A summary of today’s top climate and clean energy stories.
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Source: Flickr / davidd
China: China said on Monday it would give rewards amounting to 5 billion yuan ($816.91 million) for curbing air pollution in six regions where the problem is serious, underscoring government concern about a source of public anger. (Reuters)
UK: Fuel cell technology used to power Nasa’s space shuttle will provide light and heat for Al Gore’s new London headquarters.The fuel cell, which converts gas into heat and electricity without producing carbon emissions, has been installed in a major crown estate development in Regent Street in the capital. (Guardian)
Bulgaria: The air in Bulgaria is thicker with several major air pollutants than the air in any other country in Europe, according to a new study prepared by Europe’s environmental regulators. (New York Times)
Germany: The EU has postponed a deal to limit emissions from new cars to 95g CO2/km by 2020, after intense lobbying against the new proposals from a German-led coalition. (RTCC)
US: Governor Jay Inslee said Monday he supports an absolute cap on carbon-fuel emissions in Washington as one of a half-dozen ideas he thinks can get the state closer to reaching goals set in 2008 for cutting the greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming. (Bellingham Herald)
Australia: Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he believes Bill Shorten will be forced to back the Coalition’s plan to repeal the carbon tax, saying Labor’s new leader is “nothing if not a political pragmatist”. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Germany: Solar and wind energy production accounted for as much as 60% of Germany’s electricity use on October 3rd, according to a new study from energy consultant Bernard Chabot. At peak production — right around 12pm that day — wind energy and solar energy were producing about 59.1% of the northern country’s power. (Clean Technica)
EU: Only two of the long-awaited 248 projects of common interest to link Europe’s energy network will be smart grids, the European Commission has said, in an oft-predicted setback for plans to rationally manage energy demand and integrate renewable sources. (EurActiv)
UK: The UK government’s plans to encourage fracking face a legal challenge from Greenpeace, the NGO announced earlier today. It calls plans to encourage the controversial method of extracting gas from rock “reckless and presumptuous” and said it hopes similar actions across the country could create a patchwork of “no-go” areas for shale gas drilling. (RTCC)
EU: Environmentalists fear that the European Commission’s energy department is launching a new push for business-friendly climate goals for 2030 which could advance buildings efficiency action at the expense of measures in the industry, power and transport sectors. (EurActiv)