Climate Change News - July 1, 2013 | Newsletter

President Obama Releases Climate Action Plan

At a June 25 speech at Georgetown University, President Barack Obama outlined a suite of executive actions in his Climate Action Plan to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 and prepare the nation for the impacts of climate change. Central to the plan is the Environmental Protection Agency promulgating draft carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions standards for existing power plants by 2014. In addition, the plan directs the Department of the Interior (DOI) to permit enough renewable energy projects on public lands to power six million homes, and for federally assisted housing to deploy 100 megawatts of new renewable energy, both by 2020. The plan sets a goal for 20 percent of all energy for federal buildings to be from renewable sources by 2020, and for the federal government to reduce its emissions by at least three billion tonnes cumulatively by 2030. Obama’s plan will also release $8 billion in loan guarantees for advanced fossil fuel and efficiency projects, and strengthen the Better Building Challenge to increase building efficiency 20 percent by 2020.

Along with domestic GHG reduction provisions, the plan directs federal agencies to help the nation prepare for climate-related impacts. Climate resilience measures include: support for climate-resilient infrastructure investments; the convening of a short-term climate preparedness task force composed of state, local and tribal officials; and the development of guidelines to support local communities planning for climate impacts.

At the international level, the president pledged that the United States would help negotiate an ambitious international climate agreement by the end of 2015, to take effect in 2020. Obama also vowed to continue work to reduce short-lived climate pollutants both domestically and internationally after the agreement in early June with President Xi Jinping of China to phase down hydrofluorocarbon use under the Montreal Protocol (see June 10 issue). Furthermore, the president stated that unless there is no other option to generate electricity, the United States would no longer finance new coal plants overseas that do not deploy carbon capture technology and urged other countries to do the same.

For additional information see: EESI Article, New York Times, Washington Post, Speech Transcript, Climate Action Plan, White House Fact Sheet

President Will Not Approve Keystone XL Pipeline If It Significantly Increases GHG Emissions

In his June 25 speech on climate change, President Barack Obama suggested that he would approve the Keystone XL pipeline only if it does not significantly increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The president stated, "Allowing the Keystone pipeline to be built requires a finding that doing so would be in our nation's interest. And our national interest will be served only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution. The net effects of the pipeline's impact on our climate will be absolutely critical to determining whether this project is allowed to go forward." Many environmental groups opposed to the pipeline took this as a positive sign. Damon Moglen, climate and energy program director at Friends of the Earth, explained, "As it is clear that the pipeline will increase net carbon emissions, we look forward to the president rejecting the permit.” However, the president’s position on Keystone XL remains unclear, since the State Department’s draft environmental assessment of the Keystone XL pipeline found that approving the Keystone XL pipeline would not lead to a significant increase in GHG emissions.

For additional information see: Washington Post, USA Today

Senators Introduce Legislation for Federal Land Agencies to Collaborate to Prepare for Climate Change

On June 20, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Safeguarding America’s Future and the Environment Act (SAFE Act, S. 1202) to establish a federal program to address the impacts of climate change by protecting and conserving the country’s natural resources. The bill seeks to maximize government efficiency and would require federal land agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Bureau of Land Management to cooperate on climate adaptation policy. Sen. Baucus stated, “This bill gives local communities the tools they need to protect Montana’s outdoor jobs and streamlines federal bureaucracy to make sure we have a smart, coordinated plan in place moving forward.” The bill was prompted by a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that examined how public land managers have worked towards protecting resources from increased temperatures, wildfires, loss of habitat and decreasing water supplies.

For additional information see: Missoulian, S. 1202, GAO Report

Rep. McNerney Introduces Legislation to Provide Grants for Training of Climate Mitigation Professionals

Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) has reintroduced the Grants for Renewable Energy Education for the Nation Act (GREEN Act, H.R. 2368) to train students in postsecondary and technical schools for the clean energy workforce. The bill would allocate $100 million for competitive grant funding for renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate mitigation and climate adaptation career and technical training programs in postsecondary institutions, local education agencies, technical schools and community partners. The bill would also give technical schools the opportunity to upgrade their energy systems to serve as model training facilities.

For additional information see: H.R. 2368, Press Release

EU Cap and Trade Rescue Plan Passes the Environment Committee

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee passed a modified rescue plan for the European carbon market on June 19. The new “backloading” plan involves temporarily removing 900 million permits from the carbon market and then would start returning the permits to the market one year after the allowances are set aside. In addition, the plan earmarks 600 million of the backloaded permits for a fund to develop clean technology. The full European Parliament will vote on the plan July 3. The original backloading plan was rejected by the Parliament April 16 (see April 22 issue). A record surplus of emissions permits pushed prices from 7.93 Euros to 2.46 Euros over the course of a year.

In related news, the European Parliament’s Environment Committee backed a phase down of fluorinated gases (F-gases) in refrigerators and air conditioners on June 20. Many F-gases, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are several orders of magnitude more potent greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide. The plan seeks a gradual phase out of F-gases by 2020, and would levy a charge on the use of such gases.

For additional information see: Bloomberg, Sydney Morning Herald

More Countries Support Reducing HFCs under the Montreal Protocol

Parties to the Montreal Protocol took a major step forward the week of June 24 in considering actions to reduce the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). At the mid-year working group meeting in Bangkok, the parties established a formal Discussion Group to address the management of HFCs under the Protocol. Two proposals to amend the Protocol to phase down HFCs, one by the Federated States of Micronesia, Morocco and the Maldives, and another by the United States, Canada and Mexico (see see April 22 issue), were also the subject of much discussion at the meeting. “We’ve moved from whether to reduce HFCs to how to reduce them. [. . .] This is a big step forward. Parties that in previous years objected to addressing HFCs – even to having HFCs on the agenda – are now suggesting how these super greenhouse gases can be managed under the Protocol,” said Durwood Zaelke, president of Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development. “The change in attitudes from the BRICs is especially striking,” said Micronesian Ambassador Asterio Takesy. “First, Russia announced its support last month. Then China announced its agreement with the U.S. three weeks ago. Now we see Brazil, South Africa and even India suggesting steps and criteria for possible management of HFCs by the Montreal Protocol. These developments are exciting and at last augur well for immediate action on climate change.” Zaelke cautioned, “Even with the tremendous progress of the past six months, continuing leadership by President Obama, President Xi, and other heads of state will be needed to ensure the HFC climate victory this fall under the Montreal Protocol.”

For additional information see: IGSD Press Release

Insurance Industry Concerned about Costs from Extreme Weather, Climate Change

The Geneva Association, an insurance industry think tank, released research highlighting the threat of warming oceans and climate change to the insurability of catastrophic risk in some areas. The Association also held a conference in London, focusing on how governments and the insurance industry can partner to mitigate damages from natural disasters. “Given that energy from the ocean is a key driver of extreme events, ocean warming has effectively caused a shift towards a ‘new normal’ for a number of insurance-relevant hazards,” said John Fitzpatrick, secretary general of the Geneva Association. In addition to pointing out that volatility of climate-related events makes the pricing of insurance difficult and risky for insurers, the report highlights three main areas in which the risk of ocean damage is increasing. First, continental ice melt is increasing the volume of ocean water on the planet, accelerating sea level rise and flooding. Second, as the ocean warms, precipitation levels change. Third, the effects of climate change on large-scale climate phenomena such as El Nino, the North Atlantic Oscillation or monsoon systems, is unknown. The report urges insurers to develop modernized risk estimation methods and suggests public-private partnerships as a means to strengthen community resilience and infrastructure.

For additional information see: Financial Times, Insurance Journal, Study

Sharp Reductions in HFCs Can Avoid Up to Half a Degree of Warming by 2100

A study published June 26 in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics calculates that phasing down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) can avoid up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100. “Our calculations show that controlling HFC growth can avoid a significant amount of warming in this century, at least comparable to CO2 mitigation at 2050, and almost 50 percent of CO2 mitigation by 2100,” stated lead author Yangyang Xu, climate researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. HFCs are a small contributor to warming today, but are the fastest growing greenhouse gases in many countries, including the United States, European Union, China and India. “The findings of our study provide even greater justification for phasing-down HFCs under the Montreal Protocol.” stated co-author Durwood Zaelke, president of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development. “It’s the biggest, fastest, and cheapest climate mitigation available to the world today. The prominence that the President gave HFCs in his speech and climate plan makes it clear he will be continuing his personal diplomacy to ensure a swift victory under the Montreal Protocol.”

For additional information see: Scripps Press Release, IGSD Press Release, Study

Poll Finds Strong Support for Carbon Regulations

The Georgetown Climate Center released a poll June 24 that found 87 percent of Americans support Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes 78 percent of Republicans and 94 percent of Democrats. Vicki Arroyo, executive director of the Georgetown Climate Center, stated, “Polling that we are releasing today shows that Americans want the Administration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and to take steps to protect future generations from the worst climate change impacts.”

In related news, the Small Business Majority published a poll on June 25 showing that nearly 6 in 10 small businesses believe that climate change and extreme weather events are an urgent problem that can harm the economy and small businesses in particular. The study also found that 42 percent of small businesses believe the Small Business Administration should track claims related to extreme weather events to increase government aid to small businesses. A similar poll released by the American Sustainable Business Council found that 63 percent of small businesses support carbon dioxide regulations by the EPA on existing power plants.

For additional information see: Georgetown Climate Center Poll, Small Business Majority Poll, American Sustainable Business Council Poll

Study: Government Underfunding Climate Resilience

On June 19, the Center for American Progress (CAP) published a report concluding that from 2011 to 2013 the federal government spent six times more on disaster relief than resilience efforts to protect communities. The report, titled “Pound Foolish: Federal Community-Resilience Investments Swamped by Disaster Damages,” estimates that the federal government spent about $136 billion on disaster relief compared to only $22.4 billion on resiliency programs. The report recommends assessing local preparedness needs and creating a fund to support resiliency programs that protect communities from natural disasters and extreme weather events. The report states, “Revenue that should be targeted to resilience is too often diverted to disaster recovery or falls victim to shortsighted austerity measures such as the budget sequester. The federal government could save additional lives and money by increasing assistance to communities to help them address their resilience needs.”

For additional information see: Los Angeles Times

Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Potential Released by Dept. of Interior

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released its first ever detailed assessment of America’s capacity for technically accessible geologic carbon sequestration on June 26. According to the research, the United States has the potential to store 3,000 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) in geologic basins throughout the country. The assessment examined the storage potential of 36 basins across the United States, finding that the Coastal Plains region holds about 65 percent of America’s CO2 sequestration capacity. Alaska and the Rocky Mountains were also found to have significant capacity. For reference, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that in 2011, the United States emitted 5.5 gigatonnes of energy-related CO2.

For additional information see: DOI Press Release, Study

Study Links Australia’s Hottest Summer on Record to Climate Change

A study published June 26 by researchers at the University of Melbourne examined 90 model simulations and climate observations from the past 100 summers and determined that Australia’s record-breaking heat last summer (see January 14 issue) was five-times more likely to have occurred in a world subject to increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than one without. The researchers employed nine climate models to test the likelihood of temperatures from December through February with and without GHG emissions. They determined with 90 percent confidence that GHG emission made it five times more likely for the high temperatures to occur. The study states, “These results support a clear conclusion that anthropogenic climate change had a substantial influence on the extreme summer heat over Australia and that natural climate variations alone are unlikely to explain the recent record summer temperature.” The researchers added that the frequency of extremely hot summers would increase with global warming. The study follows a government assessment linking climate change to the extreme heat of last summer (see March 11 issue).

For additional information see: Sydney Morning Herald, Report

Other Headlines

Sen. Baldwin Joins Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Pledges to “Give Wisconsin a Vote” on Climate Change
Sen. Schatz Introduces Amendment to Recognize Climate Change as Driver of Migration
Republicans Avoid Climate Science, Discuss Jobs in Reaction to the President’s Climate Action Plan
Experts Say that the President’s Climate Action Plan Could Create Jobs
Massachusetts Group Calls for a Carbon Tax
The White House Profiles Climate-Related Impacts State-by-State
Report: Climate Adaptation is a $2 Billion Global Market
Indian Monsoon Could See Increased Variability
Rep. Blumenauer Articulates Climate Change as a Moral Imperative
Mother Jones Considers the Psychology of Climate Change Denial
Climate Change Photography Exhibit at the Boston Museum of Science