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The United States will relax emissions regulations and slow its transition to electric vehicles by 2030

U.S. President Joe Biden will relax annual requirements through 2030 in his plan to aggressively reduce emissions and boost electric vehicle sales. Automakers and the UAW expect the Biden administration to slow plans to grow electric vehicle sales, saying the technology remains too expensive for many mainstream U.S. consumers and more time is needed to develop charging infrastructure. . The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed in April 2023 that it would require a 56% reduction in new vehicle emissions in 2032. According to the EPA's original 2027-2032 proposal, automakers are expected to target electric vehicles to account for 60% of their new vehicle production by 2030. 67% by 2032 to meet more stringent emissions requirements. Sources said that with the revised final regulations expected to be announced next month, the EPA will slow down its proposed annual emissions requirement plan for 2030. The next step is expected to make the proportion of electric vehicles in total vehicle production smaller than 60% by 2030. Source: REUTERS (2024.2.21), US to soften tailpipe rules, slow EV transition through 2030

2024-02-19

The report shows that plastic recycling cannot be regarded as a permanent solution, but only prolongs the time for items to be disposed of.

Recycling plastic waste has been promoted for 50 years, and the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) report shows that big oil companies and the plastics industry have known for decades that this is not a technically or economically feasible solution. . This report exposes deceptive marketing and public education campaigns used to promote plastics as recyclable, despite knowing that this is not a viable solution. The report says these strategies have allowed the single-use plastics industry to expand while avoiding regulations that would effectively address waste and pollution issues. "Plastic recycling cannot be considered a permanent solid waste solution because it only prolongs the time items are disposed of," wrote a 1986 report from the Vinyl Institute (VI), an industry trade group. Roy Gottesman, the organization's founding director, reiterated the issue at a 1989 conference, warning, "Recycling cannot continue indefinitely and does not solve the solid waste problem." Why is plastic so difficult to recycle? There are thousands of different types of plastic in everyday products, it’s expensive to collect and sort, it also degrades after one or two uses, and becomes more toxic each time it’s repurposed. Despite this knowledge, oil and plastics companies continue their activities to promote recycling. Internal records from American Plastics Council (APC) staff acknowledge that recycled plastics cannot compete with virgin materials. They wrote: "In the near future, the original provider

2024-02-16

New eco-friendly burial path leads to greener afterlife

Human Composting has been legalized in six US states, but is still not available anywhere in Europe. In most European countries, the only options at death are cremation or traditional burial. However, there is a growing demand for options for burial after death. Growing, especially those with eco-friendly options. Cremation produces a large amount of carbon emissions, and burning a body in a coffin releases toxic waste gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. One cremation produces about 245 kilograms of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to charging a smartphone more than 29,000 times. Traditional burials can also have a negative impact on the environment, with chemicals used in the embalming process potentially leaking and contaminating surrounding soil and waterways. What is Human Composting? The body is placed in a sealed container and surrounded by a large mixture of alfalfa plants and wood chips. These organic matter quickly accumulate and naturally retain heat, avoiding the expensive fossil fuel expenses of traditional crematoriums. Heat accelerates the activity of microorganisms, and in about 30-50 days, the bones and teeth are converted into organic matter in the body. The bones and teeth do not decompose during this process, but are ground separately using specialized equipment and then mixed with other soil. The new soil is then left for about another 30 days to stabilize and dry before being given to loved ones. A 2020 study published by the Catholic University of Leuven investigated how the humification process affects pig bodies, finding that carcasses take much longer to decompose and produce compounds such as ammonia than expected, arguing that "natural humification

2024-02-12

Cultured meat saves endangered fish, artificial eel rice expected to be on the market in 2025

If artificial eel meat could slow down overfishing of eel fry and still retain its delicious flavor and texture, would you pay for it? Eel has become a delicacy on the table, and the pressure to survive has also increased. New start-up companies have invested in the research and development of artificial eel meat. As wild eel fry decrease, eel prices continue to rise, but gourmets still can't let go of their love for eel rice and eel sushi. Israeli food start-up Forsea Foods is developing artificial eel meat, using organoids (organoids) culture technology to produce eel meat. "We can produce products that are exactly the same as eel in terms of taste, texture, appearance and nutritional value," said Roee Nir, co-founder and CEO of Forsea Foods. This cultivation technology is very suitable for use on seafood. Because the meat of seafood is uniform, unlike beef with fat distribution. Forsea Foods was established in 2021, and its first product is aimed at artificial eel meat. Neil explained in an exclusive interview with "Spoon" that this is because the eel market is in short supply and the price is high, and eels are an endangered fish. He pointed out that according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Book, more than 700 edible species in marine ecosystems face extinction, and the number of eels has decreased by 90% to 95% in the past decade. The reproductive process of eels is quite complicated. They grow in rivers, and when mature, they migrate to the ocean to lay eggs. They only lay eggs once in their lives. For many years, eel farming has relied almost entirely on wild-caught eel fry, resulting in excessive consumption of natural resources and the loss of wild eels.

2024-02-05

2024 World Economic Forum: Climate resilience is no longer enough; corporate sustainability must bravely move towards "regeneration"

The annual World Economic Forum will be held from January 15 to 19, with more than 800 business leaders and dignitaries from around the world gathered in Davos, Switzerland. The theme of this year's forum is "Rebuilding Trust", hoping to rebuild social and international trust in the face of political and economic instability such as the Gaza crisis, the war in Ukraine, and the general election year. Davos is an important conference for thinking about business innovation, cooperation, and interconnection between decision-makers. This year’s topics focus on climate change and artificial intelligence. Different from the past, companies no longer just talk about climate resilience, but also start to think about regeneration. They hope not to just passively respond to climate change, but to lead a new economy and lifestyle with bolder and proactive strategies. "Response" to climate change crisis turns to "regeneration" As extreme weather events occur frequently, companies often have to respond to production crises and increasingly common carbon fees or tariffs. This year's economic forum has new ideas, believing that corporate sustainability requires a more active approach, called regeneration. "BBC" reported that Gim Huay Neo, global head of the World Economic Forum's Nature and Climate Center, said that the challenge for companies is to maintain growth and create profits, while also reducing carbon emissions and natural resource consumption. To achieve these goals, a new economic model and even a new lifestyle must be established. And, the new life will be better than the current life. Kearney, a world-renowned management consulting firm, also published a corporate

2024-01-26

The launch of Taiwan’s first stew rice “Hualien No. 26” is expected to significantly reduce the food miles of 98%

Rice is the essence of Italian risotto. Traditional Taiwanese white rice is soft and soft. Compared with risotto rice that can maintain its shape after being cooked for a long time and retains its toughness even after absorbing the soup, the taste is quite different. The Hualien Farm said on the 23rd that it has developed the first local "Hualien 26" suitable for making stewed rice. In response to my country's annual demand for importing more than 100 tons of stewed rice from Italy, it is expected to significantly reduce the food mileage of 98%. Currently, three manufacturers have been authorized to mass-produce stewed rice under contract. Mi Xin Bai Pang Pang, the first local rice variety for rice stew, "Hualien No. 26". After seven years of breeding, the Hualien Agricultural Farm has developed the first local rice variety, "Hualien No. 26", suitable for making rice stew. Italian risotto is about being fragrant and chewy. The essence is that the rice grains should be able to absorb the soup, but at the same time, they should not be overcooked easily. Authentic Italian risotto, the rice used is usually imported from Italy. "When you go to a competition, rice with white hearts will usually be knocked out." Yang Daji, director of the Hualien District Agricultural Improvement Field of the Ministry of Agriculture, said that Hualien No. 26 broke the conventional thinking of farmers because of the high proportion of "heart white" (chalk plasmid). ) is exactly what the risotto needs. Huang Jiaxing, associate researcher at the Hualien Agricultural Reform Farm, explained that the higher the protein content, the more pores there are to absorb the soup. Hualien No. 26 not only has a high percentage of protein content, but is also large, fat, and medium-amylose, so it is very resistant to cooking and difficult to digest. The paste can satisfy the requirements of stewing rice with intact rice grains, elasticity and juice absorption. Since 2016, the Hualien Farm has used the Italian stewed rice variety "Vialone nano" as the female parent, and crossed it with Taiwan's "Taitung No. 30", which is resistant to rice fever and has stable yields. It took seven days.

2024-01-24

ITRI’s first organizational sustainability report is released, moving towards sustainable development

ITRI released the "2035 Technology Strategy and Blueprint" and the first "Sustainability Report" on the 24th. Dean Liu Wenxiong said that in the second quarter of each year in the future, the sustainability report of the previous year will be completed to review the organizational sustainability. Progress towards development goals. In terms of research and development results, ITRI has demonstrated its achievements in developing independent technologies to help industries improve their competitiveness, including creating industrial independence for the key material of silicon carbide semiconductors and the first domestic artificial ligament. In order to implement organizational sustainability, it also issued the "Sustainability "Development Strategy Blueprint" reveals the six sustainability-oriented achievements of ITRI in technology research and development, industrial promotion, social welfare, talent cultivation, friendly workplace, and net-zero sustainable environment, as well as links with public associations and covers all sectors of industry, government, academia, and research. International partners, actively promote domestic and foreign industrial exchanges and scientific and technological development, and demonstrate ITRI's determination and commitment to promote sustainable industrial development. ITRI has been an important driver of Taiwan's economic growth in the past 50 years. It is now a large organization with more than 6,000 people. It not only needs to have a research and development direction, but also discusses how to move forward and move towards sustainable development of the organization. ITRI established the Sustainable Development Committee in 2022 and also established the Organizational Sustainability Office. With reference to the United Nations' 17 sustainable development goals, it summarizes scientific research and development, industrial promotion, social welfare, talent cultivation, friendly workplace and net-zero sustainability. Prepare a sustainability report based on six major aspects of the environment. The first sustainability report is currently completed. Liu Wenxiong said that the 2023 sustainability report will be completed in the second quarter of this year. In the future, the sustainability report of the previous year will be completed in the second quarter of each year to review the sustainable development goals.

2024-01-24

Environmentally friendly straws "bamboo, paper, glass, stainless steel" Which material is more environmentally friendly?

In order to eliminate the environmental burden caused by various disposable products, more and more "eco-friendly straws" are appearing on the market. But can new manufacturing really solve the problem? Benchmarks for comparison vary, and it is still difficult to draw a conclusion. This time we let the data speak for itself, comparing the environmental impact of disposable and reusable straws from the manufacturing process to disposal. Are they more environmentally friendly? Which environmentally friendly straw is more durable? Comparison of Common Environmentally Friendly Straw Materials First, we compare the number of times different environmentally friendly straws and disposable straws can be used under normal usage habits. Because the material is strong, steel straws can be used up to 500 times; glass straws, although they are made of hard material but are prone to breakage, can be used 100 times; the rest are bamboo straws that are made of natural materials because they are more susceptible to moisture damage. 50 calculations. Glass and bamboo straws have the highest carbon footprint! The carbon emissions of environmentally friendly straws are actually higher than disposable straws! Whether you are buying an environmentally friendly straw or a disposable straw, not only the straw itself, but also its packaging and peripheral accessories need to be included. Because we calculate the environmental impact of various environmentally friendly straws and disposable straws and the packaging accessories that come with them from manufacturing to disposal. It’s also worth mentioning that glass straws and bamboo straws, known as “environmentally friendly straws”, are actually the two types with the highest carbon emissions! Because each cleaning will result in the carbon emissions of the steel straw 63%, and the carbon emissions of the glass straw and bamboo straw 41%. And the nylon cleaning brush head comes with the straw. Because the upstream production chain consumes electricity and diesel, there is also a storage bag.

2024-01-24

Disposable plastic Out! Google Plastic Reduction Challenge Creative Competition

In this era of plastic overflow, a group of innovative people are working hard to reduce plastic. In April 2023, Google launched the Single-Use Plastic Challenge. The winners will have the opportunity to enter Google’s cafes and microkitchens in the United States, attracting the participation of many food companies. 12 works finally stood out, and the Environmental Information Center selected several interesting cases to share with you. 1. Candies that solve the problem of leftover food and plastic. The global food waste problem is serious, and there are also manufacturers in the Single-use Plastic Challenge who are attracted by the charm of "ugly food". "UpWorthy" reported that the candy company Climate Candy was founded by Amy Keller. He was born in a candy family and created an environmentally friendly brand. He purchased imperfect-looking but high-quality agricultural products to make candies, and then used plant fibers to make environmentally friendly packaging bags. . Not only can leftover food be turned into delicious candies, but disposable plastic packaging can also be reduced. 2. Coffee cups become nutrients for the garden. GaeaStar, a new start-up company, was inspired by Kulhars (unglazed pottery cups) tea cups at Indian food stalls and developed decomposable clay cups. According to "Very Compostable", the materials for this cup are very simple, requiring only clay, salt and a small amount of water. Using 3D printing technology, each tea cup can be made in less than 30 seconds. After drinking it, you can just throw it in the garden and crush it under your feet.

2024-01-24

Challenge the biggest pain point of capsule coffee: how to combine speed, flavor and zero waste with the shellless "coffee ball"

Have you had coffee today? Put a small capsule into the coffee machine, press the button, and enjoy a hot cup of fragrant coffee. Convenient, fast, and requiring no skills, the capsule coffee market is growing rapidly, but the disposal of capsules is always a pain. Taking note of consumers' concerns about the environment, Swiss retail giant Migros will launch the world's first "capsule-free" coffee balls in 2022. Combining the three major features of flavor, convenience and zero waste, it is billed as "the greatest innovative product in history" that has "completely revolutionized the coffee industry". Three wishes fulfilled at once CoffeeB says it is a capsule, more like a ball. The outer shell adopts Delica's patented natural protective film, which can block oxygen and maintain the coffee flavor. There is no need to recycle the coffee balls after use, nor do they need to be professionally composted. If you throw them in your yard or flower pot, they will naturally decompose and form fertile humus in a few weeks. The Associated Press reported that Migros explained that the raw material of the coffee ball shell is mainly seaweed, which is thin and tasteless. It can be discarded with the coffee powder after use. Like ordinary capsule coffee, CoffeeB also requires a dedicated coffee machine. Migros said the system took five years to develop and that most of the coffee machine is made of recycled materials. The highlight is the modular design, which means it will be very convenient to replace parts. The composition of coffee beans is naturally not sloppy either. Depending on the taste, they come from rainforest certified coffee, fair trade, or BIO organic coffee. Do consumers pay the bill? One year after the launch of CoffeeB, "Spoon" reported that CoffeeB has entered Switzerland.

2024-01-15

Sharing replaces pricing and is more attractive. Nuw gives fast fashion items a second life.

Fast fashion second-hand clothes, which are cheap and highly substitutable, are difficult to compete with new clothes in terms of market mechanisms. In order to solve this problem, the British second-hand platform Nuw uses the concept of barter instead of selling at a price, and uses an innovative model to allow the second-hand clothing market to operate smoothly without having to spend money to buy new clothes. When new fashion trends emerge, it is inevitable to change your wardrobe. Continuously purchasing new clothes and discarding old ones is an inevitable trend in fast fashion, but it also causes the earth's carbon emissions to continue to increase. According to statistics, 1/10 of global carbon emissions come from the fashion industry, and up to 300,000 tons of waste fabrics are dumped into landfills every year. Just buying a white cotton T-shirt emits as much carbon emissions as running a car for 50 kilometers. In order to solve this problem, various second-hand clothing markets began to appear. On different second-hand goods trading platforms, you can resell, transfer, and donate your old clothes, and buy clothes you don’t own at relatively cheap prices. However, this model often only applies to certain products, especially those with luxury goods or vintage clothing, but does not apply to cheap disposable clothing such as fast fashion. The reason is that people can buy brand new clothes at similar or cheaper prices, and second-hand fast fashion clothes are not attractive enough. The price and rarity of fast fashion products are low, making it difficult to resell in the second-hand clothing market. Aisling Byrne from the UK witnessed first-hand the destructive impact of fast fashion on the local environment and communities during a trip to India. The large amount of waste made her frightened. Head

2024-01-11

Carbon fee rate to be finalized in first quarter as soon as possible

my country will launch a carbon fee this year. Large emitters will pay the first carbon fee in 2025 based on their emissions in 2024. But how to charge carbon fees? How much to charge? The Ministry of Environment released the carbon fee calculation formula for the first time on the 3rd, as well as preliminary plans for charging objects, carbon rights to offset carbon fees, and preferential rates. Among them, the algorithm of "deducting 25,000 metric tons of emissions and then calculating the carbon fee" is full. Amid controversy, environmental groups criticized the move as giving businesses free carbon emission quotas. At present, the Ministry of Environment has only released the structure of the bill, and the notice of the draft is yet to be announced. Director of the Climate Agency Cai Lingyi said that relevant measures and carbon fee rates will be finalized in the first quarter of this year. 1. From whom is the carbon fee collected? How is the carbon fee calculated? According to a briefing by the Climate Agency, carbon fee charging objects must meet two requirements. One is to be identified as "the source of greenhouse gas emissions that enterprises should inventory, register and verify greenhouse gas emissions" (mostly electricity and large-scale manufacturing), and the other is to be "directly The total emissions and indirect electricity emissions amount to 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent." The carbon fee calculation method is tentatively determined as deducting 25,000 metric tons from emissions and then multiplying by the carbon fee rate. That is, no fee is required for emissions of 24,900 tons, and only 0.1,000 tons of carbon fee is required for emissions of 25,100 tons. The Climate Agency stated that this setting is to avoid setting a threshold of only 25,000 tons, which would create an unfair situation where "25,100 tons must be fully paid, and 24,900 tons must not be paid at all." Shi Wenzhen, deputy minister of the Ministry of Environment, said that the objects that should be investigated account for about 75% of my country's emissions, but the power industry also needs to deduct consumer electricity emissions. After deduction, it covers my country's 55 to 60% emissions. to

2024-01-05

Environmental groups urge not to open up the 250 million tons exemption quota and not to use "garbage carbon rights" to offset carbon fees

Taiwan emits more than 25,000 tons of carbon emissions, and more than 500 emission sources will pay carbon fees. The Ministry of Environment proposed on the 3rd that operators can deduct 25,000 metric tons of emissions before calculating. The environmental group criticized it as giving operators a free fee of 25,000 tons. Carbon emission quotas. The Green Citizen Action Alliance pointed out that if the carbon fee rate is 300 to 500 yuan per ton, my country will collect 3.7 to 6 billion yuan less in carbon fees every year. The Ministry of Environment responded that income tax and air pollution charges have similar practices, and it will respect the opinions of environmental groups and communicate with all walks of life. The environmental group has approved the Ministry of Environment to send 25,000 tons of "free carbon emission" quotas. Large carbon emitters will pay carbon fees in 2025 based on the results of this year's (2024) inventory. However, the progress of relevant sub-laws is not as expected, and the environment On the 3rd, the Ministry of Finance held a "symposium to exchange progress on the promotion of carbon fee collection sub-laws". It still did not propose a carbon fee rate. However, for the first time, it proposed a calculation method of "deducting 25,000 metric tons of emissions" and multiplying the rate by multiplying the rate, which aroused the attention of the people present. Group dissatisfaction. Shen Yizhen, a commissioner of the Green Citizen Action Alliance, said that the deduction of 25,000 tons is equivalent to giving "free emission quotas" to the industry, which may reduce the pressure on the industry to reduce carbon emissions. He also pointed out that if 500 emission sources charge 300 to 500 yuan per ton of emissions, my country's carbon fee will be reduced by 3.7 to 6 billion yuan. In addition, carbon fees are charged on individual factories, so companies with more factories will receive more free quotas, making it easier for companies to avoid carbon fees by scheduling production lines. Chen Yonghui, leader of the climate change group of the Wilderness Conservancy, said that if the tax is reduced, the carbon fee may cover a lower rate of the country’s overall emissions.

2024-01-05

Germany’s carbon emissions hit 70-year low amid slowing economic growth

The latest report from the German think tank Agora Energiewende pointed out that as Europe's largest economy reduces coal production, Germany's carbon emissions have dropped to the lowest level in seven decades. In addition, the report estimates emissions in 2023 to be 673 million tons, 73 million tons less than in 2022 and about 46% less than in 1990, which is Germany’s lowest emissions data since the 1950s. Germany has announced a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2045 and will decommission its last three nuclear power plants in 2023 after phasing out nuclear energy over several years. Meanwhile, coal-fired power generation fell to its lowest level in 60 years last year, mainly due to rising imports and falling demand. The combination of the slowdown in German economic growth and international crises such as the ongoing war in Ukraine also caused a decline in energy-intensive output of 11%, which exceeded the overall economic contraction of 0.3%. However, the report also said that most of the cuts in coal use are not the result of long-term renewable energy build-out, which would result in permanent cuts. About 15% represents such permanent cuts, while about 50% comes from short-term impacts such as lower electricity prices. Meanwhile, Germany is likely to miss EU climate targets as emissions from the buildings and transport sectors were almost flat last year. If it fails to meet these targets, the country will have to pay fines or buy emissions rights from other EU member states. As far as climate protection is concerned in Germany, climate policy success has been achieved with record additions of renewable energy power, bringing Germany closer to the 2030 target. However,

2024-01-04

European and American startups create "low-carbon cement": AI helps reduce carbon emissions, uses solar energy to produce clinker, and develops building materials that can absorb carbon

A large amount of carbon dioxide is emitted during the cement production process. However, the demand for housing and public buildings in most major cities around the world is still growing. This trend is contrary to the international consensus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. How to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the cement industry has become a The focus of attention from all walks of life. Startup Synhelion uses photovoltaics to produce cement clinker. Pictured here is a mirror that concentrates solar radiation onto Synhelion's solar tower receiver. Image source: synhelion According to statistics from the American management consulting firm McKinsey, about 7% of global man-made carbon emissions come from the cement industry, which also makes cement one of the industries with the highest carbon emissions among heavy industries. Claude Loréa, head of the Cement Innovation and Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) Department of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), said that even by 2050, three-quarters of the world's public construction will still be waiting for construction. Construction, the consumption of cement is expected to continue to grow. The Wall Street Journal explained that the cement currently widely used in various countries is Portland Cement. During the cement production process, clay, limestone and other raw materials are first ground into raw meal, and then about The raw material is put into the cement kiln at a high temperature of 1500°C to make clinker. The cement manufacturer will finally grind the clinker and add silica sand, furnace stone and water.

2023-12-28

Global optoelectronics growth will slow down in 2024

Data from Wood Mackenzie shows that between 2019 and 2023, the number of global photovoltaic installations will grow by an average of 28% annually, of which there will be a sharp increase of 56% between 2022 and 2023. However, no growth is expected from 2024 to 2028. Although the total global solar installation capacity will continue to grow rapidly in the next 10 years, compared with the growth rate in recent years, the growth rate of installation volume will begin to slow down in 2024. Wood Mackenzie estimates that global new solar installation capacity will be 270GW this year, while the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that new solar installation capacity will be 349GW in 2023. However, the growth of the global solar market follows a typical S-curve. In recent years, the steepest part of the curve has seen rapid growth, starting in 2024, when the industry will pass a turning point characterized by a slowing growth pattern. While the global solar market is still many times larger than it was just a few years ago, it is only natural to follow this growth path as the industry matures. Currently, not all regions are at the same point on the S-curve. Africa and the Middle East, for example, have a long way to go before they reach a turning point in their growth. In addition, the two major markets of Asia-Pacific and Europe, dominated by China, are driving this growth model globally. It is worth noting that any changes in China will have a significant impact on world markets, as China leads the way in new installation capacity, with approximately 180GW of new installation capacity set to be added this year. The main reason that may affect the slowdown in growth is the global response to energy transition.

2023-12-27

Analysis of the impact of EU CBAM on my country's small and medium-sized enterprises

Abstract: Today, most countries are setting goals and taking actions to curb climate change. Among them, the European Union is the most active and progressive. It has declared in its green policy platform that greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 55% in 2030 compared with 1990 and by 80% in 2050. Determination to achieve a carbon neutral continent. In order to effectively curb the problem of border carbon leakage caused by increasingly stringent environmental regulations and maintain the international competitiveness of domestic industries, the European Union has decided to implement the "Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)" in 2021, which will be gradually launched on a trial basis in 2023 and is expected to be implemented in 2021. It will be officially implemented in 2026. This article attempts to understand the possible impact on China's small and medium-sized enterprises based on the current trade situation. It is estimated that the impact of CBAM on China's trade from the transition period to the initial implementation period is still slight. However, the increase in environmental costs caused by green tariffs still poses a burden to business operations, and relevant measures must be taken. Countermeasures. In addition, it explores the impact of subsequent international reactions and the EU's possible tightening measures on future development directions, and provides possible ways and suggestions for small and medium-sized enterprises to improve their adaptability or seek guidance and assistance when facing rising business costs and policy changes. 1. CBAM implementation measures: According to the latest revised specifications of the European Council on April 25, 2023, it was determined that six major items: steel, aluminum, chemicals, cement, fertilizers, and electricity will be included in the first wave of control list, and will be included in the first wave of control list in 2023. A transition period will be implemented from October to the end of 2025, and the detailed rules and follow-up plans will be adjusted according to the implementation status. During the transition period, manufacturers only need to complete product carbon disclosure and submit reports without paying any fees.

2023-12-22

EU policy for SMEs in response to 2050 net-zero emissions

Abstract: In recent years, governments around the world have successively set 2050 net-zero emission targets. In order to actively assist small and medium-sized enterprises to develop or transform into low-carbon and sustainable enterprises, and to plan for green business opportunities in advance, they have proposed various policy tools. Common tools can be summarized into four aspects: (1) incentive control measures (2) green certification and awards (3) financial incentive support (4) technical support. Among them, there are many financial inducement support tools, including at least direct subsidies, private equity investment and preferential loans in the EU. For new start-ups that have difficulty obtaining market capital, direct subsidies are more needed to enter the net-zero path; in contrast, for companies that have entered the growth stage, through private equity fund injection or low-carbon project investment, All can encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to improve their competitiveness while providing an environment for enterprise development. In addition, the technical support tools seen from the EU's experience are also quite diverse. The essence of them is to provide cooperation platforms, institutional reforms and experience sharing. 1. EU policy tools for SMEs in response to 2050 net-zero emissions: The total greenhouse gas emissions of small and medium-sized enterprises around the world cannot be underestimated. As governments of various countries have successively set 2050 net-zero emission targets, in order to actively assist small and medium-sized enterprises to develop or transform into low-carbon Moreover, sustainable enterprises have laid out green business opportunities in advance and have proposed various policy tools. The following is a summary of the policy tools and application cases proposed by the EU for small and medium-sized enterprises in its member states for domestic reference. In order to help small and medium-sized enterprises move towards sustainability, the EU has summarized common policy tools into four aspects:

2023-12-21

Microsoft signs carbon removal agreement with carbon offset startup Chestnut Carbon

Microsoft said on Wednesday, December 20, that it had reached an agreement with carbon offset startup Chestnut Carbon. Microsoft will receive carbon credits from Chestnut Carbon for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in order to fulfill Microsoft's commitment to environmental sustainability. Ben Dell, founder of Chestnut Carbon, pointed out that compared to other projects that generate carbon credits by protecting trees, Chestnut Carbon will plant new trees on qualified land, thereby removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and creating environmental benefits. . Microsoft's partnership with Chestnut Carbon will give Microsoft 15-year carbon credits for the amount of carbon emissions Chestnut Carbon removes through reforestation in the Mississippi flood plain. Microsoft expects to receive its first carbon credits within three years, once the newly planted trees are mature enough to remove carbon dioxide. Microsoft views the carbon removal plan as a key strategy to implement its 2030 carbon negative goal. To date, Microsoft has signed contracts with external parties for more than 1.4 million tons of carbon removal projects, including reforestation projects and carbon capture projects. Microsoft did not disclose the budget for its partnership with Chestnut Carbon, but said the project would be able to reduce carbon emissions by up to 2.7 million tons. Chestnut Carbon said that cooperation with Microsoft will help them purchase new land and develop new carbon removal projects. Source: R

2023-12-20

The U.S. Clean Competition Act and its Impact on my country

Abstract: This article collects and analyzes the promotion and practice of the Clean Competition Act (CCA) in the United States. It mainly investigates and collects information about the U.S. regulations on the Act and its impact on Taiwanese companies, and provides suggestions on how companies can respond. Secondly, this article also summarizes the comparison between the European Union (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, CBAM) and the US CCA to help small and medium-sized enterprises respond to the carbon tariff policies released by Europe and the United States as soon as possible. 1. Overview of the bill: In June 2022, the U.S. Senate proposed the Clean Competition Act to implement carbon border adjustments on energy-intensive imported products. It is expected to impose carbon tariffs on U.S.-made products and U.S. importers starting in 2024, including Refining, petrochemicals, fertilizers, cement, steel and aluminum. What is different from the EU CBAM is the baseline for carbon tariff calculation and the objects to be levied. The US CCA Act charges carbon fees for importers and domestic manufacturers, but domestic manufacturers can obtain tax rebates when exporting to other countries; the calculation method is based on the US Department of the Treasury. The reported information is used to calculate the average carbon content of each category of U.S. products as the baseline for levying carbon taxes. If the manufacturer's carbon intensity exceeds the carbon intensity baseline applicable to the U.S. industry, it must pay carbon tax on the excess. . In addition, the baseline will be adjusted downward by 2.5% every year starting from 2025, and by 5% every year after 2029. It is worth noting that exports to the United States are taxable

2023-12-20
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