The Global Energy

There are 190-odd nations represented at the climate talks that started this week, but arguably only two that matter: the “G2” of the US and China. Between them, they account for more than 40 per cent of global carbon emissions, so each has the chance to set an example others will follow. They are also the nations watching each other the closest.

Both have offered to curb emissions by 2020. The US has proposed a 17 per cent cut from its 2005 levels, and on Monday signalled the seriousness of its intent by announcing plans to regulate emissions without waiting for legislation from Congress. China last month set out a plan to cut its emissions per unit of economic output by 40-45 per cent compared with 2005. However, many gathered in Copenhagen believe neither commitment goes far enough.

Barack Obama, the US president, and Wen Jiabao, China’s premier, will attend as the summit closes at the end of next week, when they have a chance to strike a deal face to face, though the likelihood of success hangs in the balance. Ed Crooks and Valentina Romei illustrate the scale of the challenge facing the two countries and how the obstacles could be overcome.

Where we stand China has overtaken the US as the world’s biggest emitter, and its output of CO2 is still rising fast. On its present track, its emissions will be almost double those of the US by 2030. If global emissions are to peak by 2020, as scientists concerned about global warming demand, then output of CO2 must fall in the US and grow more slowly in China. Other countries matter, particularly large emerging economies, but it is the “G2” that really counts.

A hard road to travel Beijing and Washington have both now proposed curbs in their emissions – but only after some foot-dragging. Americans enjoy an energy-hungry lifestyle that they are unwilling to relinquish; while the Chinese aspire to approach those western standards of living. Beijing argues that the US has outsourced its CO2 production by importing manufactured goods. However, there is a big opportunity for China to cut emissions by raising the efficiency of industries such as steel and power generation to US levels.

A cleaner future Keeping emissions at a level that scientists say gives a fair chance of avoiding an unacceptable rise in temperatures will require a very different future for both the US and China. Each will have to use much less coal-fired electricity, for example, and opt instead for more renewables. Above all, people will have to use less energy. In the case of China, that means more energy than today, but less than they might have used without emissions curbs. In the US, it means using less than today – a difficult but a must adjustment.

EU leaders on Friday agreed that developing nations will need 100 billion euros per year by 2020 to tackle climate change, but failed to put a figure to Europe’s own contribution amid sharp east-west differences.

“We have an agreement,” said Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, at the end of a two-day European summit in Brussels. “The EU now has a strong negotiating position and the countdown to Copenhagen now has started,” he added, referring to international climate talks in Denmark in December.

The leaders called for developed countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95 percent by 2050, but went into very little detail on how this could be done. “The EU is ready to take its fair share of the global effort,” they said in a statement.

France, Germany and Italy had been keen not to show Europe’s hand ahead of the Copenhagen talks. “We are going to link our promises to what other countries offer and similarly our financial engagements,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, whose country had hoped for more flesh on the bones of the agreement, agreed the deal shows that “the European Union and its member states are ready to contribute their fair share of the cost. “Of course it is conditional on other countries playing a part too,” he added.

Even the 100 billion euro (150 billion dollar) per year figure which developing nations will need by 2020 will be found through an unspecified combination of developing countries’ “own efforts, the international carbon market and international public finance”.

The 27-nation bloc prides itself on leading the fight against climate change, and has already agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020.

It needs a strong, unified line to take to Copenhagen if it is to persuade the likes of China, the United States and India to make swingeing cuts themselves.

The EU also said it is willing to increase its own promised emissions cuts to 30 percent if the rest of the developed world does likewise at Copenhagen.

 Algae farming for oil is the next biggest opportunity for the Biofuel industry. Algae, like corn, soybeans, sugar cane, Jatropha, and other plants, use photosynthesis to convert solar energy into chemical energy. They store this energy in the form of oils, carbohydrates, and proteins. The plant oil can be converted to biodiesel; hence biodiesel is a form of solar energy. The more efficient a particular plant is at converting that solar energy into chemical energy, he better it is from a biodiesel perspective, and algae are among the most photosynthetically efficient plants on earth.

After the success of these summits, Growdiesel Climate Care Council is pleased to invite you to the International Workshop on Algae Biofuel to be held on the 12th & 13th of April 2010 in India. The workshop is focused on next generation of Biofuels using Algae as a main feedstock. The workshop offers an excellent opportunity for investors, entrepreneurs, Biofuel companies, renewable fuel experts, their associates and academia to share their valuable experiences and knowledge. The main objective of the workshop is to provide an understanding of the next generation feedstocks and technologies in the Algae Biofuel Industry. The workshop will be an excellent platform to disseminate information regarding research & development activities in the field of phycology, algae mass production systems, photobioreactor technologies and other important areas of Algae Biofuel Industry. The workshop’s technical & financial topics will encompass the entire Algae Biofuel Industry.

Growdiesel Climate Care Council is a non-commercial organization. The council works on non-profit basis for the welfare & benefit of the Society and presently dedicated to the cause of climate care through prevention of Global Warming. Growdiesel has organized three highly successful international summits “Algae Biofuel Summit 2008”, “Energy Farming Summit 2009” & “2nd Algae Biofuel Summit 2009” in India. These summits was attended by researchers, scientists, top management experts and delegates from leading research institutes, universities and reputed organizations from over 21 countries across the world.