New Zealand Passed Climate Legislation

New Zealand has narrowly passed its emissions trading scheme into law. Australia has voted its cap and trade legislation down.

New Zealand’s Climate Change Response bill is an amended version of the one passed under the previous labor government. It requires a 50 percent reduction of emissions by 2050.

The Australian government has been embroiled in a bitter dispute over its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. The bill was defeated 41 votes to 33. The scheme was due to start in mid 2011 across 70 per cent of the country’s emissions.

Canada Tests Biofuel in Winter

The Canadian government is testing whether a blend of biodiesel can hold up during the harsh winter. Animal fat, vegetable oil, and restaurant grease will help power four locomotives this winter. They also want to see if the 5% biodiesel blend has any adverse effects on the trains.

Canada plans to impose a mandatory 2% blend of renewable fuel in biodiesel by 2011.

Biodiesel acts like a natural lubricant while reducing diesel’s emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulates. The country requires around 3 billion liters of renewable fuels under the mandate.

The government also plans to enact a 5% blend of renewable fuel in gasoline by 2010.