New nuclear plants not ‘democratic’, at least for the time being

In the aftermath of Fukushima nuclear disaster, the word ‘nuclear’ has become so sensitive that it touches the nerves of ordinary people. This week, groups of battling protesters clashed with police in France and Germany over a Germany-boundtrainload of nuclear waste. In a poll released by GlobeScan today, there is little public appetite across the world for building new nuclear reactors. Over 70% of respondents believe their country “could almost entirely replace coal and nuclear energy within 20 years by becoming highly energy-efficient and focusing on generating energy from the Sun and wind”. Running counter to public opinion and opposed to German and Swiss governments, the UK has embarked on one of the most ambitious nuclear programmes in Europe, with plans for up to 12 new reactors by 2025. Personally, I do not recommend any expansion of nuclear power until scientists celebrate the birth of nuclear fusion technique which pro-nuclear countries are desperate for. The government’s decision to give a go-ahead to a number of nuclear projects across Britain may be based more on political than environmental considerations.

A simplified Carbon Reduction Commitment, can it become a commitment for both business and the environment?

Manchester United and some 20 top energy performers are shined whereas interesting high-street brands such as Virgin Atlantic and Sheraton Hotels are shamed on the first ever CRC Energy Efficiency Performance League Table, published by the Environment Agency last Tuesday (8 Nov). The league table, however, is being criticised by major retailers as not being reflective of the true and whole picture of organisations’ efforts to reduce their environmental impact primarily because they are not compared like with like. Ricocheting in the minds of many entrepreneurs are the carbon reduction compliance procedures which have also been blamed to be overly complex and bureaucratic.

In June, the Energy & Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne, listened to this view and announced details of simplification to the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme to make it more “business-friendly”. The policy document principally reviews the private sector organisational rules, CRC supply rules, qualification criteria, overlapping between similar carbon reduction schemes and timing and frequency of allowances sales from 2012 onwards. DECC will publish a green paper to consult the public on all areas where simplifications could be discussed early next year. When our carbon emissions still rose by 3% during a recession-sodden year – 2010, would this ‘pure’ simplification exercise for the CRC that is to accomplish the sacred mission of facilitating businesses to meet the UK’s stringent carbon budgets be the right thing to do? Would this become a commitment to businesses rather than to our environment? Can we turn it to be a commitment for both?

The state of green built environment in Britain

Hard on the heels of its confirmation that non-domestic new builds must be ‘zero-carbon’ by 2019 before last Christmas, Whitehall has this spring launched a Carbon Plan to tackle climate change. The latest plan highlights, among other things, the required changes in the way electricity is generated, in the way people travel as well as in the way homes and businesses are heated. Coupled with a hierarchy of national Acts, regulations and codes and guidance on built environment, Her Majesty’s Government are adopting a multi-pillar approach to meet the UK’s carbon reduction targets in punctuality. This chapter aims to introduce and briefly discuss the latest green build policies, regulations and assessment systems in the United Kingdom, which have a major part to play in driving the economy to an era of low-carbon growth.

The State of Carbon Finance in Europe: a ‘SWOT’ Analysis of the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme

As Phase 3 of the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) will begin in January 2012 when airlines operating flights to or from Europe will have to buy carbon permits to help offset their emissions under EU legislation, carbon finance and trading in Europe is set to proceed to a new horizon. Launched in January 2005, EU ETS is one of the established multilateral measures in the broader climate deals which are tackling the vertiginous growth of carbon emissions in the region on its way to attain its “20-20-20” targets. Illustrating the background of and the relevant operational aspects of the EU ETS, this article will investigate the efficacy, potential problems, business opportunities and uncertainties of the ETS by taking a SWOT analysis. It will lead to a discussion on the system’s usefulness in mitigating the ‘common’ problem of climate change.


Click here to access a recent video - "The European Emissions Trading Scheme: 2020 & beyond" - produced by Comment Visions.