Climate Change News - November 26, 2012

Countries Define Their Positions Leading up to Doha

On November 26, delegates from more than 190 countries will meet in Doha, Qatar, for the United Nations climate negotiations and in the lead-up countries have begun to clarify their goals. Brazil, South Africa, India and China – the so called BASIC bloc – stated “The Durban Platform is by no means a process to negotiate a new regime, nor to renegotiate, rewrite or reinterpret the convention and its principles and provisions.” This statement raises the underlying issue about the “common but differentiated responsibility” in reference to emissions reductions between countries. Brazil's Ambassador, Luiz Alberto Figueiredo states that a Kyoto Protocol extension along with rules for a longer term agreement must take priority at the climate negotiations. He argues that the debate on whether or not the world needs more stringent greenhouse gas cuts in order to prevent the world warming by two degrees (the internationally recognized goal set at the 2009 Copenhagen international talks) should be put off until next year. In addition, Figueiredo expressed his hope that the establishment of a new carbon trading mechanism, financing arrangements to support adaptation efforts in developing countries and the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Initiative (Redd+), would also be prioritized.

For additional information see: Bloomberg Businessweek , Guardian , Washington Post , E&E Publishing

Island Nationals Consider Suing U.S., China, and Russia on Climate Obstinacy

Small-island nations, already facing the consequences of a changing climate, are becoming more vocal in their insistence that countries be held responsible for their emissions. The Republic of Palau is spearheading a climate change resolution in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly with support from 33 countries, including Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland. Ambassador Ronny Jumeau of Seychelles summed up his country’s frustration with the United States’ lack of action saying, “We just don't trust you anymore. And we've waited long enough. In fact, we've waited until your own country has been hit by the worst drought in 60 years, until your people are squealing like us. How much more can we wait?” Although island-nations are becoming more vocal, they are also fearful that suing leading carbon emitters might threaten their access to foreign aid which they rely upon for domestic economic and social programs. Bangladeshi Ambassador Abdul Momen commented, “We are still working with those [small island] governments, but the enthusiasm that we have seen in the beginning, that has been a little bit slackened.” If the International Court of Justice were to rule that polluting nations must take responsibility to ensure their greenhouse gas emissions do not harm other nations, the island-nations nations would gain a stronger voice in future climate negotiations. Carroll Muffett of the Center for International Environmental Law is investigating alternatives to an international court case under Article 14 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Article 14 provides a provision that if a dispute between two parties of the climate convention is not resolved within one year, either party is permitted to “invoke a conciliation tribunal.”

For additional information see: E&E Publishing

Ecuador Leads Effort to Tax OPEC Oil Exports to Raise Climate Adaptation Funds

The government of Ecuador submitted a proposal to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to tax all oil exports to developed countries in order to generate revenue for the already-established United Nations Green Climate Fund. The Fund is designed to help the climate adaptation efforts of developing countries, but it has not yet been capitalized as promised by developed nations. The proposed tax would be between three and five percent, which would raise $40-60 billion per year. OPEC nations plan to discuss the proposal in Doha.

For additional information see: Guardian

350 California Businesses Participate in First Greenhouse Gas Auction

The first auction of carbon permits under California’s cap and trade law was held November 14 (see November 19 issue). Carbon allowances sold for $10.09 per tonne, which was below the estimated clearing price range of $11.75 - $12.50 per tonne and just above the $10 per tonne minimum. Mary Nichols, chairman of the California Air Resources Board, commented, “The fact that the prices are clearing a little above the reserve is a good sign that people’s fears about out of control costs for cleanup are not justified by the way the market actually worked.” In all, the state of California raised $300 million, some of which will be used to protect ratepayers from higher electricity costs and to augment clean energy and energy efficiency projects in the state.

For additional information see: San Francisco Chronicle , Chicago Tribune

More Than 100 Corporations Call for Unambiguous Price on Carbon

Ahead of the UN climate negotiations, more than 100 international corporations released a joint statement calling for a long-term carbon pricing system. The companies include Royal Dutch Shell, Swiss Re, Kodak, and Unilever. The statement calls for a “clear, transparent and unambiguous price on carbon emissions,” one that is linked through the global economy to create an even playing field and investment certainty. The corporations further clarified that they would prefer a market-driven carbon price for added flexibility.

For additional information see: The Hill , Environmental Leader

CIA Closes its Center Monitoring Climate Change and National Security

Amid expected Congressional budget cuts, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) closed its climate change center earlier this year. The center was established in 2009 by then director Leon Panetta. The center’s function was to gauge how effects of climate change in other countries would impact U.S. national security. CIA spokesman Todd Ebitz indicated that much of the work being done in the center would continue but in a different department working on economic and energy issues. The CIA commissioned a National Research Council report about the impacts of climate change on national security that was released on November 9 (see November 19 issue).

For additional information see: New York Times , E&E Publishing

Scientists Consider How to Reform the International Climate Discussions

A new study published November 18 in Nature Climate Change suggests reforms to the United Nations (UN) climate change negotiation process to improve fairness for all participating countries. Researchers from the University of East Anglia, the University of Colorado, and PricewaterhouseCoopers propose setting a limit on the number of delegates countries are allowed to send to the climate meetings as a way to level the negotiation playing field. Poor nations are often unable to send enough delegates to be influential in the negotiation process, and therefore lack the stamina to follow the lengthy negotiations. The researchers also suggest switching to a majority voting system to help stimulate progress. Lead author Dr. Heike Schroeder, from the University of East Anglia, commented, “The UN must recognize that these antiquated structures serve to constrain rather than compel co-operation on international climate policy. The time is long overdue for changes to institutions and structures that do not support decision-making and agreements.” Larger countries, however, oppose voting changes because they risk losing a significant amount of leverage in decision-making.

For additional information see: Reuters , CBC News , Study Abstract

Climate Change Disproportionately Impacts Low Income People

On November 16, the Center for American Progress (CAP) released a report that concluded that more frequent occurrences of extreme weather events disproportionately affect middle- and low-income families in the United States. Since 2011, most of the cases of flooding, drought, wildfires, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms impacted counties with household incomes between three and 14 percent less than the median annual household income of $51,914. The report states, “These findings reflect a cruel phenomenon sometimes called the ‘climate gap’ – the concept that climate change has a disproportionate and unequal impact on society’s less fortunate.” A post election poll conducted by the National Wildlife Federation indicates that 57 percent of voters believe that climate change is a major factor causing more frequent extreme weather events and 65 percent would like policymakers to take action against climate change. In order to reduce climate change risks and better prepare middle- and low-income counties, the report outlines a series of policy recommendations, such as implementing carbon pollution reduction standards for new and existing power plants, improving infrastructure resiliency, making flood insurance more affordable, and funding disaster relief and home energy programs.

For additional information see: Reuters , Press Release (CAP) , Report (CAP) , The Daily Climate , Press Release (NAACP)

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels Reach 391 ppm

On November 20, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations rose to 390.99 parts per million (ppm) in 2011, 40 percent above the pre-industrial level. The WMO also reported that in the past 260 years, roughly 375 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) have been released into the atmosphere. WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud stated, “These billions of tonnes of additional carbon dioxide in our atmosphere will remain there for centuries, causing our planet to warm further and impacting on all aspects of life on earth.” Jarraud continued, “Future emissions will only compound the situation.” The WMO also warned about the effects of elevated atmospheric levels of potent greenhouse gases methane – which reached 1813 parts per billion (ppb), or more than 259 percent of pre-industrial levels – and nitrous oxide – which reached 324.5 ppb, or 120 percent of pre-industrial levels.

For additional information see: Agence France-Presse , Christian Science Monitor

UN Highlights Emissions Gap in Most Recent Targets

The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) warned that world governments are far from reaching their goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 14 percent by 2020. Moreover, the gap to achieving the goal of preventing a two degree Celsius average increase in world temperature is widening. The UN warned that if no immediate action is taken, emissions are likely to hit 56 gigatonnes by 2020, 14 gigatonnes too high to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius. The UNEP Emissions Gap 2012 report stated, “This will leave a gap that is now bigger than it was in earlier UNEP assessments of 2010 and 2011 and is in part a result of projected economic growth in key developing economies and a phenomenon known as ‘double counting’ of emission offsets.” Kaisa Kosonen, climate policy adviser at Greenpeace, warned, ‘‘The only way we are going achieve the necessary cuts in emissions is to move away from fossil fuels and towards a world of renewable energy.” This is “do-able with existing technologies and policies,” said Achim Steiner, executive director of UNEP.

For additional information see: Boston Globe , Guardian , The Hill , Press Release

The World Bank Assesses the Impact of a Four Degree Celsius Warmer World

In a report published November 18 about climate change, “Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4 Degree Warmer World Must be Avoided,” the World Bank stated that while all nations will suffer from the effects of climate change, the poorest nations will be hit the hardest. The report finds that poorer, developing nations will be disproportionately hit by food shortages, rising sea levels, cyclones, and droughts. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim stated that countries have a moral responsibility to take action, stating, “We will never end poverty if we don't tackle climate change. It is one of the single biggest challenges to social justice today.” The World Bank analysis concludes that an average temperature increase of four degrees Celsius is likely by 2060, if governments do not start to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The report highlighted the devastating impacts of a four degrees Celsius warmer world, such as shrinking Arctic ice and more frequent extreme heat waves and droughts. The World Bank report was released a week before the international climate negotiations in Doha, Qatar. Kim expressed his hope that the findings of the World Bank report would spur people into serious negotiations and "shock people into action."

For additional information see: Reuters , Agence France-Presse , Press Release

Iowa Scientists Link the U.S. Drought with Climate Change

On November 19, science faculty and research staff from 27 Iowa colleges and universities released a statement focusing on the future of extreme weather events in the state of Iowa. The statement reported that places like Iowa can expect more climate change-related extreme weather such as the extreme drought and floods experienced this past year. Chris Anderson, research assistant professor at the Climate Science Program at Iowa State University, explained, “In a warmer climate, wet years get wetter and dry years get dryer. And dry gets hotter – that is precisely what happened in Iowa this year.” The statement urged Iowans to act now to reduce the economic costs of climate change. Dave Courard-Hauri, chair of the Environmental Science and Policy Program at Drake University, stated, “Iowans are living with climate change now and it is already costing us money.” He continued, “Iowans can be a part of the solution, creating jobs and growing our economy in the process.”

For additional information see: Reuters , Press Release , Statement

Friday, November 30: Data Center Energy Efficiency

The Office of Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) is hosting a briefing about innovative approaches to promoting energy efficiency at data centers. Data centers are used in sectors across the economy from banking and financial services, to media, manufacturing, education, healthcare, government, and information technology. The widespread use of data centers increases the power needed to run them. This briefing will cover technological advances, policy proposals, and emerging practices to improve data center energy efficiency and reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Opening remarks will be given by Rep. Eshoo. Panels include: John Tuccillo, chairman and president of The Green Grid, and vice president at Schneider Electric; Dean Nelson, vice president of Global Foundation Services at Ebay Inc.; Pierre Delforge, senior engineer at the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC); and Kathleen Winkler, vice president and chief sustainability officer at EMC Corporation.

Thursday, December 6: Solutions to the ‘Fiscal Cliff’ – How Putting a Price on Carbon Can Play a Role

The Quebec Government Office Washington, the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States (ACSUS), and Raoul Dandurand Chair, are hosting a briefing discussing the viability of carbon market mechanisms. The presenters will update about activities in leading states and provinces throughout North America – such as California and Quebec, which are set to link their carbon markets by 2013 – and how their experience can help guide the national debate about pricing carbon emissions. Panelists include: Adele Morris, policy director of the Climate and Energy Economics Projects at the Brookings Institution; Richard Caperton, director of Clean Energy Investment at the Center for American Progress; Manik Roy, vice president for Strategic Outreach at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions; and William Burns, associate director of the Energy Policy and Climate Program at Johns Hopkins University. The event will be held Thursday, December 6 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the Rome Building, #806, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, 1619 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036. Please RSVP to [email protected].