Climate Change News - November 2, 2009

Senate Holds Hearings on Climate Bill, Markup Scheduled for This Week

On October 29, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee concluded three days of hearings held to consider The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733). Over 50 witnesses provided testimony, among them the bill's co-author Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff. The committee looked into the potential cost the legislation would impose on American households, which a recent EPA analysis has estimated would be 22 to 30 cents per day ($80 to $111 per year). At the center of the bill is a cap and trade program that would require emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to obtain permits, either through allocations or an auction, in order to limit emissions to 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. Opponents of the bill argued that high costs would cause businesses to shift overseas to countries with fewer regulations, while supporters such as Dan Reicher, director of climate change initiatives at Google, claimed it "can also provide an economic opportunity of vast proportions."

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chair of the EPW Committee, announced after the hearings that a markup of the bill is scheduled to begin November 3. Republicans on the committee have threatened to boycott the markup until they get more data on the legislation from EPA and the Congressional Budget Office. The committee cannot hold the markup unless at least two Republicans show up, and EPW Ranking Member Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) has indicated that he has full support from the panel’s minority members to boycott the session. “The fact of the matter is, the complete analysis gives you a much better idea of what kind of amendments you ought to be working on," committee member Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) said.

For additional information see: AP , Reuters , Wall Street Journal , New York Times

Sen. Boxer Releases Updated Climate Bill, EPA Analysis

On October 23, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released an updated version of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733). “We've reached another milestone as we move to a clean energy future,” said Boxer. Her new "mark" detailed how emission allowances for the bill’s cap and trade program will be allocated. Significant amounts were allocated to local electric distribution companies, natural gas distribution companies, and energy-intensive and trade-exposed industries, which was consistent with the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES, H.R. 2454), which the House passed in June. One difference is in the amount of allowances auctioned off for deficit reduction. The Senate bill would auction 10 percent of the allowances from 2012 to 2029, rising over the next decade to 22 percent and then topping off at 25 percent between 2040 and 2050, while the House bill auctions off 13 percent of its allowances for deficit reduction in 2012 and 2013 and then 1 percent from 2014 to 2025. There are no auction allowances for the deficit after 2025 in the House bill.

At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its economic analysis of the updated Senate climate bill. EPA estimated that S. 1733 would increase household energy costs by $80-111 a year, close to its projections for the cost of ACES. The EPA analysis said the costs of the bills “would be similar” because the differences between them are small. "For 30 cents a day, we will put America in control of our own energy future and take a stand for home-grown American energy rather than foreign oil from countries who don't like us," Boxer said. "For 30 cents a day, we will protect our kids from dangerous pollution."

For additional information see: New York Times , Washington Post , Reuters , AP , Environmental Protection Agency

Senators Introduce Legislation to Help Natural Resources Adapt to Climate Change

On October 27, Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced the Natural Resources Climate Adaptation Act of 2009 (S. 1933). The bill would require federal agencies to produce a national strategy “to maximize the resilience of landscapes and to minimize adverse climate change impacts.” It would also create a fund to provide resources for government actions addressing climate change impacts. “Our natural resources have started to suffer from climate change, and these impacts will increase if we don’t act," Bingaman said. "The economic well being of communities throughout our nation depend on healthy natural resources, and we’ve got to work to prevent negative impacts.” Whitehouse added, “Rhode Island is called 'The Ocean State' for a reason: our economy is directly tied to the health of our greatest natural resource. If we do not take the steps necessary to mitigate the impacts of climate change, our shipping, manufacturing, fishing and tourism industries will be literally underwater.”

For additional information see: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Press Release

Activists Demonstrate on Climate Change Action Day

On October 24, activists organized by 350.org, an advocacy group, held more than 4,300 events around the world to build awareness for the number 350 -- 350 parts per million (ppm) is the atmospheric concentration of CO2 that some scientists, including James Hansen, director of the NASA Goddard Insititute for Space Studies, believe is necessary to prevent catastrophic impacts from climate change. Currently, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 is 387 ppm. The activists spelled out 3, 5, and 0 in cities and locations worldwide, including Antarctica, New York City and Copenhagen. 350.org founder Bill McKibben said, “We need to be thinking about reducing, not going up more slowly. Three-fifty is the number that says wartime footing, let’s see how fast we can possibly move, and let’s hope against hope that it’s fast enough.”

For additional information see: AP , New York Times , Australian Broadcasting Corporation , AFP

Statisticians Reject Global Cooling

On October 27, the Associated Press (AP) announced that several independent statisticians found no significant evidence for global cooling. Speculation that the Earth is actually cooling has been widespread among global warming skeptics after temperatures declined in 2006 and 2007 following 2005, the second warmest year on record. To evaluate this claim, the AP sent four independent statisticians the data for the earth’s temperature record without telling them what it was. The statisticians concluded that there was a decades-long upward trend in the numbers and that there was no evidence of a statistically significant drop in the last few years. Random annual variations were seen over the entire temperature record. “The last ten years are the warmest 10-year period of the modern record,” said National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration Climate Monitoring Chief Deke Arndt. “Even if you analyze the trend during that ten years, the trend is actually positive, which means warming.”

For additional information see: AP

CNN Poll: 6 in 10 Now Support 'Cap and Trade'

On October 27, CNN released the results of an opinion poll on cap and trade and found that 60 percent of Americans polled favor the policy to address climate change. The poll suggested support for such legislation was greater from Democrats than Republicans, and found nearly six in ten independents were on board with the idea as well. “The support of independents will be crucial to any cap and trade proposal," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "Independents may not be red or blue, but they appear to be green. Earlier polls indicate that Independents believe in global warming and believe that the government can take steps to curtail the problem.”

For additional information see: CNN , CNN Poll

Simple Measures Can Yield Big Greenhouse Gas Cuts, Scientists Say

A report published October 26 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences highlighted the potential for emissions reduction associated with simple household behavioral changes. The report estimated that 20 percent of household emissions, or 7.4 percent of total U.S. emissions -- greater than the entire output of France -- could be eliminated within 10 years through actions and efficiency measures that would not require changes in lifestyle, and come at little cost. "Our analysis is based on science. We look at what has been feasible in bringing about changes in energy consumption behavior," said Author Thomas Dietz, a professor at Michigan State University. The researchers identified a number of specific energy-saving actions including improving home insulation, using slow-flow shower heads, reducing laundry temperatures, driving at speeds of 55 miles per hour (mph), and changing to more fuel efficient vehicles. Dietz called the estimates “a reasonable initial guide to what can be achieved by active promotion” but noted culture changes were often triggered by the ‘demonstration’ effect. Governments are most likely to develop policies when they see other governments doing it."

For additional information see: AFP , Reuters , Science

Report: Climate Bill Must Be Strengthened to Spur Investment in Energy Efficiency

On October 27, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released its report designed to examine the long term economic impacts of cap and trade legislation. The report, entitled “Climate Change as an Economic Redevelopment Opportunity: The Role of Productive Investments in Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” identified failings in existing reports which assumed high costs due to large investments in inefficient power plants, buildings and factories. In highlighting the potential opportunities associated with productive investments, ACEEE concluded that net positive economic benefits exist.

According to the report, the details of any such climate legislation are critical. If cap and trade is designed to encourage investments in energy-saving devices and efficiency, more jobs will be created than lost, and energy bills will be reduced. The House-passed American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454) contains provisions to build efficiencies into investments in buildings, factories, schools, hospitals, energy supplies, and other infrastructure, an area where the United States expenditures will average $4 trillion per year over the next 40 years. In the report, ACEEE examined various cap and trade scenarios and concluded that modifying H.R. 2454 to further support energy efficiency measures could deliver net energy bill savings of $400 billion by 2030 and nearly $470 billion by 2050, while also generating more than 2 million additional jobs by 2050.

For additional information see: American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy Press Release

Climate Change Will Hurt Public Health

On October 26, the Trust for America’s Health released a new report evaluating the impacts of climate change on pubic health and the government’s response to this potential problem. The report predicted that warmer temperatures will increase the prevalence of infectious diseases and that changes in precipitation will bring new diseases and increase natural disasters, posing new safety problems for public health workers. The report found that only five states -- California, Maryland, New Hampshire, Virginia and Washington -- have plans to deal with the public health impacts of climate change. The Trust for America’s Health called on the White House to ensure that high-level working groups on climate change consider the health implications. The report also urged Congress to pay for the study of state and local health department needs, new research on the health effects of climate change and integrated biosurveillance systems. “As countries around the world work to address climate change, federal, state and local governments around the United States need to ramp up activities to protect people from the health harms it poses,” said Trust for America’s Health Executive Director Jeff Levi.

For additional information see: Reuters , Washington Post , Washington Business Journal

World Leaders Revise Expectations for UN Climate Conference

On October 28, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Director Yvo de Boer said the upcoming Conference of the Parties in Copenhagen this December will not produce a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. “It is physically impossible under any scenario to complete every detail of a treaty in Copenhagen,” said de Boer. Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen agreed, saying, “We do not think it will be possible to decide all the finer details for a legally binding regime.” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that even if the conference does not produce a legally binding treaty, a political agreement that covers the major negotiating points is a possibility. “If we can agree on four political elements, then that could be a hallmark of success on climate change,” he said. De Boer added, “Copenhagen can and must agree to the political essentials that will make a long-term response to climate change clear, possible, realistic and well defined.”

For additional information see: BBC , AFP , Reuters

Deutsche Bank: Climate Policies Need Transparency, Longevity, and Certainty

On October 26, the Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisors (DBCCA) released a new report called “Global Climate Change Policy Tracker: An Investor’s Assessment,” which ranked the climate change policies of 109 countries. DBCCA found that energy and climate policies that are transparent, have longevity, and grant investors certainty, such as feed-in tariffs, are optimal. “Governments must create transparent, long-term, and certain policies to attract capital. While the carbon markets may offer long term solutions, at present investors are driven by on-the-ground mandates and incentives,” the report said. The United States was ranked as a moderate risk because it relied on volatile incentives. DBCCA also found that the 270 climate policies currently in place would not prevent temperatures from rising more than 2°C. “In totality the policies put in place are not going to get us where we need to be by 2020,” said Deutsche Bank Global Asset Management Director Kevin Parker.

For additional information see: Reuters , Bloomberg , Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisors Report

Australia Needs National Plan for Rising Seas, Parliamentary Committee Says

On October 27, an Australian Parliamentary Climate Change Committee released a report recommending that Australia create a national plan to cope with rising sea levels. The report said that 80 percent of Australia’s people live on the coast and warned that coastal property worth $137 billion was at risk from more frequent storms and sea level rise. The Committee recommended that Australia establish a national policy to evaluate new coastal development, and create evacuation and relocation contingency plans. “The key message that emerged from the inquiry is the need for national leadership in managing Australia's coastal zone in the context of climate change,” said Committee Chair Jennie George. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the report was a reminder that “the real cost for Australia of continued inaction on climate change is deep and enduring and damaging to our economy and damaging to the nation's environment.”

For additional information see: Reuters , The Guardian , AFP , The Telegraph

House Panel Investigates Fraudulent Letters Sent By Coal Lobbyists

On October 29, the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming held a hearing to investigate fraudulent letters sent to Members of Congress by Bonner & Associates, a lobbying firm working for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE). The letters, sent in late June, urged Members of Congress to vote against The American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454, ACES). A dozen of them were sent to three Representatives in the name of community organizations which did not actually sign the letters. Bonner & Associates Chairman Jack Bonner said the letters were sent by a temporary employee who was subsequently fired. “What this individual did was wrong, and we should have caught him before he perpetrated this scheme,” he said. Bonner & Associates discovered the forged letters on June 22 and quickly notified ACCCE. However, the lobbying group did not attempt to contact Congress until July 1, after ACES passed. Bonner apologized for this at the hearing saying, “I am personally very sorry that I immediately did not go to the three members involved, sit in their office and tell somebody exactly what happened.”

For additional information see: New York Times , Politico , The Hill , Daily Progress

International Military Group Calls for 'Ambitious' Climate Deal

On October 29, an international group of military experts called for an ‘ambitious’ international climate agreement in Copenhagen this December at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Military Advisory Council of the Climate Change and the Military, a group of senior officers from Bangladesh, Guyana, India, Mauritania, Nepal, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States, issued their declaration at a discussion on the real dangers for conflicts and disputes resulting from resource shortages, water rights and natural disasters at the Brookings Institution. The call for action warns of the security implications of a failure at Copenhagen and calls upon all governments to ensure that the security implications of climate change are integrated into their respective military strategies. The Council said a failure to deal with climate change problems "will be very costly in terms of destabilizing nations . . . retarding development and providing the required military response."

For additional information see: Reuters , Brookings Institution

Audit Finds High Risk of CO2 Capture Project Failure

On October 28, the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI) released an audit of global carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. The GCCSI found that seven of 213 projects were operational and capturing CO2 and discovered that a major impediment was their high risk of failure due to their cost. GCCSI predicted that at the current cost of carbon, approximately $20 per ton of CO2, coal-fired power plants with CCS are not competitive. GCCSI said the price of carbon must reach $60 per ton for CCS to be a viable option. GCCSI CEO Nick Otter said, “The CO2 price now is not capable of taking the technology forward. That's why you need these government incentives.”

For additional information see: Reuters , The Australian , Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute report

U.S. to Give Threatened Polar Bears Vast 'Critical Habitat'

On October 29, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced plans to set aside 200,541 square miles in Alaska as critical habitat for polar bears. In May 2008, the United States listed the polar bear as a threatened species, citing loss of sea ice due to climate change as the primary reason. Under the Endangered Species Act, the United States government must provide a critical habitat reserve for threatened species. “Proposing critical habitat for this iconic species is one step in the right direction to help this species stave off extinction, recognizing that the greatest threat to the polar bear is the melting of Arctic sea ice caused by climate change,” said Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland.

For additional information see: AFP , AP , The Globe and Mail

Rise in Sea Level Threatens Atlantic Coastline

A study published in the October 27 issue of Environmental Research Letters found that sea level rise poses an enormous risk for the Atlantic coastline from Florida to Massachusetts. Researchers reviewed land use plans for about 130 local governments and projected that around 60 percent of low-lying shore land is expected to be developed nationally. This could be a problem if sea levels rise as predicted due to climate change: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change expects sea levels to rise 7-24 inches by 2100 under a “business as usual” climate scenario. Author Will Nuckols said, “If the water's going to come up, and we're going to have to protect big chunks of the coast, somebody's going to have to figure out how to do that.” The report projects that rural or wild areas are likely to be abandoned, and urbanized areas are likely to be forced to employ "increasingly ambitious'' and expensive engineering to preserve real estate from encroaching ocean. The authors recommended that a regional plan be devised for coastal development.

For additional information see: Washington Post , Baltimore Sun , Miami Herald

November 4: Toward ZERO Carbon Solutions—Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

The National Hydrogen Association invites you to a briefing that will explore a hydrogen economy’s premier carbon and emissions benefits, its varied feedstocks, the broad efforts of key companies and research institutions partnering with federal and state governments in comprehensive RD&D efforts, a package of tax incentives, and the opportunities for the 111th Congress. There will be preliminary remarks from Senators Byron Dorgan and Lindsey Graham, and Representatives Bob Inglis and Eric Massa. The briefing will take place Wednesday, November 4, from 10:00 - 12:00 p.m. in 628 Dirksen Senate Office Building. For further information please call (202) 223-5547 or visit www.hydrogenassociation.org.

November 5: Creating Jobs in Appalachia through Investments in Energy Efficiency

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on the economic opportunities afforded by energy efficiency investments in Appalachia. The briefing will focus on a recent report commissioned by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), an economic development agency established by the federal government in 1965. Entitled Energy Efficiency in Appalachia: How Much More is Available, at What Cost, and By When, the report finds that a bold energy efficiency initiative could create more than 77,000 jobs and cut projected energy consumption in the region by up to 24 percent by the year 2030. The briefing will take place Thursday, November 5, from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in 2318 Rayburn House Office Building. This briefing is free and open to the public. No RSVP required. For more information, contact Ellen Vaughan at (202) 662-1893 or evaughan [at] eesi.org.

November 6: Can Addressing Climate Change Provide Economic Benefits?

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing highlighting a report released by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) that examines the long term economic impacts of cap and trade legislation. The report, entitled Climate Change as an Economic Redevelopment Opportunity: The Role of Productive Investments in Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions, identified failings in existing studies that assumed high costs due to large investments in inefficient power plants, buildings and factories. In highlighting the potential opportunities associated with productive investments, ACEEE concluded that net positive economic benefits exist. Skip Laitner, ACEEE Economic Analysis Director and author of the report, will be speaking about the findings at this briefing on Friday, November 6, with time and location on Capitol Hill to be determined. Please check back at http://eesi.org/briefings for more details.