Japan's Rare Earth Recycling Efforts

Japan is the world's leading importer of rare earth elements or REEs. To compensate for its lack of indigenous REEs, the Japanese government and some of the country's leading companies are working on REEs recycling programs. In 2010 Hitachi first revealed its REEs recycling program than in 2012 Honda announced that it would be launching a program of its own.

One of the primary reason Hitachi has developed the system is to reduce it reliance on China's supply of REEs (China has a virtual monopoly on REEs producing 97 per cent of the world's supply). Hitachi is hopeful that the recycled minerals will supply 10 per cent of its REE needs.

REEs are commonly used to manufacture important renewable energy infrastructure including wind turbines, solar panels. They are also instrumental in the manufacturing of electric vehicles. They are also used for common technologies like smartphones and computers.

In 2012, the Japanese government offered a total of $100 million in subsidies. The government sees real opportunties in the nation's waste. According to Japan's Environment Ministry, the country discards 650,000 tons of products containing REEs. The government believes that they can recycle 280,000 tons of rare earth and other metal resources which are worth ¥84.4 billion [$1.03 billion].

Tokyo-based Hitachi has a REE recycling plan that is cost effective and less environmentally harmful than traditional methods. In 2010, the Japanese electronics and engineering company announced that it was developing machinery for the purpose of recycling REEs. Its mineral harvesting machinery came online in 2013, and is capable of extracting about 100 rare earth magnets per hour from old hard disk drives. The new automated process is eight times faster than traditional manual approaches. The company also indicated it has developed more efficient cutting and demagnetising equipment designed to extract rare earth magnets from compressors.

Hitachi's new system is both more cost effective and less environmentally destructive than traditional methods of extracting rare earth metals from discarded machinery. Rather than use acids and chemicals the company uses a new dry extraction method.

In 2012 Honda and Japan Metals & Chemicals Co. started the first mass-production process to recapture rare earth metals from used Honda parts. In particular, Honda is focusing on used nickel-metal hydride batteries (NiMH). According to Honda their process can recover 80 percent of rare earth metals contained in the used NiMH batteries.

While Japanese companies are looking towards recycling of REEs, South Korean company Samsung is seeking alternatives. Through its Future Technology Cultivation Project, the massive manufacturing conglomerate is financing 27 projects, including research on materials that can substitute the use of rare earths.

While Hitachi is actively recycling REEs, they are also looking into developing REE free technology.  In 2012 they produced an energy-efficient motor that does not use rare earth elements.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Rare Earth Recycling In Europe

Nowhere is the recycling of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) more of an active concern than in Europe. REEs recycling in increasingly being seen as an important way of harvesting these scarce metals. China has largely cornered the market in REEs with an estimated 35-40 percent of global reserves. With restrictions on their export from China and increasing worldwide demand, REEs recycling is seen as a way around import dependence. REEs include 17 metals essential in the production of many high-tech products including electric cars and wind turbines.

In February 2012, the European Commission highlighted the importance of technological innovation including reycling as a means of securing raw materials. In September 2011 resolution, the European Parliament specifically pointed to the importance of REE recycling.

REE recycling is still in its infancy and a number of technological and regulatory challenges will need to be addressed.

For more information on the issue of REEs recycling see the document entitled ‘Rare earth elements and recycling possibilities‘, which provides a comprehensive overview of what REEs are, and the current challenges faced by the EU with regard to REE supply and recycling.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Climate Change as an Investment Risk or Opportunity

Climate change is a material investment risk or opportunity and it has emerged as a strategic issue for asset owners and asset managers. The vast majority of investors now incorporate climate change into their risk assessments. This is the conclusion of a report, titled the Global Investor Survey on Climate Change, conducted by Mercer and commissioned by the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR) and Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC). This report clearly illustrates that climate change is increasingly a salient part of the investment practices of asset managers and asset owners.

Based on survey responses from 44 asset owners and 46 asset managers with collective assets totaling more than $12 trillion, the report found that 87 percent of asset managers and 98 percent of asset owners now incorporate climate change risk assessments into their investment processes.

Although we are seeing a strong trend across the board, the results of this study indicate that the US is lagging behind their counterparts in other parts of the world, notably Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

The increase in climate risk assessment is being driven by demand from institutional investors including pension funds. Over three quarters of asset owners (77%) want to see climate change considerations integrated into their investments.

Despite this interest there is still very little in terms of contractual requirements as only a small number of asset owners (18%) have developed a formal process to assess prospective managers’ climate efforts.

To properly address the risks and opportunities arising from climate change, investors need tools to help them make accurate comparative assessments. Investors need stable and transparent policy frameworks which provide clarity and certainty.

From a policy perspective, barriers to low carbon investment need to be removed and there is a need to create a relatively predictable price on carbon.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.



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Smog Pollution Mutes Chinese New Year Celebrations

The Chinese Lunar New Year is usually celebrated with a barrage of fireworks, but this year due to serious smog pollution problems, Beijing has been forced to scale back celebrations. In the Chinese capital there were 23 days of record breaking smog in January, which is twice the recent average.

Last year's pyrotechnical display sent 2.5 microgram pollution levels as high as 1,500 parts per milion in Beijing. This year the reduction of fireworks appears to have had a significant impact as Sunday's readings showed levels around 200 which is well below the readings of more than 700 that were seen last month.

The Lunar New Year's eve celebrations on Saturday February 9th started later than usual and they were shorter in duration. Fireworks are intended to scare away evil spirits but it seems that the Chinese have decided that reducing smog is more important that warding off evil spirits.

The smog was so bad in Beijing in January that schools canceled outdoor activities. The smog also caused a large number of respiratory problems, elevated blood pressure and heart complaints. This prompted the government in Beijing to shut down 103 heavily polluting factories and take almost a third of government vehicles off roads.

In addition to closing factories, and taking cars off the road, China is taking more serious long term action. Because car emissions are one of the major contributors to smog, China is putting a new gas standard in place that caps sulfur content.  This will take effect at the end of the year, with a grace period extending to the end of 2017.

As part of a drive to cut energy consumption by 300 million tonnes of coal,  in August 2012, China announced that it is planning to invest $372 billion into energy conservation projects and anti-pollution measures over the next three-and-a-half years. The government has earmarked almost half of that amount ($155 billion) for projects that reduce energy consumption.

China is already almost halfway to meeting its target of cutting energy intensity 16 percent below 2010 levels by 2015. They have also targeted a 21 percent energy intensity reduction for industry.

The State Council plan said steel producers must reduce their energy use per unit of production by a 25 percent over the five years, coal-fired power plants by 8 percent and cement manufacturers by 3 percent. Seven Chinese cities and provinces will also launch CO2 emissions trading schemes over the next two years ahead of a national scheme set to commence later in the decade

However more will need to be done to curb the soaring fossil fuel consumption that is powering China's prodigious economic growth. At present China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) However, the nation plans to cut its CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 40-45 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.

To achieve these goals China has phased out thousands of old, inefficient factories and fossil fuel-fired power plants while becoming the world's biggest producer of renewable energy.

Despite these efforts China's GHG emissions continue to rise. In 2011 China's carbon output grew by 800 million tonnes to 9.7 billion tonnes, or 29 percent of the world's total CO2 emissions. These levels of emissions are expected to keep rising until 2030.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Event - Carbon Professional Path: Fast Track

Carbon Professional Path – Fast Track will take place on Feb 26 to Wed Feb 27, 2013, in Toronto, Ontario. The 2-Day program offers CSA Groups globally recognized, professional GHG Inventory Quantifier Certification. Completion of  ‘Carbon Professional Path – Fast Track’ program builds competence to develop, quantify, assess and report GHG Inventories.

HRCarbon’s Carbon Professional Path to CSA GHG Inventory Quantifier Certification Fast-Track Program includes the following two courses:

• Corporate Carbon Management
• CSA Examination Review

For more information click here or phone 416.628.4196 E-mail: courses(at)hrcarbon.com

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Event - Sustainable Communities Conference and Trade Show

The Sustainable Communities Conference and Trade Show will take place on Feb 13 - 15, 2013 at the Caesars Windsor, Windsor Essex, Ontario.

Hundreds of cities and communities across Canada are leading the charge towards local sustainability and the shift to a green economy. Every year, they come together to share their experiences and discuss the latest strategies for sustainable community development.

Be part of this exciting forum for municipal sustainability champions. Attend the 2013 Sustainable Communities Conference (SCC) and Trade Show hosted by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Themes and Streams for 2013

This year's conference theme, "Building Blocks for the Next Generation", focuses on best practices in sustainable development from a wide range of Canadian communities and regions, and highlights innovative projects. Sustainable communities are built upon sustainable infrastructure, including high-efficiency facilities; leadership to envision and implement change; the skills to manage physical and human assets; and a willingness to test and develop new technologies.

This year's Conference will explore three content streams:

1. The Culture of Leadership: Share examples of how leadership can effect changes in policy, process, scope, timelines, or partners, in the pursuit of local sustainable development. We encourage profiles of leadership driven by diverse stakeholders-including mayors, councillors, municipal staff, community groups, residents, businesses, etc.-that have increased citizen engagement, reached new constituencies, improved efficiency in managing public assets, and demonstrated new approaches to sustainable development.

2. Sustainable Infrastructure: Demonstrate viable options for building, retrofitting, repairing and maintaining infrastructure, to help it last longer while reducing its environmental impact and fostering sustainable living. We encourage examples that account for cost over the full lifecycle of the investment.

3. Innovation and Technology: Introduce new technologies and innovative approaches to advance sustainability in changing times. We invite demonstrations of technology in action, focusing on prototypes, pilot programs and applications that have been tested in a Canadian municipality. We encourage municipal practitioners and partners to share examples of innovation through processes, technologies and approaches that advance sustainability.

Why attend

Whether you're planning or have already begun your journey to a sustainable community, the SCC will help to put you on the fast-track to successful project design, implementation and cost recovery.

Gain insight into the latest trends on sustainable development Discover best practices for making communities more socially, ecologically and economically vibrant Network with other municipalities and sustainability experts from across Canada See leading-edge green products and services in the Trade Show

Who attends

The SCC brings together mayors, councillors, alderman/women, municipal staff, federal and provincial representatives, and private sector and not-for-profit sustainability professionals. More than 450 are expected for the 2013 conference. Why Hold the Sustainable Communities Conference in Windsor?

Windsor is a community in transition. As manufacturing declined, Windsor began a journey of renewal and economic transition. Applying expertise developed over decades of making automobiles, Windsor's companies have begun manufacturing solar panels, wind turbines and biomass generators. The City is also rehabilitating ecosystems degraded by earlier industrial practices. Through site visits and study tours, Windsor-Essex will showcase several of its green initiatives.

For more information click here.

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Will Obama's Actions Match his Words?

There are those who do not believe that President Barack Obama is serious about tackling climate change. Although President Obama made strong statements indicating his willingness to engage climate issues at the beginning of his first term, he ended up doing less than some had hoped. Similarly, during his inaugural address at the beginning of his second term he reiterated his commitment to reduce America's contributions to climate change.

During the 2012 election very little was said on environmental issues. This all changed on inauguration day when the President stated that he intends to act on climate issues. The President's position is supported by the science on climate change, which goes well beyond the fact that 2012 was the warmest year in US history or extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy.

In his January 2011 State of the Union address, President Obama set a goal of reducing dependence on polluting fuels over the next quarter century. The plan’s central theme was to "Win the Future" through energy efficiency.

In February 2011, the Better Buildings Initiative was announced with a goal to improve energy efficiency by 20 percent. This initiative included: New tax incentives for building efficiency, along with more financing opportunities for commercial retrofits. The President announced support for training the next generation of commercial building technology workers. And finally there was a challenge, a “race to green” for state and municipal governments that would streamline regulations and attract private investment for retrofit projects.

President Obama's second inaugural address put climate change front and center again:

“We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. “

The President also stressed the importance of renewable energy:

“The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries—we must claim its promise. That is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure—our forests and waterways; our croplands and snow capped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God. That’s what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared.”

However, these words ring hollow for some who want actions not speeches. In fairness Obama did achieve a great deal in his first term. He is the greenest President in American history to date. In fact he did more in his first 100 days than most Presidents have done in their entire four year terms. There are good reasons why he was unable to do more. The first reason is that Republicans are climate deniers of the first order, and the second is that the GOP has been radicalized by Tea Party obstructionism.

Can we take the President at his word? Lisa P. Jacson the outgoing head of the EPA thinks so. According to a Reuters interview Jackson, says that she believes President Obama is serious about efforts to manage climate change.

Even without Congress Obama can do a great deal through the EPA and Executive Orders. However, to make the kind of progress the world needs to see on climate issues he will need the support of the American people.


As the President said in his inaugural address “You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country’s course...You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time—not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals.”

“For now decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay.”


© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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British PM Says Investment in the Green Economy is a Competitive Necessity

On February 4, 2013, British Prime Minister David Cameron made a speech in which he spoke to the competitive necessity of his government's investments in the green economy. Speaking at the official launch of the Department of Energy and Climate Change's (DECC) new Energy Efficiency Mission, Cameron boldly addressed his critics by saying

"So to those who say we just can't afford to prioritize green energy right now, my view is we can't afford not to. Far from being a drag on growth, making our energy sources more sustainable, our energy consumption more efficient and our economy more resilient to energy price shocks – those things are a vital part of the growth and wealth that we need."

Cameron made a compelling case for cleantech investment in front of an audience of business leaders. Cameron explained that in the near future, only the world's greenest nations will be able to compete in the global economic race towards a low carbon economy. Cameron further argued that the UK must prioritize investment in green energy and energy efficiency if it wants to be internationally competitive.

"Make no mistake, we are in a global race and the countries that succeed in that race, the economies in Europe that will prosper, are those that are the greenest and the most energy efficient," Cameron said. "Energy consumption is set to grow by a third over the next two decades alone. And in a race for limited resources it is the energy efficient that will win that race."

While some believe that the fragile state of the economy precludes such investment, Cameron flatly rejected that argument by saying that the promotion of the government's wide range of energy efficiency policies is a matter of economic competitiveness. UK currently has an array of policies for driving energy efficiency investments. They include the Green Deal, the carbon floor price, Climate Change Agreements, Enhanced Capital Allowances and the Carbon Reduction Commitment.

However Climate minister Greg Barker, said there was the need for a more "coherent" approach to promoting these initiatives. To that end Cameron is calling for a closer working relationship between businesses and government.

"Already today Britain is one of the best places for green energy, green investment and crucially for green jobs anywhere in the world," Cameron said.

"But I want to go further... I want to bring these [policies] together and really explain to the world, and particularly investors, what is available here in Britain... Together we can make Britain a global showcase for green innovation and energy efficiency. Together we can do the right thing for our planet and, just as important, do the right thing for our economy too."

"It is the businesses that are best insulated from energy price shocks that will be the most successful, it is the consumers who are the least vulnerable to energy prices whose household bills will be the lowest and who can be the most confident about their future. And yes, it is the countries that prioritize green energy that will secure the biggest share of jobs and growth in a global low-carbon sector set to be worth $4trn by 2015."

"Businesses know that going green can boost growth. Our research shows that supporting the UK's low-carbon economy with the right policies could potentially add £20bn to GDP by 2015. said Rhian Kelly, director for business environment policy at the CBI. "Britain must maximize these opportunities to become the leading destination for low-carbon investment and strengthen our exports of green goods and services to the rest of the world."

This is the kind of leadership that should be a model for heads of state in democracies around the world.

© 2013, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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