海角大神

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GCF: Industrialized nations are making good on a pledge to finance sustainable development across the industrializing world. With new commitments from Japan, Canada, and the US this week,听the Green Climate Fund is just shy of its $10 billion fundraising goal for this year. That commitment, combined with strong new European climate targets and a US-China emissions deal,听make the road to next year's Paris talks look less onerous.

Baiji:听Reports of Iraqi troops retaking the Baiji refinery from Islamic State control听doesn't directly impact global fuel flows, but it is doubly good news for Iraqis and broader regional stability. Iraqi control of the refinery means IS loses a potential source of financing while northern Iraq regains a critical source of transportation fuel and electricity for Baghdad and elsewhere.听It could prove a decisive turn in broader efforts to reverse the terrorist group's advance.

59-41:听The US Senate narrowly blocked a bill to approve Keystone XL, but the pipeline's听outsize role听in the US energy conversation is far from over. Once Republicans take control of the Senate in January, they'll likely pass a bill immediately to score an early political victory. President Obama might veto it, but it looks increasingly likely that he will use it as a bargaining chip for other energy goals.

In the pipeline

• Tuesday, Nov. 25: NEW YORK and THE INTERNET 鈥撎齌he International Energy Agency chief economist Fatih Birol discusses IEA's World Energy Outlook 2014听at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy. This year's outlook focuses on improving modern energy access in Africa, and tapping the continent's significant fossil fuel and renewable resources.
• Thursday, Nov. 27: VIENNA 鈥� Ordinarily a rote affair,听next week's OPEC meeting will be very closely watched in the oil markets. Three things to know:
  听
  1. It is likely the cartel will maintain production levels, given Saudi Arabia's influence on the group and its desire to hold market share. That would put tremendous downward pressure on oil prices, which have already slid some 30 percent since their summer peak.
  2. Still,听there's increasing speculation OPEC might agree on a slight cut in output听to appease smaller members who are more vulnerable to the low prices.
  3. Either way, it's important to remember that what OPEC says it will do does not always line up with what it actually does.

Drill deeper

What It Would Really Take to Reverse Climate Change听[IEEE Spectrum]
In 2011, Google shuttered its "moonshot" renewable energy program, deflating hopes the sprawling tech giant might play a core role in developing new renewable technologies. In this thoughtful, nuanced essay, two of the project's lead engineers reflect on what they learned听about decarbonizing our energy supply听and the technological hurdles that remain.

Oil Dispute Takes a Page From Congo鈥檚 Bloody Past
[The New York Times]
The dispute over drilling in Virunga National Park underscores an age-old tension between economics and the environment, amplified by sub-Saharan Africa's widespread energy poverty and its iconic landscapes and wildlilfe. It also threatens to replay the brutal exploitation of Congo's rubber, ivory, copper, and other minerals.

Tech, Not Oil Prices, Spurred $35 Billion Halliburton Merger
[U.S. News & World Report]
鈥淭hese negotiations have been going on for a year if not longer. The timing鈥檚 irrelevant," Fred Beach, assistant director at the University of Texas-Austin's Energy Institute, tells U.S. News. "Instead of two overseas offices, you鈥檝e now got one; instead of two logistics pipelines, you鈥檝e got one.... It makes them a much stronger international company.鈥�

Energy sources

• The White House: "We are supporting Ukrainian efforts to enhance its own energy production, including through technical assistance to help restructure Ukraine鈥檚 national oil and gas company, Naftogaz, and through the introduction of new technologies to boost outputs from existing and new conventional gas fields in Ukraine. "
• EPA: "Today EPA is announcing that it will not be finalizing 2014 applicable percentage standards under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program before the end of 2014. In light of this delay in issuing the 2014 RFS standards, the compliance demonstration deadline for the 2013 RFS standards will take place in 2015."
• UNEP: "The best estimate is that global carbon neutrality is reached between 2055 and 2070 in order to have a likely chance of staying within the 2 degree C limit."

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