The Obama Administration announced it would delay its decision on whether to authorize construction of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline until 2013. In a State Department press release, officials cited several factors that contributed to the decision, including concerns about the environmental sensitivity of the Sands Hill area of Nebraska, through which the pipeline would be built. The November 10 statement announced the Administration will now conduct a thorough reassessment of proposed pipeline route alternatives. In addition, the release also noted, “Among the relevant issues that would be considered are environmental concerns (including climate change), energy security, economic impacts, and foreign policy.”

For additional information see: Washington Post, State Department

On November 8, the Obama Administration announced intentions to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants. The rule, titled “Greenhouse Gas New Source Performance Standard for Electric Utility Steam Generating Units,” would be the first rule that allows the EPA to enforce standards for new power plants. New regulations about greenhouse gas emissions have been delayed by Republican lawmakers claiming that actions of the EPA will result in fewer jobs. Opponents claim that economic costs of the rule will outweigh environmental benefits. The proposed regulation follows a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that the EPA has the authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act if it found greenhouse gases to be a danger to public health, which EPA confirmed in a 2008 endangerment finding.

For additional information see: LA Times

The Georgetown Climate Center recently launched the Adaptation Clearinghouse, an online tool to find and share resources and information that pertain to climate change policy issues and adaptation measures. This new online community will serve as a database of new research about climate change adaptation, as well as a forum to spread newly developed models and techniques. Some of the recent resources shared in the online community include a comprehensive model that explores sea level rise and coastal land use, and an adaptation plan for the city of Chula Vista that weighs the potential infrastructural impacts of climate change on the city. The Georgetown Climate Center is a nonpartisan group that aims to connect policymakers and share best practices and resources concerning climate change.

For additional information see: Georgetown Climate Center

The Pew Center on Global Climate Change has announced it has changed its name to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) after it lost $3.5 million in funding from its primary donor, The Pew Charitable Trusts. In lieu of Pew’s funding, C2ES has found funding from three “strategic partners”, Entergy, HP and Shell, as well as major contributions from Alcoa Foundation, Bank of America, GE, The Energy Foundation, Duke Energy and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. According to Eileen Claussen, the group’s president and former climate change negotiator under President Bill Clinton, “Every one of these companies does some things that we don’t like. . . They’ve got trade associations to do their bidding and they’ve got lobbyists. They view their association with us as different because we are in fact independent.” Claussen stressed that C2ES will remain commited to “fact-based analysis and pragmatic solutions.”

For additional information see: AFP, Bloomberg, C2ES Press Release

According to a November 1 UN report, a global market for carbon that is stored within the world’s oceans is necessary to protect marine and coastal environments, or “blue carbon.” Over 55 percent of the biological carbon captured globally is captured by marine organisms, and preventing further loss of marine environments while working towards their recovery could offset three to seven percent of current fossil fuels emissions. The report estimates that as much as seven percent of blue carbon sinks are lost each year. According to the report, a Blue Carbon Fund would encourage investments in the maintenance and rehabilitation of these crucial marine ecosystems.

For additional information see: Environmental Finance, UN Report

The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) announced on November 4 that over $1 billion will be invested in climate change mitigation. Working with banks such as the African Development Bank and the World Bank Group, the CIF funds help developing countries establish low emissions development projects that are adaptive with climate change. Recipients of the near-zero interest loans and grants include nations such as Bolivia, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mali, Mexico, and Nepal. The CIF will invest in projects such as developing renewable hydropower in India and Nepal, establishing a grid-connected renewable energy system in Honduras, and combating deforestation in Laos by supporting sustainable forest management.

For additional information see: All Africa, CIF Projects

Australia’s parliament passed the most comprehensive carbon pricing scheme outside of the European Union (EU) on November 7. The law will put a tax of $23 (around $23.78 U.S. dollars) on each ton of carbon emitted by the top 500 polluters from July 2012 until July 2015, after which it will become a carbon trading emission scheme. Even though Australia only accounts for 1.5 percent of the world’s emissions, they have the highest per capita emissions intensity of any country because coal generates 80 percent of the country’s electricity. The government expects the tax will incentivize a multibillion dollar investment in cleaner fuels and will move their energy economy away from coal. The law also provides compensation for export-exposed industries, such as aluminum, zinc and steel, and provides personal tax cuts for workers (totaling up to $300 per year on average). In addition, the export-exposed industries will receive 94.5 percent of their carbon permits for free for the first three years. Once the scheme moves to a tradable permit system, it will be integrated with EU’s trading scheme.

For additional information see: The Guardian, Reuters

Following a decision to ban hydrofuorocarbon-23 (HFC-23) in Europe by May 2013, there will no longer be a market in which credits for hydrofluorocarbon credits are bought. According to Xie Fei, revenue management director at China Clean Development Mechanism Fund, this would cause Chinese producers of HFCs to vent the gases rather than incinerating them. Since 2007, the Chinese fund that collects revenue from local HFC offset projects has made over $1.3 billion, which was used to invest in emissions reduction schemes and carbon policy. The market for HFC offsets is expected to become obsolete as the EU bans the detrimental greenhouse gas, and Australia and New Zealand work toward similar decisions. Major Chinese manufacturers and producers of HFCs claimed that without the market for pollution credits, the cost of incineration is too high. HFC-23 is 11,700 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas and remains in the atmosphere for about 200 years.

For additional information see: Bloomberg

On November 8, EU finance ministers pledged 7.2 billion Euros to fund projects in developing countries that address climate change. This is a steep increase from previous years—in 2010 and 2011, the EU members provided 4.68 billion Euros to climate change projects in developing countries. Critics of the finance commitment argue that the funds are not new investments, but relabelled development funding. This funding is a critical part of the pledge to deliver $30 billion as “fast-start finance” to developing nations between 2010 and 2012. Fast-start finance was established in Copenhagen in 2009 to help developing nations cope with climate change. Further negotiations and pledges for financing climate projects in developing countries will be central to the Durban summit, set to begin November 28.

For additional information see: Reuters, Business Green

According to a recent Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) report, global carbon intensity—a measure of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per unit of production—grew 0.6 percent in the past year. The global GDP rose 5.1 percent and CO2 emissions rose 5.8 percent in the same time frame. This year was the first year since 2000 that the G20 nations have made no progress in reducing carbon intensity. Rising carbon intensity renders the goal of keeping global temperature rise within 2 degrees Celsius increasingly unlikely. The increase in intensity is attributed to booming economic growth in China, Brazil, and South Korea, along with especially cold winter temperatures in the northern hemisphere. This report was released as an installment in PWC’s “Low Carbon Economy Index”.

For additional information see: Business Green, Report

After initially spotting an 18 mile long crack in the ice on Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica, NASA scientists concluded that a 300 square-mile iceberg will break off in the next few months. The newly formed iceberg is likely Antarctica’s largest contribution to global sea level rise so far. Warmer water has melted the deeper portions of the ice shelf that would otherwise have kept the ice mass grounded, leaving the mass of ice unstable. Scientists studying the ice shelf are unsure whether the ice will recover its size, or continue to become thinner and weaker, continually contributing to sea level rise.

For additional information see: Washington Post, NASA

New research suggests that coral reefs may be more adaptive to climate change than previously thought. Ocean acidification, the result of increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), causes corals to become brittle and to grow more slowly. However, areas of reef that are close to ecosystems with much photosynthesis, such as sea grass beds and areas rich in algae, are resilient to this threat because the plant life absorbs the CO2, thus mitigating acidification. This phenomenon could protect some areas of reef for longer, giving scientists more time to study ecosystems and adaptation methods. This study was published in the journal PLoS One.

For additional information see: The Australian, Abstract

According to a recent report by the International Energy Agency, irreversible climate change consequences are unavoidable if dramatic changes are not made within the next five years. If current pledges to reduce emissions are successful, the temperature average is projected to rise 3.5 degrees Celsius, says the report, which is still considerably higher than the two degree rise in temperature considered safe by scientists. The authors of the World Energy Outlook report said they are not optimistic that these planned measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will even be successful, and a failure to meet emissions reduction goals could result in a temperature rise of at least six degrees Celsius. Some factors that are expected to aggravate emissions problems include reluctance to continue using nuclear energy following the Fukushima disaster, unwillingness to abandon current industry and infrastructure, and growing numbers of fossil fuel-dependent power plants and inefficient buildings.

For additional information see: Washington Post, Business Green

A recent analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) indicated that the ecology, sea level, and water supply of California’s San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta will be altered significantly by 2100 in response to different climate change scenarios. Warmer waters and increased salinity threaten native marine ecosystems. Key species such as Delta smelt and Chinook salmon will face great difficulty maintaining a sustainable population. Changes in regional water systems would affect the drinking water of 25 million people, and the irrigation that sustains $36 billion worth of crops annually. To cope with changes, the study suggested building an integrated understanding of river-estuary systems and climate change, monitoring the environmental indicators related to uncertainties about climate change, considering the effect of climate change on the biological community and local habitats, and anticipating adaptions to changing ecosystems. The study was published in the online journal PLoS One.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Abstract

Other Headlines

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing to learn about how clean, renewable, efficient biomass heating can contribute to job creation, economic development, and energy security in communities across the country, as well as ways in which policies can help overcome some of the existing challenges and barriers to biomass use in the residential, commercial, and institutional sectors. This briefing was organized in conjunction with Biomass Thermal Energy Council, Biomass Coordinating Council, McGuire Woods, Northeast Biomass Thermal Working Group, Pellet Fuels Institute and Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition. The briefing will be held Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM in Room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building. This event is free and open to the public. No RSVP required. For more information, contact Clare Cooper at ccooper [at] eesi.org or (202) 662-1884.

For additional information see:

Writers: Deep Ghosh and Matthew Johnson

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Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are rising faster than the worst case scenarios projected only four years ago. The 2007 from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) correlated the rate of greenhouse gas pollution to the rate of warming, stating that temperatures will rise between 4 and 11 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. However, world CO2 emissions in 2010 exceeded 2009 emissions by about 564 million tons, a 6 percent increase. This exceeds the pollution output used by the IPCC in climate models. The United States and China were accountable for about half of the global CO2 emissions increase. The study was conducted by the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, a part of the U.S. Department of Energy.

For additional information see: Washington Post, Environmental News Online

North Dakota and representatives of the coal industry sued Minnesota, claiming that the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act is unconstitutional. Minnesota’s Next Generation Energy Act restricts imported power from any new, large energy facility that contributes to statewide carbon emissions. Minnesota produces about 60 percent of its energy domestically, relying on energy imports for the remainder. According to the complaint, restrictions for out-of-state energy projects are “onerous regulatory burdens” that unconstitutionally interfere with the energy industry. Tim Pawlenty, the governor of Minnesota when the Next Generation Energy Act Passed, stated that the policy is necessary to address energy issues, to increase renewable energy use, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

For additional information see: Business Week, Bloomberg

Environmental groups have postponed legal action against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice on October 29. The groups had sued the EPA to issue rules on carbon emissions after it failed to do so in June and again in September, saying that it needed more time to talk with businesses. The group included the Environmental Defense Fund as well as California, New York, and other states. The EPA said that they are close to announcing next steps toward issuing rules to cost-effectively limit emissions from power plants and petroleum refineries.

For additional information see: Reuters

A new University of Florida study found that as average global temperatures increase, even by a few degrees, human migrations are expected to increase as well, and governments must plan accordingly. When temperatures rise, weather patterns change and the severity and frequency of storms and natural disasters increase. Governments will need to prepare for the mass movement of people displaced by these disasters – something which is frequently mishandled when the complexities involved are underestimated. “Transplanting a population and its culture from one location to another is a complex process — as complicated as brain surgery,” lead author Anthony Oliver-Smith said. A simple cost-benefit analysis would show that the long-term costs of failed resettlements—including disease, malnutrition, and destroyed family and social networks—will waste more resources than if the resettlement is properly planned from the start. The study was published in the October 28 edition of Science.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Study Abstract

At a recent climate meeting in Beijing that included Brazil, South Africa, India, and China (known collectively as the BASIC countries), India received support for its stance on climate change discussions, as Indian environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan called for inclusion of equity and trade issues in the climate discussion agenda. The group of nations met in Beijing to work through issues pertaining to the upcoming Durban conference. The nations issued a statement emphasizing “the importance of the Indian Proposal to include issues of equity, trade, and intellectual property” in Durban. The four nations also asserted that they would not support carbon trading with countries that have not committed to the goals of the Kyoto Protocol.

For additional information see: Times of India, China Daily

Businesses in the United Kingdom surpassed the goal set under the 2010 Climate Change Agreement (CCA) by achieving a reductions of 28.5 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). The 2010 goal for carbon savings was set by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change at 25.8 millions of tons of CO2 per year. The success has been attributed to investments in energy saving technology, and the incentive of a 65 percent discount on the government’s Climate Change Levy through March 2013, if they agreed to meet energy efficiency targets. Of the 9,634 facilities reporting under the scheme, 99 percent were able to renew their Climate Change Levy Discounts.

For additional information see: Business Green, DECC

On October 27, the Climate Bonds Initiative announced how the anticipated Carbon Bond Standard will work. Bond issuers will be required to identify the assets that will be financed or refinanced, appoint a verification company to check for compliance with standards, and submit an application to the Climate Bond Standard Board and Secretariat. The program aims to provide assurance to investors about the environmental benefits of climate bonds, and to provide governments with a tool to assess investments. The Climate Bond Initiative is currently working with the Global Canopy Programme and the World Wildlife Fund on a forestry bond standard to be released in 2013.

For additional information see: Environmental Finance, Climate Bonds Initiative

The UK-based Environmental Investment Organization (EIO) published its list on November 1, ranking companies based on their disclosure of emissions. The chemical company BASF achieved the number one spot. However, despite BASF’s transparency in reporting its carbon emissions, the rankings showed that less than half of the world’s largest companies reported full emissions data. A new component of the rankings covers supply chain and transportation emissions. BASF was the only company to report emissions for all 15 categories. However, 55 percent of the companies reported incomplete or no data at all. The last four places were filled by utilities, with U.S. companies First Energy, Edison International and Entergy in the bottom three. The EIO hopes that the rankings will provide incentive for companies to reduce emissions, improve reporting, and provide increased clarity for investors, especially in light of the upcoming climate talks in Durban beginning on November 28th.

For additional information see: Business Green

Temperature changes lag by as much as 50 years behind the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that cause the change, according to a new study published in International Journal of Global Warming. Atmospheric CO2 is increasing rapidly—by about 2 parts per million by volume (ppmv) per year—but the associated temperature increase is thus far delayed. Prior to the industrial revolution, atmospheric CO2 was roughly 220 ppmv compared to the 390 ppmv that it is today. Researchers also noted that the oscillating cycle of glaciers melting and forming is no longer valid due to the current levels of carbon dioxide.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Alaska Dispatch, Study Abstract

Climate change is responsible for causing 10 of the 12 driest Mediterranean winters to occur in the last 20 years, according to a study published in the Journal of Climate on October 27. The team led by Martin Hoerling, lead author of the paper, used climate models to analyze rainfall patterns wherein they discovered rapidly increasing dryness in the surrounding region. They examined the impacts of natural variability as well as climate change and the cyclical climate pattern known as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). According to the results, climate change is responsible for roughly half of the increased dryness from 1902 to 2010. “The magnitude and frequency of the drying that has occurred is too great to be explained by natural variability alone,” said Mr. Hoerling. “This is not encouraging news for a region that already experiences water stress, because it implies natural variability alone is unlikely to return the region’s climate to normal.”

For additional information see: Science Daily, USA Today, CIRES Press Release, Study Abstract

A new study suggests that trees are not adapting as efficiently to climate change as originally expected. Scientists studied data on 92 species of trees from over 43,000 forests to find that nearly 59 percent of the species were not migrating, despite warming temperatures. The previous prediction assumed that seeds sown in more northern latitudes will sprout, while seeds sown in the southern reaches of a tree population will not, and older trees in southern latitudes will die without having established a new generation of trees nearby. To test this, scientists reviewed data from the U.S. Forest Survey Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, to compare the distribution of seedlings and adult trees. The data suggested only about 21 percent are shifting northward, 4 percent are expanding in both directions, and 16 percent are shifting southward. The study was published in Global Change Biology.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Abstract

A new study suggests that the drying of northern wetlands has caused more severe peatland wildfires. Wetlands are usually resistant to wildfires, but as they drain and the water table is lowered, the dry carbon mass is susceptible to fire. The fires have caused a nine-fold increase in the amount of carbon that has been released into the atmosphere. This is equal to about 450 years of peat accumulation. Peatlands are important to the global carbon cycle. A large peatland fire in Indonesia in the late 1990s caused a carbon release that totalled 40 percent of annual carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Abstract

According to a recent analysis of several different modeled scenarios for climate change, rising sea levels will swamp Washington DC by 2150. Depending on the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted in the future, the temperature could rise enough to cause a sea level rise anywhere between four inches by 2043, to 16 feet by 2150. Researchers used geographic information systems to model and illustrate the outcome of sea level rise on the city and its underlying infrastructure. Low-end projections of sea level rise yield estimates of property damage around $2 billion. A sea level rise of 5 meters could result in $24.6 billion of property damage in Washington DC. This study was published in the journal Risk Analysis.

For additional information see: USA Today, Abstract

According to a recent draft of a U.N. report, climate change is causing more frequent and severe weather events, such as heat waves, wildfires, and floods. The report connects rising atmospheric temperatures, rising sea levels, and warmer ocean surface temperatures to recent extreme weather events. According to the report, peak temperatures are likely to increase up to 3 degrees Celsius by 2050. These changes in ocean conditions will cause more destructive cyclones. Melting glaciers, melting permafrost, and increased precipitation will cause more landslides. The document is the result of an intensive review of reports and data, and includes a 20 page summary for policymakers. The draft will be reviewed by hundreds of scientists working under the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) later in November.

For additional information see: AFP

Other Headlines

H.R. 2112: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012

Intent: Up to $2,000,000,000 may be used for the construction, acquisition, or improvement of fossil-fueled electric generating plants (whether new or existing) that utilize carbon sequestration systems. For grants to public transit agencies for capital investments that will reduce the energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions of their public transportation systems, $25,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2014: Provided, That priority shall be given to projects that use innovative and potentially replicable approaches to reducing energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions.

Previous Action: 11/1/2011 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 69 – 30. Record Vote Number: 194.

Sponsor: Jack Kingston (R-GA)

For more information: Library of Congress

Name of Legislation: H.CON.RES.84

Intent: Recognizing the disparate impact of climate change on women and the efforts of women globally to address climate change.

Previous Action: 11/3/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Sponsor: Barbara Lee (D-CA)

For more information: Library of Congress

For additional information see:

Writers: Kate Glass, Joey Gosselar, and Matthew Johnson

Please distribute Climate Change News to your colleagues. Permission for reproduction of this newsletter is granted provided that the Environmental and Energy Study Institute is properly acknowledged as the source. Past issues are available here. Free email subscriptions are available here. We welcome your suggestions, comments, and questions.

EESI’s work, including this free newsletter, is made possible by financial support from people like you. Please help us continue to make it available by making a secure, online donation today by clicking here or mailing a check to Environmental and Energy Study Institute; 1112 16th St NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036. Please contact Susan Williams at (202) 662-1887 or see www.eesi.org/donate to find out more. Thank you for your support!

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On September 28, the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of a cap and trade system of pollution credits proposed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The cap and trade program is a part of the AB 32 Scoping Plan, which includes strategies to reduce greenhouse gas levels to 1990 levels by 2020. Enforcement of cap and trade rules in California will be delayed until January 2013. CARB appealed the judge’s recommendation to consider alternatives to a cap and trade system, such as nontradable emissions limits and a tax on carbon-emitting fuels, such as gasoline. The Board examined and rejected these options in the past. The case provoked controversy among some environmental groups that support cap and trade to reduce emissions, and groups that believe the market approach renders low income communities susceptible to more pollution.

For additional information see: San Francisco Chronicle

At the Major Economies Forum (MEF) held September 16 and 17, the United States reasserted its stance that it will not ratify a treaty on climate change that excludes emerging economies. U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern said the United States will only support a treaty that includes “equal legal force to major developing countries.” Stern has previously conceded that a legally binding agreement to reduce emissions is possible, but all major emitters must be bound to the same legal comitments. The MEF included the 17 nations with the most greenhouse gas emissions, and featured discussions about whether the Kyoto Protocol should be extended or replaced with a new approach to climate change. Recognizing that new plans to mitigate climate change will not be made at the upcoming Durban conference, the members of the MEF discussed methods to build confidence in previous mitigation pledges, the importance of public funding to support climate change mitigation programs, and the possibility of building emissions guidelines over time.

For additional information see: Sustainable Business, Major Economies Forum, EESI

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has been under scrutiny recently, after Wikileaks revealed that most CDM projects in India are actually ineligible because they do not reduce emissions beyond what would be achieved without foreign investments. CDM is a market-based mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol that allows wealthy nations to offset carbon emissions by investing in clean energy projects in developing nations. A diplomatic cable written in July 2008, sent from the U.S. consulate in Mumbai to the U.S. secretary of state, described the UN’s validation and registration process as “arbitrary.” The cable also revealed that most of the carbon offset projects in India do not meet the CDM requirements set by the United Nations, and that authorities seeking to validate new projects often forgo investigative measures, simply accepting the word of the project developers. Critics claim that more stringent oversight and harsher penalties for violations are crucial to the success of the CDM and other carbon trading projects.

For additional information see: Nature

According to a recent study from the Canadian National Round Table on the Environment, climate change could cost Canada $21 to $43 billion annually by 2050 if a plan to mitigate global warming is not implemented. The report predicted that, within the next decade, climate change impacts will cost Canada up to $5 billion per year. The economic risks outlined in the report included storm surge damage to coastal regions such as Vancouver, infrastructure issues due to sea level rise, and a rise in healthcare expenses due to poor air quality. The cost of these issues could eventually reach up to one percent of Canada’s GDP. The report stressed the importance of mitigating future expenses by addressing climate change now, with measures such as enhancing forest fire prevention and planting climate-resilient tree species.

For additional information see: Edmonton Journal, Study

The Global Adaptation Institute recently released a new update to its annual Global Adaptation Index (GAIn) that tracks the potential risks of climate change impact around the world. The goal of the GAIn project is to provide information for governments and private sector investors about climate change adaptation measures and potential around the globe. GAIn consists of a color coded map that assesses both the vulnerability of a region to dramatic climate shifts, and the readiness of different regions to adapt to the changing climate. The readiness component accounts for economic, social and government factors that are considered based on indicators such as financial and investment freedom, political stability and control of corruption, and tertiary education. According to the index, Denmark, Switzerland, and Ireland are among the best equipped to deal with potential threats, while Burundi, Zimbabwe, and the Central African Republic face some of the greatest challenges.

For additional information see: Washington Post, Global Adaptation Index

According to a new report by the European Commission’s Joint Research Center, global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased 45 percent between 1990 and 2010, reaching 33 billion tons last year. Industrialized nations subject to the Kyoto Protocol, however, are on track to meet their goals. The report stated that a surge of emissions from developing nations such as China and India, whose CO2 output increased 257 and 180 percent, respectively, over the course of the decade, were largely responsible for the global increase. In the United States, CO2 emissions increased by five percent. Nations in the European Union decreased CO2 emissions by seven percent, and Russia saw a decrease of 28 percent. Nations that ratified the Kyoto Protocol and the United States were responsible for about two-thirds of global emissions in 1990, but these countries are now responsible for less than half of global emissions. The report was based on results from the Emissions Database for Atmospheric Research, and recent statistics for energy use.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Environment 360, Report

Climate change could soon cause the ascent of Mount Everest to be ice-free, according to custodians and climbers. Scientists have a long way to go to understand the changing climate and glacial mass of the Himalayas, but anecdotal evidence from local people suggests that the ice on the Southern approach to the mountain is melting rapidly, even in higher altitude areas. John All, an expert on the glaciers of Nepal, claimed that on a recent climb he rarely used crampons because there was so much bare rock. “In the past that would have been suicide because there was so much ice,” explained All. Previous generations of climbers and historic photographs of the legendary mountain show that the ice has become less deep and extensive.

For additional information see: Guardian

On September 24, representatives of small island states admonished the General Assembly of the United Nations to pay greater attention to the causes and effects of climate change. Proposed mitigation measures included increasing renewable energy, studying the susceptibility of island communities to climate change risks, renewing pledges to assist vulnerable communities, and putting an end to illegal fishing. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines stated that he was “baffled by the intransigence of major emitters and developed nations that refuse to shoulder the burden for arresting climate change that are linked to the excesses of their own wasteful policies.” Representatives also outlined how climate change will render sustainable development impossible for small island states, calling for more comprehensive environmental and economic programs to support climate change mitigation in highly vulnerable regions.

For additional information see: UN News Centre

New research has found that life expectancy of bryozoans—a tiny invertebrate animal living in the shallow seafloor areas of the West Antarctic Peninsula—decreased by half in the past 12 years because shrinking winter sea ice has dramatically increased the frequency of icebergs scraping the bryozoans’ seafloor ecosystem. The frequent scraping of the icebergs on the sea floor causes ecosystem destruction that often inhibits the bryozoans from reaching reproductive age. Seafloor organisms such as bryozoans, once one of the most abundant creatures in the region, are believed to be a carbon sink, and their decline may trigger more severe ecological consequences. The study was conducted by placing cement markers on the seafloor to record iceberg scraping and comparing this to recorded life expectancy. Iceberg scouring is believed to be increasing in regions of the Arctic as well, posing a potential threat to many key ecosystems. The study was published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

For additional information see: Environmental Protection Online, Abstract

A recent study projected an increase in ozone-related deaths in Europe over the next 60 years due to climate change. Researchers used two models of future greenhouse gas emission scenarios to project the impact of climate change on health risks related to ozone levels, revealing that in countries such as Belgium, France, Spain, and Portugal, ozone-related deaths could increase 10 to 14 percent in the next half century. Ozone pollution is linked to hospitalization and deaths related to respiratory problems, and rising temperatures cause increased ground-level ozone formation. The study was a part of the Climate-TRAP project, a European program that conducts and presents research about the projected impacts and potential preparation measures for climate change.

For additional information see: Science Daily

Scientists suspect that the amount of carbon dioxide processed by plants is 25 percent greater than previous estimates, a discrepency that would alter projections of how much CO2 forests and crops can absorb. A recent study from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography observed that the ratio of oxygen isotopes in CO2—which can be used to measure how fast the gas is processed through plants—suggests that climate change models may need to be revised because the rate of photosynthesis in plants has been underestimated. The amount of carbon inhaled by plants, previously estimated at 120 billion tons per year, is now believed to be between 150 and 175 billion tons per year. The study was published in the journal Nature.

For additional information see: Sydney Morning Herald, Abstract

Other Headlines

H.R. 2401: Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act of 2011

Intent: Requires analyses of the cumulative and incremental impacts of certain rules and actions of the Environmental Protection Agency, (including rules promulgated through New Source Performance Standards to address climate change), and for other purposes.

Previous Action: 79/26/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Sponsor: Sullivan (R-OK)

For additional information see: THOMAS

EESI, a participating member of the Combined Federal Campaign workplace giving program, will have a table at the Pentagon’s CFC Kick-Off Charity Fair this year on October 5. If you work at the Pentagon, please stop by our table from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM to find out more about EESI’s work to curb climate change on Wednesday, October 5!
All federal employees and members of the military can help advance sustainable energy by designating EESI in the Combined Federal Campaign with CFC #10627.

The Passive House Institute U.S. and the Environmental and Energy Studies Institute invite you to The 6th Annual North American Passive House Conference. Ellen Vaughan, policy director of High Performance Green Buildings at EESI, will present at the conference, addressing the crucial role of the government in forwarding the highest green building standard to grow the Passive House sector in the United States. The North American Passive House Conference gathers building experts – from architects to engineers to contractors – to share the latest technology developments and best practices for building sustainable, comfortable and affordable Passive House buildings and retrofits in the US market.
The panel will take place on Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 10:15 am to 12:15, at the Silver Spring Civic Building – One Veterans Place; Silver Spring, MD 20910.

For additional information contact: Laura Parsons at lparsons@eesi.org

To register for the conference please go to: Passive House

Writers: Kate Glass, Joey Gosselar, and Matthew Johnson

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