The European Commission is undertaking a serious investigation concerning oil price manipulations among major oil companies, similar in nature to the rate fixing scandal relative to the London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR) scandals among the banks.

British Columbia (BC), the western most province of Canada,  is environmentally sensitive and some would say very green in terms of its policies. So what happened when they had to vote between jobs and the environment in the election of May 14 with particular reference to the oil and gas pipelines proposed to take Alberta oil and gas across BC to Asian markets?

Illegal logging and land acquisition for rubber plantations has been a major problem is Cambodia and Laos. A new report by Global Witness, a London based environmental watchdog, has made headlines with their recent review of these continuing activities.

Investments in renewables is surging but will wind and solar be enough to meet South Africa’ s energy needs? Major interjections of new energy supplies are needed to meet South Africa’s growing energy demands, so the upcoming energy decisions to close the widening energy gaps are critical.

Natural gas pricing in Europe has been dependent on price quotes from key energy companies, trading houses and banks to set monthly bills throughout Europe. However many of these companies involved in natural gas production and distribution are no longer willing to provide quotes because of the LIBOR scandals where the banks participating in the LIBOR market have been hauled up on price fixing suspicions. The natural gas companies want nothing to do with such risks, so no more price quotes. So what will likely happen?

United States emissions fell quite dramatically and the most important factor seems to be the rise in natural gas utilization. But the decline was also evident in Europe where the reasoning has to include the economic recession. But good news all around.