Don’t expect much climate progress from the G8; a short-lived moratorium on solar power development is over; and on the road with Daimler’s smart car.

G8 could see climate deal but substance in doubt: When representatives of the G8 nations meet in Hokkaido, Japan, next Monday, climate change will once again be on the agenda. There’s likely to be some sort of a deal and joint statement — but don’t expect much until next year. G8 members seemed resigned to waiting out the term of U.S. President George W. Bush, who has been reluctant to embrace the sort of sweeping reforms favored by European nations. Last year, the G8 agreed in principle to halve carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. But the 2007 accords have since been subject to intense bickering between the G8 states and developing nations, who want more freedom in firing up their growing economies. (Reuters)

US Solar Moratorium Canceled: Last week, we reported on the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s bizarre decision to suspend solar power development on public land in six western states. Despite earlier BLM studies endorsing solar development, the Bureau inexplicably decided to take two years to study its environmental impact. While the move was predictably supported by some solar companies which already have permits in hand, the BLM was immediately blasted by environmentalists and renewable energy advocates for essentially stopping industrial scale solar energy dead in its tracks. Well — never mind. The Bureau of Land Management reversed its decision Tuesday, and will continue processing new permit applications. The BLM will now take up environmental issues side-by-side with ongoing development. (DeSmogBlog)

Biofuels Battle: Tear Down The Brazilian Wall: Ethanol has encountered rough waters in recent months: soaring fuel stock prices, some high-visibility project cancellations, and increasing political discomfort about its impact on the cost of food. But the sector has found a new champion in the person of U.S. Senator Ricard Lugar. The Indiana Republican wants to come to the aid of the Brazilian biofuel industry, which has come under fire over questions of its sustainability practices. Lugar proposes dropping tariffs on Brazilian ethanol imports. Many U.S. politicians fear that cheap sugar-derived ethanol from Brazil would cripple American producers. The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday estimated that dropping the Brazilain tariffs might reduce gasoline prices by about five cents per gallon. Lugar is expected to firm up his plans at a speech Wednesday at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. ( WSJ.com)

Mercury-absorbent Container Linings Developed For Broken Compact Fluorescent Lamps: Researchers at Brown University have found a way to reduce concern over the mercury content in Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs). A Brown team has developed packaging designed to absorb mercury in the event of bulb breakage. The new material contains selenium nanoclusters designed to soak up any escaped mercury. CFL sales are expected to balloon as tougher U.S. energy efficiency rules take effect in 2012. (Science Daily)

Test drive: The Smart car is revolutionary: Salon.com tech columnist Farhad Manjoo has just wrapped up a week-long road test of the smart ForTwo, the diminutive two-passenger city car built by Daimler. While Manjoo found the smart to be lacking in some areas of performance — the smart is clearly not an enthusiast’s car — he found the vehicle’s small size and nimble parking abilities to be a “revolutionary” urban driving experience. “While just large enough to realize, on the inside, the comforts of a sedan,” writes Manjoo, “The Smart is perhaps the first modern, street-legal car small enough to completely upend your relationship with the city.” Visit Salon a video diary of the test drive, along with comments from some of Majoo’s passengers. (Salon.com)

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