Climate Change News – February 2, 2007
Brought to you by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute Carol Werner, Executive Director
U.N. Climate Panel Says Warming Is Man-Made
On February 2, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued the first results from its Fourth Assessment on Climate Change. The report states, "Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic [human caused] greenhouse gas concentrations." Here the term "very likely" denotes a 90 percent confidence in the result.
The report projects that globally averaged temperatures would probably rise by between 1.8°C and 4°C (3.2-7.2°F) by 2100, though increases as small as 1.1°C (2°F) or as large as 6.4°C (11.5°F) were possible. It also projected that sea levels were most likely to rise by 28-43 centimeters and that global warming was likely to influence the intensity of tropical storms.
Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) said, “This report is further proof that global warming is real and that our planet is already feeling its effects. We have ignored this problem for far too long and we must begin to take steps to curb the activities that cause global warming. We have passed the tipping point in terms of the environmental debate and we must work together to solve this problem. There is growing support in the Senate for taking steps to reduce the types of activities that contribute to global warming and I am committed to working with my colleagues – both Democrat and Republican – to forge common sense legislation that will help ensure that our children and grandchildren inherit a planet that is both healthy and sustainable.”
John P. Holdren, an energy and climate expert at Harvard University, said that the “report powerfully underscores the need for a massive effort to slow the pace of global climatic disruption before intolerable consequences become inevitable.” "Every government in the world signed off on this document, including the U.S.," said the World Bank's chief scientist Robert Watson, who chaired the IPCC's last round of deliberations. Hundreds of scientists from 113 countries prepared the report, which represents the most comprehensive overview of scientific climate research since 2001.
Click on the following links for the full news stories: BBC, New York Times and Washington Post
Snowe, Kerry Climate Bill Would Reduce Emissions 65 percent by 2050
On February 2, Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and John Kerry (D-MA) reintroduced their bipartisan legislation to reduce the emissions of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. “The issue of global warming is no longer a question of science - it is now a question of political will,” Snowe said. “Global warming is a comprehensive problem that demands a comprehensive solution. The Global Warming Reduction Act is that solution. It is realistic, aggressive, science based approach to tackling this issue without putting a stranglehold on our economy. This legislation is the right course at the right cost, and we can no longer afford the price of inaction.”
The bill requires that the U.S. freeze emissions in 2010 and then calls for a gradual reduction each year to 65 percent below 2000 emissions levels by 2050. The bill achieves these targets through a flexible, economy-wide cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions. The bill Includes measures to advance technology and reduce emissions through clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency in the transportation, industrial and residential sectors and requires the United States to derive 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
Click on the following link for the full news story: Senator Snowe
World's Mountain Glaciers Thinning with Global Warming
Mountain glaciers around the world melted from 2000 to 2005 at 1.6 times the average loss rate of the 1990s and three times that of the 1980s, with much of the accelerated change attributable to human-induced climate change, according to preliminary figures in a new United Nations-backed report released January 29. “This is the most authoritative, comprehensive and up-to-date information on glaciers world-wide and as such underlines the rapid changes occurring on the planet as a result of climate change,” UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner said.
The results come from glacier mass balance measurements collected by scientists all over the world and published by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) in Zurich, Switzerland. The WGMS collects standardized glacier data which are considered to be among the best natural indicators of climate change. “Today, the glacier surface is much smaller than in the 1980s, this means that the climatic forcing has continued since then,” said Michael Zemp, a glaciologist and research associate at the WGMS. “The recent increase in rates of ice loss over reducing glacier surface areas leaves no doubt about the accelerated change in climatic conditions.”
The preliminary data on glacier change for the year 2005 from 80 glaciers was reported to the WGMS from the majority of the glaciated mountain ranges of the world.
Click on the following links for the full news stories: Pakistan Times, BBC, UN and UNEP
Canadians Say Environment "Most Critical Issue"
According to a Globe and Mail/CTV News poll, 26 percent of Canadians say the environment is the most critical issue facing the country, up from 12 percent in July, and up from 4 percent one year ago. On the Kyoto Protocol, 63 percent of respondents say the country should continue to try to achieve targets under the accord, to which Canada is a signatory. Another 30 percent say the government should stick with the Tory promise to pursue a “made-in-Canada” plan that the Tories promoted in last year's election. The poll found that 44 percent believe the country could play a significant role toward reducing global warming. The poll surveyed the opinions of 1,000 Canadians between Jan. 11-14 and is accurate to within 3.1 percentage points.
Click on the following link for the full news story: Globe and Mail
Climate Risk Disclosure by the S&P 500 Found Lacking
Despite growing financial losses in various business sectors from climate change, over half of the nation’s 500 largest publicly-traded companies are doing a poor job of disclosing climate change risks to their investors, according to a first-ever report analyzing climate disclosure practices among S&P 500 companies last year.
“Many US companies are still downplaying climate change and its far-reaching business impacts,” said Mindy S. Lubber, president of Ceres, a leading coalition of investors, environmental groups and other public interest organizations. “More-extreme weather events, regulatory changes and growing global demand for climate-friendly technologies are just a few of the ways that climate change will ripple across all sectors of the economy. Yet, many US companies are not addressing these trends and are leaving investors in the dark about their strategies for mitigating those risks.”
“All companies have a duty to provide shareholders with more analysis and disclosure on climate risks and their strategies for managing or mitigating those risks,” said Dr. Julie Fox Gorte, vice president and chief social investment strategist at Calvert. “Lower CO2-emitting sectors and companies also face potential risks from new regulations, physical changes, and other climate-related impacts. Power and oil companies are improving their climate disclosure and it is now time for retailers, banks and telecommunication companies to start doing the same.”
Of 228 companies responding to the survey, only one-quarter disclosed measurable emissions reductions targets and specific time frames for reductions, and only four percent disclosed strategies for mitigating and adapting to the growing physical impacts from climate change.
Click on the following link for the full news story: Ceres
Rhode Island Joins Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Governor Donald Carcieri used part of his State of the State address to announce that Rhode Island will join a regional program to reduce global warming pollution from power plants. Carcieri said, "A number of our neighboring states have signed onto a compact designed to limit carbon dioxide emissions. As the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) moves forward among the Northeast states, Rhode Island will be joining the effort. Rhode Island can boast some of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of any state in our region. This agreement represents a commitment by neighboring states to follow our example. While I am still concerned about how this agreement will impact the cost of energy in Rhode Island, I have been assured that those costs can be offset by credits we will receive from other states."
”This is a huge victory for Rhode Island’s environment,” said Matt Auten, Advocate for Environment Rhode Island. “Gov. Carcieri’s announcement has national and international significance in the battle against global warming, but Rhode Islanders don’t need to look further than our own coastline and the waters of Narragansett Bay to understand the importance of this decision.” RGGI is designed to curb carbon dioxide emissions from power plants 10 percent by 2019. It has already been signed by governors from Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont.
Click on the following links for the full news stories: Governor Carcieri and Rhode Island Environment
Efficiency and Renewables Can Cut U.S. GHG Emissions Significantly
On January 31, the Sierra Club and the American Solar Energy Association released a 200-page report, “Tackling Climate Change in the U.S.: Potential Carbon Emissions Reductions from Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by 2030.” The result of more than a year of study, the report illustrates how energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies can provide the emissions reductions required to address global warming.
The report lays out a roadmap for reducing U.S. CO2 emissions 80 percent by 2050. The strategy focuses on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, and meeting U.S. economic needs without additional reliance on gas, nuclear, or advanced coal technologies. According to a press release, the plan would achieve the U.S. share of reductions required to stabilize atmospheric CO2 levels at 450-500 parts per million and limit additional average temperature rise to 1°C above 2000 levels.
The report illustrates how energy efficiency measures could keep U.S. carbon emissions roughly constant over the next 23 years as the economy grows, and how renewable energy technologies could make deep cuts below today’s emissions. At mid-point, in 2030, the report says that the United States can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over a billion metric tons of carbon per year. Fifty-seven percent of the reduction comes from efficiency, 15 percent from wind, and the remainder from other renewables energy resources.
Click on the following links for the full news stories: Sierra Club and American Solar Energy Association
Climate Change Tops Agenda at World Economic Forum
On January 24-28, many of the world’s political leaders and business elite converged in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, a five-day session intended to engage world leaders to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Meeting participants were broken into small groups to discuss important changes that are currently underway in business, technology, society and the global economy. As the groups deliberated, climate change topped the agenda as having the most impact in coming years, just ahead of emerging new markets.
In conjunction with recognizing climate change as a top global priority, the Forum announced the formation of a new international partnership of seven organizations to establish a framework for climate risk-related reporting by corporations. Founding members of the institutional consortium – the Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB) – include the California Climate Action Registry, Carbon Disclosure Project, Ceres, The Climate Group, International Emissions Trading Association, World Economic Forum Global Greenhouse Gas Register and World Resources Institute.
Click the following link for the full news story: World Economic Forum
US Consumers and Big Business ‘Warming Up’ to Climate Change
Across the nation, consumers and big businesses are beginning to warm up to the idea of climate change. Some experts point to price spikes in gasoline after Hurricane Katrina as a catalyst shifting consumer demand for more energy efficient products, especially vehicles. In the business realm, corporate America, which has received much of the blame for the United States’ poor record on GHG emissions, has started to take the lead on green issues, recognizing that energy efficiency can cut costs and earn big PR points. This move towards accepting climate change policies includes major companies such as DuPont, GE, Caterpillar and Wal-Mart, among others.
In addition, on February 1, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., the fourth largest securities firm in the world, released a report entitled “The Business of Climate Change,” highlighting a variety of issues businesses will have to address relating to climate change. With consumer awareness high and corporations calling for change, conditions appear to be ripe for policy change. This notion is evident on Capitol Hill given the increase of congressional hearings and introduced legislation addressing climate change.
Click the following links for the full news stories: Reuters, Bloomberg and Ceres
Al Gore Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Former Vice President Al Gore was nominated for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his wide-reaching efforts to draw the world's attention to the dangers of global warming, a Norwegian lawmaker said last Thursday (Jan. 25). This comes on the heels of Gore’s 2006 documentary “An Inconvenient Truth”, which has grossed over $20 million, earned two Academy Award nominations and been widely credited for bringing the issue of global warming into American living rooms. In addition, through the Climate Project--an initiative to spread awareness and challenge citizens and governments to take action against the effects of global warming--Gore has trained nearly 1,000 ‘foot soldiers’ to give the same presentation that he delivers in his film. Conservative Member of the Norwegian Parliament, Boerge Brende said, “Al Gore, like no other, has put climate change on the agenda.”
Click the following links for the full news stories: Associated Press and Time
British Passengers Will Face ‘Air Tax’
As of February 1, the cost of flying from UK airports increased after the UK government controversially imposed an ‘air tax’ on passenger tickets. Chancellor Gordon Brown of the UK said the extra tax was designed to combat global warming, but airlines described it as just another way of raising revenue for the Treasury. EasyJet Plc. Chief Executive Andy Harrison said, “The Chancellor has come up with a tax that will do nothing for the environment while penalizing the traveling public.” In a separate interview, Stelios Haji-Ionnou, the founder of EasyJet, suggested the aviation sector should be included in the European Union’s carbon-trading scheme to reduce greenhouse gases.
A study funded by the Economics and Social Research Council (ESRC) revealed current UK green tax plans are unlikely to curb the growth in greenhouse gas emissions from travel. Researchers from Oxford University said targeted measures, such as personal carbon credits, were more likely to influence people’s behavior. Unfortunately, the benefits of persuading householders to save energy in the campaign against climate change are being wiped out by increased air traffic. Ultimately, all parties involved agree that some sort of measures need to be taken to address the issue.
Click the following links for the full news stories: BBC, Bloomberg, Forbes and the Independent
US Mayors Seek $4 Billion Grant to Fight Global Warming
On January 25, over 260 of the nation’s mayors wrapped up the 75th Winter Meeting of the US Conference of Mayors with a call for a $4 billion Energy and Environmental Block Grant to help cities combat global warming by increasing community energy efficiencies. This action stems directly from the creation of the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in 2005, which now consists of more than 393 mayors from all 50 states including the District of Columbia. Mayors affiliated with this group have pledged to take actions to cut their emissions in line with the Kyoto Protocols.
At a recent news conference, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, one of the founders of the Climate Protection Agreement, also announced the Mayors Climate Campaign for 2007. This effort will press the 110th Congress to establish a national cap on GHG emissions and a flexible market-based system of tradable allowances as well as to pass climate-friendly energy and transportation policies.
Click the following links for the full news stories: USA Today, PR Newswire and US Conference of Mayors (pdf format)
Boxer: Act Now to Curb Warming
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who now chairs the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee, held her first hearing on January 30 addressing global warming. Boxer began the hearing by stating, “The debate over whether there is global warming, for the majority of us, is over.” Overall, nearly one-third of the Senate gave testimony. However, there was not unanimous agreement about specific strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Regardless, desire for bipartisan support of a consensus plan ruled the day, with a number of senators commending each other for their respective legislative proposals, some of which differ significantly in the type of carbon caps they employ.
Some of the more prominent advocates of global warming legislation are presidential candidates for the White House in 2008. Among those speaking at Tuesday’s hearing were Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY). The harshest critic to give testimony was Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), who said the rush to enact legislation was merely posturing for the 2008 elections. Despite the comment, Boxer and others seemed pleased with the day’s proceedings. “What’s been fascinating for me to hear is how we are all coming together here,” she said, adding that, “we are moving beyond the argument and towards solutions.”
Click the following links for the full news stories: Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle and Point Carbon
White House Climate Documents Sought
Following through on the Democratic Party's pledge to conduct aggressive oversight, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) headed toward a possible confrontation Tuesday (Jan. 30) with the White House over his demands for documents that could show whether the Bush administration interfered with the work of government climate scientists to downplay the dangers of global warming. “We know that the White House possesses documents that contain evidence of an attempt by senior administration officials to mislead the public by injecting doubt into the science of global warming and minimize the potential danger," said Waxman, who serves as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
A number of scientists and researchers have come forward with complaints that administration officials deliberately stymied their work. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Drew Shindell, a researcher from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, testified that press releases about climate change research were "delayed, altered and watered down." Rick Piltz, a former employee in the federal Climate Change Science Program office, said he resigned in 2005 after objecting to efforts by industry groups and White House officials to weaken or delete language in official reports on global warming. The Union of Concerned Scientists, an advocacy group, released a survey of 279 climate scientists in which nearly half said they'd been asked to delete references to "global warming" or "climate change" from their research. Although Rep. Waxman did not threaten to issue subpoenas, he said he would “insist on Congress’ right” to the information.
Click the following links for the full news stories: Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle
EESI Briefings
DVD’s Available: Copies of DVD's are available of EESI's recent climate briefings: "Agriculture and Climate Change: Threats and Opportunities," May 24, 2005; "What Does Climate Change Mean for the Arctic? How is Alaska Being Affected?," March 15, 2005; "Perspectives on Climate Change: Business Initiatives to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions," November 18, 2004; “State and Local Government Climate Change Efforts,” September 28, 2004; “Climate Change Post 2100,” September 21, 2004; “Abrupt Climate Change,” September 15, 2004; and “Discussing Climate Change: A Multi-faceted View of the Climate Stewardship Act,” June 3, 2004. The discs are $20 ea. (incl. shipping/handling) plus tax 5.75% (DC residents only). Click on the following link to order a DVD: EESI Climate Change DVD's
EVENTS
February 5, 2007 Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change
The DoD Under Secretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics and the Office of Force Transformation are pleased to invite you to attend a conversation about our national addiction to energy. This dialog explores the central role energy plays in achieving both national and program goals. The speaker is Justin Mundy, Senior Advisor on Climate Change to the Foreign Ministry of the UK, who will discuss the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change. The event will be held Monday, February 5 from 6:00-8:30 PM at the Doubletree Hotel, 300 Army Navy Drive, Crystal City, VA. Click the following link for more information: Energy Conversation lecture series
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