|
|
|
|
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brought to you by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute
House Appropriations Bill Contains Climate Resolution On June 27, the House of Representatives, aiming to put an end to the debate over whether global warming is actually occurring, passed H.R. 2643, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008. The bill recognizes the "reality" of climate change and provides money to work on the problem. By a vote of 272-155, the House approved the environmental funding bill for the fiscal year starting October 1 that would increase federal investments in basic research on climate change and establish a new commission to review scientific questions that need to be addressed. The bill would also increase funding for the Environmental Protection Agency to over $8 billion next year, $887 million more than President Bush sought, mainly for water cleanup and clean air programs. The White House has threatened a veto of the $27.6 billion bill because its overall spending would exceed President Bush's request by about $2 billion. The Senate has not yet considered the bill. Click on the following link for more information: A study by the United Nations University suggests that climate change is making desertification "the greatest environmental challenge of our times." The study produced by more than 200 experts from 25 countries says that tens of millions of people could be driven from their homes by encroaching deserts, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia. It warns that if action is not taken, some 50 million people could be displaced within the next 10 years. "Desertification has emerged as an environmental crisis of global proportions, currently affecting an estimated 100 to 200 million people, and threatening the lives and livelihoods of a much larger number," the study said. The overexploitation of land and unsustainable irrigation practices are making matters worse, while climate change is also a major factor degrading the soil, it says. The UN report suggests that new farming practices, such as encouraging forests in dryland areas, were simple measures that could remove more carbon from the atmosphere and also prevent the spread of deserts. Zafaar Adeel, the study's lead author and head of the UN University's International Network on Water, Environment and Health said, "it says to dryland dwellers we need to provide alternative livelihoods – not the traditional cropping based on irrigation, cattle farming, etcetera – but rather introduce more innovative livelihoods which don't put pressure on the natural resources." Click on the following links for more information: On June 27, the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition unveiled an endorsed set of principles, the "Blue Dog Energy Principles," to guide Congress as it works to rewrite the nation's energy policy. The principles were endorsed by the Coalition as a moderate and comprehensive approach to our nation's energy policy that emphasizes a focus on national and economic security. The principles represent a broad range of stakeholders, with the underlying belief that our country's current reliance on foreign energy supplies threatens our national security and our ability to compete in the global marketplace. Blue Dog Energy Task Force Co-Chairs Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Charlie Melancon (D-LA) led the effort that produced the Blue Dog Coalition Energy Principles – eight planks dealing with topics such as domestic energy production, climate change, fuel diversity and technology development. "America's energy policy cannot depend solely on a future technological breakthrough. We have diverse energy resources in America today and we can't discard any of them. Until technology catches up, a reliable supply of conventional fuels are essential for our economy," said Rep. Jim Matheson. "By investing in alternative energy sources and energy efficiency, our country can move towards more environmentally-friendly fuel sources and we can create new economic opportunity, prosperity, and security," said Rep. Dennis Moore, Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy. "The energy principles endorsed by the Blue Dogs recognize that there is no one solution to make our nation more energy independent – we must look at all the pieces of the puzzle," said Representative Allen Boyd (D-FL), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration. "The Blue Dogs understand that climate change and our dependence on foreign sources of energy are issues that have profound implications for our economic security and our national security. The Blue Dog-endorsed energy principles can guide us as we confront these serious challenges." At the same time, the principles assert that the United States must act to address climate change. They advocate a robust research and development effort to help achieve meaningful carbon dioxide reductions in a viable manner. Click on the following link for more information:
Senators Lieberman, Warner Drafting New, Bipartisan Bill on Climate Change On June 27, Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and John Warner (R-VA) announced that they have begun drawing upon existing proposals and new ideas, including those from the private sector, to draft a comprehensive bill to address global climate change. The new bill will aim to structure an economy wide "cap-and-trade" program that provides maximum flexibility to the marketplace to meet a level of attainable emission reductions that are environmentally credible. It will provide federal investment in new technologies, include cost-containment provisions, and ensure international participation by developing nations. "Senator Warner and I are now in the process of agreeing on the broad goals and basic structure of a climate bill," Senator Lieberman said. "We will spend the next several weeks filling in the essential details. We will draw upon existing bills, involve colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and listen carefully to important private-sector stakeholders. I am confident Senator Warner and I can bring a strong bill before our subcommittee before the August recess." Senator Warner said, "In my 28 years in the Senate, I have focused above all on issues of national security, and I see the problem of climate change as fitting within that focus. It is the responsibility of the Executive and Legislative Branches to join in taking a leadership role to address this national and international problem. This duty was made clear by the Supreme Court's ruling earlier this year that confirmed the federal government's obligation under the law to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. I look forward to working with Senator Lieberman and my Senate colleagues to craft a comprehensive climate bill." Click on the following link for more information: A study released on June 27 by the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Alaska Anchorage concludes that many of Alaska's roads, runways, railroads and water and sewer systems will wear out more quickly and cost more to repair or replace because of climate change. Higher temperatures, melting permafrost, a reduction in polar ice and increased flooding are expected to raise the repair and replacement cost of thousands of infrastructure projects as much as $6.1 billion for a total of nearly $40 billion – about a 20 percent increase – from now to 2030, according to the study. "We assume warming temperatures mean infrastructure has to be replaced more often," the report said. "It's also possible the changing climate could actually increase the life of some structures, but we haven't so far identified any such exceptions." ISER researchers created a list of public infrastructure throughout Alaska, when it was built, how long it typically lasts and how much it would cost to replace it – plus the difference due to faster deterioration because of warming. The database contains nearly 16,000 elements in 19 categories, including more than 9,000 miles of roads. Peter Larsen, a natural resource economist at the ISER and the lead researcher for the report, said the most vulnerable places in the state were probably those built heavily on permafrost – the permanently frozen subsoil – whose average temperature is projected to rise above freezing in the future, potentially making the ground unstable. Click on the following links for more information: In a letter to Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chairman James Connaughton, Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ranking Member Tom Davis (R-VA) of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform set a firm deadline for the White House to provide climate change documents that were requested eleven months ago. Despite numerous discussions and requests, CEQ has withheld over 500 responsive documents from the Committee. "This request was prompted by reports in the press that CEQ had edited climate change documents and managed the press statements of government climate scientists in order to further a political agenda .... The Committee will provide CEQ with one additional week, until June 27, 2007, to produce the documents, provide the documents for staff review, or claim executive privilege. If CEQ has not produced the documents, provided the documents for review, or asserted executive privilege by that time, the Committee will have no option but to issue a subpoena for the documents, which is a step we would like to avoid," the letter said. Click on the following link for more information: Climate change worries coupled with high oil prices and increasing government support top a set of drivers fueling soaring rates of investment in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, according to a trend analysis from the UN Environment Program. The report says investment capital flowing into renewable energy climbed from $80 billion in 2005 to a record $100 billion in 2006, and that the renewable energy sector's growth "although still volatile... is showing no sign of abating." The report identifies "governments and politicians... introducing legislation and support mechanisms to enable the sector's development" as the most important factor driving growth. Achim Steiner, a United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) executive, said "One of the new and fundamental messages of this report is that renewable energies are no longer subject to the vagaries of rising and falling oil prices – they are becoming generating systems of choice for increasing numbers of power companies, communities, and countries irrespective of the costs of fossil fuels. The other key message is that this is no longer an industry solely dominated by developed country industries. Close to 10 percent of investments are in China with around a fifth in total in the developing world. We will need many sustained steps towards the de-carbonizing of the global economy. It is clear that in respect to renewables those steps are getting underway." Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Climate Change, said "...the report clearly shows that, amid much discussion about the 'technologies of tomorrow,' the finance sector believes the existing technologies of today can and will 'decarbonize' the energy mix provided the right policies and incentives are in place at the international level." Comparing the renewable energy and dotcom booms, the report says the former is "underpinned by real demand and growing regulatory support (which the dotcom boom did not enjoy), considerable tangible asset backing, and increasing revenues." Eric Usher, Head of the Energy Finance Unit at UNEP's Paris-based Division of Technology Industry and Economics, said, "The finance community has been investing at levels that imply expected disruptive change is now inevitable in the energy sector. This report puts full stop to the idea of renewable energy being a fringe interest of environmentalists. It is now a mainstream commercial interest to investors and bankers alike." Click on the following links for more information: On June 21, the New Jersey Legislature passed a bill that set ambitious goals for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases from power plants, refineries, motor vehicles and other sources that contribute to global warming. Business leaders expressed concerns about the bill's effect on energy costs and the state's competitiveness, but environmental advocates hailed it as pathbreaking and Gov. Jon S. Corzine said he was ready to sign it into law. Under the new law, greenhouse gas emissions generated by every aspect of the state's economy, not just electricity-generating stations, will have to drop about 13 percent, to 1990 levels, by 2020. The bill further requires that emissions be capped at 20 percent of 2006's levels by 2050. "This is a vital step in protecting our state's environmental resources and the health of New Jerseyans," said Assemblyman John F. McKeon, an Essex County Democrat who was one of several sponsors of the bill. "New Jersey's aggressive protection of its resources will help set a national tone." While the legislation sets reduction goals, it does not specify how they will be met. Instead, it instructs the Department of Environmental Protection to work with other state agencies, including the Board of Public Utilities and the Department of Transportation, over the next year to recommend ways of meeting the 2020 emission reduction targets. The bill also establishes a statewide greenhouse-gas monitoring program that will include pollution emitted by out-of-state power plants that export electricity to New Jersey. Some of New Jersey's business leaders have expressed concern over ambiguities in the bill, and it's impact on businesses. "For a state trying to hold on to manufacturing and high-paying jobs, we're worried about the effect those regulations would have on electricity rates and our competitiveness," said Sara Bluhm, assistant vice president for energy affairs at the New Jersey Business and Industry Association. In a letter to legislators last month, the association said the bill "drives up the cost of electricity, and does so with no global environmental benefit." Click on the following link for more information: Cities in 36 states are going "green," mainly by running cars on alternative fuel and installing energy-efficient streetlights and traffic signals, says a survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors released June 22. Less than half, though, have taken tougher steps to require energy-efficient homes and businesses. The survey, compiling the responses of 134 cities, is the first snapshot of how cities are trying to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to offset global warming. "The survey shows that there are no cookie-cutter solutions," said Trenton, N.J., Mayor Douglas Palmer, president of the mayors conference. "Cities, no matter what size, are coming up with innovative ways to reduce energy." Joe Shacter of the Environmental Law & Policy Center says cities are on the right track but they need to do more to require businesses to be environmentally friendly. "Cities need to step up with the political will to do the things that will take more funding and more time to implement," Shacter said. Money is an issue, particularly in smaller cities. Fayetteville, Ark., Mayor Dan Coody says he lacks funds to replace all vehicles with hybrids, but the city is encouraging alternatives to driving by creating bike trails and 'lanes "If we had more money, we could do more," Coody said. The US. Conference of Mayors is pushing Congress to create a grant program for cities' green projects. Click on the following links for more information: A report released on June 25 by the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) shows that efficiencies differ widely between countries producing similar products and using similar processes, which is a clear indication of the potential for further efficiency gains. "Manufacturing industries in OECD countries have made great progress in energy efficiency during the last 25 years, but important opportunities to reduce emissions remain," said Claude Mandil, Executive Director of the IEA. This finding is of global significance as the manufacturing sector accounts for 36 percent of world CO2 emissions. The report, titled Tracking Industrial Energy Efficiency and CO2 Emissions, contributes to the G8 "Plan of Action for Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable development." "Good information and analyses of trends in energy and emissions – or indicators – are vital," Mandil said. This study elaborates a set of new indicators that look at energy use per unit of physical product, an approach developed in close collaboration with industry experts. Much of the efficiency differences that have been identified can be attributed to the age of plants. New plants tend to be more efficient than older ones. Consequently the most efficient industries can in some cases be found in emerging economies where production is expanding. Another notable finding is that China accounts for four fifths of the growth in industrial production and C02 emissions during the past 25 years. China is now the single largest industrial producer of a wide range of energy intensive industrial commodities such as aluminum, ammonia, cement and steel. The rapid growth of production in less efficient developing countries has limited the average efficiency gains worldwide. "Improving industrial energy efficiency is an approach that can help developing countries in their economic growth and contribute to a significant global greenhouse gas reduction," Mandil said. The study suggests a technical efficiency improvement potential of 18-26 percent for the whole manufacturing industry, if process improvement options and systems options are taken into account. As this estimate does not consider the potential role of new technologies, the impact could be much larger. "The potential is so large that more efforts are warranted in order to achieve deep CO2 emission reductions, reduce fossil fuel dependence, and increase industrial competitiveness," Mandil said. Click on the following links for more information:
EESI Publications Issue Update: FY 08 House Appropriations for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: House Votes for Increase in EERE
Events July 7, 2007 LIVE EARTH: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis Live Earth is a music event that will bring together more than 2 billion people on 7/7/07 to raise awareness about global warming. With 24 hours of music across 7 continents, and performances by more than 150 of the world's top musicians, Live Earth seeks to engage, connect, and inspire individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve the climate crisis. In the United states the concert takes place beginning 12:30pm at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. Performers include The Police, Bon Jovi, Kanye West, Roger Waters, Fall Out Boy, Akon, Kelly Clarkson, The Smashing Pumpkins, Melissa Etheridge, John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Ludacris, KT Tunstall, Sheryl Crow, AFI and the Dave Matthews Band. Click on the following links for more information: The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the British Embassy are hosting a talk by Professor Sir David King, Chief Scientific Adviser to the United Kingdom, at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, 2007, at the AAAS auditorium, 1200 New York Avenue, NW, in Washington DC. Please RSVP by July 5 to Linda Stroud (lstroud@aaas.org).
Quick Links * SUBSCRIBE to our newsletters and other products * ARCHIVE: Past issues of the newsletter are posted on our website under "publications" * SUPPORT EESI: This newsletter and EESI's other valuable work in energy, climate change, agriculture, transportation and smart growth are made possible through financial support from people like you. Please donate now.
Fredric Beck This EESI publication is a free, weekly electronic newsletter intended to inform interested parties, particularly the policymaker community, of the latest climate change-related news. Permission for reproduction of this newsletter is granted provided that EESI is properly acknowledged as the source. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute is a non-profit organization established in 1984 by a bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress to provide timely information on energy and environmental policy issues to policymakers and stakeholders and develop innovative policy solutions that set us on a cleaner, more secure and sustainable energy path. |
|||
Printer-friendly version