Tell your Senators to Stop Playing Politics with Public Health and Protect Clean Air

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has voted more than 165 times this year to undercut environmental protections and safeguards. Now, their allies in the U.S. Senate are gearing up for similar attacks, starting with an effort to block the life-saving Cross State Air Pollution Rule. This week the Senate will be debating three separate bills to fund a budget for the government next year. This is the first step in the long process of crafting a bipartisan spending bill. Unfortunately, many members see this bill as a way to attach dirty amendments that do away with safeguards that protect our water, our air, and our wild lands. See sample Action Alerts from the Sierra Club and send a message to your senators demanding they protect clean air and pass these spending bills without dirty amendments.

OCTOBER 29 #ROBINHOOD GLOBAL MARCH

On Saturday, October 29, the eve of the G20 Leaders Summit in France, the Occupy Wall Street Movement and Adbusters are asking the people to join in demanding that the G20 leaders immediately impose a 1% tax on all financial transactions and currency trades. At COP15 in Copenhagen, the United States showed leadership in committing to mobilize up to $30 billion by 2012, and $100 billion a year by 2020. A Financial Transaction Tax could be a critical source of the public finance needed to meet this commitment. For more about the FTT and other sources of innovative climate finance which leaders will be discussing at next week’s G20 Summit, see MakeFinanceWork.org or further information from USCAN members including IPS, Oxfam and ActionAid.
For more information and/or for full action alert template please email mdixon@climatenetwork.org.

Carol Werner, Executive Director
October 24, 2011

News

• Climate Skeptic Project Reinforces Climate Data
• Judge Says that Endangered Species Act Cannot Extend to GHG Emissions
• South Korea Introduces New Emissions Limitations
• Panama Climate Discussions Set Stage for Durban
• Businesses Urge Government Action on Climate Change
• Canadian Companies Considering Climate Change More
• Report Outlines Australian Alps Vulnerability to Climate Change
• Study: Climate Change, Elk Are Reducing Rocky Mountain Aspen Trees
• Amazon Drought in 2010 Emitted More CO2 Than India
• Melting Himalayan Glaciers Require Immediate Action
• Study Correlates Genetic Traits in Plants and Climatic Adaptability
• Scientists Link Bacterial Communication and Climate Change
• Changing Oceans May Cause Less Effective Carbon Sink
• Researchers Produce New Atmospheric Data and Greenhouse Gas Models
• Climate Change Causes Plants and Animals to Shrink
• Aerosol Pollution Explains Climate Model Discrepancies
• Scientists Focus on Sea Level Rise in New Projections
• Researchers Reveal Inclusive Carbon Supply Chain
• Study Suggests Climate Change Will Cause Rapid Alterations in Tree Cover
• Scientists Observe the Carbon Cycles of Rivers and Streams
• Other Headlines

Events

• October 26: FDA’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Event
• October 28-29, 2011: 6th Annual North American Passive House Conference

Climate Skeptic Project Reinforces Climate Data Richard Muller, a physicist and climate skeptic, who announced in 2010 that he would complete a review of temperature data that shape climate change findings, recently announced that his review actually confirmed current climate change data. The Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature Team (BEST), as the team of scientists was called, tested common climate skeptics claims. A summary of the BEST team concludes “global warming is real.” The aim of the project was to investigate criticism of current climate science data and form a critical analysis of climate reconstructions and quantification. However, BEST discovered that their data actually matched climate estimates from sources such as NASA, and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Muller’s project received $150,000 from the Charles G. Koch foundation, skeptics of climate science. For additional information see: Washington Post, Project

Judge Says that Endangered Species Act Cannot Extend to GHG Emissions A federal judge has removed a section of an Interior Department rule that would link the threat to polar bears posed by global warming and rising greenhouse gas emissions to their status as endangered species. The rejection of this section means that the protection of polar bears does not extend outside of their habitat, and endangered species designation would have no effect on pollution emissions. The rule was previously rejected by the George W. Bush administration, affirming that the Endangered Species Act cannot be used to control greenhouse gas emissions. The federal judge decided that because the government failed to undertake an environmental review in 2008, the issue will now be sent back for review. For additional information see: LA Times, Washington Post

South Korea Introduces New Emissions Limitations On October 10, South Korea announced a new system of limiting greenhouse gas emissions that will include 458 of the country’s top emitters. Under the new Greenhouse Gas and Energy Target Management System (TMS), companies will be required to reduce emissions by 4.7 million tons, a 1.37 percent reduction from their current levels. The mitigation plan involves issuing enforcement citations to companies with emissions that exceed the caps. Of the companies affected by the regulations, nearly 80 percent are involved in the industrial and power sectors. Though the system does not currently include a carbon trading system, the industry emissions caps are intended to provide the regulatory framework for a cap-and-trade scheme that would come into practice in 2015. For additional information see: Business Green, Environmental Finance

Panama Climate Discussions Set Stage for Durban From October 1-7, representatives from nations participating in the upcoming Durban climate discussions met in Panama City to work through barriers that could inhibit the Durban discussions. With the Kyoto Protocol expiring in 2012, a major point of discussion was whether or not to renew the Protocol’s commitments. The United States remained firm in its refusal to ratify a treaty that does not enforce greenhouse gas emissions reductions in developing nations. Representatives from both the United States and the European Commission have stated that a global treaty will not be reached in Durban. Given the improbability of a new climate agreement, some United Nations negotiators have suggested extending the Kyoto Protocol without nations that are strongly opposed, such as Canada, Japan, and Russia. Though many key issues remain unresolved following the Panama climate talks, negotiators produced a draft on climate financing mechanisms that was called for in last year’s Cancun Accords that outlines how to raise $100 billion annually. UN climate change official Christiana Figueres urged businesses to invest more in green technology and policies that support sustainable business practices, adding that advances in policy are also necessary. For additional information see: Reuters, Business Green, Business Week, Scientific American

Businesses Urge Government Action on Climate Change Over 175 companies issued a statement urging governments to make progress on ensuring that underfunded developing nations have sufficient climate aid funds by 2020, and to create agreements and financial partnerships to tackle climate change, regardless of the poor chances of a new climate treaty being signed. The communique was sent to the October 14 and 15 G20 meeting in anticipation of the Durban climate discussions. The companies noted that climate change poses an immense threat to future global prosperity, and the continued delay in progress could undermine government credibility. Stimulating private sector investment in cleaner technologies and job creation were among the incentives cited for greater government action. Among the businesses involved were Shell, Tesco, Unilever, Lloyds Bank, and EDF. For additional information see: Reuters, Business Green, Environmental Finance, National Geographic

Canadian Companies Considering Climate Change More According to a recent survey by the Carbon Disclosure Project, many Canadian businesses are choosing to implement environmentally sustainable practices such as cutting energy consumption and publicly disclosing information about greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption. Climate change was integrated into the business plans of about 75 percent of respondants. About 85 percent of the companies reported having board members or senior managers and officers who are responsible for climate change and environmental issues. According to the report, many companies believe that “climate-friendly practices and emissions reduction can have a positive impact on their brand value.” Over one third of the companies have targets for emissions reductions. The survey respondents included 108 Canadian companies, most of which are involved industries such as energy and utilities, mining and natural resources, financial, and product/retail. For additional information see: Montreal Gazette, The Globe and Mail, Report

Report Outlines Australian Alps Vulnerability to Climate Change A summary report commissioned by the Australian government outlined the threat that climate change poses to the Australian Alps. By 2050, the region’s temperature is predicted to rise 2.9 degrees Celsius, causing a 24 percent reduction in precipitation. Spring thaw is expected to occur an average of two days earlier each decade. The high-quality water supplied by the Alps will be vulnerable to a reduction in snow cover, soil erosion, pests, and severe weather events such as droughts, fires, and storms. Presently, about 60 percent of the Australian Alps’ catchments are in poor to moderate condition. The report suggested building an ecosystem with better erosion control, controlling damage to the water caused by weeds and pests, researching better catchments, and including local communities in the solution. For additional information see: The Canberra Times, Report

Study: Climate Change, Elk Are Reducing Rocky Mountain Aspen Trees Climate change may reduce the number of aspen trees in the Rocky Mountains, according to a new study by ecologist Jedediah Brodie. As temperatures warm, less snow falls on the mountain range and the snow is packed less densely, which has allowed elk to graze at higher altitudes than previously possible. Mr. Brodie studied elk grazing patterns by setting up motion censor cameras and measuring differences between fenced aspen shoots and unfenced aspen shoots. He found that elk grazing on the newly accessible aspen shoots lowered the trees likelihood of surviving to maturity. “The main problem with climate change for aspen is not that the temperatures are warmer, but that reduced snowpack has altered elk behavior,” Mr. Brodie said. The study was published online in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. For additional information see: Science News, Study Abstract

Amazon Drought in 2010 Emitted More CO2 Than India The massive Amazon drought in 2010 resulted in more carbon emissions than the sum of emissions from Amazonian deforestation over the same period of time, according to a study conducted by researchers at the NASA Ames Research Centre and published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. The drought released nearly 500 million tons of carbon (1.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere, exceeding the annual emissions of India, one of the world’s top emitters. The source of emissions was the decomposition of decaying plant matter and the reduced CO2 uptake that should have occurred—but didn’t—due to the limited water necessary for plant growth. The researchers used satellites to measure the differences in net primary production to determine overall changes in plant growth throughout the drought. While some of the losses may be recouped during the forest’s subsequent recovery—as occurred after the drought in 2005—researchers fear that the increasing severity of such droughts may be an indication that the rainforest is on the verge of collapse as a result of fragmentation, deforestation and climate change. For additional information see: Monga Bay, Yale 360, Study

Melting Himalayan Glaciers Require Immediate Action A September resolution of the European Parliament called for fast cuts in black carbon are needed to reduce the threat of outburst floods from glacial lakes in the Himalayas, according to the European Parliament. The Parliament’s resolution “stresses that black carbon remains as prevalent a cause of glacial retreat as carbon dioxide” and “urges immediate action be taken with a view to reducing black carbon and methane emissions, . . . as a fast-action method of halting glacial and snow melting.” There are some 8,000 glacial lakes in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, more than 200 of which have been declared to be extremely dangerous. The resolution relies on recent evidence from the United Nation Environment Programme and World Meteorological Organization showing that cutting these two local air pollutants could cut the rate of global warming in half during the next 30 to 60 years. This is the second Resolution that the Parliament passed in September calling for fast-action on non- CO2 climate forcers. For additional information see: Environmental News Network, European Resolution

Study Correlates Genetic Traits in Plants and Climatic Adaptability A recent study revealed the preferred climate of different strains of plants, shedding light on how plants could adapt to climate change. To observe the preferred growing conditions correlated to genetic traits, scientists grew a variety of strains of mustard plant in several climatic conditions in Finland, Germany, England, and Spain. Researchers were able to produce a map that illustrated the tendency of plants with different genetic composition to adapt and thrive in different climates. The results suggested that there is a set of genes that control adaptability and preferred climate, and different genes are correlated to adaptability in different climatic conditions. This discovery is significant because it may be possible to combine different sets of genes to create a strain that would thrive in changing climatic conditions. The article was published in the journal Science. For additional information see: Science Daily, Abstract

Scientists Link Bacterial Communication and Climate Change According to a recent study, chemical signal communication between ocean bacteria impacts climate. When bacteria gather on sinking, carbon-rich particles, they emit chemical signals to one another to determine the location of nearby bacteria. These chemical signals, known as quorum sensing, affect hydrolytic enzymes in the carbon that can trigger particle degradation. If enough bacteria are nearby, the bacteria group together to secrete enzymes that break down the carbon particle into smaller, more digestible pieces. Most of the carbon particles used for congregations of bacteria are atmospheric carbon, a greenhouse gas. Rather than sinking to the depth of the ocean, the broken-down carbon will remain at shallower depths, which affects the amount of carbon drawn into the air and the amount of carbon stored in the ocean. The study was published in Environmental Microbiology Reports. For additional information see: Science Daily, Abstract

Changing Oceans May Cause Less Effective Carbon Sink New research suggests that, as oceans grow warmer and more acidic, the crucial role that phytoplankton play in sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in the ocean might be at risk. The microscopic phytoplankton Emiliana huxleyi is responsible for drawing huge amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it deep in the sea. However, climate-induced changes in nitrogen and CO2 levels in seawater could make this tiny creature less effective at processing CO2, because the carbon-based shells that they form, and eventually sink to the bottom of the ocean, turn out to be incomplete or hollow when grown in more CO2-rich and acidic waters. In warmer, more acidic, more ammonium-rich waters that have been projected in climate models, less carbon will sink to the bottom with the shells of Emiliana huxleyi, as the shell composition changes with the shifting environmental chemistry. This study, published in Global Change Biology, was one of the first papers to observe the combined effects of ocean acidification and changes in nitrogen on phytoplankton. For additional information see: Science Daily, Abstract

Researchers Produce New Atmospheric Data and Greenhouse Gas Models Scientists who monitor greenhouse gases and chemical compounds produced a new quantification of emissions that will affect future climate model. The scientists also proposed four possible future climate scenarios. As part of a project known as Emissions of Atmospheric Compounds and Compilation of Ancillary Data (ECCAD), researchers honed estimates of greenhouse gas emissions and particulate chemical compounds between 1850 and 2300 using various surface emission inventories and ancillary data. Both regional and global emission inventories were taken into account. They then used these data to formulate models of future emissions and climatic impacts based on the three main factors of greenhouse gases, atmospheric pollutants, and land use. The project also included an effort to standardize the terms used for different atmospheric chemicals. This study was published in the journal Climatic Change. For additional information see: Science Daily, Project

Climate Change Causes Plants and Animals to Shrink Recent research suggests that rising temperatures cause organisms to shrink over the course of multiple generations. The study included a review of fossil records and past climatic trends that suggested that both marine and land species shrink due to changing temperature, humidity, and available nutrients. Of the 85 organisms included in the study, 45 of them percent shrunk. The correlation between size and temperature was most dramatic in cold blooded animals such as insects and reptiles. The study suggested that an increase of only one degree Celsius causes a 10 percent increase in metabolism that triggers smaller body mass. Researchers noted that this trend is important, as a decrease in body mass in organisms such as phytoplankton would have a remarkable effect on the entire ecosystem. This study was published in Nature Climate Change. For additional information see: Science Daily, Physorg, CNN, Abstract

Aerosol Pollution Explains Climate Model Discrepancies Scientists recently simulated previous hot climate periods of earth’s history, after calibrating the models to consider aerosol pollution. Previous models of climate change did not account for prehistoric warm periods in which the temperature difference between the poles and the equator was less than today. In the past, scientists were not able to make sense of the data, because when greenhouse gases were factored into the model, the tropics became too warm to reflect the temperature difference between the poles and the equator. However, when modern air pollution and the relative lack of aerosols in the prehistoric atmosphere were considered, quantification of past climates and atmospheric composition coincided with current climate models. For additional information see: New Scientist

Scientists Focus on Sea Level Rise in New Projections According to a new model that projects sea levels and oceanic data, rather than climate, sea levels will continue to rise for the next 500 years. Long term calculations suggest that by the year 2100, sea levels will have risen an average of 75 centimeters. By the year 2500, the sea will likely have risen 2 meters. The researchers included additional estimates based on varying factors. The most optimistic model predicted a 1.84 meter rise by 2500 and the most pessimistic model predicted a 5.49 meter rise by 2500. The models were based on greenhouse gas and aerosol pollution in the atmosphere that will cause the gradual rise in sea level. This study was published in the journal Global and Planetary Change. For additional information see: Science Daily, Abstract

Researchers Reveal Inclusive Carbon Supply Chain Scientists recently quantified the complex network of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, accounting for the emissions of entire supply chains. In the past, CO2 emissions were only accounted for in the context of the nations where they were produced, but the new model of CO2 emissions tracking also considers parties extracting fuel, and consumers of products. The calculations for the project were based on 2004 data about coal, oil, natural gas, and secondary fuels traded between 58 industrial sectors and 112 countries. This holistic analysis of CO2 emission supply chains revealed that most exported fossil fuels are used in developed countries, and that—with the exception of China—countries that import many products also tend to import a lot of fossil fuels. Fossil fuel regulation in the United States, China, the Middle East, Russia, Canada, Australia, India, and Norway would affect about 67 percent of all CO2 emissions. This study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. For additional information see: Science Daily, Report

Study Suggests Climate Change Will Cause Rapid Alterations in Tree Cover According to a new study, the effects of climate change on tree cover in forests and savannas may be much more rapid than expected. The study used satellite data for global rainfall to observe and predict which areas of Africa, Australia, and South America are most ecologically fragile, and which could readily transform from a forested region to a savanna, or from a savanna into a forested region. The results suggested that, rather than smoothly transitioning from one state to another, tree cover fluctuated between three contrasting alternatives of forest, treeless regions, and savanna, depending on precipitation levels. The study was published in the journal Science. For additional information see: Science Daily, Abstract

Scientists Observe the Carbon Cycles of Rivers and Streams A recent study that monitored the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in rivers and streams found that much of the CO2 stored in land is leaked into inland waterways and deposited in coastal waters. The study involved samples from over 4,000 rivers and streams, as well as geospatial data to quantify the influx of CO2 in waterways. Models of terrestrial CO2 cycles typically do not account for the CO2 stored in rivers and streams, but researchers discovered that the release of CO2 from inland waterways into the atmosphere is about 0.7 to 3.3 petagrams of carbon per year, an amount that could be compared to burning about 40 billion gallons of gasoline. This study was published in the journal Nature Geoscience. For additional information see: Science Daily, Abstract

Other Headlines California Poised to Finalize Nation’s Most Extensive ‘Cap-and-Trade’ Plan Australia: Carbon Tax Bill Passes Tuvalu Drought Could Be Dry Run for Dealing with Climate Change Lamb, Beef, Cheese Top the Charts for Climate Change Impact Baltic Sea Contributes Carbon Dioxide to the Atmosphere, Study Shows NIH Launches Research Program to Explore Health Effects from Climate Change New Pine Breeding Technique May Help Trees Adapt to Climate Change

October 26: FDA’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Event (EESI’s CFC# is 10627) EESI, a participating member of the Combined Federal Campaign workplace giving program, will have a table at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA’s CFC Charity Fair this year next Wednesday, October 26. If you work at FDA, please stop by our table from 12:00 to 1:00 PM to find out more about EESI’s work to curb climate change! And remember, sll gederal employees and members of the military can designate EESI in the Combined Federal Campaign with CFC #10627.

October 28-29, 2011: 6th Annual North American Passive House Conference 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 click here.

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.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 by a bipartisan Congressional caucus dedicated to finding innovative environmental and energy solutions. EESI works to protect the climate and ensure a healthy, secure, and sustainable future for America through policymaker education, coalition building, and policy development in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, agriculture, forestry, transportation, buildings, and urban planning. 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!

Help Amplify Story About Medical & Military Statement on Climate Change

At a global summit in London today, an unusual alliance of leading doctors, scientists and security experts are coming together to discuss the health and security implications of climate change. Although this conference is borne of an unlikely alliance, these leaders share the same views on climate change and see it as much more than just an environmental challenge: for them, it is the greatest current threat to public health and also the greatest future threat to security.

In order to amplify this important story and the statement resulting from the conference, the Global Campaign for Climate Action has put together an Action Pack with some background, sample tweets, Facebook posts, a sample blog posts and the full conference statement.

Please use the materials and help make some noise and sign on to the conference statement in your personal capacity or on behalf of your organization, click here.

For more information and/or for full action alert template please email mdixon@climatenetwork.org.

October 17, 2011

Climate Action Hotline is the new weekly update by the US Climate Action Network. Let us know what you think.

What’s your number? Urge AEP to Stop Lobbying Against Life-Saving Pollution Standards

As Americans across the country rally in support of the EPA’s proposed Mercury and Air Toxics rule, one of America’s largest emitters of toxic air pollution, the American Eclectic Power company (AEP) has spent tens of millions to lobby Congress, including writing an outrageous 56-page draft legislation, attempting to gut these life-saving clean air standards. Noting that these standards would prevent up to 34,000 premature deaths in the first two years alone, environmental groups have rallied to ask AEP and other polluting industries a simple, question: What’s your number?

This last week ads went up across Ohio and supporters have been rallying outside of AEP’s Columbus based headquarters, highlighting the number of lives they want Congress to sacrifice in order to give themselves and other polluters their desired delays and rollbacks on national toxic air pollution limits.  Join them.

See sample alert from the Environmental Defense Fund or email mdixon@climatenetwork.org for more information.

Carol Werner, Executive Director

July 5, 2011

News

• Scientific American Series Links Stronger Storms to Climate Change
• California Delays Start of Cap and Trade Program
• Lawsuit Aims to Remove New York from Regional Cap and Trade Program
• Insurers Study Climate Change to Decide Rate Hikes in Alabama
• EPA Report Outlines Climate Adaptation Options for Coastline
• African Women Left Out of Climate Projects, Experts Say
• Rising Waters Swamp West African Nation’s Capital
• Research Partnership to Tackle Food and Climate Challenges
• Study: California Wineries at Risk from Rising Temperatures
• Near-Record Global Temperatures Recorded in 2010
• Rockies Losing Colorful Flowers as Temperatures Rise, Study Finds
• Climate Change to Decrease Salinity of Baltic Sea, Scientists Say
• Researchers Find Droughts Make Water Pollutants More Toxic
• Other Headlines

Federal Legislative Action

• S.1292

Events

• July 15: Electric Transmission 205: Economic Stimulus and Jobs Benefits
• July 21: Cool Roofs for Cooler Summers

Mercury and Air Toxics Comment Deadline Approaching:

Three months ago, after 20 years of delay, the Environmental Protection Agency finally proposed strong mercury and air toxics standards for power plants. EPA’s proposed standards for power plants that burn coal and oil are projected to save as many as 17,000 American lives every year by 2015. In response to requests from members of Congress and to encourage additional public comment, the EPA extended the timeline for public input by 30 days on the proposed mercury and air toxics standards. Notably, EPA stated this extension will not alter the timeline for issuing the final standards in November 2011.

For those who haven’t made their voice heard - please take advantage of this extra time to urge the EPA to finalize strong air pollution standards for power plants that will save lives and protect children. See action alerts from the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council and American Lung Association.

For more information and/or for full action alert template please email US Climate Network’s Outreach Director, Michelle Dixon, at mdixon@climatenetwork.org.

Carol Werner, Executive Director

June 27, 2011

News

• Supreme Court Turns Down Emissions Lawsuit; Says EPA Has Authority to Regulate CO2
• EPA Greenhouse Gas Permitting to Have Little Impact, Study Says
• Debate Continues in New Jersey over Regional Cap and Trade Program
• NASA, EPA Sued over Climate Change
• NOAA’s Climate Office Gets Hearing in House
• GAO: President, Congress Need to Set National Climate Change Priorities
• Europe Postpones Vote on Deeper Emission Cuts
• Report Calls for Urgent Cuts in CO2 to Save Dying Oceans
• Climate Change a Factor in 2011’s Wild Weather, NOAA Says
• Ocean Dead Zones Could Expand with Higher Temperatures, Study Finds
• Study Finds Link Between Temperature, Increasing Rate of Sea Level Rise
• Quickening Pace of Arctic Melting Could Alter Sea Currents, Study Says
• Other Headlines

Events

• July 13: Scaling Up Residential Biomass Heating: A Stakeholder Symposium

• July 15: Electric Transmission 205: Economic Stimulus and Jobs Benefits

Pakistan — A Sad New Benchmark in Climate-Related Disasters
Devastating flooding that has swamped one-fifth of Pakistan and left millions homeless is likely the worst natural disaster to date attributable to climate change, U.N. officials and climatologists are now openly saying.

Ready Or Not, Climate Change, and Climate Displacement, Is Happening
The devastating floods in Pakistan have claimed the lives of at least 1,500 people and rendered millions more homeless and displaced. According to the United Nations, the deluge’s human toll, which has reportedly affected 14 million Pakistanis, is worse than the 2004 tsunami, the January earthquake in Haiti, and the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan combined.

Carcinogen Levels in Oil Sands Waste Water Increasing, Canada Admits
Newly released data from the Canadian government affirm that the booming oil sands industry in Alberta is leaving behind a rising environmental toll from toxic sludge ponds.Figures released by the government-run Environment Canada reveal a jump in the level of carcinogens dumped in mining waste lakes, or “tailings ponds,” like arsenic, nickel, cadmium, benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Obama Admin: Deepwater Drilling Regulatory Shortcuts Will End
The Obama administration announced Monday that it is no longer fast-tracking offshore drilling projects in deep water by exempting them from detailed environmental review. Specifically, that means projects that use either a subsurface blowout preventer or a blowout preventer on a floating rig will need significantly more environmental review before drilling is allowed.

Non-Profit Environmental Group Targets Brown with Advertising Campaign
A new advertising campaign by a non-profit environmental group is urging Massachusetts Republican Senator Scott Brown and several of his Senate colleagues to pass energy and climate legislation when Congress gets back from its August recess.

Loan Program for Green Home Upgrades Stalls
PACE, according to supporters, could create thousands of jobs while saving homeowners thousands of dollars in energy savings. But critics said PACE’s financing mechanism is better suited for building sewage networks, underground power lines and other public infrastructure projects that benefit entire communities. Now, PACE advocates are scrambling to keep the momentum going for eco-friendly upgrades but are torn about whether to do it by reviving PACE or moving on to other funding alternatives.

INTERNATIONAL

Cancún Conference Holds Out Little Hope in Face of Extreme Weather
According to the U.S. space agency NASA, the high mean temperatures recorded between March and June around the globe made history: it was the warmest period in the last 130 years of officially recorded temperatures. The new executive secretary of the UNFCCC, Christiana Figueres, once again reminded the governments of the industrialised countries of their “responsibility this year to take the next essential step in the battle against climate change.”

FG to Fast-track Green Energy Devt Policy
The Nigerian Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey, who spoke on the renewed drive by government during a meeting with a delegation of the Green Energy Society of Nigerian (GESON) over the weekend, said as part of efforts to give vent to its renewable energy policy, the ministry had approved the execution of the Global Bio-Fuel Project as a candidate for the UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). This in a bid to arrest the dangers and threat posed by climate change to the country.

Despite Lack of Funds, Targets from Philippine’s Climate Change Commission’s are Ahead of Schedule
MANILA (PNA) — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) may be lacking in budgetary support yet it has certainly delivered, CCC Vice Chairman Secretary Heherson T. Alvarez said in a Senate hearing on the euro 150 million (P10.5 billion) foreign loan from Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) by the previous administration.

Legislators Set Climate Change Demands
Bernard Namanya, the Executive Director of Climate Change Concern, said Africa needs to learn from the European Union model, which has been effective in pushing for a common position on matters relating to climate change. “It is extremely important to negotiate as regional blocks, although the interests of other nations within the regional blocks remain a big challenge.“The African Union should fast track efforts to become a party to the UNFCCC. This will enable AU to speak on behalf of member states similar to what EU does,” he said.

UN Emissions Board Will Question All Hydrofluorocarbon Projects, IETA Says
United Nations-appointed regulators will probably question all projects seeking emission credits for reducing hydrofluorocarbon-23 gases, the International Emissions Trading Association said.The Clean Development Mechanism Executive Board, backed by a Bonn-based secretariat, will request reviews for all HFC-23 projects as it questions the method used to determine how many credits to allot, said Kim Carnahan, policy leader of flexible mechanisms at the Geneva-based lobby group for emissions traders.

Delegates Seek More Definition, Much More, in Barcelona Climate Talks

At the UN negotiations in Barcelona, US climate envoy Jonathan Pershing predicted the U.S. would make a “major contribution” in Copenhagen next month.

Senate Republicans Boycott Climate Meeting

Republicans failed to join EPW Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) at the Senate climate and energy bill markup meeting, claiming they lack adequate economic analysis to move forward.

Economic Growth Will Follow Clean Energy and Climate Legislation

New studies show that strong clean energy and climate policies would create jobs, raise incomes and strengthen the U.S. economy.

Coal Industry-Sponsored Fake Letters Focus of House Hearing

The president of Bonner & Associates confirmed the firm forged 14 letters and failed to notify members of Congress about the forgeries until after the vote on the House climate bill.

U.S., EU Vow to Promote Comprehensive Climate Agreement

Climate change topped the agenda for a US-EU Summit held in Washington this Tuesday. The parties claimed they would promote an “ambitious and comprehensive” agreement at the Copenhagen negotiations this December.

EU Offers Billions to Climate Fund

The EU struck a deal to give up to 50 billion Euros to help developing countries adapt to and tackle climate change.

Chamber Pushes ‘Bipartisan’ Climate Bill

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote a letter in support of climate legislation that adheres to the core principles described in an op-ed by Senator John Kerry and Republican Senator Lindsay Graham. Senator Barbara Boxer called the letter a “fundamental shift” for the lobbying group.

Winners and Losers of Cap-and-Trade

A new study by PointCarbon found that ExxonMobil would face an annual outlay of $5.9 billion to purchase carbon allowances under the Senate Clean Energy Jobs bill, while electricity giants like Exelon and Pacific Gas and Electric would come out ahead because they rely heavily on diversified, low-emission fleets.