Energy Ministry pulls back on Euro-IV standard (Philippines)

The Philippines Ministry of Energy has announced that oil companies will be allowed to commercialize the more pollutant (and cheaper) Euro-II compliant automotive diesel oil, in an attempt to reduce the effect of rising international fuel prices on the national inflation rate. The motion shifts the country from a Euro-IV standard stated by the Environment department in 2016 to reduce pollution, since Euro-IV fuels have sulphur content of 50 ppm, compared to 500 ppm for Euro-II fuels.

The Ministry also ordered the National Oil Company-Exploration Corp to raise imports of low-priced oil products (especially diesel) to mitigate volatile oil prices.

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Shandong province (China) plans to cut coal capacity

The Environmental Protection Bureau (SEPB) of the Shandong province of China has released a 3-year plan against pollution. Among its main objectives, the SEPB plans to reduce coal production by 10% by 2020, from 156 Mt to 140 Mt, to boost gas consumption to 15.8 bcm by 2020 by increasing LNG imports and ensure that LNG reaches an 8% share of energy consumption in the province. In addition, it plans to raise gas imports from other provinces and targets a 70% share of clean energy sources in rural areas originates by 2020.

The plan is a part of a national strategy against pollution released by China’s State Council, whose main pillars are to cut coal consumption, incite electric vehicle sales and shut outdated steel and coke facilities.

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Record-high global GHG concentrations were recorded in 2017

According to the 28th annual State of the Climate report released by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the levels of greenhouse gas (GHG, including CO2, CH4 and NOx) concentration have reached a new high at 405 ppm, the highest data measured in the last 38 years.

2017 was the third-warmest year on record, only behind 2016 (1st) and 2015 (2nd). Observed land and ocean surface temperatures were 0.38-0.48°C above the 1981-2010 average, placing 2017 as the second-third warmest year since records began in the mid- to late 1800s. Heat in the upper ocean and the surface temperatures have also hit a near-record high.

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