It’s a big issue. So big that the mere fact four key developing countries and the US managed to reach any kind of agreement – even a weak one – on some overarching principles, led a few commentators to point out that the Copenhagen meeting wasn’t a complete disaster.

But of course the agreement was weak – it lacked crucial specifics such as emissions targets. There’s still some time to reach a truly binding agreement before the Kyoto protocol expires in 2012 – but some key negotiators are beginning to sound pessimistic about the prospects this year.

Continue reading: “Developing-vs-developed climate tensions still going on strong”

Tags: Copenhagen
Posted in Emissions, Politics | Permalink

Falklands oil questions are about payloads, not conflict

February 24, 2010 9:06 am by Kate Mackenzie

It’s a big week for the Falkland Islands. A UK small oil company, Desire, began drilling in deepwaters about 100 miles north off the islands on Monday, and more British companies will begin drilling in the coming months.

The renewed interest in oil reserves have ratcheted up diplomatic tensions between Argentina and Britain over the Falklands. Yesterday, heads of state from every the Latin America and the Caribbean nations issued statements supporting Argentina’s claim over the Falkland Islands. Today, Argentina’s foreign minister Jorge Taiana, will meet with UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon to press his country’s case for sovereignty.

Memories of the 1982 Britain-Argentina conflict are being revived, but the bigger question seems to be over whether the ‘wildcats’ about to drill in the area will make good on their bets.

Continue reading: “Falklands oil questions are about payloads, not conflict”

Posted in Corporate news, Markets, Oil, Politics | Permalink

A lot of guesswork about Bloom Energy’s fuel cells

February 24, 2010 7:39 am by Kate Mackenzie

Fuel cells hold a special place in the hearts of many energy optimists; and clean tech still doesn’t hit the mainstream media that often, so excitement (and scepticism) over start-up Bloom Energy is fairly understandable.

A segment on CBS’s 60 Minutes three days before the company’s first big press launch later today guaranteed at least a couple of days of speculative coverage. Much of the reason for the hype is the involvement of VC firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caulfield and Byers, an early investor in Google. And the less successful Segway.

Grizzled energy-watchers are harder to convince than the tech audience: even if one small company did make a transformative development, they tend to reason, the challenges of scale, grid upgrades, and other infrastructure challenges remain extremely difficult.

Continue reading: “A lot of guesswork about Bloom Energy’s fuel cells”

Posted in Corporate news, Emissions, Gas | Permalink