Climate Change News - July 20, 2015 | Newsletter

On July 15, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its 2014 State of the Climate report, indicating that 2014 was either the hottest year on record, or tied for the hottest year on record. The report indicated that global average sea level in 2014 was also record-setting high, at 2.6 inches greater than the 1993 average. Global sea levels are rising by 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) annually. Image courtesy of climate.gov.

Climate Education Amendment Rejected by Senate

On July 15, the Senate voted 44-53 to reject Sen. Ed Markey’s (D-MA) amendment to the No Child Left Behind reform bill, which would have established a federal climate change education program. Sen. Markey argued in favor of the amendment, saying, “The children of our country deserve the best scientific education they can get on this topic.” Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), author of the education reform bill, argued against the amendment, questioning the federal government’s role in curriculum development. “Just imagine what the curriculum on climate change would be if we shifted from President Obama to President Cruz and then back to President Sanders and then to President Trump,” Sen. Alexander commented. “There would be a lot of wasted paper.”

For more information see:

The Hill

European Union Announces Changes to Emissions Trading Scheme

On July 15, the European Commission announced plans to restructure its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), the largest cap-and-trade mechanism in the world. The ETS revamp seeks to shrink the number of free emissions allowances provided to companies in an effort to drive up the price of carbon permits, which many argue has dropped too low to encourage investments in low-carbon technology. Under the new plan, only 50 economic sectors (including heavy industries such as steel and cement manufacturing) will receive free allowances, down from the current 177. The EU hopes these allowances will minimize “carbon leakage,” or the relocation of industries to countries without emissions requirements.

For more information see:

Politico, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, Release

Climate Activist Group Disrupts Heathrow Airport

Early on the morning of July 13, 13 climate activists breached a fence to lie connected on the northern runway of London’s Heathrow Airport. The demonstrators from the action group “Plane Stupid” were protesting the proposed addition of a third runway at Heathrow, which had recently been recommended by the Airports Commission. “This would massively increase carbon emissions exactly when we need to massively reduce them, that’s why we’re here,” activist Ella Gilbert said of the new runway. Heathrow said the protest had a “minimal effect” on its operations, although it was forced to cancel about 22 flights due to the action. All of the protestors were eventually arrested.

For more information see:

The Guardian, Telegraph, The Independent

UK Foreign Office Study Warns of Broad Risks from Climate Change

On July 13, the British government released a new report, “Climate Change: A Risk Assessment,” which seeks to paint a more complete picture of the threats posed by greenhouse gas emissions. The study argues that proper risk assessments must consider “worst case scenarios” for direct climate risks such as heat stress, sea level rise, crop failure and water stress. “Systemic risks,” which result from policy and market responses to disasters that amplify negative impacts, must also be considered. The work was spearheaded by Sir David King, the United Kingdom Foreign Secretary’s Special Representative for Climate Change, along with experts from China, India and the United States. The study added that while the global community has adopted a holistic approach to address issues like nuclear proliferation, it has taken too narrow an approach in evaluating climate change’s destructive capacity.

For more information see:

BBC, Centre for Science and Policy, Report

Northeast U.S. Cap and Trade Generated $1.3 Billion in Past Three Years

On July 14, economic and financial consulting firm Analysis Group published a report indicating the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a nine state carbon cap-and-trade program, generated $1.3 billion in net economic benefits (in 2015 dollars) and 14,200 job-years from 2012 to 2014. These results follow the Analysis Group’s 2011 report that showed the first three years of RGGI’s operation, from 2009 to 2011, generated $1.6 billion (in 2011 dollars) and 16,000 job-years. Delaware Governor Jack Markell (D), whose state participates in RGGI, said in a statement, “RGGI is good for consumers and the environment. It serves as an incentive for cleaner, less carbon intensive power supplies . . . [and] spurs the economy, creating capital investment and job creation.”

For more information see:

InsideClimate News, Delaware Online, Report

Global Survey Finds Americans and Europeans Less Concerned About Climate than Other Regions

According to a Pew survey released on July 14, Americans and Europeans are more concerned about ISIS and the Iranian nuclear program than they are about climate change. The poll, conducted across 40 countries from March 25 through May 27, finds both the United States and Europe lagging behind in proportion of respondents identifying as “very concerned” about climate change (42 percent compared to the global average of 46 percent). In Latin America and Africa, this figure was near 60 percent. The survey suggests climate change has more widespread concern than any other international issue, with 19 of the 40 nations surveyed calling it “their biggest worry.”

For more information see:

Huffington Post, Poll

Study: Benefits of Confronting Climate Change Outweigh Costs

On July 13, a study from the London School of Economics concluded that reducing emissions is in the best economic interest of individual countries, challenging the traditional dialogue framing climate change as a “tragedy of the commons.” The report finds that domestic actions towards de-carbonization would improve local air quality and human/ecological health, as well as foster improvements in energy efficiency, security and even affordability due to the declining costs of renewable energy technology. The report concludes that the overall national benefits of climate action outweigh the costs. Lead author Fergus Green emphasized that enacting reductions “are nationally net-beneficial to countries, even leaving aside the climate benefits.”

For more information see:

The Guardian, Study

Report: U.S. Carbon Emissions Continued to Fall During Economic Recovery

On July 14, corporate sustainability nonprofit Ceres published a report indicating that even as the United States’ economy recovered from the recession, carbon emissions from the nation’s power plants decreased a total of 12 percent from 2008-2013. Most of the emission reductions came earlier in this time period, while emissions were relatively flat in 2012-13. The report used publically reported data to compare emissions from the top 100 power producers in the United States. These results come as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing its Clean Power Plan, which requires a 30 percent decrease in power sector carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. David Hawkins, director of Climate Programs at the Natural Resources Defense Council, commented, “America’s utilities are on a path to achieve the EPA’s Clean Power Plan and its major carbon pollution reductions. We need it now to secure cleaner energy, better health and a safer future.”

For more information see:

The Hill, Report

Carbon Emissions May Cause Zinc Deficiency Pandemic

On July 15, The Lancet published a study by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Lancet Commission linking increased carbon dioxide (CO2) atmospheric concentrations with global zinc deficiencies. The researchers studied crops grown with different CO2 levels, finding that certain crops had decreased levels of zinc under high CO2 growing conditions. The study found that this could to human zinc levels below the minimum that scientists have previously found necessary for human health. The study authors say zinc deficiency, which can cause diarrhea and pneumonia, will be most prevalent in developing countries. The report suggests at least 138 million people will be at risk for zinc deficiency by 2050, with 35 percent of those in India alone.

For more information see:

The Washington Post, Study