Climate Change News - September 23, 2013

EPA to Release Climate Rule for Coal and Gas-fired Power Plants

On September 20, the EPA released its new greenhouse gas emission limits for new power plants.  These rules would mark the first federal carbon emission limits on power plants, which represented 40 percent of all energy-related emissions of greenhouse gases in 2012, according to the Energy Information Administration. Most of those emissions came from coal plants. Part of President Obama’s plan to address climate change, the EPA’s role in regulations was discussed during the president’s Climate Action Plan speech in June.   The proposal provides limits on carbon emissions for new gas-fired power plants and new coal plants. To meet the proposed targets, new coal plants would need to install carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology, to scrub carbon from plant emissions and store it securely underground or use it for other industrial purposes.  Jeffrey R. Holmstead, a coal industry lawyer and former head of EPA’s air and radiation office under President Bush, commented that the costs associated with the new regulation will make the construction of new coal plants impossible; stating, “given the costs of carbon capture and all the other problems associated with it, any rule that requires [it] will effectively prohibit the construction of new coal-fired power plants.”  

For additional information see: New York Times , The Washington Post , EPA Technical Fact Sheet

Senate Energy Efficiency Bill Receives Both Support and Opposition

The bipartisan Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill, drafted by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH), would increase energy efficiency in the construction and manufacturing sectors as well as update building codes and assist federal agencies in energy efficiency improvements.  The bill was debated in the Senate the weeks of September 9 and September 16, but as of September 12, numerous amendments had been filed, ranging from repeal of the health care law to climate change.  Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) filed an amendment to stop the EPA from placing carbon emission regulations on power plants as well as a separate amendment that would discontinue the newly updated “social cost of carbon” (SCC) metric used by federal agencies.  Senator David Vitter (R-LA) introduced an amendment to require the offices of the President, Vice President, Congress and their staffs to obtain health insurance through the new healthcare exchanges; while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) proposed an amendment to delay implementation of the new healthcare law.  Other potential amendments have been discussed, such as mandating a vote on the Keystone XL pipeline. Several lawmakers have been openly critical of the proposed nongermane amendments, expressing concern that they will endanger the entire bill.  The White House issued a statement in support of bipartisan efforts to pass the bill, citing the bill’s co-benefits in both energy efficiency gains and in meeting the goals of the President’s Climate Action Plan.  While the conservative American Heritage Fund has opposed the bill, business leaders and environmentalists are in support.  The League of Conservation Voters said, “Senators Shaheen and Portman have written a common sense, bipartisan bill that would increase energy efficiency, save consumers money, and help grow our economy.”

For additional information see: The Columbus Dispatch , The Hill, Article 1 , Article 2 , Huffington Post

Carbon Footprint of World-wide Corporations Continue to Grow

On September 12, the British non-profit CDP released their annual corporate greenhouse gas emissions report, “Global 500 Climate Change Report,” which provides data on corporate responses to climate change. While emissions from the “global 500” have decreased overall, from 4.2 billion to 3.6 billion metric tons of CO2 since 2009, emissions from the largest 50 companies on the index have risen 1.65 percent in the same time period.  The lowest scoring companies included Costco Wholesale Corp, Procter & Gamble Co., MasterCard Inc. and Danaher Corp.  Among the highest scoring corporations, several automakers filled the ranks, due to recent improvements in fuel economy and increased manufacturing of hybrids and electric vehicles. Other high-ranking companies included Royal Phillips NV, Nestle SA, BNY Mellon Corp, Cisco Systems Inc. and Gas Natural SDG. Paul Simpson, CDP’s chief executive officer, commented on the role that government may play in corporate responsibility, stating “it is imperative that big emitters improve their performance . . . and governments provide more incentives to make this happen”.  

For additional information see: Scientific American , Business Insider , CDP Report

China Unveils Strict Measures to Curb Air Pollution

On September 12, the Chinese government released an ambitious plan to combat worsening air pollution, with the goal of improving China’s air quality over the next five years. The action plan from the State Council indicated that air pollution “harms the people’s health and undermines social harmony and stability.” In January 2013, the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the capital city of Beijing soared to a record 993 micrograms per cubic meter, 40 times the exposure limit recommended by the World Health Organization. Addressing cities suffering from some of the world’s worst air pollution, the plan calls for at least 10 percent nationwide reduction of PM2.5 density by 2017. Stricter reduction objectives are imposed on three major city clusters surrounding Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, mandating PM2.5 reduction of 25, 20, and 15 percent respectively by 2017 from 2012 levels. The plan issued by the State Council aims to cut coal consumption in China, and to increase the use of non-fossil fuels and natural gas. Meanwhile, new coal-fired power plants will be banned in key industrial regions to achieve a ‘negative growth’ in coal consumption. Other measures include closing old steel, cement, and aluminum factories, and implementing new vehicle fuel standards by taking heavy-polluting “yellow-label” vehicles off road across the country by 2017.

For additional information see: The Guardian , Bloombergy

NOAA Releases Global Temperature Overview for August

On September 17, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its monthly national overview on weather patterns for the month of August 2013.  NOAA reports that 2013 is the 28th straight year of recorded warmer than average temperatures.  The summer season of June - August 2013 was the fifth warmest summer recorded, and 2013 is tied with the year 2003 as the sixth warmest year recorded.  Worldwide, August was the fourth warmest month on record and it was particularly warm in parts of South America, western North America, Europe, New Zealand and Australia.  Ocean temperatures have also been on the rise, with hot spots located in the Arctic, areas of the Pacific and the south central Indian Ocean.  Significantly, temperatures have been above average over the past few decades, even during cooling La Niña events.  This summer also saw many extreme weather events, including a 100-year flood in eastern Russia and Typhoon Trami, which brought heavy rain to the Philippines, Taiwan and China.  Looking forward, NOAA has predicted that global average surface temperatures will remain close to record warm levels through the end of 2013 in the Northern Hemisphere. The warmest winter on record so far occurred in 2010.

For additional information see: Climate Central , Report

Antarctic Research Finds Channelized Meltwater Underneath Glacier

Published on September 13 in Science magazine, a study found channels of melted ice weakening the Pine Island Glacier Ice Shelf, the ice shelf at the edge of the Western Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) in Antarctica.  Using data collected from geophysical surveys and oceanographic sensors drilled 1,000 feet into the ice shelf, researchers found that the Pine Island Glacier Ice Shelf is melting in channels under the surface of the glacier.  One of the channels found measured 2,000 feet across, and contributed to two inches of glacier melt a day.  Tim Stanton, lead scientist on the project, explained the melting process: “freshwater forms every time [the sea] injects heat into the shelf.  The warm water starts to melt the ice at the grounding line and creates a buoyant plume called a boundary layer current."  Researchers plan to use the information found in the Pine Island Glacier study to update computer models that help predict global sea-level rise.

For additional information see: National Science Foundation , Climate Central , Science

Effects of Human Activity Visible In Troposphere

On September 16, a new paper reported on the most recent evidence of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. The paper, released in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showcases anthropogenic emissions that are causing two kinds of change in two levels of the atmosphere: warming in the troposphere and cooling in the stratosphere. Increased levels of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil have insulated and warmed the troposphere (the layer of atmosphere closest to the ground where most weather occurs). As a result, less heat is escaping the troposphere to warm the next layer up, the stratosphere. This has led to a cooling of the stratosphere, further encouraged by the depletion of the ozone layer.

For additional information see: Climate Central

New Map Illustrates How Humans Change the Climate

Published on September 15 in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change, a new map shows how humans modify their environment and alter the climate.  Built upon existing work analyzing the resilience of ecosystems to climate change, the new map takes human modification to the environment into account as part of a calculation of the relative threats of climate change to world regions.  Humans alter the landscapes around them in a number of ways by building cities, industrial centers, and farmland, often to the detriment of native ecosystems.  The addition of the human variable offers a more accurate picture of a region's resilience to climate change.  "For the first time, this map places climate change within a human context," explained James Watson, of the Wildlife Conservation Society and lead author of the paper.  

For additional information see: Christian Science Monitor , Nature.com

Industry-Funded Study Finds Low Rates of Methane Leaks from Natural Gas Production

In a study released September 16, researchers from the University of Texas at Austin examined fugitive methane emission levels from natural gas drilling sites in the United States.   The study determined the methane leakage rate for overall gas production to be 0.42 percent, lower than most previous reports but similar to a recent EPA estimate of 0.47 percent.  Researchers were provided access to onshore natural gas production sites and took direct readings from 190 locations, many of which had emission-control technologies in place.  The study, first of a 16-part series to investigate fugitive methane from the natural gas supply chain, is funded primarily by nine oil and gas companies and the Environmental Defense Fund.  Previous studies have found much higher rates of fugitive methane.  A 2011 Cornell study calculated 4.3 percent leakage, while a study released last month by scientists from the University of Colorado at Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found leakage rates at Utah production sites between 6.2 and 11.7 percent (see August 12 issue).  Rates of methane leakage rate have massive implications for near-term climate change, as methane is 72 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years.  In response to the University of Texas study, NOAA researcher Steven Brown said, "What's needed right now are more studies just like this.  We need several different research groups out there doing this type of work.  The more data we generate, the more quickly we'll be able to resolve those differences."

For additional information see: Washington Post , Texas Tribune , Inside Climate News , Study