Climate Change News - October 15, 2012

Presidential Candidates Mention Climate Change during Campaign Speeches

While climate change was not addressed by either candidate during the first Presidential debate or the Vice Presidential debate, the issue has arisen during campaign speeches. On October 9, at a speech in Columbus, Ohio, President Barack Obama said, "My plan will continue to reduce the carbon pollution that is heating our planet, because climate change is not a hoax. More drought and floods and wildfires are not a joke. They're a threat to your future. And we've got to make sure that we meet the moment." In Van Meter, Iowa, Governor Mitt Romney countered, "And then there's pushing cap and trade, I understand if they push cap and trade it will not only massively impact the income of farms, it will take millions of acres out of farming."

For additional information see: E&E Publishing , The Hill , Debate Transcript

Scientists Call on Presidential Candidates to Address Climate Change in Florida Debate

On October 11, in a letter drafted by the Union of Concerned Scientists, more than a hundred scientists and government officials in Florida called on the Presidential candidates to address the danger of sea level rise at the third presidential debate. The letter states, “Our local tidal gauges show sea levels rose by about eight inches in the twentieth century.” According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, sea level rise will increase 50 percent by 2060. “Florida is ground zero for sea level rise and many other damaging climate impacts, including hurricanes and devastating storm surges. The human and economic impacts of climate change are already being felt today and politicians can no longer afford to ignore climate change,” said Durwood Zaelke, President of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development.

For additional information see: Sun Sentinel , Letter , IGSD Press Release ,

Chicago Gets Creative to Mitigate Rising Temperatures

Climate change is exacerbating the Chicago urban heat island effect, caused when buildings and pavement absorb heat during the day and release heat at night. Average temperatures in the city are now five degrees warmer than in surrounding rural areas, a two-fold increase since 1970. Chicago chief sustainability officer Karen Weigert says that trends point to “more high heat days, more heat events, more rain, more storm events. . .and some warming.” In response to rising urban temperatures, the city of Chicago is completing a $7 billion project targeting infrastructure renovation. One initiative focuses on green roof installation. Chicago green projects administrator Michael Berkshire notes that, “Rooftops are one of the last kind of frontiers that you can really look at, and it’s a significant amount of space.” Over 350 green roof projects have been completed to date, including the largest green roof in the world, covering 25 acres at Millennium Park. Rooftop plants soak up heat and cool the air surrounding buildings, reducing air-conditioning costs. The city is also implementing ground level changes. There are over 1,900 miles of traditional alleyways in Chicago that absorb heat and create rainwater runoff. However, permeable pavement technology allows water to pass through surface pavement into the soil below, serving as a subsurface cooling system for alleyways. On the streetscapes, the city is testing porous road lanes to soak up rainfall and micro-thin concrete to reflect light and heat. Catch basins along the street curbs direct water to the sidewalk gardens, rather than storm drains. In order to assess progress and target specific heat zones, the city is using the latest laser temperature measurement technology and thermal radar mapping.

For additional information see: PBS , Los Angeles Times , Report

EU Refocuses Low-carbon Vision

On October 8, the European Union (EU) Commission launched a new campaign entitled, “world you like, with a climate you like,” designed to foster a shared vision for a low-carbon society across Europe. The campaign is part of the EU Commission’s roadmap to create a low-carbon economy and reduce carbon emissions 80-95 percent by 2050. During the launch of the campaign, EU Commissioner Connie Hedegaard stated, “Our ambition for a low carbon society is not some distant future. It’s about jobs now. It’s about the innovation and competitiveness which we can harness today for a better tomorrow.” Through a new website offered in 23 languages, Europeans have access to an idea-sharing platform on ways to tackle climate change from sustainable food production to electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The forum reveals how climate policies improve the lives of European people, something politicians are often criticized for failing to convey. The EU Commission roadmap emphasizes that climate policies cut local pollution, reduce dependency on fossil fuel imports, improve resource efficiency, and save money on energy. “It’s perhaps been a bit too much doom and gloom in the past on climate. We are now emphasizing the need to inspire people,” said an EU official.

For additional information see: BBC , EU Roadmap

Report: Adoption of Emissions Trading in China Could Prompt Global Action

A report released October 11 by the Climate Institute, an Australian policy research organization, highlights China’s efforts to address climate change. China will enact pilot emissions trading schemes (ETS) in two provinces and five cities, including Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen, in 2013. The pilot schemes will cover more 700 million tonnes of carbon dioxide when fully implemented in 2014. Combined, the Chinese pilot ETS will be the second largest emissions scheme after the European Union ETS, which covers 2.1 billion tonnes. China also plans on implementing a national ETS in 2015. John Connor, the chief executive officer of the Climate Institute, said, “China has long been perceived as a laggard on climate action, and used as scapegoat by other countries, like Australia, to delay action, but this argument is increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to make given China’s recent policies.” Connor continued, “China’s emerging schemes can dovetail with other global schemes as a stepping stone towards a global climate change agreement by 2015.”

For additional information see: Bloomberg Businessweek

Economic Recessions Do Not Offset Emissions Growth

An economic study published in the journal Nature Climate Change on October 7, assessed the correlation between a nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The study, performed by Professor Richard York of the University of Oregon, found that contrary to previous models, CO2 emissions do not increase and decrease in “lockstep” with a nation’s GDP. Specifically, the report found that, “Emissions of [CO2]. . .rose by an average of 0.73 percent for every 1 percent growth in [GDP] per capita. . .but emissions fell just 0.43 percent for every percent decline in GDP per capita.” The report states that the reason for the “asymmetry is probably due to the fact that economic growth produces durable goods, such as cars and energy-intensive homes, and infrastructure, such as manufacturing facilities and transportation networks, that are not removed by economic decline. . .[and] continue to contribute to CO2 emissions even after growth is curtailed.” The findings have implications for the modeling of CO2 emissions, which in turn, could drive future policy to decrease CO2 emissions. York states that the findings “don’t necessarily suggest future emissions will generally be higher or lower than current projections, but they suggest that this will depend more sensitively on how exactly economies grow (or shrink). . .It doesn’t only matter how big GDP is in the future, but also how it gets there, such as by slow steady growth, or by periods of rapid growth mixed with recession.”

For additional information see: Sydney Morning Herald , Study

Proposed Northwest Coal Terminal Should Assess GHG Ramifications, Says Governor

A coal terminal proposal to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the northwestern United States to coal export to China has sparked a great deal of debate. The opposition, which includes Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, believes an assessment of the greenhouse gas ramifications of the exportation of coal should be included in the environmental impact statement (EIS), stating, “If the United States is going to embark on the large-scale export of coal to Asia it is imperative that we ask – and answer – the question of how such actions fit with the larger strategy of moving to a lower carbon future.” In addition, communities along the transport rail lines express their concern over environmental and health effects of coal dust, while the coal industry promotes the endeavor as a significant job generator. While the Corps said they may consider conducting an area-wide EIS, a programmatic EIS – which includes some analysis of government policies, programs and strategies – would not be conducted due to the absence of a program regulating coal exports. However, even the area-wide EIS is not guaranteed as David Gesl of the Corps says, “At this point in time, the Corps has not made a decision on whether an area-wide EIS is warranted. If we determine during the NEPA [National Environmental Policy Act] process that that is the most efficient and effective way to address the impacts within our authorities associated with this process, we would then go with an area-wide.” The White House Council on Environmental Quality convened a meeting to discuss the matter in August, and the first of seven public hearings is scheduled for October 27.

For additional information see: Bloomberg BNA

Climate Change Could Exacerbate Health Problems

Researchers in California have found that climate change and increasing atmospheric temperatures are likely going to exacerbate health problems. A study conducted by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), predicts that 150,000 additional heat-related deaths will occur in U.S. cities alone by 2100 as a result of climate change. The study found that for every increase of 10 degrees Fahrenheit, there was a 1.7 percent rise in emergency room (ER) visits for heart disease, a 4.3 percent rise in cases related to diabetes, and a 12.7 percent increase in visits relating to low blood pressure. Also, for every 10 degree Fahrenheit increase, incidences of heat illness and strokes rose four-fold and dehydration rose by 25 percent. Lead author Rupa Basu, an epidemiologist at OEHHA, stressed the importance of identifying demographic groups which are most susceptible to rising temperate to help health officials prepare.

For additional information see: Reuters , Scientific American

Poll Shows Changing Attitudes towards Climate Change

On October 4, the AXA Insurance Group released a survey of more than 13,000 people in 13 countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas about attitudes towards and acceptance of climate change. The survey found that 90 percent of people polled believe that the climate has changed significantly and 75 percent accept the scientific consensus. The greatest number of people who do not believe that climate change has been scientifically proven reside in “mature economies” including Japan (42 percent), the United Kingdom (37 percent), and the United States (35 percent). Of the respondents, 73 percent reported that they have personally observed climate change in the form of floods, a rise in temperatures, and droughts. Correspondingly, 97 percent say they feel “anxious” about climate change. However, there is an overwhelming (88 percent) belief “that climate change is a phenomenon that can be addressed through innovative solutions” with active participation from government, industry, and citizens. The poll was released less than a week after Christiana Figueres, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said that “skepticism around climate is abating” in the United States (see October 8 issue).

For additional information see: Huffington Post , Report

Climate Change Skeptics Featured More Prominently in Conservative Newspapers

On October 4, the journal Environmental Research Letters published a report that studied the quantity and type of climate skepticism found in newspapers in the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, Brazil, and India. The report examined the political tilt of 2,064 newspapers across the six countries and the types of climate change articles published during two three-month periods in 2007 and 2009-10. The report found that in American, British and French newspapers, climate skepticism was featured more prominently in both news and editorial pieces. Additionally, in right-leaning papers, climate skeptic editorial pieces were more likely to go unchallenged, while in left-leaning newspapers there was more balance between climate skeptics and those that accept climate change. The political leaning of newspapers in China, Brazil, and India had little effect on the coverage of climate skeptics. Study authors, James Painter of the University of Oxford and Teresa Ashe of the University of London, state that a possible reason for the difference in newspaper coverage between countries is, “The presence of organized skeptical groups or individual climate skeptics in [the US and UK].” The authors add that, “They [climate skeptics in the United States, United Kingdom, and France] are adept at getting their voices heard in the media when the opportunities arise.”

For additional information see: Guardian , Study

Washington Island Seeing Early Impacts of Climate Change

Off the coast of Washington on remote Tatoosh Island, researchers have spent more than four decades tracking changes in biodiversity and species behavior. Led by Washington University professor emeritus Robert Paine, teams trek across the island sampling species including mussels, seagulls, calcareous sponges, starfish, and barnacles. The teams have found a reduction in gull population size, thinner mussel shells that detach from rocks more frequently, and barren rocks where barnacles once prospered. Researchers believe that a decline in biodiversity on Tatoosh Island can be attributed to increases in ocean pH levels. In 2000, Dr. Paine calculated that the ocean pH around Tatoosh was declining at a rate 10 times faster than climate change models predicted. Dr. Paine finds that unfortunately, “Most of the changes are going to be in a direction we don’t want.” Tatoosh Island is one of many coastal ecosystems showing early signs of deterioration caused by ocean acidification (see October 8 issue).

For additional information see: New York Times

Evacuation of Some Nations States May Have to Begin Earlier Than Expected

According to Michael Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, islands vulnerable to rising sea levels may need to begin evacuating citizens within the next decade. While previous studies suggest that adaptations to mitigate rising sea levels would likely be necessary, the studies dramatically underestimated the rate of Arctic ice melt, which according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center shrank 18 percent this year. "Once again we are decades ahead of schedule," states Mann. Rising sea levels are no longer "an abstract prediction about the future or about far off exotic creatures like polar bears. We are talking about people potentially having to evacuate from places like Tuvalu or the Arctic's Kivalina." Many Pacific Islands are threatened, some only rise 4.6 meters above sea level at their highest points. "For these people, current sea levels are already representative of dangerous anthropogenic interference because they will lose their world far before the rest of us suffer," states Mann.

For additional information see: Guardian

Increased Antarctic Ice Coverage Sign of Changing Climate

While climate change is causing Arctic ice to melt rapidly, researchers are finding that it is having an opposite effect in Antarctic regions, where it is leading to increased ice coverage. In September, Antarctic ice reached a record total coverage of 7.51 million square miles. Ted Maksym, a scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, said, “It sounds counterintuitive, but the Antarctic is part of the warming as well.” Experts attribute the increase of ice coverage to shifts in wind patterns and the giant ozone hole over the Antarctic region this time of year, both of which can be attributed to human activities. The hole in the ozone layer, caused by man-made pollutants chlorine and bromine, makes the Antarctic region cooler due to the lack of solar radiation being absorbed. In addition to the ozone hole, Maksym explains that increased winds are pushing the ice further north, causing ice coverage to spread. Waleed Abdalati, chief scientist at NASA, states, “Climate change has created essentially a wall of wind that keeps cool weather bottled up in Antarctica,” which also contributes to the spread of ice.

For additional information see: Washington Post , NPR

Thursday, October 18: Climate Communications Challenges: A Panel Discussion

Join DC Net Impact and Weber Shandwick Social Impact for a discussion on the challenges surrounding communicating on and advocating for climate change-related issues. In the face of difficult economic circumstances, political polarization and the challenge of keeping energy affordable, communicating the potential impacts of climate change can be difficult. Come hear a variety of perspectives from the political, corporate and nonprofit sectors on what strategies they’ve used to translate this complex issue into understandable and persuasive terms, and what strategies have been successful in their pursuit to bring stakeholders into the cause. This event will be held Thursday, October 18, 2012, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Weber Shandwick Event Center, 5th floor, 733 10th Street, NW, Washington. This briefing is free and open to the public. Pre-registration required.

Thursday, October 25: Clean Energy Financing: What Works?

The Embassy of Germany and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invite you to a briefing hosted in coordination with the Congressional Study Group of Germany that will examine how we can fully unleash the clean energy sector to reap powerful economic growth and job creation benefits. The speakers will compare investment policies in the United States and Germany, to see what is working and what isn't. What type of regulatory framework is necessary to give clean energy companies a stable investment climate? What works best, loan guarantees, tax credits, feed-in tariffs, quotas? This event will be held Thursday, October 25, 2012, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. in 345 Cannon House Office Building. This briefing is free and open to the public. No RSVP required.