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Following the November 4 election of Senator Barack Obama (D – IL) as the new US President, discussion began over the shape that President-elect Obama’s energy and climate policies would take. While Obama signaled the importance of climate change in his acceptance speech, it is believed initial legislation will be limited to renewable energy in light of the highest U.S. unemployment rate in five years. However, energy legislation early in Obama’s term is a development toward a comprehensive climate change plan. A comprehensive plan will be a “massive piece of legislation with such far-reaching impacts” and Obama understands the “need to take some time with it,” said Kateri Callahan, president of the energy advocacy group Alliance to Save Energy. To help him develop his climate change strategy, some have suggested the creation of a “climate czar” post to oversee government bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Interior Department, and to provide direction to the interrelated aspects of energy, climate change, and the economy. There is not yet word on Obama’s opinion of such a position. On November 5, United Nation’s (UN) Climate Chief Yvo de Boer said that he is “very encouraged by the stated commitment of Senator Obama to the issue of climate change,” and that he hopes President-elect Obama or a representative will attend UN talks in Poland December 1-12 to “speak to his vision of the way forward.” There is anticipation that President-elect Obama will move the United States toward acceptance of a global treaty on climate change, and that he will spur other large emitters – notably China and India – to do so as well. Members of the international business and investor community are awaiting indications that Obama is serious about his commitment to climate change. Evidence that Obama “is seriously looking for a quick way through for national cap and trade in the United States” would be one indication, said the head of the International Emissions Trading Association, Henry Derwent. Other indications would be regular mention of climate change during bilateral meetings in the coming months, and a multi-year extension of tax credits for wind energy. The market for renewable energies is highly dependent on commitments to cut emissions. “We need long term targets and long term energy plans,” said Dittlev Engel, chief executive of Vestas Wind Systems A/S. For additional information see:
On November 6, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper proposed the formation of a climate change pact with President-elect Barack Obama. Obama has proposed tough emissions targets during his campaign, unlike President Bush, who rejected the Kyoto Protocol. Experts believe that Harper would seek to form a pact that would prevent the United States from adopting measures that would punish Canada's industry and exports from Alberta's oil sands – which Obama's advisers have referred to as “dirty oil.” Harper spoke with Obama by phone and the two leaders vowed to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, the Canadian prime minister's office said in a statement. “It's almost essential for Canada to manage this problem in cooperation with the United States because we share the same economy; we share the same continent,” said Harper. “And we need a partner in the matters of the environment if we want to make real progress.” For additional information see:
On November 6, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that targets of limiting temperature increases to 2°C may be technologically impossible. “Even leaving aside any debate about the political feasibility . . . It is uncertain whether the scale of the transformation envisaged is even technically achievable, as the scenario assumes broad development of technologies that have not yet been proven,” said the IEA's World Energy Outlook. The IEA recognized that sufficient oil supplies would be available for years, but recommended a major de-carbonization of the world’s energy resources as well as extensive investment to meet growing demand in order to prevent major catastrophe from climate change. “Current global trends in energy supply and consumption are patently unsustainable – environmentally, economically, and socially,” the agency said. “But that can – and must – be altered.” For additional information see: http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKTRE4A57MA20081106
On October 31, European Union (EU) representatives agreed to phase in automotive emission limits of 130 grams of CO2 for every kilometer driven by 2015. Emission standards will vary slightly for each manufacturer, and fines for not adhering to targets have yet to be determined. Some countries, like Italy, are concerned penalties may be too harsh, while other countries, like the Netherlands, want deeper and quicker cuts. Ms. Franziska Achterberg of Greenpeace also expressed displeasure with the agreement. “Christmas is coming early for carmakers this year,” she said. “Over the past couple of days, European governments have signaled that they would not only allow carmakers to continue business-as-usual in the face of climate change, but also reward their irresponsibility with a 40 billion Euros ($51.11 billion) loan package.” For additional information see:
On November 3, Italy, Germany and several Eastern European countries mounted opposition to EU efforts to lead the fight against climate change in a meeting in Brussels. Italy and Germany expressed concerns over the financial crises and higher emissions standards for their automotive industries, while the Eastern European countries feared CO2 emission cuts would be too costly for their coal-dependent economies. Many EU officials worry that Nicholas Sarkozy, French President and current president of the EU, will make too many concessions to these countries in an effort to gain support before ceding the post to his Czech successor, who is known to be critical of climate change. Dr. Cecile Kerebel, French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), said, “I think we'll get something, but there's a real risk that in the end the package will have no value in fighting climate change.” For additional information see:
On November 4, Poland proposed setting upper and lower bounds to the price of CO2 in the European Union’s (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). In a document circulated to EU finance ministers, Poland stated, “Such a safety mechanism, if well designed, will enable European companies to plan long-term CO2 abating investments and will alleviate the burden imposed on European economies.” Poland requested price floors to reassure investors in renewable energy that coal alternatives will never be so cheap as to make the use of renewable energy unviable. In the last three months, the price of carbon under the ETS scheme has fallen by nearly 40 percent, illustrating an example of the price volatility Poland hopes to avoid. For additional information see:
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On November 3, a paper released by the Australia Institute, an independent public policy research group, called on the government to abandon plans to include agriculture in its emissions trading scheme because of difficulty measuring agricultural emissions. Instead, the research recommended taxing the agriculture sector for polluting, with the generated funds going to developments that decrease agricultural emissions. Australia plans to start the trading scheme in July 2010, but does not intend to include agriculture until 2015 because of the problem of measurement of emissions in the sector. Authors Dr. Hugh Saddler and Dr. Helen King said, “We suggest policy-makers would be well advised to give up the quest for the unattainable and turn their attention to developing alternative approaches to reducing agricultural emissions.” For additional information see:
On November 6, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering released a report saying climate change will challenge the country’s infrastructure, particularly power. Higher temperatures and droughts in the South will increase demands on power supplies and decrease electricity generation from dams. Floods in the North will pose problems for older houses, and there will be disruptions to Australia’s transportation network. As for the human impacts, the report said, “The consequences of the impact of climate change . . . may range from discomfort, inconvenience, economic loss caused by interruption of services, property damage, threats to health, to injury and death.” The report called for ensuring the integrity of major infrastructural assets as determined by more detailed risk assessments. For additional information see:
On October 29, a group of scientists for the first time combined the climate predictions of the G8 countries and the UK Government's Stern Review with the latest knowledge of climate change feedbacks in the carbon cycle and concluded that significant emissions cuts over the long term are necessary to combat climate change. “To achieve long-term stabilization of carbon dioxide levels at around 550ppm will require cuts in global emissions of between 81 percent and 90 percent by 2300, and even more beyond that time. We applaud the government’s new plans to cut UK emissions by 80 percent by 2050. This is a realistic assessment of the scale of the problem and the action needed,” said lead researcher Jo House of the Natural Environment Research Council’s QUEST program at the University of Bristol. For additional information see:
In the November 6 issue of Nature, a report by a research team from the University of Oslo found that Norwegian lemming populations are dwindling due to winter temperatures that frequently fluctuate above and below freezing. The melting of snow floods lemming burrows, and many of those that survive find an icy barrier between themselves and their food on the ground. Despite the drop in population, “we are a long way from it being a threatened species,” said Nils Stenseth, a co-author of the report. However, shrinking lemming populations have residual effects on the population of other animals as well, such as the arctic fox and snowy owl that now seek alternative prey. Kyrre Kausrud, another co-author of the report, added, “As competitive relationships change for predators, prey, and plants, the whole community changes.” For additional information see:
Austria Unlikely to Meet Kyoto Target
November 13, 2008 A Presidential Climate Action Plan: Options for the New Administration and Congress The Environmental and Energy Study Institute and the Presidential Climate Action Project (PCAP) invite you to a briefing to discuss one of the most important challenges facing President-elect Obama when he takes office – addressing the interrelated problems of climate change and energy and economic security. Speakers for this event include former Senator Gary Hart, Scholar in Residence and Wirth Chair Professor at the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs; William Becker, Executive Director of Presidential Climate Action Project; Martha Coven, Senior Legislative Associate for Government Affairs at Center for Budget Policy and Priorities; and Bill Parsons, Legislative Director, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). The briefing will be held in B318 Rayburn House Office Building from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 13. 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. Today in the U.S. there are 60 operational hydrogen fueling stations and several hundred hydrogen-powered vehicles on the road. But vehicle production is not yet at commercial scale and there is a vigorous dialogue on the best strategy for the development of new fueling stations. So what's the next step? In this National Hydrogen Association webinar, Catherine Dunwoody of the California Fuel Cell Partnership and Britta Gross of General Motors will present their perspectives on what is most critical to the development of a national hydrogen infrastructure. This online event takes place on November 14 from 12-1pm EST. There is a $29.99 charge for participating. For those who cannot attend live, please note that a video recording of the event will be made available to all registrants. For more information and to register, visit: http://www.hydrogenassociation.org/webinar/14Nov08.asp
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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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