Climate Change News - January 14, 2013

2012 Warmest Year on Record in the Continental United States

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2012 was the warmest year on record for the contiguous United States. In addition, 2012 had the second most extreme weather on record, as measured by the U.S. Climate Extremes Index. According to NOAA’s report, the average temperature for 2012 was 55.3 degrees Fahrenheit. This is 3.2 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the 20th century average and an entire degree warmer than the previous record, which was set in 1998. There were more drought, wildfires, hurricanes, and storms than average in 2012, and only tornado activity was at a below average level. In addition, every state in the contiguous United States had an above average temperature for the year, and many states experienced significant heat waves over the summer. It is estimated that nearly one-third of the U.S. population experienced ten or more days when the temperature reached above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, stated on Twitter that, “There must be a strong policy and civil society response to the fact that 2012 was the hottest year on record in the [United States].” Weather records for the contiguous United States reach back to 1895. Alaska and Hawaii are normally not included in national weather reports because their records are not as extensive.

For additional information see: New York Times , Washington Post , Politico , The Hill , NOAA , Rep. Johnson’s Statement

Federal Government Releases Draft National Climate Assessment for Public Comment

On January 11, the National Climate Assessment Development Advisory Committee of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, a working group of 13 federal agencies, released the draft National Climate Assessment (NCA) for public comment. More than 240 scientists from the public and private sectors assisted with the 400 page report, which will be finalized in 2014. The report concludes, “Climate change is already affecting the American people. Certain types of weather events have become more frequent and/or intense, including heat waves, heavy downpours, and, in some regions, floods and droughts. Sea level is rising, oceans are becoming more acidic, and glaciers and arctic sea ice are melting. These changes are part of the pattern of global climate change, which is primarily driven by human activity.” The report finds that temperature increases of two to four degrees Fahrenheit are likely in most areas around the country, and if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced, the temperature increases could be as high as five to 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century. According to the report, the environmental and human health impacts of climate change are already being felt around the country, but the effects in Alaska are most pronounced. The report states, “The most dramatic evidence is in Alaska, where average temperatures have increased more than twice as fast as the rest of the country. . .Of all the climate-related changes in the US, the rapid decline of Arctic sea ice cover in the last decade may be the most striking of all.” The report was prepared in compliance with the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-606) to help the nation understand and respond to climate change. The last NCA was released in 2009.

For additional information see: Guardian , AP , The Hill , Draft Report , White House Press Release

Sen. Sanders to Introduce Climate Bill

On January 8, after the release of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report stating that 2012 was the hottest year on record in the continental United States, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced that he intends to introduce legislation to reduce carbon emissions. Sen. Sanders stated, “After the hottest year on record and extreme weather disturbances such as Hurricane Sandy, we must take strong action to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels and move toward energy efficiency and sustainable energy.” The bill would impose fees on large emitters of greenhouse gases.

For additional information see: The Hill

Sen. Boxer Hires Climate Change Lawyer for Environment and Public Works Committee

On January 10, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, announced the hire of an environmental lawyer for the role of Climate Change Counsel on the EPW committee. Joe Mendelson will join the committee from the Climate and Energy Program at the National Wildlife Federation where he served as policy director. Sen. Boxer stated, “Dangerous climate change poses an urgent threat and we have a responsibility to address that threat. I am so pleased that Joe Mendelson will be joining the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee team. We will make the most of his expertise as we craft solutions to climate change.” Sen. Boxer recently announced the creation of a “climate change clearinghouse” to coordinate on climate legislation in the 113th Congress (see January 2 issue).

For additional information see: Press Release

Green Groups Submit Letter to President Calling for Action on Climate Change

More than 70 environmental groups signed an open letter to President Obama, asking the president to be more vocal on climate issues during his second term. The groups called on the president to speak up on behalf of climate change and to clarify the connection between carbon emissions and climate change. They also requested that the president pursue new greenhouse gas limits on existing power plants and that he reject approval for the Keystone XL Pipeline project. The groups write, “We urge you to elevate climate solutions to the top tier of your domestic agenda and America’s bilateral and global diplomatic priorities.”

For additional information see: Guardian , Letter

Lisa Jackson Calls Greenhouse Gas Ruling Proudest Moment as EPA Head

In her first interview since December 27 when she announced her impending departure from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lisa Jackson spoke about her work and her legacy as head of the agency. She stated that her proudest achievement was the agency’s “endangerment finding” that greenhouse gases (GHGs) pose a threat to the public. The EPA employed these findings in enforcing the Clean Air Act, promulgating draft GHG emission standards on new power plants and reducing fuel emissions on new cars and trucks by 2025. Although this use of the Clean Air Act was challenged in courts, it was upheld as legal. “Americans are back to believing that something is happening with our climate and that mankind has a role to play in that. These are not natural phenomena,” Jackson stated. In the interview, she also highlighted the EPA’s work on environmental justice and sustainability, especially its program working with Fortune 500 companies to achieve more sustainable business practices.

For additional information see: USA Today

Climate Advocates Supportive of Nomination of Former Sen. Hagel to Secretary of Defense

President Obama’s decision to nominate former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) as the Secretary of Defense has received positive responses from some environmentalists and clean energy advocates. Sen. Hagel has a mixed past on environmental issues. In 1997 he co-sponsored the Byrd-Hagel Resolution which effectively prevented U.S. participation in the Kyoto Protocol, but he has stated that climate change is an important issue facing the nation and that his opposition to the Kyoto Protocol was because he was concerned that it could lead to job losses and other economic difficulties within Nebraska. Climate groups are optimistic because in 2005 Sen. Hagel introduced three bills related to clean-technology innovation, and in 2007 he co-sponsored legislation for a multi-agency intelligence assessment of threats on national security from climate change. Under current Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, the Department of Defense has identified the environment and energy as key issues facing the military, notably focusing on the effect of climate change on global stability and the cost of the military’s energy consumption, and has created programs to address these issues. Although environmental groups do not expect Sen. Hagel to make the environment a priority as Defense Secretary, they also do not expect him to dismantle current programs.

For additional information see: E&E Publishing , Christian Science Monitor

Governor Cuomo Presents Plan to Address Climate Mitigation and Adaptation in New York

During his January 9 State of the State Address, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo discussed his concerns about climate change in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The governor stated that, “Climate change is real. It is denial to say that each of these situations is once in a lifetime,” and suggested a number of ways in which he would respond to climate change and the possibility of future natural disasters. To protect the city from flooding, Cuomo suggested the possibility of new infrastructure, including flood blocks for subway entrances and floodgates or other barriers to protect the New York Harbor. The governor said that he intended to address the bottleneck regarding gasoline and other supplies that occurred after the storm and that he would abolish the Long Island Power Authority, which he and other officials believe was ineffective at restoring power. Cuomo also requested that the nine states that make up the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiatives (RGGI) decrease the current greenhouse gas emissions cap. In addition, the governor created a new “energy czar” position and intends to create a $1 billion “green bank” to support clean energy development.

For additional information see: E&E Publishing , Press Release , Full Plan

Australia Experiences Record Heat, Wildfires

An ongoing heat wave in Australia that began December 27, 2012 is the first time Australia has recorded seven or more consecutive days hotter than 102 degrees Fahrenheit and caused meteorologists to include a new color in temperature scales. David Jones, manager of Climate Monitoring Prediction at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, said, “From this national perspective, one might say this is the largest heat event in the country’s recorded history.” The Bureau of Meteorology declared the heat wave the worst in over 80 years, with states throughout Australia experiencing eight straight days of record-breaking heat, and with dry conditions that started 141 separate brushfires. Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard linked the events to climate change, stating, “We do know over time that as a result of climate change we are going to see more extreme weather events and conditions.”

For additional information see: New York Times , Deutsche Welle , Guardian , Australia National Meteorological Service Statement

Conservatives in UK Look to Push Clean Energy and Climate Agenda

On January 7, a group of progressive members in the British Conservative Party released 2020 Vision: An Agenda for Transformation. In the document, they call on the Conservative Party to support green policies and a green economy. They write that, “Never before has an economic re-alignment been supported by so many less than usual bedfellows. Organisations ranging from the CBI [the Confederation of British Industry] to the largest corporations such as Unilever, BAT, Siemens, Alstom and Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and church groups have all been supporting the need for very clear messages from government on decarbonisation. [. . .] greening the economy is not ‘nice to have,' but a total necessity.” These statements demonstrate a divide in the party, as “backbench” Conservatives are currently campaigning against green policies and promoting increased investment in domestic shale gas. Nonetheless, the progressive Conservatives hope that their agenda will become part of the party’s 2015 manifesto and push Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron.

For additional information see: Business Green , 2020 Vision

Climate Change Ranks Third in List of Concerns for World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum (WEF) released its annual Global Risk Report this past week, with concerns about rising greenhouse gas emissions coming in third on the list of threats most likely to emerge over the next 10 years, behind severe income disparity and the debt of national governments. According to the WEF report, the issues are likely to interact negatively, and current economic problems mean that governments are less likely to address any of the issues. The report states, “On the economic front, global resilience is being tested by bold monetary and austere fiscal policies. On the environmental front, the Earth's resilience is being tested by rising global temperatures and extreme weather events that are likely to become more frequent and severe. A sudden and massive collapse on one front is certain to doom the other's chances of developing an effective, long-term solution.” In addition, the WEF finds a risk of rogue geoengineering projects, stating, “The global climate could, in effect, be hijacked. For example, an island state threatened with rising sea levels may decide they have nothing to lose, or a well-funded individual with good intentions may take matters into their own hands.” Each year, the WEF compiles a list of 50 key risks. This year was the second year running that these three threats were voted as the most likely threats to emerge over the next 10 years.

For additional information see: Guardian – 1 , The Hill , Guardian – 2

Canadian Company Plans Pilot Project to Pull Carbon Dioxide from Air

Canadian company Carbon Engineering is beginning work on a prototype plant that will remove carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the air. The company hopes to sell the CO2 gas for industrial uses, such as for advanced oil recovery. According to Dr. Timothy A. Fox, head of energy and the environment at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in London, “The technology has moved from a position where people talked about the potential and possibilities to a point where people like [president of Carbon Engineering] David Keith are testing prototype components and producing quite detailed designs and engineering plans.” Construction of the plant should be completed by the end of 2014, and a fully running plant is intended to collect 100,000 tons of CO2 from the air each year. While the costs of removing CO2 from the air are currently uncertain, Dr. Keith believes that over time his company can push the price down close to $100 per ton.

For additional information see: New York Times

The New York Times to Close Environment Desk, But Says Climate Coverage Will Not Be Affected

The New York Times (NYT) has announced it is dismantling its environment desk and moving the environment reporters and editors into other departments. According to Dean Baquet, the paper's managing editor for news operations, the move will allow for more interdisciplinary coverage of environmental issues and will not affect the amount of environmental coverage the paper produces. Baquet explained that, “We have not lost any desire for environmental coverage. This is purely a structural matter.” Nonetheless, some climate experts have expressed concerns that this move could weaken coverage of the environment and climate change. Dan Fagin, director of the Science, Health, and Environment Reporting Program at New York University, stated that “The New York Times has too much editorial integrity to abandon its environmental coverage completely. [. . .] But if you don't have the editorial structure to support the kind of commitment needed to do both daily coverage and deeper investigative and explanatory work, it is hard to imagine that you could keep the same level of intensity." According to a report by The Daily Climate, in 2012 the NYT posted the most climate change stories and had the largest increase in climate change coverage out of the top five largest U.S. daily newspapers.

For additional information see: Guardian

Study: Cheaper to Reduce Emissions Now than to Wait until 2020

A January 2 report in Nature concludes that waiting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent average global temperature from increasing more than two degrees Celsius by 2100 will increase the cost of action. Study coauthor Dr. Keywan Riahi, of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria, explained, "It was generally known that costs increase when you delay action. It was not clear how quickly they change." The study finds that if global prices on emissions were put in place today, it would cost $20 per tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) to ensure a 60 percent chance of keeping the temperature increase below two degrees Celsius. By 2020, a price of $60 per tonne of CO2 would be required to achieve the same effect. The authors predict that by 2030, there may be no price at which it would be possible to keep the temperature from rising above the limit agreed upon at the 2009 Copenhagen climate summit.

For additional information see: Reuters , Responding to Climate Change , Study

Ice Sheet Melting Faster than Predicted

On January 6, Dr. Jonathan Bamber and Dr. Willy Aspinall of the University of Bristol published a study in Nature, suggesting that sea levels may be rising faster than scientists previously thought. Bamber and Aspinall used a method known as “structured elicitation approach” to poll leading glaciologists about the possibility of future glacial melt. Their results demonstrated that melted ice from Greenland and Antarctic glaciers could raise sea levels between one and 2.8 feet by 2100. With thermal expansion and other factors, this means that there is a five percent chance sea levels could rise more than three feet in the next 90 years. A 2007 study released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change had predicted that sea levels would only increase about 23 inches in that same time period; the discrepancy between these studies is probably caused by the fact that glacier melt appears to have accelerated in recent years. Bramber said, “The numbers we are getting out of our elicitation reflect the fact that the world leaders in this field are now cognizant of the fact that the ice sheets are quite responsive and, in particular, there is a potential for them to make a really quite dramatic contribution [to sea level rise].”

For additional information see: NBC , Study