US EPA proposes to end mandatory greenhouse gas reporting
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule on Friday to end the mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by 8,000 facilities. This program, the EPA said, was burdensome for businesses but left the public in the dark about the environmental impact. The rule is a response to an executive order that was issued on the first day of President Donald Trump's presidency. It aims to remove barriers to unleashing U.S. Energy, especially fossil fuels. This is just the latest in a long line of regulatory rollbacks that have undone previous U.S. attempts to combat climate changes.
Sources say that Canada could drop its oil emission cap as part of a new climate plan
Three sources familiar with the discussions said that the Canadian government was in talks with Alberta and energy companies about removing a federal cap for emissions in the oil and gas industry if both the province and the industry reduced their carbon footprints in other ways. Sources who weren't authorized to publicly discuss the discussions said that the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney has discussed the removal of the cap with the oil companies, and Canada's leading oil producing province, if they made other environmental concessions. Canada's emission cap has yet to be implemented by legislation.
Sources say that Canada could drop its oil emission cap as part of a new climate plan
Three sources familiar with the discussions said that the Canadian government was in talks with Alberta and energy companies about removing a federal cap on the emissions of the oil and gas industry if they reduced their carbon footprints in other ways. Three sources who weren't authorized to publicly discuss the talks said that the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney has discussed the removal of the cap with the oil companies and Canada’s top oil producing province if both parties make other concessions on the environment. The legislation to implement Canada's emission cap is still pending.
Sources say that Canada could drop its oil emission cap as part a new climate plan
Three sources familiar with the discussions said that the Canadian government was in talks with Alberta and energy companies about removing a federal cap on the emissions of the oil and gas industry if they reduced their carbon footprints in other ways. Three sources who weren't authorized to publicly discuss the talks said that the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney has discussed removing a federal cap on emissions from Canada's oil and gas sector with energy companies and Alberta if the industry and province reduce their carbon footprint in other ways.
White House review of waiver plan for biofuel pits refiners against farmers
The White House is reviewing an important rule that could change the balance between oil refiners, farmers and the Renewable Fuel Standard. It will determine how to redistribute large volumes of biofuel blend obligations that have been recently exempted. The result, which is expected in the next few weeks, will determine what happens to billions of gallons U.S. demand for ethanol and biodiesel. This demand is vital for farmers who provide the corn and soy beans to produce biofuels but expensive to oil refiners who ensure that the biofuels mix into the nation's gasoline supplies.
Climate group: Methane emissions in Brazil's beef-rich country are increasing
Brazil's methane emission increased by 6% between the years 2020 and 2023. The world's biggest beef exporter released 21,1 million tons of this potent greenhouse gas. This was the second highest level in history. According to a report released on Wednesday by the Climate Observatory, 34 of Brazil's total methane emissions are attributed to the beef and dairy cattle industry. This accounted for approximately 14,5 million tons in 2023. That is the equivalent of 406 millions tons of CO2 equivalent. The Climate Observatory reported that this figure was higher than all greenhouse gases produced by Italy during the same period.
Brazil is the largest beef exporter in the world. Methane emission levels are rising.
According to a study released by the Climate Observatory on Wednesday, three-fourths of Brazil's methane gas emissions were linked to beef and dairy cattle production, which accounted for 14.5 million tons of total emissions in 2023. This is the equivalent of 406 millions of tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent. According to a report released on Wednesday by the Climate Observatory, Brazil's methane emissions are largely linked to the production of beef and dairy cows. In 2023, this equated to 14.5 million tonnes of emissions, or 406 millions tons of CO2 equivalent.
California and other state AGs ask Trump EPA to abandon plan to kill greenhouse gas regulations
On Tuesday, attorneys general from California as well as several other U.S. States led by Democrats urged the Trump administration to abandon their plan to rescind a long-standing ruling that greenhouse gas emission endanger the health of humans. This would eliminate the legal basis for all U.S. regulations on greenhouse gases. The Environmental Protection Agency's decision to repeal the findings would mean that current pollution limits for greenhouse gases from vehicles, power plants and smokestacks will be eliminated. This would hinder future U.S. efforts in combating global warming.
India's E20 fuel rollout sparks driver protest
The rapidly expanding ethanol program of the government aims to reduce costly oil imports through the blending of petrol with ethanol. This biofuel is derived from organic waste or agricultural products and burns cleaner than conventional gasoline. India achieved its goal of a 20% mix of ethanol in petrol (also known as E20 gasoline) five years earlier than expected. Amit Khare is a car reviewer who has 15 million monthly viewers on social media, including YouTube Meta and Instagram. He criticises the fuel. He said that it could damage several parts of the engine.
Enbridge Sees Demand for More Pipeline Capacity from Canada to US Gulf
Canadian pipeline operator Enbridge said on Friday its recent commercial process to gauge oil shippers' interest in an expansion of its Flanagan South pipeline was oversubscribed, indicating strong demand for additional oil transport capacity from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast.The success of the Flanagan South open season — an industry term for the binding process pipeline companies use to notify shippers of available capacity and solicit bids — brings Enbridge closer to formally sanctioning its proposed expansion of its Mainline network…
Germany proposes a law to accelerate geothermal and renewable heat expansion
The German economy ministry released a draft bill on Friday, which would speed up the expansion of geothermal projects. Berlin is aiming to eliminate the use of fossil-fuels for heating systems by the year 2045. A Fraunhofer Institute study from 2023 showed that Germany has some of Europe's biggest geothermal resources, which could provide more than a quarter its annual heating needs. Local resistance and red tape have long slowed down development. The new bill simplifies approval procedures for geothermal, heat pump, heat storage and heating pipelines.
Brazil increases biofuels, sees self-sufficiency in gasoline
The Brazilian National Energy Policy Council approved an increase in the amount of biofuels blended into fossil fuels on Wednesday. This move was also hailed by renewable energy lobbyists who had earlier claimed that the blends wouldn't be changed this coming year. Pietro Mendes from the Energy Ministry's Oil and Gas Department announced the changes during a press conference. Alexandre Silveira, Minister of Mines and Energy at the event, also stated that a change in the mandate for biofuels would allow Brazil to become "gasoline-independent for the first 15 years".
UK Issues Environmental Guidance on New North Sea Oil and Gas Drilling
The UK published long-awaited guidance on environmental issues that will impact future developments of two North Sea oil and natural gas fields, including Shell and Equinor. The guidelines explain how future government decisions on extraction should treat greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas, also known as downstream emissions or Scope 3. The government ordered the document after a Supreme Court decision last year that said planning authorities had to consider the impact of greenhouse gas emissions when approving a well near Gatwick Airport.
UK releases environmental guidance that will impact North Sea drilling
The UK published environmental guidelines on Thursday, which will impact future developments of two North Sea oil and natural gas fields. Shell and Equinor are among the companies that are expected to benefit. The guidelines outlines how future government decisions on extraction should treat greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas, also known as downstream emissions. It is a significant step in ensuring that the full impacts of oil and natural gas extraction for potential projects are taken into consideration and we can ensure a managed and prosperous transition to a clean energy future in the North Sea…
US Supreme Court tests which courts can hear EPA Cases
Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court set rules for determining when cases challenging the actions of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency relating to air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions are heard by regional appellate courts or a Washington appeals court that hears many regulatory cases. The ruling of 7-2 held that the U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit and not the 5th U.S. based in New Orleans, should hear the lawsuits challenging actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency related to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Tighter Emissions Regulations, Slower Economy to Soften Marine Fuel Demand
Stricter environmental regulations and slower global economic growth will soften marine fuel demand in the coming years, the International Energy Agency said in its annual report on Tuesday.Marine fuel sales jumped last year due to Red Sea disruptions that made shipping companies take longer routes.But demand for those fuels, also called bunkers, could flatline at around 5 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024-2030, because of weak underlying shipping growth and rising costs from tougher maritime environmental standards…
What is in the Republican tax plan and spending plan
The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a comprehensive budget package which would meet many of the priorities of President Donald Trump. The Republican-led Senate will now consider the package, and it is likely that significant changes will be made. The Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation have provided cost estimates for the main elements of the package. CBO estimates that the bill will add $2.4 trillion over ten years to the $36.2 trillion debt, reduce revenues by 3.67 trillion and reduce spending by $1.25 billion.
Experts say that Australia's investment in natural gas threatens its climate credentials
Experts and two Pacific Climate Ministers say that Australia's approval for a 40-year project extension has undermined its bid to be the host of a United Nations Climate Summit next year, and its green credentials. The centre-left government that came to power in 2022, with a mandate to reform climate policy, has approved Woodside Energy’s North West Shelf Project to continue until 2070. This is subject to a review. The company and energy industry hailed the move, citing the continued operation of LNG plants as an alternative fuel to coal.
NYT reports that US EPA wants the greenhouse gas limitations on power plants to be removed.
New York Times, citing agency documents, reported that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had drafted a proposal to eliminate all restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and gasfired power stations in the United States. According to a NYT report, the EPA argued that greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide from power plants burning fossil fuels do not "contribute significantly" to dangerous pollution or climate change. This is because these emissions are a small part of global emissions and they are declining.
Solar stocks plunge after Trump's tax plan advances in US House
The shares of U.S. Solar companies dropped sharply on Thursday in premarket trading after the House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump's tax and spending plan, which could end many green-energy subsides that supported the renewable energy industry. Sunrun was the worst hit, with a share price drop of up to 33%. Complete Solaria dropped by nearly 22%, while Enphase Energy and Maxeon Solar, as well as SolarEdge Technologies, fell between 10% and 15%. First Solar, Canadian Solar, and JinkoSolar all saw their shares fall by 6.5%, 10% and 2.3% respectively.