Climate Change News - November 5, 2012

Hurricane Sandy and Climate Change

In the wake of the tragic Hurricane Sandy, many in the media inquired whether climate change caused the superstorm. While many climate scientists caution that climate change cannot be directly linked to one event, Kevin Trenberth, senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research said, “The answer to the oft-asked question of whether an event is caused by climate change is that it is the wrong question. All weather events are affected by climate change because the environment in which they occur is warmer and moister than it used to be.” Michael Rawlins, director of the Climate System Research Center at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, stated, "The latest research suggests that a warming climate will lead to more extreme weather events such as flooding rains and drought.” Stefan Rahmstorf, professor at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, added, "Sea level rise makes storm surges worse and will continue to do so in the future.” Michael Oppenheimer, professor of geosciences and international affairs at Princeton University, called the superstorm “a foretaste of things to come." Durwood Zaelke, president of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, said, “We can slow the fury of future hurricanes and other extreme events by taking fast action to reduce short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon, tropospheric ozone, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons, actions that have the potential to cut the rate of global warming in half over the next thirty to forty years.” Carol Werner, executive director of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, said in an interview with Voice of America, “Scientists have been warning us about this for decades, and unfortunately it is all happening much earlier than what they had originally predicted back in the 80s.” Some media outlets were less equivocal. On November 1, Bloomberg Businessweek published an article titled “It’s Global Warming, Stupid.”

For additional information see: Los Angeles Times , Reuters , CNN , Voice of America , Bloomberg Businessweek

Hurricane Sandy’s Political Impact

The devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy compelled politicians to address climate change in an election season that has left the topic largely untouched (see October 29 issue). Political officials in New York stated that increasingly frequent extreme weather is an unsettling phenomenon that must be addressed. On October 30, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said, “We have a 100-year flood every two years now. We have a new reality when it comes to these weather patterns. We have an old infrastructure and we have old systems and that is not a good combination.” New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg added, “What is clear is that the storms that we’ve experienced in the last year or so around this country and around the world are much more severe than before. Whether that’s global warming or what, I don’t know. But we’ll have to address those issues.” On October 31, Governor Cuomo went a step further saying, “Part of learning from this is the recognition that climate change is a reality. Extreme weather is a reality. It is a reality that we are vulnerable.”

For additional information see: Politico , San Francisco Chronicle

Citing Climate Change, Mayor Bloomberg Endorses President Obama

On November 1, citing the importance of climate change in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed the re-election of President Barack Obama. Although he had previously pledged to remain neutral, Bloomberg said in an op-ed column published by Bloomberg News that, “The devastation that Hurricane Sandy brought to New York City and much of the Northeast – in lost lives, lost homes and lost business – brought the stakes of Tuesday’s presidential election into sharp relief.” In his endorsement Bloomberg wrote, “Our climate is changing. And while the increase in extreme weather we have experienced in New York City and around the world may or may not be the result of it, the risk that it may be – given the devastation it is wreaking – should be enough to compel all elected leaders to take immediate action.” He continued, “One [candidate] sees climate change as an urgent problem that threatens our planet; one does not. I want our president to place scientific evidence and risk management above electoral politics.”

For additional information see: New York Times , Wall Street Journal , Bloomberg News

Members of Congress Request Hearing on Climate Change and Extreme Weather during Lame Duck Session

Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA), Ranking Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Bobby Rush (D-IL), Ranking Member on the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, sent a letter to Committee Chair Fred Upton (R-MI) and Subcommittee Chair Ed Whitfield (R-KY) urging them to hold a hearing about the links between Hurricane Sandy and climate change after the election. The letter said, “Hurricane Sandy is exactly the type of extreme weather event that climate scientists have said will become more frequent and more severe if we fail to reduce our carbon pollution. That is why we are writing to request that you hold a hearing on the storm and its relation to climate change in the lame duck session.” According to the letter, Rep. Waxman and Rep. Rush have asked the committee 17 times to hold a hearing about climate change, to no avail.

For additional information see: The Hill , Letter

CEI Tries to Poison Political Discussion of Carbon Tax

Members of both the Democratic and Republican parties are suggesting carbon taxes as a potential trade-off to raise revenue while lowering individual and corporate taxes (see July 23 issue). However, a conservative faction is looking to dismantle the carbon tax option saying that it is “political poison for the GOP.” Myron Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) believes that portraying the carbon tax as an economic issue will be harmful to the conservative agenda, and therefore plans to reduce the credibility of the tax by linking it to the interests of environmentalists.“The only things Republicans would gain from destroying their bona fides as the anti-tax pro-energy party is faint and fleeting praise from the cocktail party ‘progressives’ and the liberal media. If Republicans consider that a good bargain, they deserve to be called the stupid party,” says CEI scholar Marlo Lewis, Jr. Americans for Prosperity is also meeting with Republicans to encourage them not to pursue carbon tax deals. The partisan divide on environmental issues is far from black and white. National Audubon Society President David Yarnold acknowledges that progress can be made. “We know there are plenty of Republicans who, if they weren’t so intimidated by the hard right, would be at the table more often, and we know that there are Democrats who if they weren’t so afraid of being hammered and labeled as tree-huggers would be more willing to compromise,” Yarnold said.

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

Boulder to Vote on Climate Action Plan Tax Extension

In 2006, residents of Boulder, CO approved the Climate Action Plan (CAP) tax which levied an excise tax on electricity and has raised $5.3 million since its inception. The tax is set to expire at the end of 2012 unless residents vote for an extension of the tax through 2018. A recent report detailing how the tax funds have been spent has many residents concerned about extending the program. The report found that only 41 percent of the funds raised have gone to “services delivery.” “Services delivery” includes rebates and incentives for the purchase of energy efficiency upgrades, such as improved home insulation, as well as energy audits and consulting services to develop programs to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout Boulder. The remaining funds were spent on personnel (32 percent), education and marketing (12 percent), overhead (five percent), transportation (three percent), with seven percent remaining unspent. Though only 41 percent was spent on “services delivery,” a report from the Rocky Mountain Institute concluded that Boulder had made “impressive” improvements in energy savings that were cost- effective. In addition, the Rocky Mountain Institute concluded that the low spending on “services delivery” was due to start-up costs that have now been completed allowing for a transition of funds into the “services delivery” sector. Susan Osborne, a former mayor of Boulder, stated that, “It feels like we’ve hit the nail on the head in terms of developing an easy-to-use program to help people make their homes more energy efficient. It would be a shame if we didn’t have the money to continue the [CAP Tax] program and keep making our community more energy efficient.”

For additional information see: Daily Camera

Students Push Universities to Divest from Fossil Fuels

On October 24, driven by concern about climate change and following the tactics of the anti-apartheid movement, students at 18 universities and colleges held a day of action to push their administrations to divest from fossil fuels. Students at institutions including Harvard, Cornell, Amherst and Bryn Mawr, called on their administrations to follow the lead of Hampshire College and to divest their endowments from fossil fuel investments. A leader of the Harvard movement, sophomore Alli Welton, said, “This issue [climate change] will really determine the sort of planet that we live on and the society in which we have our lives. And I think it’s particularly strong to students because we see our entire lives spread out ahead of us.” Harvard officials responded in a written statement, “The university maintains a strong presumption against divesting itself of securities for reasons unrelated to investment purposes.”

For additional information see: Public Radio International , Divest for our Future

European Union on Schedule to Surpass Kyoto Reductions

On October 24, the European Environment Agency (EEA) reported that the European Union (EU) remains on track to surpass the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction benchmarks established by the Kyoto Protocol. The EU is hoping to reduce GHG emissions 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2020. According to the report, EU emissions have fallen 18 percent since 1990. At the individual country level, Britain’s six percent reductions lead the way, while France and Germany’s emissions fell five and two percent respectively. Nine countries, however, will miss the Kyoto target, including Spain and Italy. Countries that miss the Kyoto targets have to purchase carbon credits to achieve their goals. The EEA also reports that the EU economy has grown 48 percent during this time period, which, according to the agency, “Demonstrates that the decoupling of economic growth from emissions has been progressing steadily since 1990.” Connie Hedegaard, EU Commissioner for Climate Action, states, “These results prove once again that emissions can be cut without sacrificing the economy.” Hedegaard continues, “Now, it is important to keep the direction. Reaching the 20 percent target in 2020 does not come automatically. It calls for continued efforts. Furthermore, through new initiatives and legislation, like the Energy Efficiency Directive, the EU is on track to reduce more than the 20 percent.”

For additional information see: United Press International , Press Release , Guardian

EU Considers Fixes for Emissions Trading Scheme

As the price of carbon emissions in Europe drops to eight euros per tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2), there is growing skepticism that low carbon prices caused by a surplus of credits will continue to incentivize emissions reductions. European Parliament member Jo Leinen warns that, “The emissions trading system is not very credible. It doesn’t look like it has credibility in the near future. So we need to give back its real function to be an incentive for low carbon investment and low carbon technology.” In January 2013, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is scheduled to enter phase three of its operation, which will reduce available credits and force an increase in prices. Policymakers must now decide whether or not they will make changes to the ETS in preparation for phase three. One proposed option, known as back-loading, involves removing excess credits from the market and re-installing them in the future. Without reducing available credits, the European Union (EU) risks prices dropping to two to three euros per tonne of CO2. There is lingering uncertainty as to how many carbon credits should be removed from the market, although models suggest that the removal of 900 million credits would increase the cost for a permit to 15 euros. Other proposed changes include rules on banking aviation allowances, provisions for offset swaps, and limits on certain international carbon credits. One provision would prevent emitters in the EU ETS system from holding United Nations Emission Reduction Units issued by non-EU countries. The EU Climate Change Committee is set to convene on November 15 to discuss carbon registry regulations prior to the upcoming EU vote on the new regulations. All changes will require qualified-majority support from member states to pass. The changes have been met with opposition from the industrial and manufacturing sectors.

For additional information see: Der Spiegel , Bloomberg News

British Government and Businesses Pledge to Reduce Use of Unsustainable Palm Oil

In an effort to curb deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions due to the harvesting of palm oil, 15 signatories have pledged to switch to sustainably sourced palm oil by 2015. Signatories include the British Government, the Food and Drink Federation, the British Retail Consortium and the Agricultural Industries Commission, animal feed manufacturers, businesses in the hospitality sector, the renewable energy sector and the World Wildlife Fund. The harvesting of palm oil in Asia has been a major cause of deforestation, greatly adding to air pollution and GHG emissions. In 2011, the United Kingdom imported 397,000 tonnes of palm oil and 53,000 tonnes of palm kernel oil, according to Eurostat data. The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs estimated that only 24 percent of imports were sourced from sustainably certified plantations. British Environment Minister Richard Benyon stated, "People want to know that the products they are using are not contributing to deforestation and climate change and many UK businesses are already starting to make changes."

For additional information see: Business Green

Report: Climate Change a National Security Threat

The “Climate Security Report” was released on November 1 by the American Security Project. The report analyzes the international and domestic threats to national security posed by climate change. The analysis finds that, “Climate change acts as an accelerant of instability around the world, exacerbating tensions related to water scarcity and food shortages, natural resource competition, underdevelopment and overpopulation.” Lt. General Daniel Christman (Retired) says, “Climate Change is already a national imperative. Combatant Commanders are preparing now for the consequences of climate change in their areas of operation. The destabilizing impacts in key regions of the world are indisputable and will likely only worsen in the years ahead.” These issues will be especially prevalent in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and the Middle East, forcing civilian and military institutions to adapt. The report cites extreme weather events and rising sea levels as domestic threats to military bases and infrastructure. Furthermore, the report calls for a redefining of security, suggesting that, “Governments must prepare from threats to the security of people, not just states.” The report continues, “Just because a nation has secured its territorial integrity does not mean it has ensured the security of its citizens.”

For additional information see: Press Release , Report

UN Releases Analysis of Human Health and Climate Intersection

On October 29, two United Nation (UN) agencies, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), released a joint "Atlas of Climate and Health." New collaboration between the agencies provides statistical information about the intersection of climate change and human health. WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud said the Atlas is designed to be a tool for decision-makers, giving them practical examples of how to use weather and climate information to protect public health and the ability to anticipate and respond faster to climate-related diseases. The WHO said that global health will suffer a loss of between $2 billion and $4 billion per year by 2030 due to climate change. The report states, "Many of the major killers such as diarrheal diseases, malnutrition, malaria and dengue are highly climate-sensitive and are expected to worsen as the climate changes." Analysis shows that meningitis has spiked in areas such as sub-Saharan Africa where dry seasons are lasting longer and dust storms are more frequent. In addition, an increase of heavy rainfall in tropical and sub-tropical areas has led to a spike in mosquito-transmitted dengue fever. The Atlas shows how collaboration between meteorological and health services can help protect vulnerable groups during periods of extreme heat. Climate change makes extreme heat waves more frequent, occurring every two to five years instead of every 20. At the same time, older people living in cities (a vulnerable demographic to heat), will more than triple from 380 million in 2010, to 1.4 billion in 2050. The Atlas also notes how the interplay of health and climate can be affected by other vulnerabilities created by poverty, environmental degradation and poor water and sanitation infrastructure.

For additional information see: Washington Post , Times of India , Press Release

Study: Food Production Accounts for Over a Quarter of Global GHG Emissions

A study published by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) on October 31 in the journal Annual Review of Environment and Resources estimates that agricultural food production emits between 19 and 29 percent of total anthropogenic greenhouse gases. To reduce emissions from food production, researchers urge societies to improve fertilizer manufacturing efficiency and shift to vegetarian-based diets. Such improvements also generate strategic economic benefits and improve food production resiliency.

For additional information see: Reuters , BBC , Nature

New DOE Supercomputer to Aid Climate Modelers

On October 29, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) commissioned the world’s fastest supercomputer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Known as Titan, the new supercomputer can reach speeds of 27 quadrillion calculations per second and has 299,008 central processing unit (CPU) cores, 18,688 graphics processing units and over 700 terabytes of memory, all while requiring less electricity to operate than its predecessor. According to James Hack, director of the Oak Ridge Climate Change Science Institute, “Titan will allow scientists to simulate physical systems more realistically and in far greater detail. The improvements in simulation fidelity will accelerate progress in a wide range of research areas such as alternative energy and energy efficiency, the identification and development of novel and useful materials and the opportunity for more advanced climate projections.”

For additional information see: Ars Technica , Scientific American

Phytoplankton May Have Trouble Adapting to Warmer Temperatures

A report, “A Global Pattern of Thermal Adaptation in Marine Phytoplankton,” published October 25 in Science, suggests that rising ocean temperatures will lead to a dramatic decline in phytoplankton populations and diversity. Phytoplankton are single-celled microorganisms that are the foundation of the ocean food chain. A decline or shift in phytoplankton populations would greatly affect other marine species that depend on it as a major food source. Lead author Mridul Thomas, a doctoral student at Michigan State University, states, “Phytoplankton have evolved to do really well at current temperatures. But if they don’t evolve further, the warming this century is going to lead them to move their ranges, and their diversity in tropical oceans may drop considerably.” Scientists suggest that phytoplankton may be able to survive by shifting their range to more temperate areas; the study indicates that up to one third of tropical phytoplankton could be pushed out of tropical areas by 2100. However, phytoplankton also depend on sunlight and nutrients to carry out their photosynthetic processes. The issue is that sunlight is weaker and nutrients are scarcer in more temperate areas. Co-author Colin Kremer, also a doctoral student at Michigan State University, indicates that there is a lot we don’t know about how phytoplankton spread and adapt. Kremer states, “One of the challenges we face is we know so little about how phytoplankton are spread through the ocean.” He continues, “But certainly, if phytoplankton are affected, they’re connected to many other species that would likely be affected as well.”

For additional information see: Climate Central , Science , Study

Wednesday, November 14: 24 Hours of Reality: The Dirty Weather Report

The Climate Reality Project hosts its second annual, online event showing how global climate change is connected to the extreme weather being experienced in our daily lives. The entire 24-hour event will be broadcast live over the Internet. The event will begin at the Climate Reality studio in New York City and then move into each region of the world, bringing voices, news and multimedia content across all 24 time zones. The event will feature videos from around the globe, man-on-the-street reports, music and stories from communities moving forward with solutions. The goal of the event is to generate new energy and urgency around the climate crisis.

Friday, November 16: Chasing Ice

Chasing Ice is the story of one man’s mission to change the tide of history by gathering undeniable evidence of climate change. Acclaimed photographer James Balog was once a skeptic about climate change. But through his Extreme Ice Survey, he discovers undeniable evidence of our changing planet. Using time-lapse cameras, his videos compress years into seconds and capture ancient mountains of ice in motion as they disappear at a breathtaking rate, all while seeking to deliver fragile hope to a carbon-powered world. Partial list of openings below, for complete list check the Chasing Ice website.

Sunday, November 18: Do the Math Tour

As a follow up to his July article in Rolling Stone (available here), this month, Bill McKibben and 350.org are hitting the road in the United States holding events to build a movement to address the climate crisis. Mckibben says, “We can burn 565 more gigatons of carbon dioxide and stay below two degrees Celsius of warming – anything more than that risks catastrophe for life on earth. The only problem? Fossil fuel corporations now have 2,795 gigatons in their reserves, five times the safe amount. And they’re planning to burn it all – unless we rise up to stop them.” The event in Washington, DC is Sunday, November 18 at the Warner Theater, 513 13th Street NW. The doors open at noon and the event begins at 1:00 p.m. The event is $10 and is co-presented with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.