CARBON IN THE NEWS
WEEK 16 2012
New Carbon Credit Market in the USA
Vecron Lordstock Group announced today that it reached an agreement with the European Union’s (EU) most respected Carbon Credit trading group, to exclusively market its inventory of Voluntary Carbon Credit Certificates in the USA under the trade name “Vecron Carbon Market.” Vecron hired GATE US, a leading secondary market trading platform and a Broker Dealer, to handle all clearance and settlements for their US Clients. Vecron provides a boutique solution, with global reach, tailor made to each client’s needs. All Carbon Credits offered via the platform are approved and verified by the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). Registration is done via MARKIT, a global registry that helps provide transparency and credibility to environmental markets ensuring the origin and singularity of carbon. Vecron is one of very few participants in the Voluntary Carbon Credits market whose involvement extends all the way from project inception to trading and finance activity – right through the value chain. The size and diversity of its projects portfolio allows Vecron to take on trades and structures that others might have to syndicate. To read this article in full click here
B.C.’s carbon-neutral government takes next step with five million dollar capital program
The provincial government is reaffirming its commitment to being the first carbon-neutral government in North America through a new $5-million capital program that's available to school districts for energy-efficiency projects that will lower their carbon emissions, Environment Minister Terry Lake announced. Starting in 2012/13, the new K-12 energy-efficiency capital program will be available to boards of education through the Ministry of Education. The amount of available funding has been set to be equal to or greater than the total paid by school boards each year for purchases of carbon offsets from the Pacific Carbon Trust. Minister of Education, George Abbott, "B.C. schools are an important part of our carbon neutral government and provide an ideal opportunity for students to participate in climate action leadership. This funding will allow students to continue this participation as the schools continue their investment in energy efficiency." To read this article in full click here
Alcantara and Porsche Focus on "Green" During Milan Design Week
Alcantara's "Future Landscape" exhibit at Superstudio Piu during Milan Design Week (April 16-21) offers a current and future "green" interpretation of Alcantara material. Well-known for the aesthetic, sensory and functional features of its materials, Alcantara also is dedicated to improving the environment as shown by its certification as "Carbon Neutral" and the many renewable-energy projects the company has participated in over the years. A fuel-efficient Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid equipped with a unique Alcantara-and-leather interior also will be displayed in the Superstudio Piu courtyard throughout the week. The Porsche Cayenne's Alcantara interior, shown for the first time during the design week's city-wide 2012 Fuorisalone tour of studios, features an Alcantara-equipped interior designed by Giulio Cappellini, the company's art director. To read this article in full click here
McDonald's supersizes global green action
Fast-food giant McDonald's has unveiled its most successful green projects of 2012 in a major new report designed to highlight how it is trying to curb its environmental impacts.
McDonald's Global Best of Green 2012 report, launched late last week, for the first time included nine "Planet Champions" voted for by a panel including WWF and Ceres. Among the achievements, McDonald's Europe won the energy award for a carbon footprint measurement "toolkit" to calculate MacDonald's carbon emissions in each country. It has so far been rolled out to 26 European countries, and the company is now expected to roll the system out more widely.
Unbleached bags and napkins in McDonald's Canada won the packaging champion award, as the move reduced energy, wood, and water consumption while also saving money. Unbleached bags alone saved an estimated $667 (£414) per restaurant each year, the company said. McDonald's also opened its first green restaurant in Pilar, Argentina, which was given "champion" status. It is the first new building in the country to receive LEED Gold for New Construction certification, and also boasts its own onsite wind turbine installed. To read this article in full click here
Valley Forge implements UPS Carbon Neutral option
Valley Forge Fabrics has implemented UPS' carbon neutral shipping program to help reduce its carbon dioxide impact. Earlier this month the fabric supplier announced that all packages it ships will automatically include UPS' carbon neutral shipping. Customers who receive shipments from Valley Forge will see every label containing "UPS Carbon Neutral Shipment." Shipping is one of the company's largest emissions sources and makes up 95% of its greenhouse gases, a press release said. Through the program, UPS purchases certified carbon offsets on behalf of Valley Forge to balance emissions produced by shipping. "They've calculated, based on the ZIP code where we're shipping to, the amount of carbon per shipment for each individual package. They've done this based on the weight of the package and the volume and the distance," said Ken Koneck, public relations manager for Valley Forge. To read this article in full click here
Beijing preparing for carbon trading system
Beijing, which aims to launch its carbon-trading system next year, is carefully calculating the city's greenhouse gas emissions inventory, said a local government official. The country has designated seven cities and provinces to launch carbon-trading systems in the next year and will introduce a nationwide carbon-trading program in 2015. Yao Fei, a senior official of the Beijing municipal commission of development and reform, told China Daily that figuring out how to calculate the city's indirect carbon emissions is a top priority. About 70 percent of Beijing's electricity consumption is generated outside the capital, so it is necessary to include the emissions caused by power generated in other areas, he said. This is a new issue facing Beijing, and there are no examples to follow, so it must be dealt with in an innovative way, he added. Due to Beijing's high proportion of externally purchased electricity, the city may consider a cap on emissions both from producers and consumers, Yao said, without elaborating. To read this article in full click here
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