In August, the US Energy Information Administration reported surprising news:

In 2010, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States saw their largest absolute and percentage increase (213 million metric tons or 3.9 percent) since 1988 when they grew by 218 (4.6 percent). As shown below, only two years – 1996 and 2000 – have shown similar growth in the time period since 1990. However, unlike those years, 2010 was preceded by declines in three out of the four previous years. As will be discussed below, 2010 was an atypical year for emissions growth, just as 2009 showed an unusual decline.

You can find the EIA’s report here http://www.eia.gov/environment/emissions/carbon/.

The four factors: population (0.9 percent), output per capita (2.1 percent), energy intensity (0.7 percent), and carbon intensity (0.1 percent) combined to yield an emissions increase of 3.9 percent.

These are not numbers you would expect to find in times of recession.  Notwithstanding these numbers, the future of carbon markets in the US (and globally) seems rather dim–consider what’s happening in Durban this week, and Friday’s RGGI auction. Here are a few stories that give some perspective on the current political landscape.

We start with some reporting on the climate change talks in Durban.

New deal tabled at climate talks after rebellion

On to local developments…

Carbon Permits Sell for Minimum Before New Jersey Exits RGGI

What is striking about all this is not the politics, nor the data, but the fact that interest and investment in energy efficiency continues among US corporations.  We see two reasons for this level of focus: businesses are motivated to control costs, and customers still care about business’ social responsibility and corporate image.  Companies that can represent themselves as good corporate citizens and cost-efficient at the same time can only win.