The New Yorker magazine has an interesting article by Michael Specter on the science and ethics of measuring carbon footprints.
For some reason, many environmentalists have a bias in favour of local consumption, and against the consumption of goods that have traveled a long distance between their place of production and their place [...]

Over at The New Carbon Cycle, there’s a round-up of recent activity in the US Federal Congress regarding carbon emissions policies and related international trade issues.
Technorati Tags: carbon emissions, international trade

Britain’s opposition Conservative Party is planning a “green stock exchange” similar to the existing AIM Exchange for small companies, according to the FT.
“George Osborne, shadow chancellor, will suggest tax breaks and a light touch regulatory regime to encourage companies to list on his proposed “Green Environmental Market”.
Mr Osborne wants the market to run alongside Aim [...]

The Government of Japan is undertaking a review of climate change policy, according to the FT.
“Japan’s trade and industry ministry will discuss imposing caps on greenhouse gas emissions as part of a review of measures to combat global warming after the Kyoto protocol expires in 2012.
The review, to be completed by June, has led [...]

Royal Dutch Shell is not the only major oil company calling for more policy certainty on emissions, according to the FT. Both Total and Conoco-Phillips have also made similar calls recently for co-ordinated government action on curbing emissions and promoting trade in emissions permits.
Technorati Tags: oil, curbing emissions, emissions permits