EU threatens 50,000 jobs with CO2 plan: German steelmakers Berlin (AFP) Jan 16, 2008 The German steel industry warned Thursday of huge job losses if the European Commission went ahead with a new emissions trading scheme in its climate protection drive. "If by 2020 all emission rights must be bought at auction, at least 50,000 jobs in the German steel industry are in danger," the head of the industry foundation, Dieter Ameling, told the conservative daily Die Welt in an interview to be published Thursday. Currently European companies receive free certificates that cover a large share of their carbon dioxide emissions. The European Commission plans a new emissions trading system as part of the bloc's commitment to cut greenhouse gases by 20 percent by 2020. By that date, all free emissions certificates will be phased out, according to plans that are to be officially presented next Wednesday in Brussels. "The EU programme would make German and European manufacturers the clear losers in the global steel industry," he said. "If the law on certificate trading for carbon dioxide emissions is introduced as planned by Brussels, no steel manufacturer will invest in Europe." The German steel industry calls for a system in which emissions averages are set by sector-by-sector. "Those that do better than the average can sell their carbon dioxide certificates and those that are worse must buy them," he said. EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, a German, called in November for special treatment for Europe's energy-guzzling core sectors over their carbon dioxide emissions to protect their competitiveness. He said the "special treatment" should apply to the aluminium, cement, paper pulp and base chemical industries and, perhaps, steel. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
MSU Researcher Finds Renewed Interest In Turning Algae Into Fuel Bozeman MT (SPX) Jan 16, 2008 The same brown algae that cover rocks and cause anglers to slip while fly fishing contain oil that can be turned into diesel fuel, says a Montana State University microbiologist. Drivers can't pump algal fuel into their gas tanks yet, but Keith Cooksey said the idea holds promise. He felt that way 20 years ago. He feels that way today. |
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