Progress, albeit small, on carbon markets

In the U.S., climate change and regulations on carbon emissions have been relegated to oped pieces thanks to the recession and lack of political will. Even so, there has been some progress as California advances toward implementing the legislation known as AB 32 that sets greenhouse gas emission targets by 2020. This week will mark an important milestone that industry observers are monitoring with the debut of a market that will auction emission allowances granted by state regulators. Albeit small, it is progress.

U.S. as a Natural Gas Exporter?

It’s a far cry from the situation five years ago when oil and gas majors were scrambling to build LNG import terminals in the U.S.  But a lot has changed in the past five years with the shale gas revolution.  So today companies are exploring terminals to export gas from the U.S.

Notwithstanding the promoters’ enthusiasm, it is hard to be optimistic of such ventures for three reasons.

First, although shale gas supply in the U.S. has increased dramatically and more could be produced at short notice if prices rise, natural gas continues to be dominated by three regional markets:  Americas, Europe and adjoining areas, and the Middle East.  Historically, there has been little exchange between these markets.

Second, structural changes in demand such as a global climate change accord are not on the horizon.  A global climate change accord could dramatically drive demand for natural gas, which is a lower-carbon fuel relative to coal and oil and could serve as a “bridge fuel” during the transition to a word dominantly supplied by renewables.

Third, demand growth in Asia, in particular China and India, are not sufficient to justify gas export models because shale gas supplies are not limited to the U.S.  Significant exploration is underway and discoveries are anticipated in the emerging economies too.

Us vs. them: Information and climate change

It is unlikely that the debate will ever be settled but this is a cool graphic depicting key issues among the climate change deniers and believers.