Climate Change News - May 17, 2010

Senators Kerry and Lieberman Unveil Climate Bill

On May 12, Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) released their much-anticipated climate legislation, the American Power Act. The legislation seeks to reduce greenhouse (GHG) emissions 17 percent below 2005 by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. "The American Power Act will finally change our nation's energy policy from a national weakness into a national strength," Kerry said when the bill was released. "This is a bill for energy independence after a devastating oil spill, a bill to hold polluters accountable, a bill for billions of dollars to create the next generation of jobs and a bill to end America's addiction to foreign oil and protect the air our children breathe and the water they drink." The bill includes 12 titles, including a mandatory cap on GHG emissions that is phased into different sectors of the economy at different times. The bill also includes measures to encourage renewable energy, new coal technology that captures and stores carbon, nuclear power and offshore drilling. In light of the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on an offshore oil rig, states are allowed to opt out of federal drilling within 75 miles of their shore, while states that go ahead with offshore drilling would retain 37.5 percent of the federal revenue generated. The senators have not yet formally introduced the bill in Congress, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has indicated that he will make a decision soon as to whether or not he will bring the legislation to the Senate floor this year.

For additional information see: New York Times , Washington Post , Politico , Houston Chronicle , Boston Globe

EPA Issues Final 'Tailoring' Rule for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

On May 13, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final “tailoring” rule for greenhouse gases (GHGs) to be regulated under the Clean Air Act. The rule would limit the number of facilities that would be required to obtain New Source Review and Title V operating permits based on their GHG emissions. Beginning January 1, 2011, facilities that must already obtain New Source Review permits for other pollutants will be required to include GHGs in their permits if they increase their emissions of the gases by at least 75,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. On July 1, 2011, EPA will extend the requirements to new construction projects that emit at least 100,000 tons of GHGs and existing facilities that increase their emissions by at least 75,000 tons per year. The EPA said the new rules will cover nearly 70 percent of U.S. emissions from stationary sources. "It's long past time we unleashed our American ingenuity and started building the efficient prosperous clean energy economy of the future," EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said.

For additional information see: New York Times , Reuters , Bloomberg , EPA Ruling
 

Interior Secretary: Oil Spill a Call to Move on Climate Change

On May 12, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said that a massive, unprecedented oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a "clarion call" to move forward with the Obama administration's ambitious energy and climate change policy goals. However, he said the immediate focus is to control the leak off the coast. The spill "is a problem that defies what had been the national policy of the United States: the development of oil, energy and natural gas resources in the Outer Continental Shelf," Salazar said. "We are confident and resolute that we will solve this problem.”

For additional information see: Dow Jones

CBO: Climate Policies Would 'Slightly' Lower Employment

On May 5, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an analysis of climate policies, determining that they would “slightly” reduce total employment during the next few decades. According to the study, “adopting policies aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) would shift the demand for goods and services away from fossil fuels and products that require substantial amounts of those fuels to make or to use and toward alternative forms of energy and products that require lesser amounts of fossil fuels. Employment patterns would shift to mirror those changes in demand.” Predictably, various industries would be affected differently by policies to reduce GHG emissions. Coal mining would likely see the largest percentage decline in employment because it emits more GHGs than other forms of fossil fuels. CBO also said employment in oil and gas extraction and natural gas utilities are expected to decline as those fuels become more expensive and the demand for them declines. Eventually, however, most workers who lost jobs would find new ones the study concluded. The CBO did not address changes in employment that would result from the absence of policies to reduce emissions of GHGs.

For additional information see: CBO Report , Bloomberg , Sustainable Business News

Report: Climate Change Could Render Much of World Uninhabitable

On May 11, a report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concluded that climate change could make parts of Earth uninhabitable within three centuries. “It would begin to occur with global-mean warming of about 7°C (13°F), calling the habitability of some regions into question," the researchers said in a paper. "With 11-12°C warming, such regions would spread to encompass the majority of the human population as currently distributed." The study looked at climate change over a longer range, beyond 2100, which the scientists said has not been studied enough. “It needs to be looked at," said Steven Sherwood, a co-author of the study from the University of South Wales. "There's not much we can do about climate change over the next two decades but there's still a lot we can do about the longer term changes."

For additional information see: AFP , USA Today , Sydney Morning Herald

EU Climate Chief Looks into 30 Percent Carbon Cuts

On May 11, European Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said that the EU should set a stricter target for cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to help push the price of carbon permits higher, to about 30 euros ($38.20). “Around 30 euros, people would start to do things differently,” Hedegaard said, yet she continued that she is fearful that the price of carbon may stagnate though 2020 unless the EU sets a tougher target. Hedegaard plans to soon present an analysis of options for scaling up emissions reductions in the EU from a 20 percent cut by 2020 from 1990 levels to a 30 percent reduction. The economic crisis has cut the estimated cost of achieving the 20 percent goal by about a third. “Now, the cost of the 30 percent reduction would be only modestly higher than what we were prepared to pay for the 20 percent cut,” Hedegaard said.

For additional information see: Guardian , BBC , Bloomberg

India's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rose 58 Percent over 16 Years

On May 11, India’s Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh released a report showing that India’s annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions increased by 58 percent between the years 1994-2007. Total annual greenhouse gas emissions grew from 1.25 billion tons in 1994 to 1.90 billion tons in 2007, the report found. The jump is attributed to the growth of industries such as cement production, electricity and transport. India argues its per capita emissions are far lower than that of most industrialized nations. Despite the increase, "the emissions of the United States and China are almost four times that of India in 2007,” Ramesh said.

For additional information see: BBC , AFP , Guardian

Opposition to Climate Scientist's Subpoena Builds

Following a subpoena filed by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II requesting documents from climate scientist Michael Mann, academics are mounting a campaign of opposition to the demand. Cuccinelli issued a "civil investigative demand" to the university as part of a probe targeting former University of Virginia (UVa) professor Michael Mann, a climate scientist who now works at Penn State University. In the document, the attorney general's office indicates it is investigating "possible violations" of the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act by Mann in pursuing five research grants while at UVa. The demand, similar to a subpoena, seeks documents related to the grants and e-mails and other correspondence between Mann and 39 scientists and researchers dating to 1999, and between Mann and UVa research assistants, secretaries and administrative staff. Academics consider Cuccinelli's tactic an assault on academic freedom and a threat to the state's competitiveness in scientific research. The American Association of University Professors and the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia asked the university to fight Cuccinelli's demand. University officials said they will comply with his request.

For additional information see: Washington Post , The Virginian-Pilot , Roanoke Times

Academics Urge Radical New Approach to Climate Change

On May 11, a new report released from a group of academics argued that a major change of approach is needed if society is to restrain climate change. The Hartwell Paper, named after the location in England where the academics met in February, argues that the UN process to develop a global climate treaty has failed. The report advocates concentrating first on short term fixes for greenhouse gases (GHG) or other warming agents, such as black carbon - particles emitted from the incomplete burning of fossil fuels, principally in diesel engines and wood stoves. Longer term, the academics recommend implementing a carbon tax in developed economies to fund development of low-carbon energy technologies. "The raising up of human dignity is the central driver of the Hartwell Paper," said lead author Gwyn Prins, director of the Mackinder Programme for the Study of Long Wave Events at the London School of Economics and Political Science. The paper has been criticized by those who say that the UN process has in fact curbed carbon emissions.

For additional information see: BBC

Environmental Groups Challenge New Coal Plants in Georgia

On May 10, environmental groups filed court challenges to block the construction of two coal-fired power plants in Georgia. The petitions targeted the Longleaf Energy Plant, a project developed by LS Power, and Plant Washington, a medium-sized plant that would be built by an energy consortium in Sandersville. The petitions said state regulators failed to classify the Longleaf plant as a "major" source of air pollution, meaning that it would only have to meet a basic set of requirements as opposed to more stringent regulation. As for Plant Washington, the challenge said the plant would harm water resources for downstream communities along the Oconee River while emitting harmful pollutants into the air. Developers of the two projects said they are crucial to supplying power to a fast growing population and would generate long-term jobs to economically depressed regions. The coalition of environmental advocates said they filed the challenges in a bid to stop what they see as a wave of new permits for coal-fired power plants at a time when environmental regulators in other states are supporting alternative energy proposals. "Coal is a dirty, dangerous business. From the mine to the smokestack, coal-fired power is outdated, risky, and unnecessary," said Erin Glynn of the Sierra Club in Georgia. "Innovative, clean ways of producing energy are economically feasible and Georgia has energy efficiency measures to meet the economic growth that we expect."

For additional information see: AP , Dothan Eagle , Savannah Morning News

UN Hails Bolivian Climate Efforts, Results of Cochachamba Conference

On May 10, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the Bolivian effort to confront climate change through its recent climate change conference. Bolivian President Evo Morales, who had hosted the World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth in April, met with Ban and pressed for a greater role for developing nations in global climate talks as well as deep cuts in rich nations' greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Cochachamba declaration, which was the result of the April conference, calls for $300 billion a year to deal with global warming, emissions cuts of 50 percent by 2020 in developed nations and an international climate court for enforcement. Ban said he was pleased that the conclusions of the Cochabamba conference had been submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and reissued his call for international cooperation on “the defining challenge of our era.”

For additional information see: AP , UPI , UN News Centre

Bill Gates Gives Money to Group Creating ‘Artificial’ Clouds to Beat Greenhouse Gases

On May 8, it was announced that Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, has given $300,000 to fund the first trials of controversial “sunshielding” technology. Many methods of cooling the planet, collectively known as geoengineering, have been proposed to date. Silver Lining, a research body in San Francisco, received the money from Gates to develop machines to convert seawater into microscopic particles capable of being blown into the atmosphere. Scientists believe this would whiten clouds by increasing the number of nuclei and reflect more of the Sun’s rays away from Earth. Armand Neukermanns, who is leading the research, said that whitening clouds was “the most benign form of engineering” because, while it might alter rainfall, the effects would cease soon after the machines were switched off.

For additional information see: Times Online

Greenland Glacier Slide Speeds 220 Percent in Summer

A new study published in the May 9 issue of Nature Geoscience concluded that the variability of glacier movement in Greenland is much greater than previously thought. The researchers, led by Ian Bartholomew of Edinburgh University in Scotland, found that glaciers in Greenland slide up to 220 percent faster toward the sea in summer than in winter. The study did not speculate if the change in speed between summer and winter was part of natural shifts or was influenced by a changing climate. They did note, however, that "in a warming climate, with longer and more intense summer melt seasons, we would expect that water will reach the bed farther inland and a larger portion of the ice sheet will experience summer velocity changes." The ice sheet in Greenland is the second largest in the world, behind Antarctica, and has enough ice to raise world sea levels by about 23 feet if it melted entirely.

For additional information see: Study Abstract , Reuters

May 20: Nuclear Power: Economic and Proliferation Challenges

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing to examine what the economic and proliferation risks of new nuclear reactors mean for nuclear power’s role in addressing climate change. This briefing will look at what ramping up nuclear power production to address climate change would mean for U.S. taxpayers and national security. The briefing will take place on Thursday, May 20, from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. in 385 Russell Senate Office Building. This briefing is free and open to the public. No RSVP required. For more information, contact EESI at eesi [at] eesi.org or (202) 662-1892.

May 21: Contaminants in Sources of Drinking Water from Public Wells

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), Water Environment Federation (WEF), and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) invite you to a briefing on the quality of water from public supply wells in the United States. At this briefing, the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program will release new information on the prevalence of naturally-occurring and man-made contaminants in public wells around the country. This briefing will take place on Friday, May 21, from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. in HVC 215 Capitol Visitors Center. This briefing is free and open to the public. No RSVP required for Congressional Staff. Non-Congressional Staff should RSVP to EESI at (202) 662-1884 or communications [at] eesi.org.

May 27: 13th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum

Please join the Sustainable Energy Coalition -- in cooperation with Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucuses -— for the 13th annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum on Thursday, May 27, from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in Cannon Caucus Room. This year’s EXPO will bring together over 50 businesses, sustainable energy industry trade associations, government agencies, and energy policy research organizations to showcase the status and near-term potential of the cross-section of renewable energy (biofuels/biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) and energy efficiency technologies. An 11:00 a.m. news conference will feature Members of the U.S. Congress while panels of speakers (in 340 Cannon House Office Building) will discuss the role sustainable energy technologies can play in meeting America’s energy needs from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. The EXPO is free, open to the public, and no RSVPs are required. For more information, please contact Ken Bossong at the Sustainable Energy Coalition by phone at 301-270-6477 ext. 11 or email at kbossong614@yahoo.com.