NOTABLE
CLIMATE CHANGE EVENTS IN 2005
European emissions trading scheme comes into
force: climate change en route to multi-billion dollar business.
Saudi
Aramco reveals some of its secrets – but not enough to please those requesting
transparency.
Global warming could reach point of no
return in 10 yrs: International Climate Change Taskforce.
Shell
Chairman Ron Oxburgh says he wants to join the green lobby when he
retires.
US
DOE report on peak oil predicts problems “unlike any yet faced by modern
industrial society” unless a crash programme is launched immediately. It is not
published (but leaked).
Feedbacks are kicking in amplifying global
warming, pre G8 scientific gathering tells governments.
Kyoto
Protocol comes into force.
7
million oceanic temperature measurements down to 2,000 feet plus show
irrefutable warming.
Wall
Street Journal warns of $80 oil.
Evangelical
leaders in USA commit to fight global warming.
$100
oil option trades for the first time on NYMEX.
Oil hits new high of $57, pushed to this new peak
by speculators.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling soon to
begin – all for maybe 6 months supply in ten years time.
31 US national security leaders advise Bush to
reduce US oil consumption.
IEA will soon call for an emergency oil plan
(report leaked to FT, on front page).
Morgan Stanley talk of a “super spike” pushes falling oil
price back to $56.
Multi-agency Millennium Ecosystem Assessment shows
ecosystems are being destroyed at increasing rates.
San Francisco Chronicle speculates that
ChevronTexaco takeover of Unocal is related to peak oil.
BP’s Russian venture with TNK is hit with a $1
billion tax bill ….for 2001.
Bank of Montreal becomes first major financial institution
to say Ghawar is over peak. (Last item mentioned in Half Gone).
Exxon, sitting on a cash mountain of $25 b, comes
under pressure to pay dividends or make acquisitions.
French investment bank Ixis-CIB warns that oil
prices could touch $380 in 2015.
GE launches “Ecoimagination” green technology
initiative, saying “emissions reductions equal profitability.”
Time magazine reports on banks vetting investments
on ecological and social as well as economic impact.
UK insurer CIS opposes re-election of ExxonMobil
CEO on “ethical grounds” at Exxon AGM: climate is the issue.
Cities from 5 continents meet in San Francisco to pledge Kyoto
commitments: 140 US cities have signed up.
UK oil production suffered steepest fall of any country in 2004, annual
statistics show.
Houston investment banker Matt Simmons publishes book saying Saudi
reserves are in danger of collapse.
Guardian ICM poll shows massive public concern on global warming.
Chinese oil company CNOOC, desperate for supply, tries to take over
American oil company Unocal.
NOAA says the warming earth is definitely making hurricanes wetter,
more powerful, and more dangerous.
ExxonMobil takes out obscure ads saying “the world faces enormous
challenges” on energy and environment.
BP announces a $600m UK sequestration project with SSE: natural gas to
hydrogen for power, and CO2 piped back to North Sea for enhanced oil recovery.
Exxon CEO calls solar and wind energy
“inconsequential” and says it will never meet needs.
Oil hits $60 as tropical storms cause shutdowns in
the Gulf of Mexico.
Saudi Arabia won’t be able to meet expected demand in 2020,
Saudi officials tell counterparts.
First report on ocean acidification as a result of
CO2 emissions says impact on sea life is catastrophic.
France brings in water rationing after worst drought for 40
years.
US Justice Department decides not to take criminal
action against Shell over reserves scandal.
G8 Summit at Gleneagles ends without any progress
on global warming: US will not talk about targets.
In global advertisements, Chevron talks of a coming
global energy crisis: starts “will you join us” website with the slogan “It
took us 125 years to use the first trillion barrels of oil. We’ll use the next
trillion in 30.”
Shell’s costs double to $20 bn at the 3 billion
barrel-equivalent Sakhalin oil and gas project in Russia.
Drought alert in UK after driest winter and spring
for 30 years.
With forests ablaze, crops failing, locust
invasions and reservoirs empty, Europe is in the grip of the worst drought
recorded.
US launches 6-nation no-target clean-energy pact as
a vehicle to derail Kyoto.
“Warming hits ‘tipping point’” (front page
headline). 1 m sq km of Siberia’s bogs are melting.
Oil hits $65 amid new concerns about Middle Eastern
supply & strains on US refineries.
Long petrol queues in China cause Government to ban
price rises by oil companies.
BP castigated for “systemic lapses” of H&S at
US refinery where fire broke out in March.
Climate sceptics oft-used data from satellites is
discredited by new studies.
Aramco’s former head of exploration &
production says Saudi will never pump 20mbd, and struggle beyond 12.
Nine US states say they will set independent target
of 10% CO2 cuts by 2020 from big power plants.
Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans and the oil
price tops $70.
French PM: “We have entered the post-oil era:” pledges 75
euros to millions of families to pay fuel bills.
Rand Corporation says high oil prices could make
shale oil viable: in 20-30 years if technological & environmental issues
solved.
Scientists show England’s drying soils emit carbon to the
atmosphere faster than emissions cuts.
“Meltdown: Massive loss of Arctic ice means global
warming is now past point of no return:” front page headline. Satellites show
record loss of August ice. The scientists reporting this don’t think it can
stop.
Scientists show 2003 drought cut European plant
growth by 30%: i.e. massive release of greenhouse gas.
High oil prices a risk to the global economy, says IMF.
IEA World Energy Outlook says non-OPEC peak will be
“right after 2010”: says BAU is “not sustainable.”
UK Chancellor blames oil price as he trims UK
growth forecasts.
Iran threatens to switch oil and gas exports to China if nuclear row
escalates.
Venezuela threatens the same, for different reasons.
Blair says he is “changing his thinking” about the
Kyoto treaty, falling into line with Bush.
Hurricane Rita, heading for Houston with the same
force as Katrina, misses.
CBI says high energy prices are threatening UK
business of all sizes, and that gas supplies are too low.
Saudi Arabia and Exxon team up to try and ease
worries about oil supplies and prices.
Amazon suffers worst ever drought: Brazilian scientists
blame the warmer than normal North Atlantic.
Two Antarctic glaciers are discharging 3 times faster than a decade
ago: just these could raise sea levels 1m.
UK Energy minister admits companies may be forced
to close this winter: this having earlier rejected CBI concerns about energy
squeeze.
WalMart CEO announces zero carbon target for
world’s largest corporation: also $500m pa for tech to do it.
Former Exploration Manager of Aramco casts doubt on prospects for
substantial new oil discoveries in Saudi.
Former US Secretary of Defense likens peak oil denial to
Pompeii’s citizens ignoring rumblings of Vesuvius.
ASPO forecast now has regular oil having peaked in
2004: all liquids peak in 2010.
BP’s CEO Lord Brown says oil price will fall back to $40 or below: part
of campaign to avert UK windfall tax.
China says it will double renewable use by 2020: 15% up from 7% today,
including wind, solar, hydro.
Republicans turn on US oil companies as prices
soar: Exxon fights calls for a windfall tax.
FSA drops case against former Shell CEO over
reserves scandal.
Kuwait Oil Co says Burgan field, world’s second
largest, has peaked: and at 1.7mbd, not the forecast 2.
Unprecedented fish and seabird mortality along US
west coast ascribed to unusually warm water.
CBI warns of industry shutdown as UK gas prices
rise: DTI blames Europe for high prices.
UK ministers draw up a plan for emergency gas
supply: document leaked to FT.
Sea level rise has doubled in the last 150 years:
new core studies published on eve of Montreal summit.
Annual corporate responsibility survey shows
unprecedented demand for transparency and action.
BP announces an $8 billion spend on renewables and
other alternatives over the next decade.
Ukraine threatens to turn off Russian gas
pipelines: Russia’s price increase threatens Europe’s supply.
Ford president for the Americas lists peak oil as a serious challenge
facing the auto industry: one of seven.
Gulf stream weakening: scientists announce a 30%
slowing of currents since 1992.
Peak oil comes to Capitol Hill: Democrat and
Republican Representatives testify that the US has a problem.
Thousands protest against a new Chinese coal plant:
militia fire on them, killing at least one.
US forced to retreat on Kyoto: at the Montreal
climate summit, outrage greets effort to stop future talks.
Kuwait tells OPEC summit 4mbd by 2020 is
impossible: invites western oil companies in to help.
EIA downgrades 2025 forecast for OPEC production by 11 mbd: &
non-OPEC projected to rise to 67mbd.
Scientists discover climate models complicated because trees emit up to
30% of annual methane.