Mandatory Carbon Capture for Fossil Fuel Power Plants to be Tabled in the European Parliament
Chris Davies, member of the European Parliament and parliamentary rapporteur for draft carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology legislation in the European Union (EU) plans to table a proposal in the parliament to ban new fossil fuel plants in the region unless they feature (CCS) technology. Under the...

Solar Market Sizzles
The total energy output of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells sold around the world in 2007 increased 51% to 3,733 megawatts (Mw) according to independent research group the Worldwatch Institute (Washington, DC) in conjunction with solar energy research group Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development...

EU May Fast-track Green Technology Patents
The European Union (EU) is considering fast-tracking applications for patents relating to technologies that could curb climate change, according to comments made earlier this week by European Union (EU) industry commissioner Günter Verheugen. Verheugen made the comments at the annual European...

Residents Protest Against China's Chengdu Petchem Complex
Up to 500 residents of the city of Chengdu, China took to the streets during the weekend to protest against previously disclosed plans by PetroChina Sichuan Petrochemical (PSP), a PetroChina subsidiary, to build an petrochemicals complex at Pengzhou near Chengdu, reports say. Most of the protesters were...

Carbon Capture Technologies Challenged as "Unproven, Risky and Expensive"
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is nothing more than a “false hope,” according to a report published this week by environmental group ...

Study Finds Chemical Industry at Relatively Low Risk from Climate Change
The chemical industry, along with sectors including telecommunications, and food and drink, are among the sectors that enjoy a “safe haven” from the risks associated with climate change, according to a study by KPMG. “The chemical industry is in the safe haven zone due to its high level of preparedness versus its relatively moderate level of risk,” the study states....

Innovation: Spray-on Element Improves Efficiency
Materials technology firm 2D Heat (Liverpool, U.K.) has developed a new materials technology that enables the spray-on production of heating elements, which may be used in domestic appliances including cookers. The spray-on elements are made from specially formulated metal alloy oxides.   The heating...

EU Finance Institutions Start Post-2012 Carbon Credit Fund
    Five European Union (EU) public finance institutions have come together to create a €125 million ($181 million) carbon credit fund. The fund will be used to purchase and trade carbon credits generated for the post-Kyoto period which begins in 2012, and potentially will run until 2022. The...

Houston, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh Among Top 5 Most Polluted U.S. Cities
The top five most polluted U.S. cities include Houston, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh, according to a study released today by the American Lung Association (Washington), which ranked cities most affected by three types of pollution—short-term particle pollution, year-round particle pollution and ozone...

Linde Forms Landfill Gas-to-Fuel JV
The Linde Group and Waste Management (Houston) have formed a joint venture to build a $15.5-million liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility to convert landfill gas into liquid fuel at Livermore, CA. The facility, which is slated for operation in...