China has warned the European Union to abandon its controversial carbon tax on airlines or risk provoking a global trade war. Adding weight to the warning, an industry insider told the Financial Times that the Chinese government was seriously considering measures to hit back at the EU if it insists on charging international airlines for their carbon emissions. --Simon Rabinovitch, Financial Times, 22 December 2011
The US has threatened to take retaliatory action against the European Union unless Brussels drops its plan imminently to start charging any airline flying into the bloc for its carbon pollution. In a sharp escalation of tensions over Brussels’ move to bring aviation into its emissions trading system from January 1, Hilary Clinton, US Secretary of State, has written to her European Commission counterpart, Catherine Ashton, and other top commissioners, to “strongly urge” the EU to halt or suspend its plan. --Pilita Clark and Andrew Parker, Financial Times, 20 December 2011
The Indian government has asked the country’s airlines to refrain from submitting carbon emissions data to the European Union (EU) for a new tax that will become applicable from 1 January for flights to Europe, hardening its stand further against the imposition of the levy. -- Tarun Shukla, Live Mint, 18 December 2011
Solar Millennium became the second German solar company to file for insolvency in December, following module maker Solon, as the company could not find partners for large projects in the United States and Spain. --Reuters, 21 December 2011
Since the end of last year, roughly 5,000 companies involved in the solar business have shut up shop, shedding about 20,000 jobs, according to German solar industry group BSW. –Reuters, 14 December 2011
The cycle of solar investments followed by solar bankruptcies dates back to the 1970s, and shows little sign of letting up during these “green” years. Despite the fervent wishes of ardent greens, a half-century of R&D has failed to turn solar power into a profitable enterprise. “The energy of the future” they call it. It is, and it always will be. --Walter Russell Mead, Via Meadia, 21 December 2011
Europe's main weapon in the battle against climate change is now fighting for its own survival. "Without intervention not only the Emissions Trading Scheme is over, but Europe's climate policy is over. It will put Europe back into the dark ages." --Gabriele Steinhauser, Associated Press, 20 December 2011
