The U.S. departments of State and Transportation will host a meeting July 31-Aug. 1 of about 15 countries that oppose the European Union's inclusion of aviation greenhouse gas emissions in its cap-and-trade system. The countries will discuss options for reaching a global solution for reducing aviation emissions through the International Civil Aviation Organization. The United States, China, India, Russia, and other countries have resisted inclusion of their operators in the EU Emissions Trading System, which went into effect Jan. 1. The meeting will be open to government participants only. The European Commission has not been invited.

Senate Committee to Look at EU ETS Bill

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold an executive session July 31 to consider several bills, including the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011. The bill, introduced by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) in December, would prohibit U.S. airlines from participating in the EU Emissions Trading System. The bill would direct U.S. government officials to use their authority to conduct international negotiations and take other actions in the public interest to ensure that operators of U.S. civil aircraft are "held harmless from any such scheme."

Senate to Hold Climate Change Hearing

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on climate change Aug. 1. The hearing will examine the latest science and efforts to respond and adapt to climate change impacts. Panelists include Christopher Field, director of the global ecology department at the Carnegie Institution for Science and a professor at Stanford University; John Griffin, secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources; and Margo Thorning, senior vice president and chief economist with the American Council for Capital Formation.

Groups to Host Briefing on Energy Efficiency Markets

On July 31, the Alliance to Save Energy and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy will hold a briefing on energy efficiency markets. The discussion will focus on market trends and policy drivers for commercially available energy efficiency technologies. The event is being hosted in cooperation with the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. Panelists include Rick Carter, vice president of federal government relations for National Grid; Steve Crout, vice president of government affairs at Qualcomm; and Jordan Doria, manager of stakeholder engagement at Ingersoll Rand.

Panel to Examine Government's Role in Promoting Sustainable Energy Innovation

On Aug. 2, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation will host a panel discussion on the government's role in supporting research and development for generating and storing sustainable energy. The event will look at the government's support of early stage innovation for previous technologies in the military and energy sectors and lessons for current policymakers. Panelists include Barton Gordon, a partner at K&L Gates; Kathleen Kingscott, senior director for strategic partnerships at IBM Research; and Eric Toone, principal deputy director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.