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NEWS BULLETINS
Up-to-date information on how to become an NGO Supporter now online.
To read the document, click here.
New EcoSecurities report ranks GS as most preferred in the US market
To download the report, click here.
Just Out - GSv2.1 Requirements now available in Chinese!
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World Green Exchange Speaks with Jasmine Hyman, GS Director, Programs and Partnerships.
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Latest TAC Decisions Now Available.
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Latest Headlines
Gold Standard Academy 2010 | 01-Mar-2010
The Gold Standard Academy 2010 participants list and presentations in PDF format are now available! More
The Gold Standard is currently recruiting a Technical Expert | 26-Feb-2010
Geneva, 26 February 2010 More
PostCopenhagen Lessons and the US Carbon Policy Landscape – Webinar now available for download | 26-Jan-2010
World Energy and the Gold Standard Foundation invite you to join us for a complimentary one-hour webinar where we will discuss the implications of resolutions established at the Copenhagen Climate Conference and what developments we may see in U.S. climate change policy in 2010. More
The Gold Standard is currently recruiting an Assistant Regional Manager for China | 19-Jan-2010
Beijing and Geneva, January 19th, 2010 More
Advocacy Body on Carbon for Development launched at Copenhagen | 10-Dec-2009
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), SouthSouth North, the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit“ (GTZ) and the carbon offset certification scheme The Gold Standard. have joined to build the “Advocacy Body on Carbon for Development (ABCD)” charged with improving the chances for least developed countries (LDCs) and areas to access carbon markets. More
Gold Standard Carbon Forum Asia 2009 Side Event | 18-Nov-2009
The Gold Standard hosted a lively and informative side event on how the GS premium is weathering the global recession. For price information from a project developer's and broker's perspective, you are kindly invited to read through the power point presentations. In addition, the Thai DNA presented on its commitment to use the Gold Standard in Thailand via it's rigorous "Crown Standard." Project developers also spoke to the challenges and opportunities that Gold Standard presents. More
WWF India chooses Tricorona for Gold Standard CDM carbon offsetting | 16-Nov-2009
Tricorona and WWF India announced today that WWF India has chosen to offset the climate impact of its air travel with UN-approved, Gold Standard CDM offsets from Tricorona’s biomass project Sri Balaji, in Andhra Pradesh, India. More
Vancouver Olympics push for carbon-neutral status | 03-Nov-2009
Twenty-five partners of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games have joined forces to help make the Games carbon-neutral. These partners will invest in a portfolio of B.C. clean energy technology projects, as well as international Gold Standard offset projects. The 2010 Legacy Portfolio is developed and managed by Vancouver-based Offsetters, the Official Supplier of Carbon Offsets for the 2010 Games. More
First GS DOE Webinar now available for download | 20-Oct-2009
The first GS DOE Webinar Slides are now available for download More





CLIMATE LEGISLATION IN THE US - IT'S ONLY HALFTIME
Commentary by Lisa Hodes, Director, US Markets, The Gold Standard Foundation
Last month the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill by a margin of 7 votes. Notwithstanding the narrow margin by which it passed, the vote represents a success in its own right. However, the proverbial game is not over yet. The House has passed the ball the the United States Senate, which may not be able to deliber a victory to the home team.
In this context, comparing the House and the Senate is about as useful as comparing American Football and Football (otherwise known as "Soccer" to this American author). American Football and Football are both contact team sports that require players to score points against their opponents. Players take hits and injuries are commonplace. Similarly, in both the House and Senate, politics is a contact team sport that requires politicians to score points against their opponents. Politicians who take hits and injuries (to one's reputation) are commonplace. But, as with American Football and Football, that is where the similarities end.
The constitutional and cultural differences between the House and the Senate are extensive. Demographics and term limits are different, affecting the balance of power between coal-fired states and 'greener' states. Furthermore, the committee structure is different. In the House, the larger Energy and Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over both energy and climate. In the Senate, smaller committees govern energy and climate issues separately.
Even if a Senate bill passes out of Senator Barbara Boxer's environment committee this fall, the bill needs 60 votes to pass the Senate. It is widely understood that getting these votes will be challenging. If the requisite 60 votes are captures, which isn't ikely to happen until the last seconds of the fourth quarter, the game is still not over. The Constitution requires the Senate climate bill and House climate bill to have identical language, but this is unlikely. The game must then go into overtime. A Conference Committee, comprised of members from both chambers, will be assembled to negotiate language to bring the two bills into alignment. Once the Conference Committee reaches agreement, it produces a Conference Report, which represents the final version of the bill. The entire House and the Senate must then vote again to approve the Conference Report.
It's only halftime - stay tuned. It promises to be a nail-biter.