Climate Change News - April 29, 2013

EPA Finds State Dept. Keystone XL Pipeline Review “Insufficient”

On April 22, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an assessment of the State Department’s Keystone XL oil pipeline review, stating the review underestimated the environmental impact of the $7 billion project. The draft environmental impact statement (EIS) issued by the State Department last month concludes that the pipeline would have negligible climate impacts given that Canada would develop and export heavy crude oil regardless of whether the pipeline went ahead. The EPA states there was “insufficient information” to reach these conclusions, urging that additional studies and further assessment of the pipeline’s climate impacts and alternative routes needed to be conducted. Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance at the EPA, noted that the assessment did not sufficiently address the impact an oil leak would have on groundwater. Additionally, Giles found that the greenhouse gases emissions from the project could be higher than the report had estimated. The EPA’s comments are among more than a million public comments received on the State Department draft EIS during the public review period.

For additional information see: Los Angeles Times , Washington Post , New York Times , EPA Comments

Finance Committee Energy Tax Reform Paper Includes Consideration of Carbon Tax

A white paper released by the Senate Finance Committee on April 25 as part of potential tax reform discussions includes consideration of a carbon tax. At this point, the white paper is for discussion purposes only and includes the caveat that the policies reflected in the report did not necessarily have the endorsement of Committee Chair Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) or Ranking Member Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). The carbon tax is included as a possible tax reform provision once all existing energy tax expenditures are removed. The paper cites the Climate Protection Act of 2013 (S.332), co-sponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), (see February 18 issue) and several other pieces of legislation as possible models.

For additional information see: The Hill , White Paper

Members of Congress Take to the Floor to Discuss Climate Change on Earth Day

On April 22, Earth Day, Senators took to the floor to discuss climate change. Speaking about the complexities facing his home state of Delaware due to sea level rise, Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) stated, “Changes in the world’s climate are at this point inevitable. It’s already happening and affecting our communities, and we can expect these impacts to intensify and accelerate as climate continues to change. In my view, we need to accept these facts and modify our behavior to prevent these effects from becoming cumulatively catastrophic. We can make better choices now to prevent a disaster later.” Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) also took to the floor to voice the imperative of climate action. Franken said, “In a time when Americans are dealing with record droughts and devastating hurricanes the Senate cannot afford to simply ignore climate change. We need to talk about it just as ultimately we have to come together to start addressing climate change before its damage and cost to society get out of control.” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) followed his colleague saying, “The Senator and I serve together on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. This will be priority business for us, and his thoughtful remarks today are yet another effort in terms of trying to bring people together. The focus of the Senator's remarks has been not to say it is this person's fault or another person's fault, it is about how Democrats and Republicans need to come together.”

For additional information see: Sen. Coons Speech , Sen. Franken Speech , Sen. Wyden Speech , Rep. Moran Speech

House Science Committee Holds Climate Change Hearing

On April 25, the Subcommittee on Environment of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology held a hearing about “Policy Relevant Climate Issues in Context.” The witnesses were Dr. Judith Curry, professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Earth and Atmospheric Science; Dr. William Chameides, dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University; and Dr. Bjorn Lomborg, president of the Copenhagen Consensus Center. Many Republicans expressed their doubt of human-caused climate change. In his opening statement, Subcommittee Chair Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) said, “The number and complexity of factors influencing climate – from land and oceans to the sun and clouds – make precise long-term temperature predictions an extremely difficult challenge.” Ranking Member Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) stated, “Because a preponderance of scientific evidence shows that human activity is leading to changes in the global climate, I submit that all climate issues have become ‘policy-relevant.’”

For additional information see: Salt Lake Tribune , Hearing Recording

China and Montreal Protocol Partner to Eliminate the Equivalent of 8 Billion Tonnes of CO2

The Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol will provide China $385 million over the next 17 years to completely eliminate its industrial production of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) by 2030. HCFCs are industrial gases used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and insulating foams that are very potent greenhouse gases and destroy the Earth’s protective ozone layer. Under the deal, the funding mechanism of the Montreal Protocol, the Multilateral Fund, is required to pay the “incremental costs” for developing countries making the transition from harmful HCFCs to more environmentally friendly substitutes. China is the leading producer of HCFCs, with more than 90 percent of the capacity in the developing world. The deal will eliminate the equivalent of 8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2). “The Montreal Protocol once again demonstrated how important it is for climate protection by striking a deal with China this week to cut the equivalent of eight billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions – for the bargain basement price of less than five cents a tonne,” said Durwood Zaelke, president of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development. “China’s willingness to accelerate its phase out of HCFCs is a positive sign we hope will be matched by its willingness to avoid moving into the super greenhouse gas HFCs as replacements.”

For additional information see: Nature , UN News Center , IGSD Press Release

UN to Issue Guidance on Black Carbon Emissions Reporting for Global Inventory

A work group under the United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) is set to issue the first standard guidelines for estimating and reporting black carbon emissions – now considered to be the second greatest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide (see January 21 issue) – a step toward creating an international inventory for this climate pollutant. The inventory will be created under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution’s Gothenburg Protocol. Parties to the protocol, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union, will be required to report their black carbon emissions starting in 2015, although some are expected to start in 2014. Eastern European and Central Asian countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, are also expected to sign on to the protocol and undertake the reporting requirements. “The ECE’s inventory is a critical step towards more effective controls of black carbon,” said Durwood Zaelke, president of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, “as we know that what gets measured gets managed.” The inventory will help form policies to reduce levels of a pollutant that not only influences climate change but also contributes to an estimated six million deaths every year (see March 11 issue). The Arctic Council also is considering a new legal instrument or arrangement to enhance efforts to reduce black carbon (see February 11 issue).

For additional information see: Bloomberg BNA , Draft Guidelines

San Francisco, Seattle and Eight Other Cities Join the Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign

On April 23, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to divest its entire fossil fuel holdings, amounting to $583 million of its $16 billion pension fund. Nine other cities, including Seattle, Madison, Boulder, and Ithaca, announced that they will sell their fossil fuel pension fund investments as well. In addition, several universities have already proceeded to or announced plans to divest (see December 10 issue). The divestment movement was started by writer and environmental advocate Bill McKibben and his nationwide 350.org campaign.

For additional information see: Bloomberg Businessweek , Guardian

Carbon Bubble Causing Overvaluation of Fossil Fuel Stocks

Overvaluation of fossil fuels has likely caused a large economic bubble, according to a report published April 19 by Lord Nicholas Stern from the London School of Economics and the non-profit organization Carbon Tracker. The report estimates that markets are currently invested in developing fossil fuel sources capable of producing 762 billion tonnes of carbon (CO2) emissions. However, to keep global temperature increases below two degrees Celsius, no more than 125-275 billion tonnes of CO2 can be released. Even if those limits are surpassed, the report argues that it is unlikely that current and future restrictions will allow all fossil fuel sources to be developed, leaving significant fossil fuel assets stranded. The report notes in 2012, the top 200 firms invested $674 billion, one percent of the world’s economy, in developing fossil fuel sources. Similar concerns have been expressed by a number of organizations, including Citi bank, the International Energy Agency, and the ratings agency Standard and Poor’s. Paul Spedding, an oil and gas analyst at HSBC, said, "The scale of 'listed' unburnable carbon revealed in this report is astonishing. This report makes it clear that 'business as usual' is not a viable option for the fossil fuel industry in the long term. [The market] is assuming it will get early warning, but my worry is that things often happen suddenly in the oil and gas sector."

For additional information see: BBC , Guardian , Bloomberg , Report

Study: Warming Trend Started in the Late 19th Century

A study published April 21 in the journal Nature Geoscience by the Past Global Changes (PAGES) 2K consortium of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program – which includes more than 70 researchers – concludes that a long-term global cooling trend ended in the late 19th century and was followed by the warmest temperatures in 1,400 years. The study temperature data was derived from sources such as tree rings, glacier ice, pollen, and corals. Excluding Antarctica, the data showed a pattern of cooling temperatures until a sudden upswing began in the 20th century. "The 18th and 19th centuries would probably have been colder than the 20th century no matter what, just because there has been a bit less volcanism in this century, but the amount of warming we've seen is extremely unlikely to have happened solely due to natural processes," said co-author Nicholas McKay, climate scientist at Northern Arizona State University.

For additional information see: Reuters , NBC , Study

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels Nearing 400 ppm

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations could reach 400 parts per million (ppm) either this spring or in 2014, according to estimates from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at Mauna Loa. Dr. Tim Lueker, oceanographer and carbon cycle researcher at Scripps, stated, “The 400 ppm threshold is a sobering milestone, and should serve as a wake-up call for all of us to support clean energy technology and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, before it’s too late for our children and grandchildren.”

For additional information see: Responding to Climate Change , NOAA

New Report Released about Climate Adaptation for Agriculture and Forestry

A recent report produced by the 25x’25 Alliance’s Adaptation Work Group offers various pathways in the areas of research, production systems, risk management, decision tools, and outreach for building a more resilient agriculture and forestry system. The recommendations of the Adaptation Work Group, which is a collaboration of leaders from the agriculture, forestry, business, academic, conservation, and government sectors, were shaped by the four overlapping goals of profitability, productivity, stewardship, and self-determination. The report is not intended to serve as a definitive set of adaptation recommendations, but is offered as the beginning of a national dialogue on the steps needed to prepare agriculture and forestry for the road ahead.

For additional information see: Report

Organizing for Action Starts Grassroots Campaign on Climate Change

Organizing for Action (OFA) – an advocacy group created after President Obama’s reelection to help support his policies at the grassroots level – released a video calling out Members of Congress who have publicly denied climate science. "We're never going to make real progress on this issue unless members of Congress get serious. Instead, some of them have made a habit of publicly mocking it. We thought it was time to call them out for denying what's basic science," said Jon Carson, executive director of OFA, in an email to supporters. Carson also stated, “If we ever want to see real progress on climate change, we need to change the conversation in Washington – right now. We need every member of Congress to be part of the solution. OFA is going to hold these climate deniers accountable – even if we have to go one by one.”

For additional information see: Politico , The Hill