CCAC Commits to Scaling Up Action on Short-Lived Climate Pollutants

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3 September 2013: Members of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) met for the third meeting of the High Level Assembly, adopting a Communiqué reiterating their commitment to address near-term climate change, improve air quality and public health, and strengthen food and energy security, by taking urgent action to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) like black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

In the Communiqué, CCAC members encourage a global awareness-raising effort to prevent air pollution-related diseases, which account for over six million deaths annually. The Communiqué also includes sections on scaling-up global efforts on: oil and natural gas production; municipal solid waste; hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) alternative technology and standards; heavy duty diesel vehicles and engines; support to national planning for action on SLCPs; brick production; household cooking and domestic heating; and regional assessments of SLCPs.

The meeting of the Assembly, which took place on 3 September 2013, in Oslo, Norway, was co-hosted by Norway's Minister of Environment and the Minister of International Development. At the meeting, Norway committed to contributing an additional 110 million Norwegian kroner (approximately US$20 million) to reduce emissions of SLCPs in developing countries.

The CCAC also announced three new members, namely: the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation; the Centre for Science and Environment; and Local Governments for Sustainability. The Coalition now brings together 72 partners, including 33 government partners, the European Commission, eight intergovernmental organizations and 30 non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Launched in February 2012, CCAC aims to catalyze action on reducing black carbon, methane, certain hydroflurocarbons (HFCs) and other short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) to maximize agricultural, climate, energy and health benefits. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) hosts the Coalition Secretariat. [UNEP Press Release] [Communiqué] [CCAC Website] [CCAC Press Release]

read more: http://climate-l.iisd.org/news/ccac-commits-to-scaling-up-action-on-short-lived-climate-pollutants/

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California carbon twice as expensive as European

The cost of carbon in California has risen sharply while the equivalent in the European Emissions Trading System has so far gained little from yesterday’s long-awaited reform proposals

London, 26 July 2012 – A reduction in regulatory uncertainty in California, and concern about a nuclear power outage, have helped to push the price of a carbon allowance in the US’ most populous state to more than double that in the much longer-established European Union Emissions Trading System.

The value of a California Carbon Allowance (CCA) for delivery in December 2012 closed at $19.50 per metric ton of CO2 equivalent (EUR16.04/tCO2) on 24 July, the highest closing price of the year so far. The price for European Union Allowances (EUAs) for delivery in December 2012 closed at EUR7.20/tCO2 on the same day.

The much higher price in California may be surprising to Europeans, given perceptions about American reluctance to take action on climate change. Ironically, the California scheme was almost derailed earlier this year by legal action taken by an environmental action group (the Association of Irritated Residents) who insisted that the scheme was not strict enough.

The price of EUAs has remained low despite the European Commission’s release yesterday of its proposal for changes to auctioning volumes in Phase III of the EU ETS, which begins in 2013. These changes, if approved by both Parliament and the Council, would delay some of the auctioning volume originally intended for the early years of Phase III, into the later years. The changes were proposed by the European Commission in response to widespread criticism that the price in the EU ETS is too low to promote the necessary investments in clean energy.

In the long term, Bloomberg New Energy Finance expects prices in both the Californian and EU ETS to rise significantly, since the emission reduction targets in both parts of the world for the period beyond 2020 are likely to continue to strengthen. At the moment the firm’s base case forecast for the spot price of an allowance in 2020 in both markets is the same, at EUR45/tCO2 ($55/tCO2). The fact that the forecasts are the same is purely coincidental and belies significant structural differences in the two markets; the EU ETS has access to the Kyoto market for international credits whereas California does not; and the largest sector in the EU ETS is the power sector while transportation is the largest emitter in the California market.

Matthew Cowie, head of carbon market research at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, commented, “While it appears that Europe has the political will to give the EU ETS more teeth in the long term, the process of fixing the problems continues to suffer delays. A month ago most market participants thought that changes to the Auctioning Regulation could be in place by the end of 2012, but most commentators now expect that this will take well into 2013 to accomplish. This market needs both ambition and structural stability in order to regain its lost importance.”

Michel Di Capua, head of North American research at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, commented, “After several failed attempts to introduce cap-and-trade at the national level, there’s a widespread belief that carbon markets are dead in North America. Not so. We are on the verge of seeing the emergence of a meaningful tradable market that over the long run will transform California’s power, industrial, and transport sectors. The business community should take note; this market will impact some of the country’s largest utilities and some of the world’s biggest oil and gas players, among others.”

Futures contracts for the California market have been trading since 2011. Its underlying spot market is due to begin in 2013. The EU ETS saw the first futures trading in 2003, and the start of spot trading in 2005.

For further information:
Matthew Cowie
Bloomberg New Energy Finance
+44 20 3216 4780
mcowie2@bloomberg.net

 

Global Expansion Continues With US Deal

The Bristol Post
Michael Ribbeck
August 8 2012

A-Gas buys disposal specialist

A company based in Portishead which specializes in supplying gases used in refrigeration has just completed its fourth takeover this year.

A-Gas has gone on its acquisition spree as part of a strategy to expand into international markets.

The firm is already one of the world's largest suppliers of refrigerated gases, environmental services and specialty gases and chemicals.

The company, which also has offices in Bristol, has bough United States based RemTec International in its latest deal. The firm specializes in disposing of harmful gases.

The value of the deal was not made public but it took place with support from private equity specialist LDC, which invested in the firm in April 2011.

RemTec was set up in 1986 and provides products and services inolved in managing Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and substances high in Global Warming Potential (GWP) across the world. 

As part of the expansion plan A-Gas has now got a presence in the Middle East, China, Australia and India as well as Latin America.

RemTec has contracts with organizations all over the world to remove, recycle and remarket halocarbons.

The acquisition of RemTec follows on from similar acquisitions of Australian-based Technochem in March and SA Rural in May, and UK based A-Zone Technologies in April.

John Rutley, chairman of A-Gas International, said, "The acquisition of RemTec is another great example of our ambition to grow the business on a global scale." 

"RemTec brings a market leadership position in Halons and a strong platform for growth in refrigerants; we believe that there is real scope to build further upon RemTec's success to date in North America, whilst also driving value across the enlarged group."

Ian Podmore of LDC added: "2012 has been an exceptionally busy year to date for A-Gas. RemTec is the fourth strategic acquisition completed by the business this year and not only strengthens their existing position in the global refrigerant market but also gives the business real scale within the USA."

"The transaction brings many strategic benefits to A-Gas and is part of an agreed strategy to rapidly expand and build the business both through organic investment and bolt-on acquisitions. We will continue to work closely with the team to drive their amitious growth plans."

Yann Souillard, managing director of LDC South Region, added: "LDC's South team has worked in close conjunction with the management team to support their ambitious 'buy and build' growth strategy. As part of our investment commitment, LDC works closely with our investment portfolio to provide expertise and follow-on funding when the right target companies become available."

CCAs trade lower in light weekly volume

SAN FRANCISCO- June 7 (Reuters Point Carbon) - California carbon allowances (CCAs) for delivery in 2013 slid 5 cents from their close one week ago to end Thursday at $15.50 per tonne in the lightest weekly trading volume so far this year.

Just 10,000 CCAs changed hands in two trades this week on the IntercontinentalExchange (ICE), with all of the action taking place on Thursday.

In the over-the-counter market, CCAs were bid at $15.25/t and offered at $15.75/t, one broker said.
"It seems like the market is just waiting for time to pass and for more people to get into the game," a second broker said Thursday. "The same people can only trade so much with each other until others get in on the fun."

Many in the market believe there will not be any significant trading volume or price swings until after the November allowance auction.

OFFSETS
No trades were reported for California carbon offsets (CCOs), where buyers and sellers are engaged in a standoff over credit prices.

Bids for offsets derived from the destruction of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), the most popular type of compliance-grade credit, have recently inched up from $6.50/t to $7.25/t, but sellers have refused to meet buyers at any price lower than $7.50/t, a broker said.

"The sellers have drawn a line in the sand and are content to sit at the $7.50/t level," he said.
Sellers have said that a price less than $7.50/t they would be approaching the cost of producing the credits, the broker added, although he said they may just be posturing.

Other sellers believe that offset credits, which are supposed to serve as a lower-price compliance instrument, should not be selling at a discount greater than 50 percent of an allowance.

RGGI
No trades were reported for allowances in the northeast's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) this week, market sources said.

RGGI allowances for delivery in December 2012 were bid at $1.93 and offered at $2.00 in the over-the-counter market this week, unchanged from a week ago, sources said.

RGGI auctioned 36.4 million 2012 allowances on Wednesday.

The number of allowances sold and the clearing price for those permits will be announced on Friday, a RGGI spokesperson said.

Brokers in the market expect the allowances to clear around the program's reserve price of $1.93/t. (Reporting by Rory Carroll; editing by Bob Burgdorfer and M.D. Golan)

Summary of Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol

Halt on gas import

Samisoni Nabilivalu
Friday, December 23, 2011

THE Department of Environment has revealed that a batch of Refrigerant 134A (R134A) sold locally is actually not 100 per-cent R134A.

The imported refrigerant is used in the car air conditioning systems and commercial and domestic refrigeration.

According to the packaging, the cylinder contains R134A but tests conducted by Seru Ramakita, an Ozone Depleting Substances Inspector with Department of Environment, have proven otherwise.

Mr Ramakita made the discovery by accident earlier this year when demonstrating the use of a refrigerant identifier to customs officers at a workshop in Lautoka.

"The R134A I used for the demonstration was not 100 per cent," he said.

"It was cross contaminated with chlorofluorocarbon and hydro chlorofluorocarbons.

"I kept the discovery to myself because it was a big issue.

"I needed more evidence before we could make any moves and I was hoping one of the companies would bring it up as well."

Lincoln Refrigeration Limited director Praveen Singh was the first to approach Mr Ramakita after the processors for some of their fridges kept burning out.

Mr Singh said he suspected the R134A was inferior and Mr Ramakita confirmed his suspicions after he tested the gas.

"We also supply gas and we've never had this problem before.

"We had a shortage of gas, so we bought the R134A from another supplier," Mr Singh said.

Mr Ramakita confirmed all importers, wholesalers, and retailers of the product had been instructed to halt imports and remove the refrigerant from their shelves as investigations continue.

He said many businesses would have suffered unnecessarily if the product had continued to be used.

Mr Ramakita would not identify the manufacturer or local supplier of the product.

FIFA - Federation International de Football Association

FIFA has announced the countries awarded the 2018 and 2022 bids to be Russia in 2018 and Qatar 2010.

Why is this on the ODS Destruction of Carbon Credits? Well... One of the reasons that Qatar won the bid was because they are introducing a CARBON-NEUTRAL cooling system in a new state of the art stadium. This will reduce the risk of players collapsing from heat exhaustion and even keep the fans comfortable. That time of the year in Qatar, the temperatures are around 110 degree.

Qatar 2022 Chairman His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani said: "Today's unveiling of our state-of-the-art football stadia and innovative cooling technology is the latest step in our quest to bring the FIFA World Cup to the Middle East for the very first time in 2022. A FIFA World Cup in Qatar will leave a powerful and lasting legacy, bringing together nations and cultures through our shared passion for football.

"These plans show just how serious, innovative and focussed we are about hosting a FIFA World Cup that will deliver a fantastic experience for players, fans and the media.

Our stadiums will have zero carbon cooling equipment utilising solar technology to ensure the temperature is no higher than 27 degrees Celsius, ensuring optimum playing conditions and a comfortable environment for fans. This same environmentally friendly, carbon-neutral technology will ensure training sites, fan fest and fan zones are also cool and comfortable. What we have unveiled today is a world first, and as part of Qatar's commitment to delivering an historic legacy we will share this groundbreaking technology with the rest of the world."

Maybe this will encourage other people around the world to Go Green!