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Australia PM Gillard announces carbon pricing plan; transport fuels exempt, but lowered fuel tax credits to bring carbon price to some businesses

Green Car Congress

We have had a long debate about climate change in this country. Most Australians now agree our climate is changing, this is caused by carbon pollution, this has harmful effects on our environment and on the economy—and the Government should act. Transport fuels will be excluded from the carbon pricing mechanism.

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Obama climate plan calls for new fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles post-2018; cleaner fuels and investment in advanced fossil energy

Green Car Congress

Among the transportation-related elements of US President Barack Obama’s new climate action plan, which he is outlining today in a speech at Georgetown University, is the development of new fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles post-2018. Preparing the US for the impacts of climate change. Earlier post.).

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National Academies report finds US interstate highways need major overhaul; calls for 20-year blueprint for action

Green Car Congress

The report calls for a 20-year “blueprint for action,” which includes creating an “Interstate Highway System Renewal and Modernization Program,” increasing the federal fuel tax to help pay for it, and allowing tolls and per-mile-charges on more interstate routes. National Academy of Sciences. Looming Challenges.

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Study finds behavior-influencing policies remain critical for mass market success of low-carbon vehicles

Green Car Congress

More than 90% of such vehicles are powered by internal combustion engines burning oil-derived fuels. Encouraging the use of low-carbon alternatives is an essential part of meeting climate change targets as well as improving local air quality and health. Note the different scaling used in the graphs. McCollum et al. Click to enlarge.

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Study concludes significant additional transport policy interventions will be required for Europe to meet its GHG reduction goal

Green Car Congress

EU climate policy aims to limit the global mean temperature increase from anthropogenic climate change to below 2 °C. The team first ran all three scenarios with no new policies—although including major near-future confirmed policies, such as the inclusion of aviation in the EU ETS—applied to set a baseline.

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GFEI report suggests $2T savings from fuel economy improvements in ICE vehicles through 2025 can help fund long-term transition to plug-ins

Green Car Congress

Increasingly efficient conventional combustion-engine vehicles will be key in moving towards a low carbon future, according to the GFEI. Far better fuel economy from cost-effective conventional technologies can keep fuel demand steady and save close to half the CO 2 emissions from cars by this date. —GFEI working paper.

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CEPS task force report identifies tightening emissions standards as key policy to hit EU 60% reduction in transport GHG; full life-cycle emissions optimal metric

Green Car Congress

As the standards’ stringency increases, so does the need for an effective combination of both fuel and vehicle standards, based on well-to- wheel emissions. Setting clear standards for vehicle efficiency and fuels allow manufacturers of cars and other vehicles to anticipate the direction of future standards. June 2013).

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