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Nations agree on global, legally binding treaty on mercury emissions: Minamata Convention on Mercury

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At the conclusion of the International Negotiating Committee on Mercury ( INC5 ) meeting in Geneva ( earlier post ), nations agreed on a global, legally-binding treaty to prevent mercury emissions and releases. Waste incineration and cement clinker facilities are also on the list.

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EEA says industrial air pollution cost Europe up to €169 billion in 2009; some 37% attributed to CO2

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Air pollution from the 10,000 largest polluting facilities in Europe cost citizens between €102–169 billion (US$135–224 billion) in 2009, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) which analyzed the costs of harm to health and the environment caused by air pollution. Source: EEA. Click to enlarge.

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BP to Acquire Vereniums Cellulosic Biofuels Business for $98.3M; Verenium retaining Enzyme Business

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BP will become the sole investor in Vercipia Biofuels, a 50-50 joint venture formed by BP and Verenium in February 2009, and will independently manage all of Vercipia’s activities going forward. DLA Piper LLP (US) served as legal advisor to BP. Cooley LLP served as legal advisor to Verenium. Earlier post.) Earlier post.).

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Cutting Non-CO2 Pollutants Can Delay Abrupt Climate Change; The Fast Action Climate Agenda

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2009), reproduced from Ramanathan and Feng (2008) Click to enlarge. A binding legal agreement exists that can cut HFCs now—the Montreal Protocol ozone treaty—and many alternatives to HFCs have already been developed and are waiting for the right regulatory incentive from the Montreal Protocol to be deployed. From Molina et al.

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Volkswagen of America temporarily withdraws application for US certification of MY 2016 vehicles; AECDs

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The AECD to which Horn refers is distinct from the hidden software “defeat device” in the four-cylinder diesels from model years 2009-2015 that could recognize whether a vehicle was being operated in a test laboratory or on the road. As the EPA has said, these vehicles do not present a safety hazard and remain safe and legal to drive.

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Perspective: The UN Approval Process for Carbon Offsets

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United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009. Donovan (20 December 2009). On 24 February 2009, the US EPA granted Renergie a first-of-its-kind waiver for the purpose of testing hydrous E10, E20, E30 & E85 ethanol blends in non-flex-fuel vehicles and flex-fuel vehicles in Louisiana. About the Author.

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Obama Announces Steps to Boost Biofuels, Clean Coal; RFS2, BCAP, BIWG and Carbon Capture and Storage Task Force

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bg, (combining the 2009 and 2010 standards as proposed), or 1.10% of total fuel. Biodiesel from soy oil and renewable diesel from waste oils, fats, and greases complies with the 50% GHG threshold for the biomass-based diesel category. For 2010, the cellulosic standard is being set at 6.5

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