Topic: Emissions Offsets and Trading

Carbon trading: Why 'good' companies embrace 'bad' credits

When it comes to Europe's carbon-trading system, top companies like Dow Chemical, ConocoPhillips, and BP prefer to save a little money than hone their 'green' reputation.

Gas prices should be higher

In an election year, President Obama may be the last guy who wants gas prices to rise. However, if  we want to reduce our need for foreign oil, slow climate change, and encourage development of new energy technology, we ought to be raising taxes on fossil fuels. A lot.

California ready to cut greenhouse gases. Next, doing it.

After five years, California has put in place rules to cut greenhouse-gas emissions statewide back to 1990 levels. But lingering effects of the recession have pushed implementation back a year to 2013.

Election 101: Where the GOP candidates stand on energy and the environment

Energy and the environment are typically “back burner” issues in national elections, but both are huge this year for Republicans. Take a look at where each of them stands.

Africa Rising: Carbon credits save Sierra Leone's Gola Rainforest

Turning down mining offers, Sierra Leone has set aside the Gola Rainforest as a new national park in the hopes of collecting carbon credits from abroad. 

China: Economic woes no excuse for climate change inaction

Ahead of major climate change talks in Durban, South Africa, China's top climate official said that economic turmoil in the West should not get in the way of fighting global warming. 

Keep the climate challenge in focus

An international meeting later this month won’t take big steps, but it can hold everyone’s feet to the fire.

Don't make fun of California's carbon reduction efforts

California is trying to change the rules of the game, getting polluters to expect that they will be charged a gradually higher price for carbon emissions. Will the state's leaders be viewed as a heroes fools?

Invisible presence at GOP debate in Iowa: Rick Perry

Eight candidates sparred at the GOP debate in Ames, Iowa, Thursday night. Though Texas Gov. Rick Perry wasn't one of them, his imminent entry into the presidential race changes everything.

GOP presidential hopefuls dance around climate change

Republican presidential candidates steer away from anything suggesting government action on climate change, some – Pawlenty and Gingrich – reversing earlier positions. Romney says the problem is real, but offers no solutions. That alone has raised conservative ire.

Carbon taxes: the levy (some) conservatives love

Conservatives may usually oppose tax increases, but it looks like some in Washington might go for a carbon tax

In Brazil, more than a cookstove

Families in poor rural areas of Brazil cook on woodstoves. A local nonprofit offers a better design, letting families enjoy cleaner, healthier, more efficient cooking – while burning less carbon.

Political polarization of climate change is on the rise

It's time to find a good way to reconsider whether carbon cap and trade would eliminate jobs

Glenn Beck leaving Fox: his 10 most controversial statements (so far)

Glenn Beck has packed a lot of wallop in just two-plus years at Fox News. We’ve whittled the list down to the 10 most controversial things Mr. Beck has said on Fox – so far, at least.

Newt Gingrich's flip-flops

Flip-flopping is an old charge in the rough-and-tumble world of politics. Mitt Romney has some explaining to do about health care, and Newt Gingrich seems to have back-flipped on Libya.

Carbon emissions trading: more buy in, small impact

Carbon emissions trading gains wider acceptance among European power companies and heavy industries. But so far, carbon emissions trading has had only a marginal impact in reducing emissions.

Ideas for a better world in 2011

To start the new year off right, the Monitor asked various thinkers around the world for one idea each to make the world a better place in 2011. We talked to poets and political figures, physicists and financiers. The results range from how to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world to ways to revamp Hollywood.

One happy medium between Obama and Republicans? Energy.

The 2010 election signaled voter demand for jobs. The best federal response would be a GOP-Democratic compromise on energy issues.

Midterm elections: 12 House races to watch to judge size of a GOP 'wave'

Most observers expect Republicans to take over the House of Representatives, but more than 100 races could go either way. The magic number Republicans need to gain to take control: 39. Here are a handful of races to keep an eye on in the states with early-closing polls.

Why climate change isn't much of a campaign issue

When an economy is in the tank, it’s a lot tougher to sell what may be expensive environmental solutions whose benefits aren't seen for decades to people worried about their job today.

Tea Party 101: Who are its followers and what do they want?

Of all the protest signs at all the rallies where people gathered last year to object to Washington's plans to save the US economy and reform healthcare, this hand-lettered one is memorable: "You can't fix stupid, but you can vote it out."

That's the "tea party" movement in a nutshell.

Do higher electricity prices drive away manufacturing jobs?

California's "Global Warming Solutions Act," AB32, mandates reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Will this cost jobs?

As India looks at cutting carbon, a wind farm scandal

The world’s third-largest maker of wind turbines is accused again of cheating tribal people to set up wind farms in India, highlighting the pitfalls of carbon-offset projects in developing countries.

Five Senate races to watch

The political turmoil of 2010 has led to a number of close Senate races, with control of the upper chamber possibly in the balance. Here are five of the closest, most interesting, hardest-fought Senate races of this election cycle.

Alaska's Lisa Murkowski: No. 7 on list of ousted incumbents?

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) of Alaska could become the seventh congressional incumbent to lose a primary in 2010 if her too-close-to-call race with 'tea party' favorite Joe Miller stays in Mr. Miller's favor.