An analysis of 2009 emissions data in the Nature Geoscience journal has revealed that emissions from fossil fuels only dropped by 1.3% in the last year. This has dissapointed some environmental campaigners as it was hoped the drop would be greater during a period of global recession.

The journal also predicted that emissions are likely to continue rising by 3% a year again unless further action is taken. The biggest challenge of reducing this figure is seen to be the separation of economic growth from carbon emissions. This is most applicable to developing nations where there is a hesitance to spend new found wealth on eco-friendly technologies as it will slow down financial growth.

These thoughts were echoed by UK climate minister Greg Barker, who questioned "whether a transition to a low-carbon economy is compatible with continued economic growth - and no-one knows the answer, because no country has made the transition yet".

It appears that we are somewhat stuck in the chicken and egg situation again. In these financially fragile times, few are willing to take a chance adopting new technologies because they cannot afford for them to fail. This is reflected by the half-baked approach currently taken in some countries' climate policies. For example, in the UK electric vehicles continue to be pursued as the saviour to the environment, despite their limited range and battery waste disposal issues. The only reason for their continued adoption is that the technology is seen as being more affordable and lower risk than the alternatives.

Sadly, hydrogen is one of the other alternatives which appears to have been forgotten. This is notable by it's absence from the Department of Energy and Climate Changes's 29 page November 2010 plan. One can only hope that important carbon-saving opportunities do not continue to get missed because of the rush to patch up the nations finances.

Extract from the press release found here:

http://www.itm-power.com/cmsFiles/100901%20-%20Blunkett%20celebrates%20cutting-edge%20clean%20technology%20in%20visit%20to%20ITM%20Power.pdf

Rt Hon David Blunkett, MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, has taken a tour of ITM Power, the business in his constituency at the cuttingedge of innovative technological developments aimed at reducing carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

Mr Blunkett said: “I have promised to make representations to both the Energy and Climate Change Secretary and the Transport Secretary about what I have seen at ITM Power. “It is crucial that companies such as ITM Power receive support for their innovative work, at a time when both of these government departments are looking to maintain some kind of commitment to the reduction of carbon emissions, whilst at the same time engaging in draconian cuts to investment.”

An article in the Independent this weekend has highlighted the shortfalls of the current government energy strategy. It is an urgent wakeup call to give hydrogen a greater role, which appears to have been overlooked in favour of battery powered electric vehicles.

This position is reinforced by comments from Dr Graham Cooley, of ITM Power:

"The US and German governments have made a commitment to hydrogen. But in UK government policies there is no mention of the use of hydrogen," he says. "It is a huge and serious oversight."

"Now every car company in the world is coming out with hydrogen cars. But what has the UK done? We did the classic British thing. We picked the wrong technology."

The full article can be found here:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/let-there-be-light-just-harness-hydrogen-to-make-sure-britain-keeps-the-blackouts-at-bay-2064638.html

President Barack Obama certainly seems to think so. He has called for the US to become energy independent and create a new "green economy".

"We will commit ourselves to steady, focused, pragmatic pursuit of an America that is freed from our energy dependence, and empowered by a new energy economy that puts millions of our citizens to work."

He has started by ordering the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review its refusal of a waiver which had previously allowed California to set its own stricter vehicle emission standards. This had previously been snubbed by George Bush in favour of a more relaxed national standard.

"Now is the time to meet the challenge of this crossroads of history, by choosing a future safer for our country, prosperous for our planet, and sustainable."

It is expected that new cars and trucks produced by 2011 will now have to obtain an efficiency of 35 miles per gallon of fuel, under proposed legislation which was previously abandoned by the Bush administration.

Additional environmental measures to be taken include better insulation of home and government buildings and the doubling of renewable energy generation in the US. Whether this new energy approach by the US will include Hydrogen as a core element remains to be seen.