“Today’s decision does not bring us any closer to a much-needed global approach to economic measures to account for aviation’s international emissions. Unilateral, extra-territorial and market distorting initiatives such as the EU ETS are not the way forward. What is needed is a global approach agreed through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

The CJEU decision was in response to a legal challenge presented by the Air Transport Association of America (now Airlines for America), a number of US airlines, IATA and the National Airlines Council for Canada. Together they argued that the EU ETS contravened the Chicago Convention which prohibits such taxation of international aviation. The CJEU ruled that the Chicago Convention does not bind the EU which is not a signatory and that the ETS does not violate any other aspect of international law.

“The CJEU decision may reflect European confidence in European plans. But that confidence is by no means shared by the outside world where opposition is growing. A formal resolution of the ICAO Council supported by 26 countries urged Europe to take a different approach. India is reported to have instructed its airlines not to comply. Similar legislation is moving through the US Congress. Other legal challenges are expected. And on 16 December the US Secretaries of State and Transportation warned that the US would be compelled to take appropriate action if Europe does not re-think its plans,” said Tyler. The US letter noted that at least 43 countries have publicly objected to Europe’s plans.

The air transport industry has made global commitments to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5% annually to 2020, to cap net emissions from 2020 and to cut net emissions in half by 2050 (compared to 2005 levels). “A global framework for economic measures is a critical component of our strategy to achieve these challenging targets. But we won’t get agreement on a global approach if states are throwing rocks at each other because Europe wants to act extra-territorially. Europe should take credit for raising the issue of aviation and climate change on the global agenda. But what is needed now is for Europe to work with the rest of the world through ICAO to achieve a global solution. Today’s decision has not changed that reality,” said Tyler.

At its 37th Assembly in 2010, 15 principles were agreed through ICAO for a global framework on economic measures. A commitment to develop a framework based on these measures for agreement at the 38th ICAO Assembly in 2013 was also achieved.

oneworld, the world’s premier airliane alliance, could but take it into consideration and apply it into its website.

oneworld.com is now available in Simplified Chinese, with the new language choice added as part of a major overhaul to make the global airline alliance’s website even more customer-friendly and to take advantage of latest technology. The addition of the Simplified Chinese version means oneworld.com is now available in eight languages – with the established English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.

That is not the only change to oneworld internet pages. The overall aim has been to make the site more appealing for today’s international travellers, with less text and more pictures and with the most frequently sought content more readily available.

Navigation has been simplified, a Google search capability included and displays of member airlines’ flight schedules improved with more prominent links to each carriers’ bookings sites. All the most popular content is still there – its interactive network map, oneworld Explorer online booking facility, downloadable timetables, details of the alliance’s services for frequent flyers, guides to key airports and cities, downloadable screensaver and more – but all refreshed to make them easier to use.

È quanto ha deciso la Commissione per gli affari monetari ed economici del Parlamento europeo, approvando un documento presentato dal deputato svedese Olle Schmidt, del gruppo dei Liberali e Democratici.

Una presa di posizione che sembra andare direttamente contro l’imposizione degli immobili detenuti all’estero da parte dei cittadini italiani prevista dal governo di Mario Monti nel suo piano definito – alquanto pomposamente – “Decreto salva-Italia”.

Il documento di Schmidt affronta tutti i casi di problemi che i cittadini UE incontrano nell’effettuare investimenti in paesi membri dell’Unione diversi da quello di cui sono residenti. Pur riconoscendo che, al momento, la politica fiscale è appannaggio degli Stati membri e non è una competenza UE, con questa decisione la Commissione affari monetari ed economici manda un chiaro segnale alla Commissione UE ed ai 27 Stati membri: la convergenza fiscale di cui si parla tanto in queste settimane parte dalla necessità di una maggiore trasparenza a favore dei cittadini e questo significa imposizione fiscale unica ed univoca e non sovrapposizione di politiche di prelievo che finiscono con l’impoverire i cittadini e le imprese.

Alla luce di quanto approvato dalla Commissione parlamentare, appare chiaro che il prelievo deciso dal governo italiano sulle proprietà immobiliari negli altri paesi UE è destinato ad essere cassato da parte dell’Unione europea, in quanto non rispondente ai criteri fissati nel documento. Situazione paradossale, se consideriamo che Mario Monti è da anni osannato come ex Commissario UE ed è portato come esempio dell’autorevolezza italiana nell’Unione. C’è da chiedersi come facesse a non sapere che il Parlamento europeo stava lavorando ad un documento che contraddice un punto così importante del piano politico del suo governo.

È sempre più probabile, a questo punto, che nel corso del 2012 Monti sarà costretto a rivedere anche questo punto del suo programma di azione. Si può facilmente immaginare su chi ricadranno le conseguenze della revisione: sulle classi medie e basse, con nuove tasse e imposizioni di vario genere sui beni e sui servizi essenziali – scuole, casa, automobile, benzina.

European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs committee has approved a report by the Sweden’s Folkpartiet MEP, Olle Schmidt on the EU’s Annual Tax report. The report focuses on the tax initiatives taken by the Commission during 2011 and on areas where further initiatives are necessary in order to improve the functioning of the Single market and to create a more competitive Europe.

The report also addresses tax problems that EU citizens face in cross-border situations within the EU. For example, EU citizens working or investing in another EU Member State who encounter issues of double taxation and have difficulties with obtaining allowances, tax reliefs or deductions from foreign tax authorities.

Though taxation is mostly a national and not an EU competence, the financial and economic crisis has revealed the risks posed to the Single Market by contradictory tax policies and the need for closer coordination.

The EU Treaty foresees only simple consultation of Parliament and unanimity in the Council. The report just approved by the EP’s Economic and Monetary Affairs committee is a clear indication action is needed to coordinate Member states’ fiscal policies and avoid cases of double taxation.

"I welcome that the Commission recently adopted a Communication on Double Taxation, where concrete measures are announced, including the creation of an EU Forum to develop a code of conduct on double taxation and a binding dispute resolution procedure for unresolved double taxation cases. This is an area where the European Union can make a real and practical difference to EU citizens", commented Olle Schimidt.

A public consultation carried out by the Commission found that more than 20% of reported cases of double taxation of businesses were worth over €1 million, while for individuals, more than 35% of double taxation cases were worth more than €100 000.

Due to expire at the end of 2011, the Euratom program is extended in order to align it with the end of the EU’s current financial cycle, set for end of 2013. Euratom programs are limited by the Euratom treaty to five years, whereas the general 7th framework program for research, which runs until end 2013, lasts for seven years.

The framework program comprises two types of activities:

1. Indirect actions

Indirect actions in fusion energy research and research on nuclear fission, safety and radiation protection (17504/11).

The fusion energy research activities include, as a central objective, to achieve the construction of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), a major experimental facility to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power.

Rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities and for the dissemination of research results apply to this specific program (17506/11).

2. Direct actions

Direct actions for activities of the Joint Research Centre in the field of nuclear waste management, environmental impact, safety and security (17505/11).

The nuclear fission research activities are in line with the objective of enhancing the safety of nuclear fission and other uses of radiation in industry and medicine.

The activities of the JRC cover customer-driven scientific and technological support for the formulation, development, implementation and monitoring of the Union’s policies, with an enhanced focus on safety and security research. The JRC works as an independent reference center of science and technology in the Union.

A maximum amount of EUR 2.5 billion, including additional financing of the ITER project (18322/1/11), is allocated for the implementation of the Euratom programme for the years 2012 and 2013.

Its extension will continue to contribute to the implementation of the “Innovation Union” strategy (17165/10), by enhancing competition for scientific excellence and accelerating the deployment of key innovations in the nuclear energy field, notably in fusion and nuclear safety, and will contribute to tackling energy and climate change challenges.

Jean-Marie Chevalier is a leading expert in economics, and in the economics of energy policies. Professor of economics at the University of Paris-Dauphine, he is also Director of the Centre de Géopolitique de l’Energie et des Matières Premières, Senior Associate at Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA, Paris office), member of the Board of Directors of Nexans, member of the Economic Analysis Council in France.
He loves to depict himself as a disciple of Descartes, and as such he always preaches that “We must look at things in a rational way. Economists must be rational”.

Recently he has been guest to an Italy-France roundtable organized in Milan by Università Bocconi’s IEFE (Centre for Research on Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy), a top level thin-tank in all that is energy and economics. Professor Chevalier started his contribution to the roundtable by claiming the superiority of economics when taking decisions concerning energy policies.

“Closing nuclear plants for safety reasons? That is economic aberration, a destruction of value. We should close what does not work, not what works”.

As for safety, Jean-Marie Chevalier is convinced that is not an issue: it is still economics that should lead the way. Safety comes afterwards, it cannot be considered an acceptable reason for closing a nuclear plant, as “there is no 100 percent safe energy source: each has its own strengths but also its weaknesses”. Our focus, then, should be on increasing the efficiency and modernity levels of our sources of energy.

“Each country has its own agency dedicated to the control of nuclear power plants. I believe France has a very competent agency, with a proven track record over all these years. If the agency says that a plant should be closed, because it is safer, more efficient or otherwise, then we should close it. If you need invest money in it, let’s say 200-300 million euros, in order to improve its efficiency or safety, then it should be up to the management company to assess the cost of the investment, its economics with regard to electricity production costs, and take the decision. But if the agency says that a plant is fine, why close it? As mentioned, it is what does not work properly you should close, not what is running efficiently”.

Can Nuclear energy help us reduce CO2 emissions and struggle against global warming?

“In France many claim we do not need any more nuclear power plants. On the other side, China is planning to build 25-30 plants within the next twenty, thirty years. Theirs is a good choice: China has an energy balance with an elevated level of carbon emissions, and this is beginning to cause them problem”.

Building so many nuclear plants, though, will not change the Chinese situation in terms of CO2 emissions. Our very future lies within renewable sources. Though Jean-Marie Chevalier does not sound very confident in our chances to counter climate changes and global warming.

“If I consider what our energy future in the short and medium term will be, the crucial point, in order to really break this situation of high carbon emissions and combat climate change, is to switch to renewable energy. But I am equally sure that we are going to fail to contain the increase in global temperatures below two degrees as it was hoped by the International Panel on Climate Changes.

One way to stimulate the shift to renewables is to increase the prices of energy through tools such as carbon taxes. A radical change in well-rooted policies.

“It is a widespread opinion that energy is cheap in France. It is not that prices are low, the various governments have simply locked their increase. So the current price of electricity in France does not reflect its real cost. And in a pre-elections period we can not expect things to change”.

A tight political control over prices has resulted in a sort of energy bubbles thats scares Professor Chevalier. If that bubble breaks, it could be like an earthquake. Actions are needed to make it release its energy slowly and under control.

“The awakening, when it happens, will be traumatic. Some scenarios foresee a 55% increase in energy prices between 2010 and 2022. Such an increase leads to a serious consequence: energy poverty. It is socially unsustainable. People will find themselves on the street, unable to bear the costs of energy bills”.

How to respond to such threat, the question coming silently from the audience in Milan.

“On the case of prices and the cost of electricity I had an idea, very personal. I have not sold it to any presidential candidate, yet. Increase dramatically the cost of energy, perhaps through a carbon tax. With two basic goals: the first is to finance the transition to renewable energy, because that is where our energy future lies; and secondly, to manage situations of energy poverty, in place of checks in favor of those who cannot afford the bills we should leverage on incentives to allow them to change their car, their heating system”.

A final thought, before leaving the roundtable.

“Efficiency and modernity: these are the two fundamental aspects of the issue. We must focus on increasing the efficiency of each energy source. And then you have to keep in mind that each source has its strengths but also its weaknesses. The 100% security does not exist”.

Shell GameChanger is a program that, as it is explained in its website, “helps move ideas to reality by sponsoring entrepreneurs to develop their ideas into a product that can be introduced to the marketplace”. Specifically, through this program Shell is aiming for “innovative ideas that address a demand or significant problem in the energy industry and have the potential to change the game”.

This is not the first time Shell has looked into LENR research. In 1995, Shell sponsored LENR research at the French laboratory Laboratoire des Sciences Nucléaires at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM). This research showed high-quality LENR work, and the research paper provided the expected level of professionalism in a scientific communication.

The researchers found a small ratio of excess heat compared to the input electrical power in both light- and heavy-hydrogen experiments. However, the experiments demonstrated a sustained period of steady excess-heat production. The hydrogen experiment produced 16 megajoules during a 39-day run, with a mean excess-heat production of 4.7 Watts from a 150 Watt electrical input.

Consistent with the extensive body of LENR research, the CNAM researchers found no significant levels of dangerous radiation from neutrons, X-rays or gamma rays. The researchers failed to find nuclear signatures consistent with the amount of excess energy produced. They did not, however, check for isotopic shifts or transmutations, and they did not use solid-state nuclear track detectors to look for alphas or bursts of spallation neutrons.

The current Shell initiative follows an inquiry from the United States intelligence community into LENR. Both news items are powerful indicators that 2012 is the year that LENR will move forward into serious technology research.

This Week’s Carnival

Steve Aplin – Canadian Energy Issues

Just before the 1976 election, President Ford announced a halt to nuclear fuel reprocessing in the U.S., saying that it “should not proceed unless there is sound reason to conclude that the world community can effectively overcome the associated risks of proliferation.”

In light of the 35 years of history that has passed since then, can we say today that this sound reason exists? According to Steve Aplin, the answer is unequivocally yes.

Cheryl Rofer - Nuclear Diner

Sodium isotopes produced confusion in Moscow and one American TV.  ABC News got a report that radioactive material was stopped by Russian customs from being transported in someone’s baggage to Iran. So a bunch of presumptions, aided and abetted by a shaky understanding of what a radionuclide is, kicked in to produce a knee-jerk story about how Iran must be making a nuclear bomb. The problem is the report is  wrong.

Cheryl writes . . .

“It beats me why someone would pack a bunch of sodium-22 in their luggage. It’s mostly used for medical diagnostics, and there are better ways to transport it, through channels. It’s not at all useful for bomb-making.”

Also,  she has a summary of the NRC “Jaczko” hearing and background reference documents

• Hearing Summary
• Reference Documents

Meredith Angwin – Yes Vermont Yankee

She attends the screening of an anti-nuclear film and asks the producer about its claims that the radiative materials from commercial nuclear reactors have a four billion year half life.  Her blog post contains the email dialog.  Worth a read.

Meredith also reviews the film  *Transparent Radiation*, a recent documentary from the University of Vermont (UVM).  Angwin considers some of the concerns of the film: nuclear power, consumerism, and the long half-life of U238.

NEI Nuclear Notes – Victoria Barq

Victoria writes that she came across an article penned by professor Benjamin Sovacool that purports to give readers “the dirt on nuclear power.” The article gives way to hasty generalizations and leaves readers with a false view of one of the nation’s safest industries. In her on-line rebuttal she points out a few places where there are holes in his arguments.  It’s a little soap to clean off the dirt.

Brian Wang – Next Big Future

Bill Gates – Bill Gates made an public statement that echoes his death per terawatt analysis of energy.

Bill spoke about the benefits of nuclear energy, particularly next-generation designs. The backlash [to Fukushima], he thinks, is overblown. If you compare it to the amount that coal has killed per kilowatt hour, he points out, it is way, way less.   I have to correct his statement that coal incidents kill less than nuclear incidents. Fukushima killed no one, the tsunami killed people.

Russian uranium – Asia Times online has a lengthy feature on Rosatom’s (AtomRedMetZoloto) Uranium Holding Co, or ARMZ, plans to dominate worldwide uranium production. Rosatom is the Russian uranium company. Kazakhstan plans to increase uranium production in 2012 by 1400 tons to 21,346 tons. Mongolia has a lot of uranium. India is delaying the start of the Kudankulam 1000MWe reactor because of protests

Future of SMRs – A newly released study from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) concludes that small modular reactors may hold the key to the future of U.S. nuclear power generation.

Fuel Cycle Week – Nancy Roth

Psychosis at the top derails NRC operations say four commissioners. The dirty laundry of the NRC went on display in two Congressional hearings this past week.

FCW Managing Editor Nancy Roth covers the first hearing, held before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. This was called specifically to address claims by all four non-chairing commissioners (two Democrats and two Republicans) that Chairman Gregory Jaczko had engaged in bullying and abuse of NRC staff as well as commissioners, to force his policy agenda on the work of the regulatory agency.

Atomic Power Review – Will Davis

Will Davis begins a new series of posts on his blog, containing condensed news reporting and opinion. Don’t worry; the usual detailed individual posts will continue.

Nuke Power Talk – Gail Marcus

Since others have summarized the hearings, Gail Marcus takes a step backand looks at all the statements that have been made, both in the hearings and by various observers, on the situation, its significance, the personalities involved, and what should or shouldn’t, or will or won’t, be done as a result.

The monkey business on the Hill is not the only monkey business worth reporting this week.  Gail Marcus reports on several stories about the interactions between the animal kingdom and energy technology, including the use of monkeys to help monitor radiation in Japan, the happy home endangered crocodiles have found in the cooling canals of Turkey Point, and the fraught relationship between wind turbines and living creatures.

ANS Nuclear Cafe – Dan Yurman

Dan Yurman at the ANS Nuclear Cafe describes the TerraPower traveling wave nuclear reactor design, championed by Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates, that has been in the news lately – and its status in the US and in talks with countries around the world.

Idaho Samizdat – Dan Yurman

Areva suspended work on the Eagle Rock Enrichment Plant in Idaho. Basically, the firm is over extended in terms of having enough investment capital to do everything on its plate.  The $3 billion project has a conditional commitment for a $2 billion loan guarantee, an NRC license, and 70% of its future capacity sold to customers.  Breaking ground seems like a no brainer, but a soft uranium market has spooked new CEO Luc Oursel who put the deal on ice.

In a review of recent events,  Yurman questions the declaration on Dec 16 of “cold shutdown” by Japan Prime Minister Noda.  The Fukushima site has three badly damaged reactors with the heat deformed fuel inside them in unknown configurations and the site is leaking radioactive water.

On the other hand, allowing evacuees to return to areas in a 13 mile ring around the plant, that are safe, is a prudent measure and will create some of the goodwill needed to restart the 46 closed nuclear reactors.

Ridurre l’ammontare della Tassa sul traffico pesante commisurata alle prestazioni (TTPCP) – ovvero all’efficienza nel trattamento delle emissioni di particolato dei motori – per quanto riguarda i veicoli inseriti nella categoria Euro VI.

E’ la proposta che il Consiglio federale svizzero ha voluto che la delegazione elvetica presso il Comitato misto CH-UE per i trasporti terrestri presentasse nel corso della riunione a Bruxelles.

La riduzione ventilata dai delegati svizzeri dovrebbe essere del 10%, e si propone di favorire il rinnovo del parco-autoveicoli come misura per combattere l’inquinamento da polveri fini. Dal 1° gennaio 2012 i veicoli delle categorie di emissione Euro II e Euro III dotati di filtro antiparticolato beneficeranno di una riduzione del 10 per cento della tassa sul traffico pesante commisurata alle prestazioni (TTPCP). Il Consiglio federale ha approvato lo scorso mese di novembre la relativa modifica dell’ordinanza che disciplina la TTPCP.

Nella stessa occasione il Consiglio federale ha deciso di proporre all’UE che anche i veicoli Euro VI possano profittare di una tale riduzione, in modo da favorire la lotta contro le polveri fini attraverso il rinnovo del parco veicoli. Conformemente all’obiettivo del Consiglio federale, le Delegazioni hanno convenuto di adoperarsi affinché tale riduzione entri in vigore nel corso del secondo trimestre del 2012; solo a quel momento sarà introdotto anche l’adeguamento della TTPCP al rincaro, originariamente previsto per il 1° gennaio 2012.

These numbers are only a fraction of what the investigators hope to accomplish in the future: house searches have allowed seizing a lot of materials, expecially videos, and police officers are confident forensic examination will support follow-up investigations and possible prosecution of offenders. However, this operation has already uncovered previously unknown networks of child sex offenders operating on different internet channels.

This operation shows how the internet is helping offenders to develop better techniques for sharing images on a global basis and for protecting their identity.

The problems involved are becoming harder to police and call for sustained efforts by policy-makers and law enforcement agencies to ensure that society’s response remains strong and agile in this area. Europol is committed to playing a leading part in this work through its unique capabiliites to develop intelligence and digital forensic skills across Europe and through the coordination of major international operations.

“This is the latest major success in over 10 years of Europol supporting law enforcement agencies in Europe in their fight against child sex abuse online”, commented Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol. 

Investigations are ongoing and more arrests are expected. Special focus will be on identifying the producers of the material, the suspects and their victims. Among those arrested for downloading illegal material was one who is suspected of grooming a young child, and was arrested before being able meet ths child face to face.

Operation Icarus represents a first-timer after the signing of the new action plan of the COSPOL Internet Related Child Abuse Material Project (CIRCAMP), an initiative by EU police chiefs led by Belgium and funded by the European Commission. CIRCAMP includes countries like Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, plus the two European supranational police forces, Europol and Interpol.

The joint operation was actually initiated during a CIRCAMP meeting at the start of 2011. It was agreed that the National High Tech Crime Unit of the Danish Police (DK NITEC) should be the lead country and carry out the investigations because of its expertise in illegal material exchange through file sharing systems, known as peer-to-peer. After the collection of intelligence by the Danish National Police, an operational meeting was organised at Europol in September 2011, to disseminate intelligence packages to the involved EU Member States and countries with a Europol operational agreement.