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Global Warming Lawsuit Settled On February 6, two US agencies were legally forced to address the global warming implications of their overseas financing activities. The settlement is the result of a 2002 lawsuit filed against the US Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) and Overseas Private Investment Corp. (OPIC) by a coalition of non-profit organizations, including Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, and the cities of Boulder, Colorado, and Arcata, Santa Monica, and Oakland in California. The plaintiffs alleged that under the rules and regulations of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Ex-Im Bank and OPIC should be held liable for failing to assess the potential global warming and environmental impacts of providing over $32 billion in financing and insurance to fossil fuel projects over a ten-year period. From 1990 to 2003, the projects financed by these two agencies produced cumulative CO2 emissions that were equivalent to nearly eight percent of the world’s annual CO2 emissions. The Bush Administration argued that the “alleged impacts of global climate change are too remote and speculative for Ex-Im Bank and OPIC to be subject to the NEPA requirements.” A federal judge found that US cities suffering economic and or environmental damages due to climate change were eligible to file suits under NEPA. Under the settlement, the two agencies agreed to spend $250 million each on renewable energy projects and to take climate into consideration for future investments, in addition to an OPIC goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20 percent for its projects. Ron Shems, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, said, “The settlement reached today will help ensure that the federal government takes a close look at its contributions to climate change and that the courts are available if the government fails in this critical obligation.” For additional information see:
Hearing Held for Top Science Posts in Obama Administration On February 12, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held its confirmation hearing for John Holdren, a physicist from Harvard University nominated to lead the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Jane Lubchenco, a marine biologist from Oregon State University nominated to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Both scientists told the committee they would maintain the government's scientific integrity while also addressing real-world concerns, specifically climate change. Holdren testified that he would consider keeping policy free from politics “one of my greatest obligations.” Lubchenco noted that climate change would be her agency's top challenge and she would work to develop a National Climate Service, which could combine data from research and analysis work done by several agencies, as well as coordinate climate information for the government. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/12/AR200902...
Top Airlines Want Aviation Emissions in Climate Pact On February 12, the Aviation Global Deal Group (AGD) held a meeting in Hong Kong to outline principles for aviation to be included in international climate change treaty negotiations. Air France/KLM, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Atlantic and airport operator BAA participated in what they claim is the first time a group of airlines have made a call for aviation to be included in a climate change treaty. Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Tony Tyler said, “Aviation has a key part to play in reducing global emissions and for too long has been seen as part of the climate problem rather than part of the solution.” The United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has been working for years on developing a global tactic to reduce aviation emissions, which comprise about two percent of total anthropogenic CO2 emissions. The European Union decided to include aviation emissions in their emissions trading scheme starting 2012, but has been criticized for lacking a global approach. ADG’s goal was to lay out a framework that balances social and economic considerations with industry emissions reductions. Dominic Purvis of Cathay Pacific stated, “The best thing is to have something effective and easy to apply and cost-effective rather than to wait for someone else to come up with it and potentially take a course of action not necessarily appropriate for aviation.” For additional information see:
Birds Shifting Farther North, Global Warming Cited On February 10, a study released by the Audubon Society found that over half of 305 types of birds observed in North America are migrating significantly further north than they did 40 years ago and more than 60 of those types have “moved in excess of 100 miles north.” The study, Birds and Climate Change; Ecological Disruption in Motion, says that “global climate change is by far the most probable explanation,” citing an increase of 5°F for average temperatures in January over the same 40-year time period. The scientists pointed out that urban sprawl, agriculture, and interaction with other species can contribute to changes in migration patterns, but lead scientist Greg Butcher stated, “It is not what each of these individual birds did. It is the wide diversity of birds that suggests it has something to do with temperature, rather than ecology.” Audubon officials say they will have the report published in peer-reviewed journals in the future, but wanted to get out an early release to support legislation in Congress to control greenhouse gas emissions. For additional information see:
UN Chief Invites Obama to Climate Change Summit On February 9, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon invited President Barack Obama to a summit meeting next month on climate change. A European Diplomat to the UN stated, “The mini summit would be an opportunity for Obama to confirm for the world that the climate is at the top of his agenda. We need that if Copenhagen is to be a success.” Ban hopes to include mainly “big polluters,” and is intentionally organizing the meeting ahead of an April 2 meeting involving the world’s economic powers, or Group of 20 (G-20), on the issue of the global financial crisis. “We want to make sure the G-20 don't forget the poor and don't forget green,” a UN official stated. US officials say Obama’s attendance is currently undecided. The UN is privately urging India and China to attend as well, but will not send formal invitations without a commitment from Obama, according to a senior UN official. A separate UN climate meeting with greater attendance will take place in September, prior to the official UN Climate Change Conference taking place in Copenhagen in December. For additional information see:
Price of EU Carbon Credits Slump to New Low On February 12, the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) reported the price of a credit to emit one ton of CO2 had reached about 8 euros, down from a price of approximately 30 euros in July 2008. This was the lowest emissions allowance price yet experienced by the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) during its second phase of operation (2008 to 2012). “What we are seeing now is carbon functioning as a commodity and reacting to the same fundamentals as any other market in the world,” said Henrik Hasselknippe, the director of Carbon Analysis at PointCarbon. Some critics have argued that the ETS is creating price volatility that could be used by speculators to make money rather than reduce CO2 emissions. “If you look at the price today it may start to become very attractive, not for compliance purposes today, but for compliance purposes for years,” said Citigroup's head of emissions trading Garth Edward. The current low price of CO2 allowances and future price uncertainty has resulted in diminished low-carbon investments. Jeff Chapman, the chief executive of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, said, “The problem is that investors can't bank on a future value of carbon. It is impossible to take a project proposal to a bank based on a future price because we have seen the price collapse once before, and it is now doing it again.” For additional information see:
Scientists Plan Emergency Summit on Climate Change On February 9, scientists discussed the upcoming conference that will take place March 10-12 at the University of Copenhagen and which aims to “provide a synthesis of existing and emerging scientific knowledge necessary in order to make intelligent societal decisions concerning application of mitigation and adaptation strategies in response to climate change.” University of Copenhagen marine biologist Katherine Richardson said, “This is not a regular scientific conference. This is a deliberate attempt to influence policy.” Scientists from around the world will meet at the conference next month to agree to a stark message that will be issued to global leaders as they prepare to negotiate an agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol this year. The “international scientific congress” was organized by ten universities within the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU) and hosts speakers from the respective universities as well as the Chairman of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Dr. Rajendra Pachauri. One issue to be addressed at the summit is whether it is still possible to limit average global temperature rise to 2ºC, a level which many experts define as dangerous. Richardson said a key question for politicians is the balance between efforts to limit warming and steps to adapt to the likely consequences. For additional information see:
Informal Climate Talks Held in Tokyo On February 13, representatives from 22 nations, including major emitters China, India, the United States and the European Union, wrapped up two days of informal talks on climate change in Tokyo. The meetings were held in preparation for the UN negotiations scheduled at the end of the year in Copenhagen to produce an agreement among more than 190 countries to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, set to expire in 2012. A central topic was the change in US administration, as United Nations (UN) Climate Chief Yvo de Boer declared, “President Obama's stance on climate change represents a sea change in the position of the US.” The position of the United States is considered vital to the success of. De Boer said he anticipates that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s tour of Asian countries next week has “incredible importance” for global efforts on climate change. “I have the impression that discussions are beginning to develop in a way that we can now picture the type of progress that can be achieved in Copenhagen,” said a Japanese official. For additional information see:
On February 9, scientists suggested climate change was contributing to the wildfires taking place in southern Australia, and that more extreme weather events would likely occur in the future. University of Sydney bushfire expert Mark Adams stated, “We do not have all the evidence yet to fully explain this day in terms of climate change. However, all the science to date shows that we can expect more extreme weather in the years to come – that includes hotter days and drier landscapes across southern Australia.” Research by the Australian government’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and Bureau of Meteorology predicted that under the worst-case climate change scenario, the number of days when bushfires pose an extreme risk in southeastern Australia could nearly double by 2050. While the worst drought in a century has taken place in many parts of Australia, the worst floods in 30 years are being experienced in the northern Australian state of Queensland. Models have shown global warming could bring a decrease in rainfall in the southern states of Australia and an increase in rainfall in the north. On February 13, Mark Adams from the University of Sydney reported that emissions from the bushfires in recent days emitted amounts of carbon dioxide that almost equal Australia’s industrial emissions for an entire year. These emissions go far beyond what can be captured through carbon capture and planting trees, he said. While new forest growth will take up some of the released carbon, Adams said, “That is true to a point, but if the long-term fire regime changes – we are now starting to have more fires – we may completely change the carbon balance of the forest.” For additional information see:
Over 370 European Cities Sign Climate Change Agreement On February 10, mayors from more than 370 cities across the European Union (EU) signed a climate change treaty pledging to cut CO2 emissions by at least 20 percent by 2020. The “Covenant of Mayors,” a European Commission initiative, is intended to be a commitment “beyond the [2020] objectives” set forth by the overarching European Council to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20 percent, increase renewable energy use to 20 percent of total energy consumption, and increase energy efficiency by 20 percent. During the signing ceremony, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said, “Voluntary actions by citizens are crucial, changing our energy behavior, making intelligent investments, adopting smart mobility practices, these are actions that need to be motivated.” The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced it is working with the Commission to set up a 15 million euro grant fund to support the initiative. For additional information see:
Amazon May Get Drier, but Survive Warming On February 9, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published a study that challenged the severity of climate change impact on the Amazon predicted by the United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2007. The new study, led by Yadvinder Malhi from the Oxford University Center for the Environment, concluded that nearly all of the 19 global climate models used in the UN report underestimated rainfall, highlighting the need for more delicate regional features and the ability of the Andes and shape of the continent to naturally trap moisture. While the UN report projected that changes in precipitation in the Amazon would lead to a gradual replacement of tropical rainforest with savannah by midcentury, Malhi argued that the eastern Amazon would more likely become a seasonal forest with greater vulnerability to droughts. These changes would still make it more susceptible to fires and “almost certainly” change the species composition, he said. The effects of climate change would be magnified by “an unprecedented intensity of direct pressure on the tropical forests through logging, deforestation, fragmentation, and fire use” for agriculture, the study said. For additional information see:
Fisheries Will Be Hit Hard by Climate Change In a separate article appearing in the same issue of Fish and Fisheries, a study led by Edward Allison of the WorldFish Center in Malaysia identified nations that are “highly vulnerable” to the impact of climate change on fisheries. The study reviewed 132 countries and found that two-thirds of a group of 33 countries judged “highly vulnerable” were in Africa, while most others were in Asia and Latin America. Factors such as ruined ocean reefs, salt water pushing into freshwater habitats, and the increased frequency of coastal storms were used to assess the burden on the regional societies. The study concluded that higher latitude countries will experience the most warming, but economically, people in the tropics and subtropics “likely will suffer most, because fish are so important in their diets and because they have limited capacity to develop other sources of income and food,” lead author Edward Allison said. Director General of the WorldFish Center Steve Hall said, “Fisheries are already under tremendous pressure from overfishing, habitat loss, pollution and a range of other factors. Climate adaptation measures must go hand in hand with efforts to confront other threats if these countries are to succeed in building sustainable livelihoods for fish-dependent people.” For additional information see:
Other Headlines AIG Withdraws From US Climate Action Partnership Role of Climate Change in Disease Spread Examined Art Under Threat from Climate Change First Deep-Sea Observatory Looks at Climate Change
Events February 20, 2009 Introduction to the International Renewable Energy Agency Featuring Hermann Scheer The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing to discuss renewable energy policy on a global scale, and the potential impact of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Hermann Scheer, from the German Bundestag, will discuss the formation of this agency and its role in global energy policy, while Congressional respondents will offer a US perspective on this agency and prospects for potential membership. This briefing will take place Friday, February 20, from 11:00 – 12:00 noon in 2325 Rayburn House Office Building. This briefing is free and open to the public. No RSVP required. For more information, please contact Amy Sauer at asauer[at]eesi.org or (202) 662-1892. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing to discuss the current state of global climate change and prospects for federal and international climate policy. This briefing will provide an overview picture of current climate science and projected impacts based on present greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions levels. The discussion also will focus on prospects for federal climate legislation as it begins to take shape in the 111th Congress and how this will interact with international climate treaty negotiations. The briefing will take place Wednesday, February 25, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Capitol Hill, with room and building TBD. This briefing is free and open to the public. No RSVP required. For more information, please contact Amy Sauer at asauer[at]eesi.org or (202) 662-1892.
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Amy Sauer 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. |
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