Biden to Target Drilling, Fossil Fuel Subsidies in New Climate Orders
President Joe Biden was set on Wednesday to sign executive actions to combat climate change, including pausing new oil and gas leases on federal land and cutting fossil fuel subsidies as he pursues green policies in stark contrast to those of his predecessor Donald Trump.The orders map out the direction for the Democratic president's climate change and environmental agenda and mark a reversal from Trump, a Republican businessman-turned-politician who sought to maximize U.S. oil, gas and coal output by removing regulations…
PetroVietnam, Exxon Mobil Ink Gas Generation Deal
State energy group PetroVietnam (PVN) signed an agreement with the Vietnamese unit of U.S. Exxon Mobil Corp on Friday to develop the country's biggest gas project for power generation, the state firm said. The Blue Whale project aims to produce the first gas for power plants by 2023. PVN said the project would contribute nearly $20 billion to the state budget, but it gave no timeframe for that contribution. Blue Whale is Vietnam's biggest gas project with an estimated 150 billion cubic metres of reserves. The signing took place during the visit to Vietnam of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
Kerry Says Trump's Views on Climate Might Change When in Office
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a speech on Wednesday at an international climate conference that he could not speculate on President-elect Donald Trump's climate policies but that his views might change when he is in office. Trump has called climate change a hoax, and said he would rip up the 2015 Paris deal, halt any U.S. taxpayer funds for U.N. global warming programs, and revive the U.S. coal sector. "While I can't stand here and speculate about what policies our President-elect will pursue, I will tell you this: In the time that I have spent in public life…
Trump Seeks Quick Exit from Climate Deal
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is seeking quick ways to withdraw the United States from a global accord to combat climate change, a source on his transition team said, defying broad global backing for the plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Since Trump's election victory on Tuesday, governments ranging from China to small island states have reaffirmed support for the 2015 Paris agreement during climate talks involving 200 nations set to run until Friday in Marrakesh, Morocco. Trump has called global warming a hoax and has promised to quit the Paris Agreement, which was strongly supported by outgoing Democratic U.S.
Trump's Win Revives Keystone XL Discussion
Republican Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election cheered investors in Canadian energy producers eager to revive the stalled drive to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, giving oil sands crude better access to U.S. markets. President Barack Obama denied a permit to TransCanada Corp's proposed cross-border Keystone XL pipeline last year. In May, Trump said that if elected, he would "100 percent" approve Keystone XL, which would carry 830,000 barrels per day from Alberta to Nebraska, but would seek a better deal.
U.S. Calls For Rapid Progress On Greenhouse-gas Pact
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged U.N. nations on Friday to reach a deal to cut the use of a family of powerful greenhouse gases and take a big step towards keeping global warming in check. Officials from nearly 200 countries are meeting this week to hammer out an agreement to cut the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are used in refrigeration, aerosols and air conditioning, by amending the landmark Montreal Protocol. The Montreal Protocol succeeded in slashing the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which damage the ozone layer.
Nations Seek Early Ratification of Paris Climate Deal
Many nations are pushing for swift ratification of a Paris agreement to slow climate change and lock it in place for four years before a change in the White House next year that might bring a weakening of Washington's long-term commitment. More than 130 nations with 60 leaders including French President Francois Hollande are due to sign December's pact at a U.N. ceremony in New York on April 22, the most ever for a U.N. agreement on an opening day, the United Nations said. Both China and the United States, the world's top emitters accounting together for 38 percent of emissions, have promised to sign then. U.S.
G7 Foreign Ministers discuss Nuclear, Maritime Issues
In a city obliterated by a U.S. atom bomb more than 70 years ago, Japan kicked off a gathering of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies with a call to end nuclear weapons. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, who presides over the two-day annual meeting this year, said on Sunday that ministers will also discuss anti-terrorism steps, maritime security and issues related to North Korea, Ukraine and the Middle East. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is set to join his counterparts from Britain…
Kerry: Iran Getting Less Than $50 billion Cash After Nuclear Deal
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that the amount of cash Iran will receive due to the implementation of the nuclear agreement is below the $50 billion level. "It's below the $50 billion (level)," he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when he was asked about varying reports about how much money Iran would receive. Iran gained access to about $100 billion in frozen assets when an international nuclear agreement was implemented last month, but much of it already was tied up because of debts and other commitments. Earlier reports had said Tehran would receive as much as $150 billion.
TransCanada sues U.S. over Keystone Rejection
TransCanada Corp sued the U.S government on Wednesday to reverse President Barack Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline, and also plans to seek $15 billion in damages from a trade tribunal. TranCanada's lawsuit in a federal court in Houston, Texas, called rejection of its permit to build the pipeline unconstitutional. The company's U.S. lawsuit does not seek monetary damages but wants the permit denial invalidated and seeks a ruling that no future president can block construction. Its request for $15 billion under NAFTA reflects its desire to recover its investment in the pipeline. Defendants in the Houston lawsuit are U.S.
Climate Deal Details Remain Elusive
Exhausted global climate negotiators resumed wrestling over the language of an agreement on Thursday morning after talks that dragged through the night failed to bridge gaps between rich and developing countries. French Foreign Minister Lauren Fabius, who is chairing the U.N. conference, said he still planned to issue a penultimate draft on Thursday afternoon with as few disagreements or bracketed passages as possible to pave the way for a last round of revisions. "We will now try to move towards a final agreement," he told U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as they met in the conference hall before talks resumed.
With New Climate Draft, a Deal Creeps Closer in Paris
Eleven days of negotiations produced a slimmer but still-troubled version of a climate deal on Wednesday, with negotiators from 195 countries divided over how far to go in curbing global temperature rises - and how to pay for it. "We've made progress but still a lot of work remains to be done," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told delegates gathered on the outskirts of Paris who are supposed to wrap up an accord by Friday. But the remaining disputes over the language reflect fundamental disagreements about which countries should shoulder the cost of moving the world to a low-carbon energy system.
Fuelling Growth With Coal, India Champions Poor in Paris
India's hardline position in global climate talks has made it a potential villain for Western nations as it warns that its greenhouse emissions, mostly from burning dirty coal, may keep rising past the middle of the century. Its little-known team came to Paris with a mission to force rich nations to lead the way in curbing emissions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the summit that "climate justice" meant poor nations needed "room to grow". Such positions may have prompted U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to say that India would be a "challenge" to deal with in Paris but, in the corridors of the U.N.
Kerry: Canada Election Won't Impact U.S. Keystone Policy
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that the ousting of the ruling Conservative Party in Canada's election will not affect his decision on whether to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline between the two countries. Election victor Justin Trudeau of the Liberal party has said he would repair Canada's relations with the Obama administration and take stronger measures against climate change. Trudeau, who defeated Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Monday's election, has been a supporter of Keystone, however.
Oil Steadies as Dollar Eases, Oversupply Still Worries
Impact on Brent from Iran crude may be milder. LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - Oil prices steadied on Tuesday, helped by the dollar's first daily fall in a week, but remained set for their biggest monthly drop since March in the face of a global supply glut. Expectations of more Iranian supply following a nuclear deal and concerns that economic worries in China and Europe will weigh on demand have put pressure on oil this month, stripping 11 percent off the price of crude so far in July. Brent crude edged off session lows, lifted by comments from U.S.
Oil Analysts, Experts Weigh In On Iran Nuclear Deal
Iran, the United States and five other major powers reached an agreement to restrain the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. Q: Can you outline the timeline from here? "The P5+1 will now work on a UN resolution to endorse the deal; separately, domestic legislatures and other processes will review text, in the U.S, that includes a 60-day review period; 90 days from today the deal goes into implementation mode in which Iran does a number of nuke steps, and the P5+1 establish legal conditions for relief…
Iran, Big powers Close to Historic Nuclear Deal
After more than two weeks of marathon negotiations, Iran and six world powers appeared close to a historic nuclear deal that would bring sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Tehran's atomic programme, diplomats said on Sunday. But U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry cautioned that some difficult issues remained on the 16th day of ministerial negotiations between Iran, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China. "I think we're getting to some real decisions," Kerry told reporters in the Austrian capital. "So I will say, because we have a few tough things to do, I remain hopeful.
Iran Nuclear Deal Close; Impasse Over Weapons, Missiles Persists
Iran and six world powers were close to an historic nuclear agreement on Thursday that could resolve a more than 12-year dispute over Tehran's nuclear ambitions, but they remained deadlocked on the issue of Iranian arms and missile trade. Over the past two weeks, Iran, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China have twice extended a deadline for completing a long-term deal under which Tehran would curb sensitive nuclear activities for more than a decade in exchange for sanctions relief. Russian…
U.S. Official: Can See Way to a Good Iran Nuclear Deal
A good nuclear agreement with Iran is possible but it remains to be seen whether a deal would be reached, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official, speaking to reporters, was hopeful about an agreement. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry flies to Vienna on Friday and is expected to begin meetings with the other six nations involved in the talks on Saturday ahead of a self-imposed June 30 deadline. The nations include Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. (Reporting By Arshad Mohammed)
U.S. Lawmakers Warn Against "Weak" Iran Deal
As talks on an Iran nuclear deal enter the final stretch, U.S. lawmakers are sharpening warnings against a "weak" agreement and laying down red lines that, if crossed, could prompt Congress to trip up a carefully crafted international pact. Several influential lawmakers said they do not want to see any sanctions lifted before Tehran begins complying with a deal, and want a tough verification regime in which inspectors could visit Iranian facilities anytime and anywhere. They also want Tehran to reveal past military dimensions of its nuclear program, particularly after Secretary of State John Kerry seemed to soften the U.S.
