayer exposure. GAO previously identified four public policy goals that can provide a framework for crafting or evaluating proposals to reform NFIP. These goals are: (1) charging premium rates that fully reflect risks, (2) limiting costs to taxpayers … Continue reading »
Governmental Energy Innovation Investments, Policies and Institutions in the Major Emerging Economies: Brazil, Russia, India, Mexico, China, and South Africa
Belfer Center, Kennedy School, Harvard Univ. / by Ruud Kempener, Laura Diaz Anadon and Jose Condor Tarco http://tinyurl.com/48rt46u Over the past decade, countries with emerging economies like Brazil, Russia, India, Mexico, China, and South Africa have become important global players in political and economic domains. In 2007, these six countries consumed and produced more than … Continue reading »
National Security Implications of Climate Change for U.S. Naval Forces
National Academy Press (free download with registration) http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12914 [From Press Release] To protect U.S. interests, U.S. naval forces need to fund a strong, consistent effort to increase Arctic operations and cold weather training programs. U.S. naval leaders should continue to stress to Congress the value and operational benefits of ratifying the United Nations Convention on … Continue reading »
Climate Forcing Due to Optimization of Maximal Leaf Conductance in Subtropical Vegetation Under Rising CO2
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (March 8, 2011 vol. 108 no. 10 4041-4046) / by Hugo Jan de Boer, Emmy I. Lammertsma, Friederike Wagner-Cremer, David L. Dilcher, Martin J. Wassen, and Stefan C. Dekker (open access article) http://www.pnas.org/content/108/10/4041.abstract?sid=1a0a6824-d731-4c05-920d-8a877ee034b2 [Yale Environment 360] A study of plant samples from the past 150 years shows that … Continue reading »
Economic Assessment of Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies: 2011 Update
Global CCS Institute http://tinyurl.com/478yqvv This report presents an update of the economics of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) prepared in 2009. The 2009 report was commissioned by the Global CCS Institute and delivered as Foundation Report Two in the series of five studies undertaken as part of the Strategic Analysis of the Global Status of … Continue reading »
The Global Status of CCS: 2010
Global CCS Institute (Australia) http://www.globalccsinstitute.com/global-status-ccs-2010 This report consolidates the current understanding of the level and nature (both public and private) of global CCS activities, as well as the major opportunities and challenges experienced by large-scale integrated projects (LSIPs). The report also seeks to assist domestic governments focus their responses to accelerate the demonstration phase of … Continue reading »
Global Honey Bee Colony Disorders and Other Threats to Insect Pollinators
UN Environment Programme http://tinyurl.com/6dr4ky5 [Yale Environment 360] The mysterious decline of honeybee populations observed in the U.S. and Europe is now a global phenomenon, according to a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Scientists say significant die-offs are now occurring in managed bee colonies in China and Japan, and there are indications … Continue reading »
