Climate Change News - September 3, 2012

Arctic Sea Ice Reaches Record Minimum

According to NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center, satellite images confirm that Arctic sea ice coverage has reached a new minimum. As of August 26, the sea ice covered 1.58 million square miles, less than the previous minimum of 1.61 million square miles in September 2007, and a reduction of 40 percent since satellite records began in 1979. The Arctic is currently 30 percent covered by sea ice, and the ice is expected to continue thawing through September. “It’s hard even for people like me to believe, to see that climate change is actually doing what our worst fears dictated,” said Jennifer A. Francis, a research professor at the Rutgers University Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences. The recent melting occurred faster than scientists had predicted and was likely accelerated by an Arctic cyclone (see August 20 issue). “It’s an example of how uncertainty is not our friend when it comes to climate change risk. In this case, the models were almost certainly too conservative in the changes they were projecting, probably because of important missing physics,” said Professor Michael E. Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University. “Reducing black carbon soot and other short-lived climate pollutants can cut the rate of Arctic warming by two-thirds. We need a crash course that starts today with black carbon, which is responsible for half of the Arctic warming, or about one degree Celsius,” stated Durwood Zaelke, president of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development.

For additional information see: Washington Post , New York Times , Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development

Australia, European Union Agree to Combine Carbon Emissions Trading Schemes

On August 28, Australia and the European Union (EU) announced an agreement to link their greenhouse gas Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS) starting in 2015. Australia implemented a fixed carbon price of $23 Australian dollars (A$) per tonne of carbon emissions in July 2012 (see July 2 issue) and had planned to transition into an ETS with a minimum or ‘floor’ price of A$15 per tonne in 2015. The new link with the EU ETS will remove the price floor and allow Australian companies to purchase up to 50 percent of their carbon offsets from the EU. The combination of the trading systems will complete in 2018, when Europeans will be able to purchase carbon offsets from Australia. "Linking the Australian and EU systems reaffirms that carbon markets are the prime vehicle for tackling climate change and the most efficient means of achieving emissions reduction," said Greg Combet, Australian minister for climate change and energy efficiency. European Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard welcomed the union, saying, "It is further evidence of strong international cooperation on climate change and will build further momentum towards establishing a robust international carbon market."

For additional information see: Reuters , Guardian

Former IPCC Chair Says Planet Likely to Surpass Two Degrees Warming

Professor Sir Bob Watson, currently the chief scientist at the United Kingdom (UK) Department for Food and Rural Affairs and former chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said that the international target of preventing global average temperatures from rising above two degrees Celsius was no longer viable. He joins a growing number of experts and organizations in this view, including the International Energy Agency. One of the UK government’s most senior science advisors, Dr. Watson cited a lack of progress at international climate meetings as a primary reason for his pessimism. "If we carry on the way we are there is a 50-50 chance that we will get to a three-degree rise. I wouldn't rule out a five-degree world and that would be quite serious for the people of the world, especially the poorest,” he explained. He said that increased political will and continued evolution of energy technology could help avoid the more catastrophic scenarios. Dr. Watson is set to leave his position in the UK government next month.

For additional information see: BBC

Countries Discuss $100 Billion Green Climate Fund

Board representatives from 24 countries met August 23-25 in Geneva to discuss the mechanics of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The intention of the fund is to “transform the livelihoods of people responding to the impacts of climate change," said GCF co-chair Zaheer Fakir of South Africa. The GCF was proposed in 2009 at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) 15 in Copenhagen as a mechanism for developed countries to support climate change mitigation and adaptation projects in developing countries, and ultimately confirmed at the 2011 COP17 in Durban. Combined, global public and private climate aid amounts to about $10 billion annually, but by 2020 it is targeted to reach $100 billion annually as agreed in Copenhagen, much of which could be managed by the GCF. "This first meeting was a very productive start," said fellow GCF co-chair Ewen McDonald of Australia. The GCF board will reconvene in October in South Korea to discuss the future location of the GCF Secretariat; a final decision is expected at the November COP18 in Doha.

For additional information see: Chicago Tribune , Guardian

Small Island Nations Meet to Address Climate Change

The Pacific Island Forum (PIF) convened its 43rd session the week of August 27, with climate change as a top priority. The PIF is comprised of 15 countries, mainly small island developing states, as well as Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Many of the low-lying island countries are threatened by climate change. According to Tuiloma Neroni Slade, the PIF secretary general, "We're very exposed to climate change impacts, loss of fresh water, coastal erosion, acidification of water with impacts on coral reefs." The concerns of the PIF were heard by delegates from 41 other countries including the United States, represented by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and China.

For additional information see: NASDAQ , Voice of America

New NGO Partners Join the Climate and Clean Air Coalition

Five non-government (NGO) institutions joined the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC). The CCAC, launched by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in February (see February 20 and July 30 issues), aims to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon, methane and hydrofluorocarbons, from sectors such as transportation, manufacturing, oil and natural gas production and municipal solid waste.“The coalition has the potential to be the catalyst for cutting the rate of climate change in half for the next 30 to 40 years, while saving millions of lives a year and preventing significant crop losses,” said Durwood Zaelke, president of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD). The IGSD, along with the Clean Air Task Force, ClimateWorks Foundation, the International Council on Clean Transportation and the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative are the latest partners admitted to the CCAC. The IGSD will serve as the NGO representative on the newly formed CCAC Steering Committee, while United Nations Environmental Programme will represent inter-governmental organizations.

For additional information see: Climate and Clean Air Coalition , Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development

Zoos Strive for Balance between Education and Advocacy

Zoos and aquariums are attempting to slowly introduce information about climate change into their installations, while maintaining a nonpartisan approach to their educational materials. Speaking about the immediate feedback that zoos receive from their visitors, Paul Boyle, senior vice president for conservation at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums said, “You don’t want them walking away saying, ‘I paid to get in, I bought my kid a hot dog, I just want to show my kid a fish – and you are making me feel bad about climate change.' ” Though some zoos and aquariums are avoiding referring to climate change, others have found a way to discuss global warming with their visitors. For example, the 224 national members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums all incorporate educational material that references climate change in their daily presentations to visitors.

For additional information see: New York Times

MIT Study Finds Carbon Tax Could Raise $1.5 Trillion

A new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) proposes a carbon tax that would raise $1.5 trillion over a 10-year period. Presented in light of looming budget cuts and growing national debt, the study examined the impact of a national tax of $20 per ton of carbon beginning in 2013 and increasing four percent per year. In addition to the direct financial benefits, the study projected that by 2050 the tax would cut oil imports by 10 million barrels per day and reduce carbon dioxide emissions 20 percent below 2006 levels. “Congress will face many difficult tradeoffs in stimulating the economy and job growth while reducing the deficit. But with the carbon tax there are virtually no serious tradeoffs. Our analysis shows the overall economy improves, taxes are lower and pollution emissions are reduced,” explained study co-author John Reilly. The MIT report comes weeks after Rep. Jim McDermott introduced carbon tax legislation in the House (see August 13 issue).

For additional information see: The Hill , Bloomberg Bureau of National Affairs , Study

Substantial Methane Reservoirs Trapped under Antarctic Ice

A study published in the journal Nature on August 30 finds that the Antarctic likely holds substantial amounts of the potent greenhouse gas methane trapped under ice sheets. The assessment reveals that ancient organic carbon sedimentary basins are situated under Antarctic ice sheets. The sedimentary basins contain an estimated 21,000 billion tonnes of organic carbon and are expected to be biologically active, meaning that microbes probably have converted the organic carbon into carbon dioxide and methane over thousands of years. According to lead author Jemima Wadham, a professor in glaciology at Bristol University, "This is an immense amount of organic carbon, more than ten times the size of carbon stocks in northern permafrost regions. Our laboratory experiments tell us that these sub-ice environments are also biologically active, meaning that this organic carbon is probably being metabolised to carbon dioxide and methane gas by microbes." The methane – which at high pressure and sub-freezing temperatures becomes methane hydrate – is safely locked beneath the Antarctic ice; however, thinning of the ice could see its release, starting a dangerous positive feedback loop.

For additional information see: BBC , Time

Carbon Intensity Is Falling, but Other Steps Are Required

The Center for Global Development recently published the results of a study about global carbon intensity and emission levels between the years 2004 and 2009. The study found that global carbon emission from electricity generation increased 13.6 percent from 2004 to 2009. The Center for Global Development attributed this increase in emissions to developing countries. China and India reduced their economic carbon intensity by 10 percent, but overall, developing countries had a combined energy consumption increase of 34 percent, which outweighed the combined 1.3 percent reduction in carbon intensity. Affluent countries reduced their overall energy consumption by 5.5 percent, as well as increased their energy efficiency levels by 2.7 percent. However, any gains garnered by developed countries were overshadowed by increased emissions from less affluent countries. Kevin Ummel, project manager of the Center for Global Development's Carbon Monitoring for Action database said, "Reducing carbon intensity by 10 percent over five years is laudable, but I wonder if we're not stuck in a trend where everyone is focused on the little efficiency gains they squeeze out here and there. At the end of the day, these just pale in comparison to the rate of consumption. In terms of climate, we're really losing the battle, even if we're making small gains here and there."

For additional information see: Agence France-Presse