Climate Change News - January 24, 2011

Bills Filed to Block Virginia Attorney General’s Climate Change Probes

On January 18, two Virginia state Senators, Democratic Senators Donald McEachin and Chap Peterson, have each filed legislation that would block Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s civil investigation into climate change research conducted at the University of Virginia (U-VA) several years ago by Michael Mann. The two state senators accused Cuccinelli of abusing his authority to issue a civil inquest into Mann’s research on global warming, an authority that was granted to Cuccinelli under a 2002 law designed to catch government employees defrauding the public of tax dollars. The Attorney General has demanded documents and e-mails related to Mann’s work to help determine whether Mann committed fraud by skewing data from publicly funded research. U-VA has been battling the subpoenas in court, and Sens. McEachin and Peterson have been trying to pass legislation to make it more difficult for the attorney general to issue these types of civil subpoena. Sen. Peterson sponsored a bill that would shield academic work at universities from being subject to the attorney general’s civil investigative demands, while Sen. McEachin sponsored a broader effort that would require the attorney general to file a lawsuit that must be reviewed by a judge before any subpoenas could be issued. If passed, the legislation would force the attorney general to follow protocol required of other civil litigation, which grants defendants the right to defend themselves and use discovery to examine the plaintiff’s evidence.

For additional information see: Washington Post , AP

Federal Report Encourages Wall Street Participation in Carbon Markets

On January 18, a federal interagency group led by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission published a report that recommended carbon permit trading should be open to parties beyond industrial polluting firms and providers of carbon offsets. Even though some lawmakers are skeptical of opening carbon markets to derivatives traders, the report noted that as long as tough oversight is in place, the new markets will benefit from a wide range of actors. The report stated that, as of now, carbon markets are currently restricted to polluting firms and carbon offset providers, which restricts them “only to such entities [which] may not have sufficient participation, or liquidity, to facilitate efficient price discovery.” In expanded markets, market intermediaries, speculators, and investors would fill supply or demand voids by standing ready to buy or sell from market end-users on a continuous basis. Such participants also may enhance the price discovery process by collecting and bringing information to the market. The report noted that, in addition to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in the Northeast, several U.S.-based carbon markets are in development in the Western and Central United States.

For additional information see: The Hill , Report

UK Coalition Urges Government to Establish Mandatory GHG Reporting

In the second week of January, a coalition of 150 organizations sent a letter to three key UK government departments asking them to establish greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting for large emitters by 2012, under an obligation in the 2008 Climate Change Act which requires the government either to impose GHG reporting rules or provide an explanation for failing to introduce them. The coalition, comprised of businesses and NGOs like Nestle and Oxfam, cited the need to boost investor confidence in the emerging low-carbon economy. Colin Baines, a member of the coalition, said that even though the government might not introduce mandatory reporting, it might opt to include GHG reporting in a review of non-financial reporting by the Department of Business, Innovation, and Skills (BIS). Mandatory reporting is unique in that it requires businesses to report emissions of all GHGs, not simply carbon, and supporters argue that it would allow potential investors to gauge the risk that firms face from carbon legislation and determine if the firms are linked to carbon-based projects. The campaign was backed by 116 MPs.

For additional information see: Business Green , Letter

European Union Carbon Registries Closed in Response to Cyber Hacking

On January 19, the European Commission closed all carbon registries in its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) until at least January 26. The decision came after a Czech firm reported about 470,000 carbon permits, worth 6 million euros ($9.2 million), were stolen in a hacking attack. The cyber attack followed several other incidents in which carbon allowances were stolen from accounts in Austria, Poland, Estonia, and Greece. The European ETS is the biggest carbon trading system in the world. It was established in 2005 in an effort to curb excessive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which scientists say contribute to climate change. “Following a first such security breach in early 2010 the Commission has worked closely with national authorities responsible for registries to ensure that adequate security measures are put in place in all registries. The incidents over the last weeks have underlined the urgent need for all registries to ensure that these measures are speedily implemented,” according to the Commission’s statement.

For additional information see: Business Week , Business Green , Announcement

UK Think Tank Introduces Fuel Rationing Concept to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions

On January 18, the Lean Economy Connection, a London-based think tank, published a report commissioned by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Peak Oil, a multi-party panel of lawmakers, suggesting that fuel rationing might be necessary by 2020 to meet the United Kingdom’s (UK) carbon emissions target and to prepare for fossil fuel scarcity. The report calls for an electronic carbon trading system, which would distribute free Tradeable Energy Quotas (TEQs) to all adult citizens, who would then buy and use electricity and fuel, paying for it as usual, but also giving up a certain number of TEQs depending on the carbon content of the fuel they buy. The scheme could involve two credit card numbers, said John Hemming, chair of the panel, with one linked to the customer’s bank account and another linked to their TEQs account. Once their TEQ supply has been depleted, customers could buy surplus TEQs from others who have some left over. Shaun Chamberlin, a co-author of the report, stated, “the only way of keeping energy prices as low as possible in a time of constrained supply is to reduce demand, and that’s what TEQs do.” The TEQs would provide incentives to live a low-carbon lifestyle, which would strengthen the market for green technology and renewable energy. Caroline Lucas, leader of the U.K. Green Party and vice chair of the panel, said that using TEQs is “the most equitable way and the most certain way that we have to make sure we can meet our emission reduction targets.”

For additional information see: Time , Bloomberg , Report

Report Questions Role of Shale Gas as Bridge to Low Carbon Future

On January 19, a new report from the UK-based Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research warned that without a global carbon price, the expanding shale gas industry will worsen climate change and siphon money away from renewable energy projects. The report is the first attempt to measure the global warming impacts of the shale gas boom. Shale gas is natural gas extracted from underground shale formations using a method called hydrofracturing, or fracking. The practice of fracking has come under scrutiny recently due to concerns about the use of chemicals and their impact on water resources. Researchers estimated that if the world taps less than half of the natural gas found in shale, it would release an additional 3 to 11 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, and the report acknowledges that shale gas releases fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than oil or coal. However, Kevin Anderson, lead researcher at the Tyndall Centre, said, “in the absence of any strong carbon dioxide cap at a global level, all that will happen is that shale gas will be burned in addition to coal — not as a substitute.” The Tyndall Centre has called for a moratorium on fracking until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finished its investigation on fracking’s potential health risks, and warned against labeling shale gas as a bridge to a global low-carbon future.

For additional information see: Reuters , Report

ExxonMobil Expects Carbon Emissions to Rise 25 Percent in 20 Years

On January 19, in a preview of ExxonMobil’s annual Outlook for Energy report, the company predicted that global carbon emissions will rise by almost 25 percent in the next 20 years. The report also stated that the need for energy efficiency and low-carbon technology will be at its peak after 2030. The report was previewed at the World Future Energy Conference held in Abu Dhabi, and predicted that demand for power will increase by 40 percent in the next 20 years, increasing emissions by about 9 percent each year until 2030. The report also predicted that in 2030, fossil fuels will remain the predominant energy source, and account for nearly 80 percent of demand. “Oil still leads, but natural gas moves into second place.” As for electricity, ExxonMobil scientists wrote, “nuclear and renewable fuels will see strong growth. . . By 2030, about 40 percent of the world's electricity will be generated by nuclear and renewable fuels.” The report suggests that by 2030, demand in the United States for foreign oil will have diminished considerably, with developing countries pumping carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere at the highest rate.

For additional information see: The Guardian

Monk Diaries Confirm Climate Models, Aid Understanding for Future

In a study published on January 17 in the journal Nature Geoscience, researchers at the University of Edinburgh analyzed diaries of ancient monks that contain records of weather and harvest data to gain more accurate knowledge on climate conditions in the past. Researchers found that the data recorded in the diaries generally matched that of modern computer models of climate patterns, giving confidence to climate researchers that their climate models for the past are broadly accurate. The diaries, which date back to the sixteenth century and continue into the nineteenth, provided evidence of particularly warmer or colder winters and summers. Lead researcher Gabi Hegerl said, “the climate models seem to be working quite well for the past, so we should expect that — at least when it comes to temperature — they will do well for the future.”

For additional information see: AP , UKPA

Farming Technique Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions without Reducing Agricultural Yields

On January 15, a study from the Greenley Research Center at the University of Missouri found that the farming technique known as strip tillage significantly reduced the amount of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG), emitted per bushel of corn grain produced. The researchers compared two fields of drained claypan soil, one strip tilled with fertilizer placed in a band of soil, and another that was left untilled with a surface application of nitrogen fertilizer. The strip tillage done consisted of tilling a field in foot-wide strips that are eight to nine inches deep and then planting seeds and adding fertilizer into the strips. Researchers noted that this practice allows farmers to use less energy, reduce erosion, conserve soil moisture and crop residues, and keep nitrogen in the soil, where it is less likely to escape into the atmosphere. Kelly Nelson, a research agronomist and author of this study, monitored the fields, and said that with strip tillage, “we saw grain yields increase, and this is important when it comes to nitrous oxide emissions and the amount of food produced." The findings presented another option to farmers looking to increase their agricultural yields and economic returns with minimal environmental impact, according to the research team.

For additional information see: Science Daily , University of Missouri

Shrinking Ice Cover in the Arctic Doubles Loss of Reflectivity

On January 18, research published in the journal Nature Geoscience found that the loss of solar reflectivity due to declining sea ice and snow cover is more than double what climate models previously estimated. The analysis covered a 30-year period of the Northern Hemisphere’s albedo feedback, a process by which sunlight is reflected off of light surfaces back into space, which helps to cool the Earth. The findings suggest that the cryosphere, the collective portion of the Earth’s surface where water is in solid form as sea ice, glaciers, and snow cover, is reflecting less energy back into space and exposing ground and water, both dark surfaces that absorb heat, leading to warming and thus more melting of the reflective surfaces. Lead author of the study, Mark Flanner, said, “The conclusion is that the cryosphere (areas of ice and snow) is both responding more sensitively to, and also driving, stronger climate change than thought.” This amplification of the warming has never been measured in climate models, but the study estimated that each degree Celsius rise in temperatures would translate into a decline in reflected solar energy of between 0.3 and 1.1 watts per square meter from the Northern Hemisphere’s cryosphere. Researchers noted that new climate models with a better representation of snow and ice will be released this year.

For additional information see: Science Daily , Reuters

New Measurement of Sun’s Energy Improves Accuracy of Climate Change Estimates

On January 14, a study published in Geophysical Research Letters on solar energy included a new measurement of the amount of solar radiation that hits Earth. Earth-based monitors have measured solar radiation, referred to as total solar irradiance (TSI), for the past 32 years but had different measurements which had to be calibrated off each other to determine TSI. This new value, established from instruments on a NASA spacecraft, is lower than what previous calculations estimated. Researchers were able to corroborate the new measurement at a new calibration facility. Researchers said that the new findings will aid climate science by understanding with better accuracy how much the sun contributes to the planet’s warming. "Scientists estimating Earth's climate sensitivities need accurate and stable solar irradiance records to know exactly how much warming to attribute to changes in the sun's output, versus anthropogenic or other natural forcings,” said co-author Judith Lean of the Naval Research Laboratory. Lean has now adjusted her climate model using the new TSI value and estimates that solar variability produces about 0.1 degrees Celsius global warming during the 11-year solar cycle.

For additional information see: New York Times , SiFy , Science Daily , Study

Earlier Mating of Scottish Red Deer Could Be Due to Climate Change

On January 14, results of a 38-year study published in the journal Global Change Biology in Scotland showed that wild male red deer are competing for mates up to two weeks earlier this year, in a behavior known as rutting. The scientists believe the change could be attributed to warming spring and summer temperatures due to climate change. Dr. Dan Nussey of the University of Edinburgh, a member of the research team, said that while evidence of earlier reproduction is widely known in many plants and animals, it is unusual to see it happening in larger mammals. “Much more work is needed to understand whether similar changes are taking place in deer populations elsewhere, and what the implications of such changes will be,” he said. According to researchers, the changes could also be attributed to changes in deer food supply, with warmer weather allowing grass to grow earlier in the year for a longer period of time. Professor Clutton-Buck, another researcher, stressed the importance of this type of longitudinal study, and was hesitant to point out climate change as the only cause of this behavioral change, noting, “the continuation of long-term studies like [this one] is crucial if we want to fully understand the consequences of climate warming for wild animal populations.”

For additional information see: Science Daily , The Guardian , Study

Ocean Trenches May Act as Large Carbon Sinks

On January 16, early results of a study conducted in the Marianas Trench in the Pacific Ocean revealed that deep ocean trenches may act as carbon sinks. Researchers suggest that these trenches may play a more significant role in regulating the global climate than previously thought. Technological advances made it possible to research the ocean at this depth. Measurements taken from submersibles offered “an overall picture of how efficiently the sea can capture and sequester carbon in the global carbon cycle,” said Professor Ronnie Glud, lead researcher. Glud noted, “we have carbon storage going on in these trenches that is higher than we thought before, and this really means that we have a carbon dioxide sink in the deep ocean that wasn't recognised before."

For additional information see: BBC

Mountain Ranges As Safe Havens During Climate Change

On January 19, a Swiss study in the Journal of Biogeography discovered that alpine terrain may offer “refuge habitats” for plant and animal species during changing climatic conditions. The research was carried out over two seasons in the Swiss Central Alps, to examine “if different vegetation types and plant species occur under different micro-habitat temperatures.” The study found that “slope exposure and ruggedness of terrain produce a broad spectrum of life conditions not seen over similar areas in forests or in the forelands and plains,” said Daniel Scherrer, the other author, adding that the researchers were surprised to discover the “high degree of sustained thermal contrasts among habitats.” Their results led the scientists to conclude that the broad range of micro-habitat temperatures acts as a safe haven for small plants and animals that prefer cooler conditions. The researchers also found that as warm habitats become more frequent as the planet warms, new habitats will be established, so biodiversity will increase. Because flat terrain offers no escape from the changing temperatures, co-author Christian Körner concluded, “mountains are therefore particularly important areas for the conservation of biodiversity in a given region under climatic change and thus deserve particular protection.”

For additional information see: Science Daily

Flawed Climate Change Study Erroneously Published on Science News Site

On January 18, the non-profit science news service EurekAlert! published a news release for a study by an Argentina-based organization called the Universal Ecological Fund, that claimed the planet would warm 2.4 degrees Celsius by 2020, but later pulled the study off its site after it was discovered that the study’s findings were false. EurekAlert!, which is run by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), issued a press release shortly after the discovery, saying it deeply regretted the accidental posting and explained that it relied on submitting organizations to ensure “the veracity of the scientific content of the news release.” AAAS had contacted a climate change expert shortly after The Guardian, a UK-based newspaper, called attention to the error, and contacted the submitting organization. The study, entitled The Food Gap: The Impacts of Climate Change on Food Production: A 2020 Perspective, claimed that the faster rate of warming would have dire consequences for the world’s food supply and was picked up by several news organizations shortly after being posted to EurekAlert!. In an email to The Guardian, NASA climatologist Gavin Schmidt said, "2.4 C by 2020 (which is 1.4C in the next 10 years – something like six to seven times the projected rate of warming) has no basis in fact." According to the newspaper, climate scientists said it appeared that the author of the study “overlooked the influence exerted by the oceans, which absorb heat, thus delaying the effects of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.”

For additional information see: The Guardian , CTV News , Report

January 25: City-University Partnerships for Urban Sustainability: European Success Stories

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, and the Virginia Tech Energy Efficiency Partnership invite you to a briefing with officials from the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland to discuss city/university partnerships on projects such as high-performance buildings, advanced transportation systems, and smart grid development that are helping cities reduce energy use and improve livability. Speakers will discuss novel technologies, strategies and policies that are taking hold across Europe by saving money for consumers and businesses, improving services and quality of life, creating jobs and addressing local and global environmental problems. This briefing is free and open to the public. It will be held at 2168 Rayburn House Office Building, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. No RSVP required. For more information, contact Ellen Vaughan at evaughan [at] eesi.org or (202) 662-1893.