World-News

22.12.06

Das Bundeskartellamt hat dem Essener Energiekonzern RWE seine vorläufige Beurteilung mitgeteilt, dass die Forderung von Industriestrompreisen im Jahr 2005 insoweit missbräuchlich war, als in den Preisen mehr als 25 Prozent des im Preis anteilig enthaltenen CO2-Zertifikatswerts überwälzt wurde. Das Bundeskartellamt ging dabei von "der wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Erkenntnis" aus, dass Opportunitätskosten "im Prinzip" in die betriebswirtschaftliche Kalkulation einfließen. Das setze "allerdings voraus, dass die zur Stromerzeugung unentgeltlich zugeteilten Emissionsberechtigungen beziehungsweise CO2-Zertifikate auch tatsächlich zum Verkauf zur Verfügung stehen", meint die Kartellbehörde. Grund für die Entscheidung der Behörde war offenbar weniger die Belastung der privaten Haushalte als vielmehr Beschwerden einflussreicher Wirtschaftsverbände: Zahlreiche Unternehmen der stromintensiven Industrie hätten sich - unter anderem über den Verband der Industriellen Energie- und Kra ftwirtschaft e.V. (VIK) und die Wirtschaftsvereinigung Metalle (WVM) - im Jahr 2005 über das Verhalten der Stromkonzerne in Bezug auf den CO2-Emissionshandel beim Bundeskartellamt beschwert.

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet: https://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php?Nr=15005



Emissionshandel: "Der BDI unterstützt den Klimaschutz ohne Wenn und Aber" (22.12.06)

Die EU-Kommission hat am Mittwoch einen Richtlinienvorschlag veröffentlicht, wie zukünftig der Flugverkehr in das Europäische Emissionshandelssystem einbezogen werden soll. Danach sollen ab 2011 alle Flüge innerhalb der EU durch den Emissionshandel erfasst werden. Wenn Fluglinien mehr Emissionen verursachen, als ihnen Zertifikate zugestanden werden, müssten sie Emissionszertifikate hinzukaufen. Ab 2012 sollen dann die Flüge zwischen EU-Staaten und Nicht-EU-Staaten erfasst werden. Befürworter des Emissionshandelssystems hoffen, dass damit den stetig wachsenden Emissionen des Flugverkehrs "eine absolute Obergrenze auf heutigem Niveau" auferlegt wird. Nach Auffassung des Bundesverbandes der Deutschen Industrie (BDI) wäre aber ein Emissionshandel für den EU-Luftverkehr der "falsche Weg".

Die ganze Nachricht im Internet: https://www.ngo-online.de/ganze_nachricht.php?Nr=15006

Rachel Kleinman

December 23, 2006

https://www.theage.com.au/news/national/climate-set-to-go-from-bad-to-worse/2006/12/22/1166290743039.html

IT WAS a week in which the city's air quality dropped to its lowest level in 20 years as early bushfires continued to blacken all in their path; Melbourne's water storages dipped to a 22-year-low, and the city sweltered through its fourth day above 35 degrees since the beginning of summer.

But while Victorians look to the horizon and pray for immediate relief, there is evidence that our intemperate climate is only going to get worse in future. A lot worse.

Climate modelling by the CSIRO forecasts that we can expect the state to get hotter and drier in the years to 2030, with more days in the high 30s and more extreme weather events such as flash flooding and storm surges.

The national science agency first carried out modelling for the state in
2001, with further work in 2004 and joint research with Melbourne Water in 2005. But the climate impacts and risk group's principal research scientist, Kevin Hennessy, says its projections carry new significance in light of the extreme drought and heightened public awareness of climate change.

"Water resources, agriculture, forests, fisheries, energy, coastal settlements, tourism and health will all be affected," Mr Hennessy says.

And the combined effects of climate change in metropolitan Melbourne have not yet been teased out of the research.

"(The) effect of heatwaves, such as increased heat-related illness and death, fire activity, smoke pollution, use of air-conditioners and demand for energy (can all be expected).

"Then there is the buckling of railway lines and melting of tar on roads. All these would have major implications for emergency management, road maintenance, hospital admissions, and peak power capacity," Mr Hennessy says.

A predicted drop in water run-off will be another significant outcome of climate change. Already this year, the state's water storages have fallen to record low levels as a result of the drought. By 2030, the CSIRO has predicted that run-off will have decreased by between 5 and 35 per cent on 2001 levels.

CSIRO research also predicted a sea-level rise of between 3 and 17 cent, along with more frequent storm surges — temporary rises in sea levels caused by very low pressure.

"This means we will see more events similar to the storm that hit Melbourne in February 2005, when Middle Park Beach was almost washed away," Mr Hennessy says. "It will also mean more long-term, gradual erosion."

According to the Bracks Government's Melbourne 2030 planning blueprint, metropolitan Melbourne is expected to absorb an additional 1 million people over the next 24 years — a factor not included in the CSIRO's projections — straining water resources and boosting energy use even further.

The Federal Government's agricultural economics agency, ABARE, predicted this week that Australia's domestic energy consumption would be 46 per cent higher by 2030 than in 2005.

The Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment has stressed that despite the doom and gloom predictions, it is working hard to prepare for climate change.

"This means working with everyone from agricultural scientists, coastal sewerage planners and public health specialists to prepare Victoria for what looks certain to be a hotter, drier future," a spokeswoman told The Age.

Mr Hennessy says the CSIRO's focus has now shifted away from fine-tuning the forecasts towards finding solutions. "The emphasis now is on adaptation and solutions, not just for individuals but for whole communities to be more resilient."


Informant: binstock

In the face of stiff opposition from the airline industry, the European Union moved forward Wednesday with plans to impose extra charges on foreign and domestic carriers that pollute too much.

https://www.truthout.org/issues_06/122106EB.shtml

None too soon, the West awoke in 2006 to the vast economic, political and social implications of climate change. As temperature and rainfall records tumbled and unseasonal, intense heat waves, droughts and floods struck many countries, local and national politicians scrambled to beef up their green policies and credentials. Some businesses found they could make a packet from trading carbon, and a broad-based global social and ecological movement emerged, linking climate change to social justice, as well as to poverty and lifestyles.

https://www.truthout.org/issues_06/122006EC.shtml

https://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2081644.ece


Informant: binstock

Viele Skigebiete in Deutschland und rund 70 Prozent der Skiregionen in Österreich könnten bald nicht mehr schneesicher sein. Die deutschen Skigebiete sind Experten-Berechnungen zufolge am stärksten von der globalen Erwärmung betroffen.

https://sonnenseite.kjm4.de/ref.php?id=d874168673ms24