John Podesta, Counselor to the President, who oversees climate change and energy policy for the administration is departing the White House and will now be a top adviser to presumed Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. He discussed the administration’s efforts on climate policy in an interview with the Washington Post. “I think we’ve done a very,… Keep reading →
Over the past few months, with oil prices at historical lows, China imported more oil than it needed, putting extra capacity into storage and boosting monthly imports to a high of 7.2 million barrels per day in December. According to price reporting agency Platts, around 300,000 barrels per day were likely earmarked for commercial storage… Keep reading →
The Climate Department of China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) recently published an article entitled “Regarding the Fundamental Conditions and Operational Thinking Behind the Promotion and Establishment of the National Carbon Emissions Rights Trading Market” (National Market Plan).
Russia’s currency crisis has caused Apple to boost iPhone prices, Ikea to suspend sales and regulators in Moscow to slash vodka prices. But this may be the most unusual fallout yet of the plunging ruble: China’s National Meteorological Center warned its weather forecasting abilities may be hampered by Russia’s currency problems. “Our weather forecasts might… Keep reading →
Cheaper oil has not been translating into economic growth over the last six months and falling oil prices have also stoked deflationary fears. Some countries have been using the drop in oil prices as an opportunity to raise gasoline taxes, slash fuel subsidies or both. China has raised fuel consumption taxes by 50% since November,… Keep reading →
The U.S. wind power industry said on Wednesday that it had a solid 2014, with 2,500 turbines capable of producing 4,850 megawatts put into operation, a big jump from 2013’s piddling gain of 1,098 MW. Plus, as the year drew to a close, nearly 100 projects totaling 12,700 MW were under construction. Pretty picture, right?… Keep reading →
The second big round of SolarWorld’s controversial trade cases ended in the usual fashion on Wednesday, with the U.S. International Trade Commission handing the Oregon-based unit of the German company a final victory that expands duties on Chinese solar manufacturers and penalizes Taiwanese companies that underpriced their solar products in the United States. The ITC… Keep reading →
At the world’s largest electronics trade show – the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas – among the many cool consumer gadgets, which saw the light of the day for the first time, was a vehicle that could be grouped into a category named ‘sustainable urban mobility / environmentally friendly urban living’. Remember the… Keep reading →
In 2008, as Beijing geared up for the summer Olympics by stockpiling crude oil, the world blamed the Communist government for inflating prices. Now eyes are back on China, wondering if demand from the Asian nation will bolster falling crude prices. With oil prices falling to their lowest level in years, the Chinese are taking… Keep reading →
With a new year comes new promises and new opportunities – and that also goes for the United States and China, the world’s biggest climate polluters. The good news is both nations appear ready to embrace solar and other renewables, investments that will cement their recent, bilateral agreement to tackle climate change. Here are five signs renewables… Keep reading →
