Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Carol Werner, Executive Director
Date Here

News

• Obama Administration Announces New Fuel Efficiency Rules
• EPA to Phase in Permits for Greenhouse Pollution
• UN Says Copenhagen Accord Pledges Not Enough
• Britain Proposes Two-track Process for New Global Emissions Treaty
• Inquiry into East Anglia Emails Finds Climate Science Intact
• Geoengineering Conference Concludes with Call for Commitment to More Research
• Study Finds Gulf Stream Is Not Slowing Down Due to Climate Change
• Greenpeace Report Finds Coal Fuels Much of Internet "Cloud"
• Among Weathercasters, Doubt on Warming
• Climate Change Requires Radical Shift in Global Agriculture
• EU Emissions Fall 11 Percent in 2009
• Judge Rules Heathrow Runway Expansion Must Consider Climate
• State Insurance Commissioners Scale Back Rule for Climate Risk Disclosure
• NASA Plans Big Boost to Climate Research Budget
• Other Headlines

Events

• April 12: Swiss - U.S. Dialogue: Cleantech and Job Creation
• April 14: Energy Efficiency in the South -- Economic and Environmental Opportunities
• April 15: Reducing Energy Use -- The Role of Appliance Standards

On April 1, the Obama administration announced a new set of fuel efficiency standards and tailpipe emission limits for automobiles. The joint ruling from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will set estimated corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards at 35.1 miles per gallon by the end of 2016 and require tailpipe emissions to be less than 250 grams carbon dioxide (CO2) per mile. The ruling will apply to cars beginning in 2012. The rules are expected to increase the upfront costs of vehicles sold in 2016 by about $985, but will save consumers $3000 over the life of the car due to reduced fuel consumption. In total, the program is expected to eliminate the equivalent emissions of 50 million cars and light trucks while conserving 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the regulated vehicles.

“These are the first national standards ever to address climate change,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Gina McCarthy. “Over the coming years, America will witness an amazing leap forward in vehicle technologies, delivering fuel efficiency that will save us money and protect the environment.”

For additional information see: EPA Press Release, Washington Post, AP, Detroit News

On March 29, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that no stationary sources will be required to get Clean Air Act (CAA) permits that cover greenhouse gases (GHGs) before January 2011, confirming a decision the agency signaled last month. EPA has pledged to take steps to address the billions of tons of GHG emissions released into the air annually and is providing time for large industrial facilities and state governments to put in place cost-effective, innovative technologies to control and reduce carbon pollution. “This is a common sense plan for phasing in the protections of the Clean Air Act. It gives large facilities the time they need to innovate, governments the time to prepare to cut greenhouse gases and it ensures that we don’t push this problem off to our children and grandchildren,” said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. “With a clear process in place, it’s now time for American innovators and entrepreneurs to go to work and lead us into the clean energy economy of the future.”

For additional information see: EPA Press Release, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg

On April 1, outgoing head of the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Secretariat Yvo de Boer announced that proposed greenhouse gas emission reductions submitted under the 2009 Copenhagen Accord by more than 110 countries were insufficient to meet the goal of limiting global warming to less than 2°C above pre-industrial temperatures. "It is clear that while the pledges on the table are an important step toward the objective of limiting growth of emissions, they will not in themselves suffice to limit warming to below 2°C," he said in a statement. This comes a few days before climate talks are scheduled to reconvene in Bonn, Germany. The Secretariat noted that 41 developed nations and 35 developing nations, comprising 80 percent of the world's emissions, did commit to reductions by 2020.

For additional information see: UPI, Reuters

On March 31, the UK suggested a new two-tiered system for international cooperation on greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. UK Climate Secretary Ed Miliband put forth a proposal in which the UK and other developed nations already subject to the Kyoto Protocol renew their commitment under that framework, while developing countries cement their national commitments into international law. Concurrently, nations such as the United States, India, and China which have not signed on to the Kyoto Protocol would enter into a secondary treaty, though no specifics of this treaty were suggested. "We do not want to let a technical argument about whether we have one treaty or two derail the process. We are determined to show flexibility as long as there is no undermining of environmental principles," Miliband said.

For additional information see: AFP, Guardian, AP, Financial Times

On March 31, the UK House of Commons Science and Technology Committee announced they had found no evidence to suggest that the University of East Anglia Climate Research Unit (CRU) or its director, Phil Jones, had tampered with data or obstructed the peer review process to exaggerate the threat of global warming. The report concluded that the reputation of Phil Jones and the CRU is intact, adding that nothing in the stolen emails challenged any part of the consensus that “global warming is happening and that it is induced by human activity.” This report was the result of the first of three investigations, with the proceeding two to cover a far more intense analysis. The committee found no evidence of anything more than "a blunt refusal to share data," and concluded that there was no conspiracy in which Phil Jones could take part. Lawmakers did criticize the manner in which Jones and his colleagues at the CRU handled Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, stating that these investigations could have been averted by making public all of the data and methodologies used at the center.

For additional information see: AP, BBC, Sydney Morning Herald, Guardian

On March 26, the Asilomar International Conference on Climate Intervention Technologies concluded that the world needs more conversations about research on geoengineering techniques, such as carbon sequestration and solar reflection, to prepare for possible action against rapid global warming. The conference was attended by a group of more than 175 scientists from 15 countries spanning geosciences, ethics, business, and political science. The conference called for deliberations among scientists, governments, and the public to ensure that research on the risks, impacts, and efficacy of climate intervention is conducted responsibly and transparently. A conference press statement stressed, however, that a strong commitment to emissions reduction and development of low-carbon technology is independent of whether geoengineering ultimately proves safe and feasible.

For additional information see: Monterey Herald, American Chemical Society, Science

On March 26, new analysis of data from satellites and drifting sensors found no evidence that the Gulf Stream - one section of a regular planet-wide circulation of ocean waters - is slowing down. The Gulf Stream brings warm tropical water northward along the coast of North America and across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe. The warmth carried by the Gulf Stream is directly attributed to the hospitable climates found in both regions. Some scientists had worried that global warming might be shutting down the Gulf Stream and threatening a big chill for Europe. Headlines warning of a drastic speed reduction first appeared in a 2005 Nature paper, where data presented suggested a 30 percent decline in the northward flow by around the turn of the century. But continuous measurements have revealed fluctuations in the air flow, not a long term trend. The recent analysis, conducted by Joshua Willis at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and presented in Geophysical Research Letters, shows that substantial slowing of the Gulf Stream did not occur during the past seven years.

For additional information see: BBC, Study Abstract, Science

On March 30, Greenpeace released a report which found that the growth of internet computing could result in a huge jump in greenhouse gas emissions. The increasing number of home movies, pictures and business data has grown beyond the capabilities of personal computers and average corporate data centers, spurring the creation of massive server farms with tens of thousands of specialized machines that make up the internet "cloud." Coal is the top fuel for U.S. power plants, and its low cost versus other energy sources makes it attractive, even in highly efficient data centers. Apple, Facebook, Microsoft Corp., and Google Inc. all have at least some centers with heavy use of coal power, Greenpeace said. If considered as a country, global telecommunications and data centers behind the cloud would have ranked fifth in the world for energy use in 2007, behind the United States, China, Russia and Japan, the report concluded. The report concluded by calling on IT industry giants to support government policies that give priority grid access for renewable sources like wind and solar energy, as well as economy-wide climate and energy policies around the world that peak climate emissions by 2015.

For additional information see: Reuters, BBC, Greenpeace

On March 29, the results of a survey conducted by George Mason University's Center for Climate Change Communication highlighted different perspectives between two groups regarding climate change: climate scientists and meteorologists, especially those who serve as television weather forecasters. Climatologists, who study weather patterns over time, were found to almost universally endorse the view that the earth is warming and that humans have contributed to climate change. There is less of a consensus among meteorologists, who predict short-term weather patterns. The survey, conducted by researchers at George Mason University and the University of Texas at Austin, found that only about half of the 571 television weathercasters surveyed believed that global warming was occurring and fewer than a third believed that climate change was “caused mostly by human activities.” More than a quarter of the weathercasters in the survey agreed with the statement “Global warming is a scam,” the researchers found. The split between climate scientists and meteorologists has gained attention in political and academic circles as polls show that public skepticism about global warming is increasing, and weather forecasters — especially those on television — dominate communications channels to the public. A study released this year by researchers at Yale and George Mason found that 56 percent of Americans trusted weathercasters to tell them about global warming compared to other news media or public figures.

For additional information see: New York Times, Washington Times, George Mason Press Release

On March 28, the Global Forum on International Agricultural Research published a report detailing the current state of the world’s agricultural production and its implications alongside population growth and climate change. Lead author Uma Lele spoke to the challenges posed by climate change, specifically those in the poorest and most climate vulnerable regions of Africa and South Asia. She pointed out that rich donor nations are more interested in funding mitigation efforts rather than adaptation efforts in climate stressed countries. Mitigation efforts have the effect of reducing greenhouse gases, she said, while adaptation on the surface appears to be just an increase in foreign aid funds. Further, Lele emphasized a position that genetically modified crops should not be left out when considering ways to adjust agriculture to climate change. Rather, there needs to be more information on the crops available to those potentially using them, and any decision on whether or not to use them must be made by the great number of farmers rather than by a few people in power.

For additional information see: BBC, Reuters, GFAR Press Release

On April 1, the European Commission released figures showing that its emissions had fallen 11.2 percent last year, in large part because of the global recession. The preliminary figures were based on reports from 80 percent of constituents within the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme, with a final tally to be released in May. The drop in 2009 marks the largest one-year drop since the ETS began in 2005 and is almost double the 6 percent decline seen in 2008. Kjersti Ulset of Point Carbon said that despite seeing an increase in highly polluting coal-fired power plants and a decrease in nuclear power over the past year, these factors were overwhelmed by the economic crisis, which lowered overall emissions. The EU committed to reducing its emissions 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

For additional information see: Guardian, Financial Times, Bloomberg

On March 26, the High Court in the UK ruled that the British government's plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport did not seriously consider climate change impacts. In the judgment, Lord Justice Carnwath called the government’s original position “untenable,” but declined to fully nullify the proposal. The ruling requires the government to conduct an analysis on the runway proposal that includes greenhouse gas considerations. The judgment has been hailed as a victory by both the transport department and a coalition of local councils, green groups and residents who had gone to the courts objecting to the plans for a third runway, saying it was inconsistent with government targets to cut carbon emissions. However, Prime Minister Gordon Brown declared that a new runway was vital to "help secure jobs and underpin economic growth," adding that the government had backed an extra runway "only after a detailed assessment showing that the strict environmental limits for expansion could be met.”

For additional information see: Telegraph, Guardian, Financial Times

On March 29, state insurance regulators voted 27-22 to allow insurers to file climate risk disclosure surveys on a voluntary, confidential basis. The decision was an unexpected turnaround from a position publicly negotiated a year ago between activists, insurers, and regulators. The initial position was to come into effect within a few weeks and would have required insurers to publicly post answers to a 12-question survey on a common database regarding the sensitivity of their insurance holdings to climate change in addition to mitigation efforts being taken. This new decision made by the group of state insurance commissioners changed that position, allowing states would be able to decide individually whether or not the information would have to be public and whether or not to allow insurers to create their own survey questions. It also removed any formal position on whether or not climate change was occurring.

"We don't do stockholder reports. That's not our job," said South Carolina Insurance Commissioner Scott Richardson. "That ain't our job, either, to be environmental or not environmental." Some investors and environmentalists have pointed out that climate change is clearly within the jurisdiction of insurance regulators due to its effects on a company’s return on investment, loss exposure, and ability to conform to national legislation.

For additional information see: New York Times, National Underwriter, NAIC Press Release

On March 31, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced its plans to substantially boost funding for climate change over the next five years to make up for cuts made during the Bush administration. The agency budget will increase by $2.4 billion (62 percent) through 2015. The program hopes to have launched 10 new missions by then, replacing many of the old satellites that are well beyond their intended lifespans. The projects will ultimately collect information on ocean temperatures, ice coverage, ozone depletion, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The sharp increase in NASA climate change funding contrasts with a relatively flat budget for its other programs.

"The key to Earth system science is to make multiple measurements more or less simultaneously of many different quantities -- that's the only way we can understand how the various processes that define Earth system interact," said Michael Freilich, Earth Science Division director.

For additional information see: Washington Post

• Early Butterfly Hatch Directly linked to GHG Emissions.
• European Satellite Launching in April Will Monitor Polar Ice
• Computer Model Helps Biologists Understand How Coral Dies in Warming Waters

The Embassy of Switzerland, Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), World Resources Institute, and U.S. Green Building Council invite you to a discussion about clean energy jobs featuring Swiss President Doris Leuthard. The discussion will focus on what U.S. and Swiss policymakers can learn from each others' experiences to further grow the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, strengthen energy security, create new jobs, and spur a robust economic recovery. This event will take place on Monday, April 12, from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at LJ162 Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress. This event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be served. RSVP is required. Please RSVP to Lukas Sieber at lukas.sieber [at] eda.admin.ch or (202) 745-7987.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on opportunities to improve energy efficiency in the South, and its potential impact on energy prices, job creation, water use, and carbon emissions. The briefing will focus on the results of a new study which finds that aggressive energy efficiency initiatives in the South could create 223,000 new jobs and reduce energy bills $41 billion in the region by 2020. The briefing will take place on Wednesday, April 14, from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. in SVC 215 at the Capitol Visitors Center. This briefing is free and open to the public. No RSVP required for Congressional staff. Non-Congressional staff should RSVP to Erin Lane at erin_lane [at] cascadeassociates.net.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on how appliance and equipment efficiency standards affect consumers, economic competitiveness, and the environment. This briefing will examine appliance standards legislation pending before the Congress and program changes under consideration by DOE, as well as their potential economic and environmental impacts. The briefing will take place on Thursday, April 15, from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in 385 Russell Senate Office Building. This briefing is free and open to the public. No RSVP required. For more information, contact Ellen Vaughan at (202) 662-1893 or evaughan [at] eesi.org.