Cop 29 presidency sets out initiatives, summit agenda

Spanish Market: Emissions, Hydrogen, Natural gas
17/09/24

The president-designate of the UN Cop 29 climate summit, Azerbaijan's Mukhtar Babayev, has set out 14 initiatives and a detailed agenda for the conference, including a new focus on methane reduction and tackling barriers to a "clean hydrogen" market.

There is an "urgent need to harmonise international frameworks, regulations and standards to create viable business models" for hydrogen, Babayev said.

The Cop 29 presidency will build on the declaration of intent on mutual recognition of hydrogen certification schemes, made at Cop 28 last year, it said. It plans to launch a framework to set priorities ahead of Cop 30, scheduled for November 2025 in Brazil.

The Cop 29 presidency also aims to tackle "the growing problem of methane from organic waste", it said. Methane — a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) — is often a focus at Cop summits, although typically with an eye to the largest emitters, the agriculture and fossil fuel industries.

Babayev has called for governments to commit to targets to cut methane from organic waste in their climate plans, as well as for more signatories of the Global Methane Pledge. The pledge, launched in 2021 at Cop 26, asks signatories to cut methane emissions by at least 30pc by 2030, from 2020 levels.

The Cop 29 presidency has also developed a two-pronged pledge, which seeks to scale up global installed energy storage capacity to 1.5TW by 2030 and add or refurbish more than 80mn km of power grid by 2040. It has developed a "green energy zones and corridors" pledge as well, to maximise sustainable energy generation and ensure "cost-effective transmission over large distances and across borders".

Babayev provided further details of a planned climate fund, which will be capitalised by fossil fuel producing countries and companies.

"We believe that countries rich in natural resources should be at the forefront of those addressing climate change," Babayev said, noting that the direction came from Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev.

The fund will be a public-private partnership, with "concessional and grant-based support to rapidly address the consequences of natural disasters" in developing countries, Babayev said. It will "provide offtake agreement guarantees for small and medium-sized renewable energy producers and first-loss capital for green industrial projects", with a focus on food and agriculture, he said.

Cop 29 is set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan on 11-22 November. It will be the first Cop hosted in the Caucasus region, Babayev noted. He flagged the "extreme heat [and] water scarcity" the region faces, but also pointed to its wind and solar power potential.

Topics of other programmes set out today include water, climate action in tourism and a peace initiative which emphasised the "interplay between conflict and climate change".

By Georgia Gratton

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10/10/24

UN carbon market regulator takes 'agile' approach

Berlin, 10 October (Argus) — The regulator of the new UN carbon crediting mechanism under Article 6 of the Paris climate agreement decided on key rules this week, adopting an "agile" approach to difficult issues to allow the rules to adapt to "ever-evolving developments in addressing climate change". The Article 6.4 supervisory body decided at its meeting this week in Baku, Azerbaijan, to adopt standards on methodologies and greenhouse gas (GHG) removals open to additional guidance by parties at the UN Cop 29 climate conference in Baku next month. This will allow the supervisory body to review and further improve the standards "whenever necessary" and to "keep up with market developments", it said. The body has requested that the parties meeting at Cop 29 to endorse this approach. The standards will help project developers create and submit methodologies for their projects, to allow them to be registered under the new Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM), the group said. Article 6 takes a bottom-up approach to methodologies, allowing project developers to draw up their own methodologies provided they comply with the standard. The standard includes principles such as the downward adjustment of GHG mitigation paths to "encourage ambition over time" and the selection of a baseline against which the mitigation is measured that is below business-as-usual levels. It also includes provisions for equitably sharing the mitigation benefits between the participating countries. This could also be achieved through applying the so-called Sustainable Development Tool adopted at the meeting. The tool, a key objective of which is to set apart the PACM from its predecessor the clean development mechanism's indifference towards environmental and human rights, will require all participants to assess, demonstrate and monitor the environmental and human rights impacts of their projects. Activity participants must also notify the supervisory body of any potential reversal of the achieved mitigation within 30 days of becoming aware of the event. The supervisory body will establish a Reversal Risk Buffer Pool Account in the mechanism registry to compensate fully for avoidable and unavoidable reversals, by cancelling an equivalent amount of buffer Article 6.4 emissions reductions. The supervisory body has tasked experts on the so-called Methodological Expert Panel with continuing their work on various unresolved principles, such as developing a tool for assessing the reversal risk of removals, including the possible application of upper limits and specific risk factors. The supervisory body did not look into the issue of registries at this week's meeting, considered another tricky issue among several outlined by UK department for energy security and net zero head of carbon markets negotiations Dexter Lee at a conference in London this week. But speakers at the event noted a renewed willingness to agree on Article 6 rules this year. By Chloe Jardine Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EU CBAM application to UK would be ‘political failure’

10/10/24

EU CBAM application to UK would be ‘political failure’

London, 10 October (Argus) — Failing to avoid the application of the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) to the UK would constitute a dereliction of UK climate policy, delegates at a conference this week heard. The application of the EU's CBAM would be "politically toxic" in the UK, Alistair McGirr, group head of policy and advocacy at utility SSE, told the Carbon Forward conference in London. It would risk trade friction, political issues concerning Ireland and lead to UK exporters effectively paying into the EU budget. "If the EU CBAM applies to the UK we have failed in climate politics," he said. CBAM can therefore be a "useful stick" to encourage the UK to link its emissions trading scheme (ETS) back to the EU's system, McGirr said, which would exempt the country from the mechanism. McGirr is "hopeful" a linking agreement could take place ahead of the EU CBAM's implementation in 2026, with the linkage itself operational by 2028. While the recently-elected Labour government has not yet confirmed it intends to link the systems, they already appear more comfortable working with the EU than the preceding Conservative leadership, McGirr said. They may not have acted yet because they do not want to appear too close to the bloc too quickly, he said, and trust between the jurisdictions will also need to be rebuilt. The obligatory review of the EU-UK trade and co-operation agreement could present an opportunity to restart the conversation, said Beth Barker, senior policy officer at UK sustainable business alliance the Aldersgate Group. But while the risk of trade complications is the "one thing that might really drive linkage" it remains politically very difficult, warned Trevor Sikorski, head of natural gas and emissions at consultancy Energy Aspects. He pointed to the lack of trust between the two sides, the potential for differing levels of climate ambition, and the risk the move could be perceived as giving control back to Brussels. The limited size and liquidity in the UK ETS offers a "vision of the future" for the EU's system, McGirr said, and a link to the UK ETS offers one way of expanding the EU carbon market. Under current rules, the EU ETS supply cap is expected to fall to zero by 2039, effectively allowing no emissions from covered sectors. But this legislation "cannot stand" unless the EU wishes to decarbonise through deindustrialisation, head of climate research at fund manager Andurand Capital Mark Lewis told delegates. Lewis "takes it for granted" the UK ETS will be linked back to the EU ETS "way before 2030", he said, agreeing that the application of the EU CBAM to the UK would constitute a "terrible failure of UK climate policy". The EU carbon market should also expand to include credits issued under Article 6 of the Paris climate agreement, he said. The article sets out the framework for two global carbon trading mechanisms, the rules for which are yet to be finalised . But the EU ETS supply cap will not necessarily actually fall to zero as quickly as feared, European Commission advisor Damien Meadows pointed out, because as other sectors are added to the system the cap will be revised upwards accordingly. "We don't need to panic," he said. By Victoria Hatherick Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Hurricane Milton leaves 3.4mn in the dark

10/10/24

Hurricane Milton leaves 3.4mn in the dark

New York, 10 October (Argus) — About 3.4mn customers in Florida were without power this morning after Hurricane Milton pummeled the state with heavy rainfall and strong winds. Utility crews began the process of assessing and repairing the damage caused by the hurricane which tore down trees and downed power lines after slamming into Florida's west coast as a powerful Category 3 hurricane late Wednesday. Florida Power & Light had about 1.2mn homes and businesses without electricity, Duke Energy reported about 875,000 outages, while about 592,000 customers of Tampa Electric were affected, according to independent tracker Poweroutage.us. Milton, which has since weakened to a category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of 85mph, is now moving off the east coast of Florida. "On the forecast track, the center of Milton will continue to move away from Florida and pass to the north of the Bahamas today," according to the National Hurricane Center. The risk of life-threatening storm surge remains on the eastern coast of Florida, while hurricane-force winds are expected to linger for a few more hours. Major flooding as a result of heavy rainfall also continues to pose a threat. A recovery in road fuel supplies, which were strained by the pre-storm evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents, will depend on the extent of power, roadway and port outages. The state has waived statutes regulating the sale, storage and distribution of liquid fuels . By Stephen Cunningham Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US inflation slows to 2.4pc in Sep

10/10/24

US inflation slows to 2.4pc in Sep

Houston, 10 October (Argus) — US inflation slowed slightly less than expected in September, but still came in at the lowest annual rate since February 2021, in the first major inflation report since the Federal Reserve started cutting interest rates last month. The headline consumer price index (CPI) eased to an annual 2.4pc in September, down from 2.5pc in August, according to the Labor Department. The decline was less than the 2.3pc forecast in a survey of economists by Trading Economics. Excluding volatile food and energy, so-called core inflation rose to a 3.3pc annual pace, higher than forecasts for core inflation to match the prior period's 3.2pc pace. Today's report is the final CPI report ahead of the next Federal Reserve policy decision on 7 November and it follows a much stronger than expected employment report for September, which together could prompt the Fed to move more cautiously. Still, CPI has come down sharply from its peak of 9.1pc in mid-2022 and, despite aggressive Fed tightening, hiring has continued at a healthy rate and the overall economic expansion remains on track, partly thanks to falling energy prices. The energy index contracted by an annual 6.8pc pace in September after contracting 4pc through August. The food index rose by an annual 2.3pc following a 2.1pc gain in the prior period. Transportation services rose by 8.5pc. Within energy, the gasoline index fell by 15.3pc after a 10.3pc decline in the prior period. Energy services rose by 3.4pc after a 3.1pc gain. Natural gas services rose by 2pc. Shelter rose by 4.9pc after a 5.2pc gain. Transportation services rose by 8.5pc following a 7.9pc gain. Auto insurance was up 16.3pc. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.2pc in September, matching gains in August and July, Labor said. Shelter rose by 0.2pc and food increased by 0.4pc, together accounting for over 75pc of the monthly headline increase, Labor said. The energy index declined by 1.9pc over the month, after falling by 0.8pc in the prior month . By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Cop 29 president calls for progress on finance

10/10/24

Cop 29 president calls for progress on finance

Edinburgh, 10 October (Argus) — The president-designate of the upcoming UN Cop 29 climate summit, Mukhtar Babayev, has urged parties to progress on a timeframe and an amount for the new climate finance goal to be decided at the conference in Baku next month. At a pre-Cop meeting today, Babayev stressed the need to "take seriously the responsibility for identifying a number over a timeframe and come forward with solutions". "We cannot afford to leave too much to be decided at the summit," he added. Cop parties must agree in November on the new collective quantified goal (NCQG) — building on the current $100bn/yr target that developed countries agreed to deliver to developing countries over 2020-25. But there remains a huge divide to bridge between developed and developing nations ahead of Cop 29 . Developed countries have yet to commit to a number for climate finance, while developing nations have for some time called for a floor of at least $1 trillion/yr. The Cop 29 presidency is seeking to build on "possible convergence on certain elements" to provide a solid foundation to discussions on other parts of the goal, Babayev said. Elements for the formulation of the goal include an amount for the NCGQ, timeframes, scope, sources, as well as accessibility and transparency. Babayev did not provide details on potential convergence, but some common ground was found during technical discussions on elements such as access and transparency. "Qualitative elements of the goal such as transparency and accessibility are also essential to ensuring that the goal is both fair and ambitious," he said. "The substantive framework for the draft negotiation text" on the NCGQ will be released in the next few days, according to Babayev. The NCQG is Cop 29's "top negotiating priority", Babayev said, but he also urged parties to turn pledges made last year for the loss and damage fund — which will support vulnerable countries with the irreversible and unavoidable effects of climate change — into contributions. He said that countries need to "respond to the goal of the UAE consensus [Cop 28 agreement] to transition away from fossil fuels in a just and orderly manner taking into account different national circumstances". There is "no time for us to allow for anyone to try and backpedal on what we have collectively committed to in Dubai," Cop 28 president Sultan al-Jaber said at the meeting today. Cop 28 last year ended with an agreement that included transitioning away from fossil fuels and tripling renewable energy capacity globally by 2030. Al-Jaber said that the next NDCs must be aligned with the Paris agreement and the Cop 28 deal to keep 1.5°C — the Paris accord's most ambitious temperature limit — within reach. NDCs "must be economy-wide, cover all greenhouse gases and seize the opportunity of climate action as a driver for sustainable growth", he said. He recognised the efforts of G7 countries in including references to the Cop 28 agreement in their final communique and that he "was very hopeful that the same would happen at G20" later this year. G7 countries in May committed to phasing out "unabated coal power generation" by 2035 — putting a timeframe on a coal phase-out for the first time. They also pledged "to transition away from fossil fuels" in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating actions in this critical decade, to achieve net-zero by 2050 in keeping with the best available science", which is the language used in the Cop 28 text. Heads of states and governments in September adopted a pact that also included this wording ahead of the UN general assembly . By Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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