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Climate Change News
Brought to you by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Carol Werner, Executive Director
June 12, 2009
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Climate Talks Conclude This Week in Bonn; China Says It Will Not Agree to Emissions Cuts
On June 12, talks at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Bonn came to a close without agreement from developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to levels proposed by developing countries. China and many other developing countries would like to see developed countries commit to reducing emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. Yvo de Boer, the UNFCCC Executive Secretary, said current commitments at best average 24 percent below 1990 levels. The talks were held from June 1 to June 12 in a lead up to negotiations that will take place in Copenhagen in December to form a global treaty on climate change that will succeed the Kyoto Protocol, due to expire in 2012. De Boer noted that the likelihood of having a full climate agreement by the end of talks in Copenhagen was not great, but that it would not necessarily derail plans for a Kyoto successor. “I don't think it is possible between now and the end of Copenhagen to finalize every last detail of a post-2012 [accord], of a long-term response to climate change,” de Boer said. “There is going to be work after Copenhagen. What I would like to see come out of Copenhagen is a robust architecture to address climate change that is attractive to as many countries as possible so that we have a solid foundation to build on moving forward from there.”
On June 11, following separate talks held between China and the United States, Chinese officials said they will not agree to binding GHG emission cuts. “China is still a developing country and the present task confronting China is to develop its economy and alleviate poverty, as well as raise the living standard of its people,” said Qin Gang, a foreign ministry spokesman. “Given that, it is natural for China to have some increase in its emissions, so it is not possible for China in that context to accept a binding or compulsory target.” Todd Stern, the U.S. Special Envoy on Climate Change, met with Chinese leaders, including Vice Premier Li Keqiang and climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua, to discuss actions to address climate change leading up to the UN conference in Copenhagen. “We don't expect China to take a national cap at this stage,” the China Daily quoted Stern as saying. “We understand China's paramount need to grow and develop for its people . . . our demand is that the development with the available technologies is based on low carbon growth.”
For additional information see:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5glOuTZdaVLxwq820ZEBjx...
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/0610/1224248534624.html
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gcKWD6TKOaM0JoHR55Gjj...
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLC667942
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-06/10/content_8267169.htm
CBO Releases Cost Estimate for H.R. 2454
On June 5, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a cost estimate of H.R. 2454, the energy and climate bill recently reported out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that includes a mandatory cap-and-trade program to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. CBO estimated that over the period of 2010 to 2019, the bill would increase federal revenues by $846 billion and increase direct spending by $821 billion,. That leaves a net gain of about $24 billion, according to CBO. Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), a co-sponsor of the bill along with Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), was enthusiastic about the bill’s potential to reduce the national deficit. “The Waxman-Markey bill will get our planet out of the red, while helping to put our budget back in black,” Markey said in a statement.
Under the cap-and-trade program, allowances to emit GHGs will be either auctioned off or allocated at no cost to a variety of entities, including the electricity sector, energy-intensive/trade-exposed industries, natural gas distribution companies, states (for investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency), groups that work to prevent tropical deforestation and to meet other stipulated public purposes. A portion of the revenues gained from auctioning will be used to provide federal assistance to low-income families to help pay for the increased cost of energy that could result from the legislation. CBO estimated the amount low-income families could initially receive in credits or rebates to be $161-$359, rising to $282-$628 by 2019, depending on the family's size.
For additional information see:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ghx9f9CKAsOPwfw4VP4i1d...
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/102xx/doc10262/hr2454.pdf
House Republicans Unveil Alternative Energy Bill
On June 10, House Republicans released an energy bill that calls for 100 new nuclear power plants to be built in the next two decades, provides incentives for increased oil and gas production offshore and on public and private lands, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The bill is being offered as an alternative to H.R. 2454, the energy bill that was recently reported out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee , and which includes a mandatory cap on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. “This is an alternative that takes us in the direction of energy independence and a clean environment without the national energy tax being offered by the Democrats,” said Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), the Republican who chaired the task force that developed the legislation. Republicans pointed out that their bill, known as the American Energy Act, focused on energy instead of climate change, emphasizing that the party remains unconvinced about the science of global warming.
For additional information see:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gOWaz1JCeMNvpS-ZeA1ThG...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/us/politics/10energy.html?ref=us
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23596.html
Midwest Governors Group Sets Goals to Reduce Greenhouse Gases
On June 8, the Midwestern Governors’ Association (MGA) released its plan for a cap-and-trade program to aggressively limit greenhouses gases (GHG) in the region. The MGA includes the states of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Canadian province of Manitoba. The Midwest Governors Association advisory group has been meeting since November 2007, when the Midwest leaders signed an accord calling for a regional cap-and-trade system. Their plan calls for a 20 percent reduction in GHG emissions from 2005 levels by 2020 and an 80 percent reduction by 2050. The emission allowances would initially be sold to emitters in various industries. The MGA would prefer to see federal cap-and-trade legislation passed, but wanted to have a plan in place in case the federal government did not act by 2012.
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs released a report on June 8 which discussed the MGA plan. The report noted that the Midwest has a very coal intensive economy and accounts for 25 percent of total U.S. emissions. The report also noted that the Midwest has a lot of wind energy potential, as well as many farms and forests that could be used in carbon offset programs. Judi Greenwald, Vice President for Innovative Solutions at the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, said, “They’ve got a lot of the energy-intensive industries, a lot of coal, a lot of emissions. They also have biofuels, carbon capture and storage, and a lot of wind. If they can position themselves to provide climate solutions, they stand to gain.”
For additional information see:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics/story/1240419.html
http://www.jsonline.com/business/47267057.html
http://www.midwesternaccord.org/Accord_Draft_Final.pdf
Japan Announces Emission Targets
On June 10, Japan’s Prime Minister Taro Aso announced that his country was committing to an emissions reduction target of 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. The target was immediately criticized by the UN and environmentalists for not being strong enough. Yvo de Boer, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Executive Secretary, said emission reduction plans submitted so far leave industrial countries “a long, long way from the ambitious reduction scenarios” that scientists say are needed. Prime Minister Aso said that Japan’s cuts are in line with those made by other developed nations. Japan, which ranks fifth in global emissions, maintains that its reductions will come from actual emissions cuts, not offsets. Prime Minister Taro Aso “made the best decision possible, after considering the balance between what is feasible and the protection of the global environment,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said.
For additional information see:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jBASwLk3XiAE_ydAxv_0EV...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/world/asia/11emit.html?ref=global-home
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ibzlsqcun7Y09RW5tI83F...
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4b849808-55d2-11de-ab7e-00144feabdc0.html
Green Groups Unveil Ideal 'Copenhagen Climate Treaty'
On June 8, a coalition of environmental groups released ideas for a new global climate treaty, calling for developed countries to cut greenhouse gas emission levels 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 95 percent by 2050. The Copenhagen Climate Treaty also calls for rich nations to pay at least $160 billion per year from 2013 to 2017 to help poor countries both mitigate climate change and adapt to the impacts they are already facing. The mock treaty was written by 50 climate experts working with environmental groups such as Greenpeace and WWF International. “It's going to be unpopular with almost everyone,” said Tasneem Essop of WWF International. “But we need more ambitious targets.” The plan also calls for the creation of a “Copenhagen Climate Facility” to oversee such things as plans to curb emissions and the preservation of forests that soak up greenhouse gases. In addition, the plan also called for a new authority to oversee carbon markets. “It could be motivating to delegates to give them a vision,” said Bill Hare of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. “There are quite heavy commitments required of the major emitters.”
For additional information see:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i-e7erEe_x1hi4P3TnNp_...
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE5574O420090608
UN Report Says Climate Change is Adding to Migration
On June 10, a report was released which found that climate change will force millions of people to migrate in the coming decades. Calling for a comprehensive plan by world leaders to address the mass migration, the study was published by the UN University, CARE International and Columbia University and highlighted areas that are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as island states like Tuvalu and the Maldives, dry areas such as Africa's Sahel and in Mexico, and delta regions in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Egypt. “In coming decades, climate change will motivate or force millions of people to leave their homes in search of viable livelihoods and safety,” the report concluded. “Unless aggressive measures are taken to halt global warming, the consequences for human migration and displacement could reach a scope and scale that vastly exceed anything that has occurred before.” Because the science of climate change is too new to forecast how many people will migrate due to climate change, the report cites predictions from the International Organization for Migration that 200 million people will be displaced by environmental pressures by 2050, though some estimates go as high as 700 million, the report said. Migrants from climate disasters may need new rights, the report said. “Those displaced by the chronic impacts of climate change will require permanent resettlement. At present, people who move due to gradually worsening living conditions may be categorized as voluntary economic migrants and denied recognition of their special protection needs,” the report concluded.
For additional information see:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jojz-avq9oguzdC74uv4Ny...
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/world-faces-daunting-refugee-c...
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLA1045416
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=31092&Cr=climate&Cr1=
Airlines Commit to Carbon Neutral Growth by 2020
On June 8, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) declared that it would set a goal of carbon neutral growth by 2020. The IATA said that it intends to achieve this goal through improved technology, more efficient planes, increased use of biofuels and carbon trading. The IATA represents 230 airlines which together account for 93 percent of air traffic. The airline industry is responsible for 2 percent of global emissions. “After this date, aviation's emissions will not grow even as demand increases. Airlines are the first global industry to make such a bold commitment,” IATA chief Giovanni Bisignani said. Some airline owners have expressed concern about the increased costs of doing business as climate legislation is considered and passed in nations around the world, saying that these costs will have to be passed on to consumers. Others are saying that they have no choice but to accept an emissions reduction plan, especially because the airline industry will be included in any post-Kyoto global climate agreement. “These are substantial costs, so it's a burden. It's a strong burden for airlines, we are speaking of billions, it's something that would be painful, but we are taking full responsibility (for) our commitment,” said Bisignani.
For additional information see:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h2MLj0FZWHSAtHPmmOOai...
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE55718G20090609
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/18344
Research Finds Winds May Be Slowing Down Due to Climate Change
On June 10, researchers released a report suggesting that average and peak wind speeds have been noticeably slowing since 1973. The study will be published in the August issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research and “demonstrates, rather conclusively in my mind, that average and peak wind speeds have decreased over the United States in recent decades,” said Michael Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University. One of the authors, Eugene Takle of Iowa State University, said climate modeling suggested a further 10 percent decline may occur over the next 40 years. While the authors say the results are preliminary, they believe the effect is a result of climate change. This would be due to the fact that global warming has caused the poles to warm more and faster than the rest of the globe, decreasing the temperature difference between the poles and the equator and along with it, the difference in air pressure in the two regions. Differences in barometric pressure are a main driver in strong winds and lower pressure difference means less wind. “Generally we expect there'll probably be a decline in speeds due to climate change,” Takle said.
For additional information see:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hTDEhuJEga5TgzmbnWtYF1...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/10/wind-farms-us-environment
http://www.businessinsider.com/research-finds-global-warming-might-be-cu...
Carbon Payments Help Protect Threatened Tropical Mammals
On June 5, scientists from the University of Queensland in Australia released their study which found that paying to preserve carbon stored in tropical forests could protect threatened wildlife. The study, will be published in the journal Conservation Letters and was led by Oscar Venter, a conservation biologist at the university. The study focused on 3.3 million hectares of tropical forest in Indonesia. Venter used current prices for CO2, roughly $20 per metric ton, to compare the revenue generated by preserving the forest versus cutting it down to make way for palm oil plantations. He found that if carbon credits sold for $10 to $33 per metric ton, then preserving the forest would be more profitable than palm oil plantations. Conservation in the area of study could not only prevent 2.1 billion metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, but would also preserve the habitat of 40 of the 46 endangered mammals in the area, the study found. “Our study clearly demonstrates that payments made to reduce carbon emissions from forests could also be an efficient and effective way to protect biodiversity,” he said. “We now need to see policy discussions catch up with science because at the moment the potential co-benefits of linking forest protection to biodiversity are not getting the attention they deserve.”
For additional information see:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090604181251.htm
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hGQHs0YjqKyOkCUUy7__-D...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8083706.stm
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE5537LF20090604
Other Headlines
Maldives’ Disappearing Coast Prompts Appeal to UN Space Agency
http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/science/11368-maldives-disappearing-co...
NASA to Grant $8 Million for Climate Change Education
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20090610/nasa-grantmillion-climate-chang...
Reindeer Herds in Global Decline from Climate Change
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8094000/8094036.stm
Chestnut Trees Might Slow Climate Change
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/06/10/Chestnut-trees-might-slow-cli...
Nine Alien Insects to Cause Pain, Illness and Even Death in Britain as Climate Warms Up
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/5463255/Nine-...
Events
June 15, 2009 Congressional Staff Briefing: Cap and Trade, Transatlantic Perspectives on Trading, Auctioning and Revenue Spending
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and Heinrich Boell Foundation invite Congressional staff to a briefing to discuss aspects of cap and trade programs, including the auction of emissions allowances and revenue spending. This briefing is open to Congressional staff only. RSVP is required. For details on time, location and speakers, contact Amy Sauer at (202) 662-1892 or asauer [at] eesi.org. Presentations will be posted on this web page after the briefing.
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Amy Sauer
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e-mail: asauer[at]eesi.org
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phone: 202-662-1892
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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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