Britain calls on the EU to include the transportation sector in the emissions trading scheme which is current set up to impose CO2 emissions limits on 12,000 factories and power stations. The transportation and aircraft industries, two of the larger sources of carbon emissions, are not currently included in the scheme.

Reuters story from Christiaan Hetzner on automakers, internationally, and their level of interest and commitment to biofuels as alternates to gas, diesel fuel and liquid petroleum gas (LPG).
Car makers are having to cover at least two new bases while transitioning from standard fuel engines to fuel cells, which are the likely long term winners. In the transition period, car makers will need to satisfy a burgeoning number of drivers and commuters who will be migrating to both hybrid fuel vehicles and traditional engines modified to run on ethanol. On top of getting it right on the fuel technology choice to spend money and production on is directing research at squeezing greater fuel efficiency out of traditional and biofuel engines without sacrificing too much on performance.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has agreed to build and launch a new Cryosat launch vehicle to study the effects of climate change on the Earth's ice sheets. It will take an estimated three years to build the rocket and will cost about 140 euros. Article from the BBC News, Helen Briggs.

The European auto industry, represented by the European Automobile Manufacturer's Association, have signed a voluntary agreement with the EU on reducing CO2 emissions in passenger cars by 25% by 2008. The challenge will be to sustain performance and power expectations of consumers while finding the technologies to meet the emissions targets and enhanced fuel efficiency.

German environmental group Germanwatch announces a new international climate protection index, designed to render clear comparisons on countries' contributions in greenhouse gas emissions.

from Reuters: Parlaimentarians from the G8 form the Climate Change Dialogue Initiative to urge the derelict and recalcitrant nations (US, AU) to get on board.