Posts tagged climate
New SEC proposed rules mean corporations should heed latest IPCC insights on longevity of carbon sinks
New SEC proposed rules mean corporations should heed latest IPCC insights on longevity of carbon sinks

Last month, IPCC AR6 Working Group II released its latest report, which covers Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. The report reveals in stark terms that climatic impacts are interacting and multiplying across sectors and regions, creating risks that compound each other (IPCC AR6 Summary 18). One key takeaway from the report that needs more attention is that many natural systems have already been pushed to their adaptive breaking points, including many warm water coral reefs, coastal wetlands, rainforests, arctic, and mountain ecosystems (IPCC AR6 Summary 28). These harsh realities raise concerns about the longevity of existing natural carbon sinks and has important policy implications.

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Climate Policy LabAuthor - Amy Myers Jaffe, climate, climate adaptation, carbon sinks, carbon offset markets
Why China needs a carbon cap to achieve net zero by 2060
Why China needs a carbon cap to achieve net zero by 2060

China’s leaders are meeting this week to set the country’s long-term goals. An important element of the process will be the country’s next Five-Year Plan (FYP), which provides a roadmap and window into China’s vision for itself and its economy. This year’s FYP is particularly significant for the world because it will explain how the Chinese government plans to reach its newly announced target of zero net carbon emissions by 2060. Previous plans have emphasized the need for China to promote technology innovation self-sufficiency including in the important area of energy as well as to set targets for non-fossil energy, energy efficiency, coal caps, and carbon intensity. New energy technology, including electric and automated cars, renewable energy, and batteries, featured widely in China 2025, the country’s widely disseminated industrial plan. China’s 12th FYP targeted new energy vehicles as one of seven strategic industries, allocating billions of dollars to their development and promotion.

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Climate SmartClimate Policy Labclimate, China, climate smart, carbon, carbon cap, net zero, Kelly Sims Gallagher, Amy, Amy Myers Jaffe, 2020, climate policy performance, greenhouse gases, GHGs, decarbonization, coal, emissions cap, cap and trade, energy transition, oil, carbon pricing Comment
The Important Outcomes of Mission Innovation: First Evidence
The Important Outcomes of Mission Innovation: First Evidence

It’s been over ten years since the 2009 financial crisis economic stimulus packages targeted clean energy companies and today’s headlines highlight the payoff. Clean energy companies outperformed the S&P 500 in 2019 and looks poised to payout even more to investors in 2020. Tesla received a $465 million federal loan during the U.S. 2009 stimulus to design electric vehicles and begin manufacturing and its market capitalization surpassed that of ExxonMobil earlier this year. Tesla is not the exception to the rule. A comprehensive study of the US Department of Energy’s SBIR grant program found that the awards led to positive impacts on patenting and revenue innovative companies.

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Climate SmartClimate Policy Labmission Innovation, climate smart, climate, energy, energy innovation, clean energy, Kelly Sims Gallagher, energy transition, energy RD&D, sustainability transitions, clean tech, technology adoption, oil, offshore wind, Author - Zdenka Myslikova