Climate Change News - April 8, 2013

Climate Scientist James Hansen Retires from NASA

On April 3, leading NASA climate scientist James Hansen retired from the Goddard Institute for Space Studies in Manhattan. After nearly half a century at NASA, Dr. Hansen is going on to devote more of his time to climate change activism. Through his publications and scientific research, the 72-year old has become known for proffering some of the clearest evidence for anthropogenic climate change. He noted that he feels a moral obligation to continue explaining the importance of climate change, stating, “If we burn even a substantial fraction of the fossil fuels, we guarantee there’s going to be unstoppable changes. [. . .] We’re going to leave a situation for young people and future generations that they may have no way to deal with.” Hansen hopes to file lawsuits against federal and state governments for failing to limit greenhouse gas emissions. He said, “As a government employee, you can’t testify against the government.” On April 4, Hansen penned an opinion piece against the Keystone XL Pipeline in the Los Angeles Times.

For additional information see: New York Times , Washington Post , Los Angeles Times Op-ed

EPA Proposes Changes to GHG Reporting Rule

On April 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that, if adopted, will change how companies report their annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The proposed rule would modify how the warming potency of methane and other GHGs is calculated for accounting purposes, as compared to carbon dioxide (CO2). One ton of methane would become equal to 25 tons of CO2 over a 100-year time period, up from 21 tons of CO2. The warming potency, or global warming potential (GWP), of nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, and other GHGs would be revised down. The proposed rule would also add 26 additional GHGs to EPA’s reporting rule. The proposed additions are all fluorinated GHGs, but do not include chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, halons, or other ozone-depleting GHGs regulated by either the Montreal Protocol or the Clean Air Act. The changes would align EPA’s reporting rule with international reporting standards. EPA has already finalized plans to make these same changes to its Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, starting in 2015. The proposed rule is open for public comment until May 17.

For additional information see: Bloomberg BNA , Proposed Rule

Northeast Greenhouse Gas Emissions Have Fallen 12 Percent Since 2000

On April 4. Environment Northeast (ENE) released ClimateVision 2020, which concludes that greenhouse gas emissions have fallen 12 percent since 2000 in eight Northeast states. The report finds that the reductions were driven by state policies encouraging energy efficiency and reduced reliance on carbon-intensive energy sources. Other factors, including the recession, population growth, and temperature fluctuations, have had only minor impacts. ENE recommends focusing on energy efficiency and switching to cleaner fuels to reduce emissions going forward. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) praised the report, stating, “The comprehensive ClimateVision 2020 study is a welcome addition and important step in the effort to quantify the progress that has been made in reducing carbon emissions. As Governor of Maine, I joined with leaders throughout New England to find innovative and economically feasible ways to reduce emissions. This report will greatly aid policy makers as we face region-wide challenges, from spikes in electricity prices this winter, to introducing more renewable energy on our grid.”

For additional information see: Report

President Obama Attends Fundraiser at Home of Climate Activist Billionaire Tom Steyer

On April 3, President Obama spoke at the California home of Thomas Steyer, a hedge-fund billionaire and vocal critic of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Steyer hopes to make climate change so pervasive an issue that elected officials will be held responsible for taking action. “Really, what we’re trying to do is to make a point that people who make good decisions on this should be rewarded, and people should be aware that if they do the wrong thing, the American voters are watching and they will be punished,” said Steyer. At the fundraiser, President Obama attempted to explain the difficultly of political action on climate change. “You may be concerned about the temperature of the planet, but it’s probably not rising to your No. 1 concern. And if people think, well, that’s shortsighted, that’s what happens when you’re struggling to get by,” he said. The president reassured the crowd, adding, “Despite a very aggressive agenda on the other side to block action, we’ve been able to double fuel-efficiency standards on cars. We’ve been able to take mercury out of our air. We have been able to reduce carbon emissions in this country and have made not only this a healthier place to live, but have also begun to address in a serious way one of the biggest challenges of our time, and that is the challenge of climate change.”

For additional information see: New York Times , The Hill

Least Developed Nations Willing to Accept Binding GHG Emissions Cut

The Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) – comprised of 49 countries and 12 percent of the world’s population – announced that they would agree to binding cuts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and urged all nations to do the same. Quamrul Chowdury, lead climate negotiator of the LDC Group, said, “Prakash Mathema, the current Chair of the LDCs in the climate negotiations, has a new mantra: ‘Follow us.’ That means the 49 LDCs under his leadership are set to act in the process as a very pro-active group. They will lead by example – by doing. [. . .] They are even ready to go first in helping to cut back global greenhouse gas emissions, though they are the ones least responsible for increasing those emissions.” In the past, some industrialized nations, including the United States and Australia, have resisted binding GHG cuts because LDCs refused to agree to participate.

For additional information see: Guardian , Business Green

The World Bank and IMF both Focusing Efforts against Climate Change

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim has promised to expand the lender’s role in mitigating shocks from climate change as part of a plan to eradicate poverty by 2030. In his speech at Georgetown University on April 2, Kim criticized the lack of action against climate change, noting that it poses a global economic risk, stating, “Climate change is not just an environmental challenge. It is a fundamental threat to economic development and the fight against poverty.” In his speech, Kim also outlined numerous solutions the World Bank Group is exploring to help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and global warming impacts. “We are exploring a number of bold ideas,” he said, “including new mechanisms to support and connect carbon markets; politically feasible plans to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies; increased investments in climate-smart agriculture; and innovative partnerships to build clean cities.”

For additional information see: Washington Post , Bloomberg , Agence France-Presse

European Greenhouse Gas Emissions Fell 1.4 Percent in 2012

Data released April 2 show that greenhouse gas emissions reported under the European Union’s Emissions Trading System fell 1.4 percent in 2012, including a 0.4 percent fall in emissions from the power sector and a 3.9 percent fall in the cement, glass and steel industries. The European Commission, which releases its preliminary data each April, is expected to issue a final report May 15.

For additional information see: Reuters

Shipping GHG Emissions to Be Reduced 20 Percent by 2020

The shipping industry is facing a wave of new environmental regulations put in place by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Under the new regulations brought into force this year, ships have to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 20 percent by 2020 and 50 percent by 2050. Ships are currently responsible for 2.7 percent of global manmade GHG emissions. The IMO is reportedly also considering implementing a market-based carbon trading scheme.

For additional information see: The Economist

Alberta Proposes Strategy to Reduce GHG Emissions from Tar Sands

On April 3, Alberta Environment Minister Diana McQueen proposed a significant increase in the province’s carbon fee. The proposal comes a week before Alberta Premier Alison Redford will meet with the Obama administration to lobby for the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. Since 2007, the oil industry has been required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 12 percent or pay 15 Canadian dollars ($15) per tonne of carbon dioxide emissions, if the goal is not met. The current proposal would mandate a 40 percent reduction in emissions, and raise the price per tonne of emissions over the limit to CA$40. Alberta’s cabinet has yet to approve Minster McQueen’s proposal.

For additional information see: Globe and Mail , Reuters

House Natural Resources Committee Releases Extreme Weather and Energy Visualization App

The House Natural Resources Committee released “eVIZ,” a new app for the iPad. The eVIZ, or Energy Visualizer, uses information from the Energy Information Administration’s State Energy Data System to provide users with information about the U.S. energy market. The free app has three subsections: U.S. energy production and consumption, the costs of extreme weather events, and savings at the gas pump from increased fuel economy. Ranking Member Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) noted that, “As more consumers harness the power of apps and tablet devices, Congress has the opportunity and responsibility to present government data and information in a creative way.”

For additional information see: Press Release

Majority of Republicans Say Climate Change Is Occurring

According to a new survey released April 2 by George Mason and Yale Universities, a majority of Republicans (62 percent) say the United States should take steps to address climate change. The poll, which surveyed 726 self-identified Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents in January 2013, found that 52 percent of respondents say climate change is happening. Additionally, 77 percent of those surveyed want America to switch to renewable energy sources, with the majority saying this should happen immediately. By a two-to-one margin, those polled think the nation should reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Only one-third of respondents agree with the Republican Party’s position on climate change. EESI held a briefing about public opinion on climate change on March 28, at which Dr. Jon Krosnick, senior fellow at Stanford University’s Woods Institute, noted that the majority of Americans believe in climate change, and that this holds true for Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, as well as in each individual state (briefing video and related fact sheet available here).

For additional information see: New York Times , E&E Publishing , George Mason & Yale Study , Washington Post , Pew Study

Climate Predictions Have Been Accurate during Last Decade

A paper published March 26 in the journal Nature Geoscience concludes that climate forecasts over the past 15 years have been remarkably accurate. The report compares a climactic forecast published in 1999 by Myles Allen, professor of geosystem science at Oxford University, to actual global temperature rise. The forecast predicted that the decade ending December 2012 would be a quarter degree warmer than the decade ending in August 1996. This calculation was accurate to within a few hundredths of a degree Celsius. Lead author Myles Allen said, “I think it's interesting because so many people think that recent years have been unexpectedly cool. In fact, what we found was that a few years around the turn of the millennium were slightly warmer than forecast, and that temperatures have now reverted to what we were predicting back in the 1990s.”

For additional information see: Guardian , Study

Deep Ocean a Key Sink to Atmospheric Warming

While researchers have long known that 90 percent of anthropogenic warming has gone directly into the oceans, in the past several years, upper-ocean and atmospheric warming has not continued at expected levels. According to an article published March 21 in Geophysical Research Letters, the reason is in part because 30 percent of ocean warming since 1998 has occurred at 700 meters or below. The researchers used data from 1958 to 2009 to reconstruct ocean conditions, and found that the deep-ocean temperature has been steadily increasing, with short punctuations of cooling during volcanic eruptions and El Niño events. The researchers suggest that the lack of surface warming has been caused by variations in atmospheric winds that circulate heat deeper than what has been seen in the past.

For additional information see: Ars Technica , Live Science , Study

Climate Change: Greening Arctic, Growing Antarctic Ice Sheet

A study published in Nature Geoscience March 31 offers some explanation of why Antarctica’s winter ice has been expanding. The study suggests the expansion of winter ice may be due to melting Antarctic ice shelves in the summer. As the ice caps melt, fresh water forms a buoyant layer on top of salty seawater. The fresh water retains a higher freezing point than the salt water underneath, and refreezes on the edges of the ice sheet. Lead author Richard Bintanja, a researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, said, "Sea ice around Antarctica is increasing despite the warming global climate. [. . .] This is caused by melting of the ice sheets from below.”

For additional information see: Sydney Morning Herald , Smithsonian , Antarctic Study , Arctic Study