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September 4, 2008 |
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THIS ISSUE'S SPONSOR
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A Note from the Editor
By Eric Olson
Act Now...and Take the Long View
The developments described in this week's stories reflect the continuing boom in public and private sector initiatives aimed at addressing energy security and global climate change. They also drive home a critical point for those trying to build support for meaningful action in their own organizations: "the time for action is now, but be ready for a marathon rather than a sprint."
Our feature article on forest-based offsets from Katoomba's Ecosystem Marketplace provides a useful overview of the complex topic of forest-based carbon offsets and the role that they might play in the highly complex debates and discussions taking place in national and international policy circles on the road to a hoped-for "post-Kyoto" agreement in Copenhagen next year. See also the latest news from UNGCC meetings in Ghana. With or without an effective international agreement, these policies and instruments are guaranteed to play a significant role in the life of companies all over the world, and the learning curve will be steep. Just ask Xcel Energy, who have made an unprecendented agreement to disclose potential climate liabilities in its 10K filings to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as the result of an inquiry by the NY State Attorney General. Others will follow suit.
While citizens and officials on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. grapple with the current reality of extreme weather in that hurricane-prone region, the mayor of London announced the latest package of initiatives in the City's long term "Climate Change Adaptation Strategy." Smart. New York and other cities are advised to take note...
Geothermal energy has also been in the news, with a major investment by Google that brings its geothermal investment up to a full half of the total committed to date by the U.S. government(?!). What's at stake? A recent MIT report estimates that only 2 percent of the heat between 3-10 kilometers beneath the U.S. surpasses the country’s energy use by more than 2,500 times. Getting it will take time, and a lot more investment.
Similarly, on the solar front, Mitsubishi has committed more than half a billion dollars to increase its new PV panel production four-fold -- to 600 MW capacity over the next four years.
A thorough assessment of these and other emerging challenges/opportunities is a significant undertaking, to say nothing of developing and executing a good strategy. Time to get started.
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Greening Distribution with Industrial Infills
By Leslie Guevarra
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For years, distribution centers were built outside urban centers. But concerns about fuel and energy costs are prompting firms to rethink that strategy. Steven E. Campbell of AMB Property Corporation talks about industrial infills as a solution.... Listen
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One of the largest U.S. utilities agreed to give its investors a thorough analysis of the financial and physical risks it faces from climate change.
The United States looks set to implement a cap-and-trade regime for greenhouse gas emissions regardless of whether the next President is named Obama or McCain -- and all signs point to a significant role for forestry offsets