Climate Action » coal

Broad Support for a Strong EPA and Other Hot Pubs

USCAN — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:41:30 +0000

Member Reports:

Water Works: Green for All, in partnership with the Economic Policy Institute, Pacific Institute and American Rivers, published a new report this month estimating the economic impact and job creating potential of major new investment in US water infrastructure. Water Works: Rebuilding Infrastructure, Creating Jobs, Greening the Environment found that “an investment of $188.4 billion spread equally over the next five years would generate $265.6 billion in economic activity and create close to 1.9 million jobs.” The report posits that investment in green infrastructure that mimics natural solutions, would result in substantial workforce opportunities and analyzes a representative set of occupations in water infrastructure-related industries. Green for All’s research found that annual “sewer overflows contaminate U.S. waters with 860 billion gallons of untreated sewage, an amount that could fill 1.3 million Olympic-size swimming pools or cover the entire state of Pennsylvania with one inch of sewage.”

Danger in the Air: Environment America released a report last month ranking the nation’s smoggiest metropolitan areas. Danger in the Air: Unhealthy Air Days in 2010 and 2011 found that “because the national health standard for smog pollution set in 2008 was set at a level that scientists agree is not protective of public health, people across the country have been exposed to days of poor air quality each summer without even knowing it.” Of large metropolitan areas, Riverside-San Bernardino, California endured the worst smog pollution in 2010, followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA; Baltimore, MD; Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, PA. The report makes several policy recommendations based on its findings, including that the EPA “set a National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground-level ozone within the range of 60 to 70 parts per billion averaged over eight hours,” and that Congress eliminate subsidies that keep our nation dependent on fossil fuels.

Growing Meat Consumption: A Worldwatch Institute report, published in the nonprofit’s Vital Signs Online research service as part of its “Nourishing the Planet” project, found that global meat production “increased by 2.6 percent in 2010 to 290.6 million tons, an increase from the 0.8 percent growth rate of 2009.” The increases in global meat production and consumption found in the report are putting numerous strains on the climate since raising livestock accounts for about “23 percent of all global water use in agriculture” and livestock themselves account for roughly “18 percent of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, producing 40 percent of the world’s methane and 65 percent of the world’s nitrous oxide.” A summary of the Worldwatch report can be found here. Subscription to Vital Signs Online is required to view the entire publication.

Department of Defense Clean Energy Investments: The Pew Project on National Security, Energy, and Climate released a report on the Department of Defense’s (DOD) work on clean-energy innovation. From Barracks to the Battlefield: Clean Energy Innovation and America’s Armed Forces finds that the DoD’s clean energy investments increased 200 percent between 2006 and 2009, from $400 million to $1.2 billion, and that they are projected to move beyond $10 billion annually by 2030. Director of the Pew Clean Energy Program, Phyllis Cuttino, explained that the “DoD’s efforts to harness clean energy will save lives, save money and enhance the nation’s energy and economic future. Its work is also helping to spur industry growth and demonstrate technological feasibility.”

Non-Member Reports:

A Strong EPA Protects Our Health: On October 6, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), released the EPW Committee Majority Staff Report. A Strong EPA Protects Our Health and Promotes Economic Growth focuses on the invaluable protections provided by the EPA and major environmental laws which have not only protected public health but also promoted economic growth. Based on the benefits of legislation like the Clean Air Act, the annual benefits of which are expected to prevent 230,000 premature deaths by 2020 and provide about $2 trillion per year with continued enforcement, the report concludes that the EPA’s major “environmental laws are critical to a stronger, healthier, and more productive workforce – they are integral to our quality of life and support a strong economy.”

Support for Solar Industry Grant Program: The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and EuPD Research released a report this week analyzing the economic impact of extending the Treasury Grant Program (TGP), originally created to address the “shortage of tax equity to renewable energy projects” due to the financial collapse. Economic Impact of Extending the Section 1603 Treasury Program found that extending the TGP would significantly accelerate the growth of the U.S. solar market, with a one-year extension through 2012 poised to have the “greatest impact on economic activity in 2012 and 2013, as well as enable growth through 2016 as projects complete construction and come online.” The report concluded that this one-year continuation would result in an additional 37,000 jobs…a 12 percent increase over baseline.”

Coal Ash Safeguards and Employment: In response to the Utility Solid Waste Activities Group (USWAG) claim that the EPA’s potential coal ash disposal safeguards could lead to the loss of over 300,000 jobs, economist Frank Ackerman of the Stockholm Environmental Institute conducted a new analysis of the regulation’s potential effects on employment. Employment Effects of Coal Ash Regulation, released this month, found that the industry study provides “no explanation for more than 50,000 of the supposedly lost jobs; they result either from unreported assumptions or from errors in calculation.” Ackerman’s analysis reevaluated the job-impact analysis of coal ash regulation, comparing the employment costs to employment benefits, to show that “the effect of the new spending required by strict regulation of coal ash…would be a net gain of 28,000 jobs.”

Pipe Dreams: A report released last month by the Cornell University Global Labor Institute, in association with the ILR School and Global Labor Institute, found that the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline could destroy more American jobs than it creates. Pipe Dreams? Jobs Gained, Jobs Lost by the Construction of Keystone XL, examines claims made by TransCanada Corporation and the American Petroleum Institute regarding the job-creating potential of the new pipeline. New economic analysis cited in the report found that the oil industry’s U.S. jobs claims are “linked to a $7 billion [budget for the project]” and yet the pipeline’s budget “that will have bearing on US jobs figures is dramatically lower—only around $3 to $4 billion,” meaning fewer jobs. The research also concluded that the industry’s claim Keystone XL will create 119,000 total jobs “is based on a flawed and poorly documented study commissioned by TransCanada.”

Long-Term Global CO2 Trends: A 2011 report by the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and JRC European Commission, Long-Term Trend in Global CO2 Emissions found that growth in global CO2 emissions is continuing a long-term trend. Despite a 1 percent decline in emissions in 2009, carbon dioxide emissions across the globe increased more than 5 percent in 2010, an unprecedented increase in the “last two decades, but similar to the increase in 1976 when the global economy was recovering from the first oil crisis and subsequent stock market crash.” The report stressed the need for a large, joint effort for mitigating climate change, as it found that the main reasons for a 5.8 percent increase in 2010 global CO2 emission were continued growth in developing nations and economic recovery in the industrialized countries.

Rainforest Drought and CO2 Emissions: A recent study by NASA researchers and published in the latest issue of Environmental Research Letters found that the 2010 drought in the Amazon rainforest caused an 1.8 billion extra metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, a total nearly equaling the annual CO2 emissions from deforestation and forest fires combined. The scientists behind the findings input satellite data showing a dramatic decline in forest health into a computer model to estimate monthly changes in CO2 output, concluding that “the amount of CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere by vegetation declined by an average of 7 percent in 2010 compared to 2008…” equating to the significant increase in CO2 emissions.

Wetland Losses Linked to Climate Change: A new report released last week by the Department of Interior, in collaboration with the Fish and Wildlife Service, found that there has been an overall loss of wetland habitat since 2004, a loss which experts say is associated with climate change. Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Conterminous United States 2004 to 2009 found that despite a 17 percent increase in the rate of wetland reestablishment and creation, “the estimated wetland loss rate increased 140 percent during the same time period and, as a consequence, national wetland losses have outdistanced gains.”

BP Spill’s Impact on Gulf Ecosystem: A study published late last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences examined the effect of the BP oil spill on killifish, also known as bull minnows, in the Gulf. Genomic and Physiological Footprint of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Resident Marsh Fishes chose to research the killifish because of its critical role in the Gulf’s food chain and its sensitivity to the effects of toxic pollution. The research found that the killifish’s cellular function “coincides with contaminating oil and is consistent with genome responses…indicative of physiological and reproductive impairment” and concluded that crude oil from the BP spill “imparts significant biological impacts in sensitive Louisiana marshes, some of which remain for over 2 [months] following initial exposures.

Hunger Index: The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), in conjunction with the German nonprofit Welthungerhilfe and Ireland’s Concern Worldwide, published its Hunger Index Report this month which concluded the use of biofuels, price speculation, and climate change are the top three causes of food price fluctuations and hunger in the developing world. The Challenge of Hunger: Taming Price Spikes and Excessive Food Price Volatility did show a decline in global hunger since 1990, but not a major one as global hunger remains at a “serious” level. The report stressed that addressing food price volatility and price increases will require “revising biofuel policies, regulating financial activity on food markets, and adapting to and mitigating climate change.”

Clean Energy Cons: ThinkProgress released a report this month revealing that dozens of Republicans did, at one point, support clean energy projects in their districts before beginning the current all-out assault on clean energy and green jobs. The special report shows that a total of 62 Republicans from the House and Senate were once proponents of clean energy investments, and sent letters asking for clean energy-related loan guarantees and grants for their districts. Copies of these letters can be accessed in the report.

Polls:

Voter Disapproval of Clean Air Attacks: A new national poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling and released this week by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the League of Women Voters (LWV), and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) found disapproval of President Obama’s decision to block stronger smog protections among Americans, including Latino and suburban women. Responses indicate that roughly 79 percent of women and 71 percent of Latino women nationwide disapproved of the President’s decision on ozone. The polling also found that 69 percent of Americans “agree with health experts who support reducing toxic air pollution from industrial sources” and 69 percent are “in favor of the EPA limiting the amount of carbon pollution that power plants and industrial facilities can release.”

EPA Pollution Rule Support: A new nationwide poll, conducted by Hart Research Associates and GS Strategy Group and released by Ceres this week found that voters “overwhelmingly support” the EPA’s new rules that would limit dangerous air pollution from coal-fired power plants and “strongly disagree” with Congressional attempts to prevent the regulations from going into effect. Responses from 1,400 voters surveyed found 67 percent in support of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), which would require major reductions in emissions from electric power plants, and 77 percent in support of the proposed Mercury and Air Toxics Rule, which would require power plants to significantly reduce their mercury, lead, arsenic, and toxic gas emissions. The poll also found that 75 percent of voters believe that the EPA, not Congress, “should determine whether stricter limits are needed on air pollution from electric power plants,” a view supported across the political spectrum.

Small Business Concerns: A new U.S. Chamber poll released this month shows that Regulation is not a top concern for small business owners. The Small Business Outlook Survey found that the majority, 52 percent, of small businesses’ top concern is the general economic climate over recent legislation and over-regulation. The survey also found strong support for greenhouse gas regulations among small businesses, with 76 percent responding in favor of regulations to reduce carbon emissions. This support also remained strong among business owners in large manufacturing states such as Ohio.

Voters on Federal Regulation: The latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll reported this month that while a majority of American voters are concerned about too much government regulation of business hurting the economy, they also remain reluctant to block several of the major rules congressional Republicans want reversed. The poll, conducted just after the nearly unanimous vote by House Republicans in September to block EPA regulations for coal-fired power plants, found that 55 percent of adults believe government regulation of business has been a “major factor” in the “current economic slowdown.” However, when asked whether Congress should block EPA rules meant to “limit emissions of mercury, sulfur dioxide, and other pollutants from power plants,” 47 percent of respondents said Congress should allow the rules to go into effect, while 40 percent said it should block the regulations. When asked about pending EPA regulations meant to “limit emissions of CO2 and other gases that scientists have linked to global climate change,” 52 percent said Congress should allow the rules to take effect while only 39 percent believed that should be blocked.

Support for EPA and Electability: A Bloomberg National Poll conducted last month examined voter sentiment on a variety of national issues and GOP candidate positions, including the matter of climate change and the existence of the EPA. Based on results from 997 respondents, the poll found that 45 percent of respondents said they would be “less likely to vote for someone who questions global warming” versus 25 percent who felt the opposite. 65 percent of respondents said that they would be “less likely to vote for someone who wants to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency, versus 19 percent who said the opposite.”

More Americans Believe World is Warming: A Reuters/Ipsos survey released in late September found that, compared to 2010, more Americans believe the world is getting warmer. Americans who believe the Earth is warming rose to 83 percent, an 8 point increase from 75 percent last year when the poll was conducted. Stanford University political science professor and university fellow at the Resources for the Future think tank Jon Krosnick stressed that global warming could be an important issue in the 2012 election “because some 15 percent of voters see it as their primary concern.”

Cues from Our Climate and Other Hot Pubs

USCAN — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:18:39 +0000

Member Reports:

Insurer Responses to Climate Risk: This month, Ceres released “Climate Risk Disclosure By Insurers: Evaluating Insurer Responses to the NAIC Climate Disclosure Survey.” The report examines public disclosure filings from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to assess US insurer consideration of climate change as a key risk factor to their business and how that consideration affects their decision making. Based on the NAIC responses, which targeted six states, Ceres’ analysis found that there does exist a “broad consensus among insurers that climate change will have an effect on extreme weather events, [with] more than three-quarters of insurers [citing] perils that may be affected by climate change. Despite this recognition, out of 88 companies surveyed, “only 11 insurers reported having formal climate change policies, and more than 60 percent of the respondents reported having no dedicated management approach for assessing climate risk.” Of 18 property and casualty companies surveyed, none had “formal climate change policies or explicit board or executive oversight of this issue.”

Climate Financing and Gender Equality: Oxfam America, along with Gender Action and the Women’s Environment and Development Organization released a research report this month examining practices that would ensure equal and effective distribution of climate change financing for the world’s most vulnerable populations. “Governing Climate Funds: What Will Work for Women?” urges that if climate funds are to respond effectively, “they must incorporate gender throughout project planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.” The study looks at four funds, two climate and two non-climate funds, to find useful strategies for gender integration in global finance mechanisms. Among several recommendations made in the report, it finds that “climate funds should [not only] allow recipient countries to access finance directly…but should also strengthen mandatory gender project review criteria and gender evaluation requirements [as well as] allow and encourage women’s groups to apply for finance directly when national implementing agencies are not meeting their needs.”

Exposing Keystone XL: This month OilChange International released “Exposing Energy Security: Keystone XL Exposed.” The briefing targets claims made by major industry that the Keystone pipeline is necessary to ensure America’s energy security and will work to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil, scrutinizing the global oil market and the oil companies that stand to profit from the pipeline. Based on facts uncovered in the report, OilChange posits that Keystone XL “will feed the growing trend of exporting refined products out of the United States, thereby doing nothing to enhance energy security or to stabilize oil prices or gasoline prices at the pump.” It uncovers a business model put forth by Valero that “seeks to export products made with imported oil while further importing gasoline from a third country.”

Nonmember Reports:

Extreme Weather: This month Climate Communications released “Current Extreme Weather and Climate Change,” summarizing the latest research on the connection between climate change and extreme weather. The report, reviewed by several leading climatologists, found that extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, flooding, and hurricanes, are happening more frequently, and that the ties to human-induced climate change are clear. In-depth analyses have demonstrated that natural climate variability cannot solely explain the long-term trends of changing weather extremes, especially in terms of increased heat waves. The research indicates that “the increased in hot weather is a direct result of climate change, and human influence is estimated to have more than doubled the likelihood of the warming trends experienced recently in virtually every region of the globe.”

The Facts on Keystone’s Job Potential: The Cornell Global Labor Institute recently released its analysis of the job impacts expected from construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. It finds that estimations of the pipeline’s job-creating potential made by the American Petroleum Institute are unreliable and “therefore unsuitable for public debate.” Citing previous and potential future oil spills, emissions levels, and air quality, the release states that the Keystone project has “minimal job creation potential, but maximum potential in terms of the environmental damage it could cause.” The findings urge that “the U.S. needs a real jobs program [and] Keystone XL is not it.” Further information about the Cornell findings regarding the pipeline jobs can be found on the USCAN Tar Sands webpage.

GHG Emissions from Natural Gas Extraction: A study released by the Cornell Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology earlier this year examined the GHG emissions released during high-volume hydraulic shale fracturing to obtain natural gas. The research found that methane emissions during this process are “at least 30% more than and perhaps more than twice as great as those from conventional gas.” The majority of the GHG footprint for shale comes from direct CO2 emissions during consumption, but also from methane emissions that are not collected and piped away during natural gas extraction processes. According to the study, when compared to coal, the “footprint of shale gas is at least 20% greater and perhaps more than twice as great on the 20-year horizon.”

Natural Gas vs. Coal: A study released last month by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, “Coal to Gas: The Influence of Methane Leakage” found that although the burning of natural gas emits significantly less carbon dioxide than coal, a greater reliance on it would not significantly slow down climate change. Research by Tom Wigley, a senior research associate at NCAR found that “when gas replaces coal there is additional warming out to [the year] 2050,” assuming methane leakage during natural gas extraction is kept at 0%, “and out to [the year] 2,140 if the leakage rate is as high as 10%.” The study finds that fracking specifically is associated with an increase in methane leakage compared to other means of gas production, and that “the direct effects on global-mean temperature of differential gas leakage between coal and gas production are very small.”

Surveys and Polls:

Political Party and Climate Belief: The Yale Project on Climate Change Communications and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communications released a report detailing the results from their most recent national survey of the American public. “Politics & Global Warming: Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and the Tea Party” examines responses by members of each political party related to the issue of global warming. The results indicated that 78% of Democrats, 71% of Independents, and 53% of Republicans believe that global warming is happening, compared with only 34% of Tea Party members. 53% of Tea Party members, in fact, responded that they believe global warming is not happening. The majorities of all four parties support expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast, “with 46% of Republicans and 58% of Tea Party members strongly supportive.”

EPA Sentiments: A September national Bloomberg poll, based on interviews with 997 U.S. adults 18 and older found that sixty-six percent of respondents reported being “less likely to vote for someone who wants to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency, versus 19 percent who said the opposite.” For more survey results regarding respondents feelings on the Presidential campaign and current political affairs, view the Bloomberg polling data.

Shaking up Coal, Climate Action Hotline 9.6.11

USCAN — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:18:57 +0000

Shaking up Coal

The earth moved a bit last week when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake marked the opening moments of a meeting hosted by the Sierra Club to discuss coal.

Representatives from two dozen national organizations met at a meeting convened at the Sierra Club’s DC office to discuss the organization’s coal strategy and the movement-wide implications of the Sierra Club’s game-changing partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, announced in July. The meeting was attended by health, faith, labor, and environmental organizations with a wide range of history and experience working on coal.

After a delay to confirm that the quake was a simply a sign of the planet’s approval of our agenda, the Sierra Club’s Mary Anne Hitt and Bruce Nilles presented the strategy that the Beyond Coal Campaign has developed to retire a significant portion of the nation’s coal plants and replace them with clean energy. They also discussed how the Beyond Coal Campaign plans to invest the $50 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Two donors were also in attendance to discuss the gift, its implications, and their desire to increase funds available to allied organizations working on coal.

The rest of the two-day meeting was spent discussing the needs and priorities of the broad set of allies present, to further refine the strategy and to provide donors with a clear, broad-brush sense of what our movement will need to step up our work on coal. The Sierra Club is planning to meet with allies at the regional level in coming months to convene similar discussions, and will also be reaching out to groups that were not able to attend the August meeting. If you would like to be better linked in with the coal work discussed at the meeting, reach out to Sierra Club staff in your state or region, or contact Beyond Coal Campaign director Mary Anne Hitt at maryanne.hitt@sierraclub.org.

In other organizing news that’s shaking things up, Saturday marked the last day of the historic tar sands action. Despite the rain and summer heat 243 participants were arrested, making the final count 1252 for the Keystone XL Pipeline White House protest. The pressure on the Obama Administration continues to heat up as the State Department releases a faulty environmental impact statement and signals its intent to approve the pipeline.

In other shocking news, the White House retreated Friday on an opportunity to save lives and improve Americans’ health. The President himself intervened to block the Environmental Protection Agency from correcting an outdated smog standard that the head of EPA recognizes to be scientifically and legally indefensible. The President refused to set lower, more health-protective ozone air quality standards, ignoring the unanimous recommendation of the scientific advisors who were asked to look at the evidence and agreed: a lower standard is needed to protect Americans’ health. Check out Natural Resources Defense Council ’s latest blog for a good overview of this recent development.

As disappointing as Friday’s announcement is, we will have our hands full this Fall fighting back against many other outrageous assaults on the EPA and our landmark clean air laws. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor sent a letter to colleagues this week announcing that beginning the week of September 19 the House will try to repeal protective standards already in place and to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from following the law, outlining a vigorous political strategy to block as many as eight life-saving clean air standards.

Fortunately, the movement has been working vigorously during August to educate the public and meet with members of Congress while they were back home. We will need continued vigilance over the next several months to keep the pressure and beat back these ideological attacks. To stay up to date on the latest attacks read the Clean Air Act Digest.

Peter Bahouth, Executive Director

The Obama Administration announced on Friday that it is withdrawing an important new life-saving smog standard, once again delaying action to reduce ozone pollution that threatens millions of Americans and contributes to as many as 12,000 premature deaths every year.

This decision leaves in place outdated, Bush-era standards that lag far behind what scientists have unanimously recommended. The result, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, is likely to be tens of thousands of premature deaths, as well more than 45,000 cases of aggravated asthma and over 1.5 million missed work or school days per year.

With congressional Republicans planning a series of votes starting this week to block other health and environmental standards, we need to set the record straight, right away.

See sample action alerts from EDF and Greenpeace to express your disappointment and let President Obama know that you are holding him accountable for his decision not to enforce ozone pollution protections that would save 12,000 American lives.

See sample letters to the editors from Moveon.org and write to your local paper reminding folks that environmental protections like these smog rules are key to protecting health and strenghtneing our economy and sample alert from American Lung Association to send a message to your member of Congress to let them know that you support EPA and their ability to protect our health from harmful air pollution.

For more information email mdixon@climatenetwork.org and for additional alerts, blogs, statements and other resources check out the Ozone section on USCAN’s Clean Air Act pages here.

Carol Werner, Executive Director

September 6, 2011

News

Polar Bear Researcher Reinstated after Suspension
Prime Minister Harper Asserts Canadian Sovereignty in Arctic Region
Key Emerging Powers Call for Kyoto Protocol Extension
Study Finds Mental Illness Increases as Result of Climate Change
Bedrock Nitrogen May Amplify Forests’ Ability to Mitigate Climate Change
Wastewater Recycling Releases More Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Reducing Soot Emissions May Be Fastest, Most Economical Approach to Global Warming
Study: Cholera Outbreaks Linked to River Flow, Not Sea Temperatures
Heat-Related Deaths Among Elderly to Rise in California
Climate Change May Increase Asthma-Related Emergency Room Visits
Hurricane Irene Data Valuable for Carbon Cycling Research
Cosmic Rays Play Significant Role in Cloud Formation, Study Finds
Researchers Criticize Previous Claims of Global Plant Die-Off
Other Headlines

Events

September 23-October 2: Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Polar Bear Researcher Reinstated after Suspension

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) reinstated polar bear researcher, Charles Monnett, after six weeks of administrative leave. The federal agency had suspended Monnett as they conducted an internal investigation into integrity issues. BOEMRE had stated that Monnett was suspended for improperly administering research contracts but not for his well-publicized 2006 study documenting dead polar bears. While he will return to work, bureau officials said Monnett will no longer be administering contracts. Meanwhile, the Interior Department’s scientific integrity officer has launched an investigation to determine if his suspension violated a presidential directive which protects federal scientists from outside interference.

For additional information see: LA Times, AP, New York Times, Washington Post

Prime Minister Harper Asserts Canadian Sovereignty in Arctic Region

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper asserted Canadian sovereignty over Arctic resources in response to recent Chinese interest in the Arctic region. Rich in energy and mineral resources such as coal, crude oil, gold, and uranium, the Arctic region has garnered attention from nations such as China as climate change melts the Arctic ice cap and creates access to the previously inaccessible resources. On August 26, when faced with a question from a Chinese reporter concerning the role that other countries could play in the Arctic region, Harper confirmed that “the government of Canada, working with our partners and the people in this region, intend to assert our sovereignty in these regions.” Harper has asserted Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic in the past, by investing in research into arctic resources and visiting the region. On a 2010 visit to the Arctic, Harper stated that “The first and highest priority of our northern strategy is the protection of our Arctic sovereignty.” China, however, has been interested in using Arctic waters to access European markets. As melting sea ice renders the region more reliably navigable, the regulation of ships in Arctic waters is also an increasingly important issue.

For additional information see: The Globe and Mail, CBC News

Key Emerging Powers Call for Kyoto Protocol Extension

On August 27, Brazil, India, China and South Africa released a joint statement calling for the extension of the Kyoto Protocol during the UN Summit in Durban later this year. The countries also expressed hope that the climate summit will help push into effect the Green Climate Fund which would provide billions of dollars for less developed nations that are at greater risk of climate change disruption. Xie Zhenhua, one of China’s climate officials, said he hoped the statement would “send a sign to the international community that we are pursuing efforts to make the Durban conference a success.” However, Canada, Russia and Japan recently rejected commitments to reduce carbon emissions while the United States and China are currently not bound by the Kyoto Protocol. Both the United States and the European Union have also stated that there is no chance of achieving a binding emissions agreement in Durban.

For additional information see: AFP, Economic Times, Xinhua

Study Finds Mental Illness Increases as Result of Climate Change

A study released by the Climate Institute found that increased incidence of mental illness stemming from severe weather events will increase due to climate change. The study focused on the effects of Australia’s 10-year drought, the increased frequency and intensity of bush fires, and cyclones and floods. A loss of social cohesion after these events may lead to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and substance abuse, according to researchers. For example, the suicide rate in rural areas has increased by 8 per cent, while one in ten elementary school children have shown signs of post-traumatic stress disorder after Cyclone Larry in 2006. “[R]ecent conditions are entirely consistent with the best scientific predictions: as the world warms so the weather becomes wilder, with big consequences for people’s health and well-being,” the report says.

For additional information see: Sydney Morning Herald, International Business Times, Report

Bedrock Nitrogen May Amplify Forests’ Ability to Mitigate Climate Change

A study published in the journal Nature found that forests with nitrogen-rich bedrock stored nearly twice as much carbon in the soil as forests with nitrogen-poor bedrock. Researchers also found that the bedrock was a source of nitrogen for trees. This discovery was contrary to the previously held theory that plants could only obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere when dissolved in rain, or through organisms. Nitrogen plays a limiting role in plants’ ability to grow and to pull carbon from the atmosphere. Some climate models have predicted that the earth may warm by an additional 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit as a result of forests’ limited access to nitrogen. “The stunning finding that forests can also feed on nitrogen in rocks has the potential to change all projections related to climate change,” said co-author Benjamin Houlton.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Study

Wastewater Recycling Releases More Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A southern California-based study comparing the emission rates for nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas, in two types of wastewater treatment facilities found that wastewater recycling facilities released two to three times more nitrous oxide than regular wastewater treatment facilities. Wastewater treatment removes organic carbon from the water before releasing it into a stream or ocean while wastewater recycling removes both the organic carbon and nitrogen so it may be used for irrigation. Nitrous oxide has about 300 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide and exists in the atmosphere for a long time. Researchers attributed the higher N2O emissions to higher populations of nitrifying and dentrifying bacteria in the recycling wastewater facility. Given southern California’s need for water and the energy necessary to import it from elsewhere, the treatment and recycling emissions may be better than the alternative. “Wastewater recycling is an essential component of the urban water-resource portfolio, especially in the semi-arid, urban southwest,” said co-author Amy Townsend-Small.. “Because drinking water in southern California is imported over very long distances, it is responsible for large energy consumption and carbon-dioxide emission rates.” The study was published in the journal Journal of Environmental Quality.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Telegraph, Study Abstract

Reducing Soot Emissions May Be Fastest, Most Economical Approach to Global Warming

According to a new study, cutting soot emissions could be one of the fastest and more economical ways to reduce global warming. Soot emissions consist of tiny particles known as “black carbon” and come from diesel cars, buses, trucks, ships, aircraft, agriculture and construction machines and even from dung burned as fuel in developing countries. It warms the planet by absorbing light and emitting heat back into the atmosphere and also by blocking light reflected from Earth’s surface. Even though soot is second only to carbon in terms of its contribution to global warming, it is often overlooked in climate models. According to Stanford University’s Mark Z. Jacobson, author of the study, reducing soot emissions could lower the temperature in parts of the Arctic by up to 3 degrees Fahrenheit within just 15 years. The reason is that while carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for years, soot only remains for a few weeks. Reducing soot emissions would have a more immediate impact on the atmosphere than reducing carbon emissions. Further, the technology already exists to reduce up to 90 percent of soot emissions in only 5-10 years if aggressive policies are enacted.

For additional information see: Science Daily, American Chemical Society

Study: Cholera Outbreaks Linked to River Flow, Not Sea Temperatures

Researchers from Tufts University analyzed 12 years of data and NASA satellite images of several major river basins, and found that terrestrial nutrients carried by rivers are actually responsible for the phytoplankton blooms that cause cholera outbreaks. Previous research had shown that higher amounts of phytoplankton accompanied higher temperature. However, new research has indicated higher sea surface temperatures cause a decrease in phytoplankton, leading to less zooplankton, which contribute to cholera outbreaks. Global warming may still impact cholera outbreaks by changing flood and drought cycles, but not directly through increased temperatures. “If river flows are more turbulent, if droughts are more severe, if flood is more severe, cholera is more severe, but cholera may not have direct linkage with rising sea surface temperatures,” said the study’s lead researcher, Shafiqul Islam. The study was published in the August 3rd issue of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

For additional information see: Medical News Today, New York Times, Study Abstract

Heat-Related Deaths Among Elderly to Rise in California

An aging population and global warming will lead to a steep increase in heat-related deaths, according to a new report commissioned by the California Air Resources Board. The report found that heat spells lasting 10 days or more could rise two to 10 times by 2090 and the number of heat-related deaths among people 65 and older could rise five to 17 times. Researchers from the University of Miami and Kent State University used two climate models and various population growth and socio-economic scenarios to estimate the impacts in nine major urban areas of the state. Currently, an average of 508 elderly people die from excessive heat in these areas each year. “The public is generally under-educated about the dangers of extreme heat and heat waves,” said the researchers. “Because of this, many of the most vulnerable people are unaware of the risks associated with excessive heat events or of the proper steps to take to reduce their risk to heat exposure.” The report recommends that California set up extreme heat warning systems to inform weather forecasters of which days are most dangerous to human health, and that every major California city establish a heat-health task force.

For additional information see: Environmental News Service, Orange County Register

Climate Change May Increase Asthma-Related Emergency Room Visits

A study conducted by researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine has revealed that changes in atmospheric ozone levels could increase asthma attacks in children by an estimated 7.3 percent over 1990s levels by the 2020s. Researchers calculated the increase by comparing regional climate and air quality data to asthma-related emergency room visits for 14 counties within the New York Metropolitan area. They used regional and atmospheric chemistry models to simulate the expected changes in ozone levels for the months of June through August in the 2020s to determine the increases in asthma-related emergency room visits. While the median increase was 7.3 percent, each county varied from as low as a 5.2 percent increase to as high as a 10.2 percent increase. According to lead author Dr. Perry Sheffield, “This study is a jumping off point to evaluate other outcomes including cost utilization, doctors’ visits, missed school days, and a general understanding of the overall burden of climate change on children with asthma.” The study was published in the journal American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Study Abstract

Hurricane Irene Data Valuable for Carbon Cycling Research

Scientists from the University of Delaware, the Stroud Water Research Center, and the Christina River Basin Critical Zone Observatory (CRBCZO) collected data from Hurricane Irene to study how large storm events affect carbon cycling. The data from Hurricane Irene—which is based on water samples collected during the storm in barrels— could indicate how carbon matter is sequestered during large storm events, and whether carbon matter is stored in sedimentary layers or returned to the atmosphere. Streams transport most of their sediment during rainfall, and the intensity of a storm is proportionate to the amount of sediment transported. Large storm events such as Hurricane Irene play a major role in the transport and sequestering of carbon material, which is relevant to large-scale cycling of greenhouse gases. By analyzing minerals and carbon matter collected during storms such as Hurricane Irene, scientists can observe the net carbon sink due to sediment transport.

For additional information see: Science Daily, The Stroud Center

Cosmic Rays Play Significant Role in Cloud Formation, Study Finds

According to a study conducted by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), cosmic rays play a greater role in cloud formation than previously thought. Atmospheric aerosol formation is thought to be largely responsible for the formation of seed which eventually lead to cloud formation. However, the new study shows that the trace vapors which were previously thought to account for aerosol formation now only account for a fraction of it. Additionally, the ionization from the sun’s cosmic rays greatly increases the formation of these aerosol particles. Because atmospheric aerosols reflect light and eventually create the seeds necessary for cloud formation, they play an important role in current climate models. It was assumed that trace sulphuric acid and ammonia vapors were important, but until now it was unclear exactly how they interacted to form aerosol particles. According to the study, the combination of only sulphuric acid, water, ammonia and cosmic rays is insufficient to explain the levels of aerosol formation observed in the atmosphere. “Now it’s vitally important to discover which additional vapors are involved, whether they are largely natural or of human origin, and how they influence clouds. This will be our next job,” said the experiment’s spokesperson, Jasper Kirkby.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Guardian, Study Abstract

Researchers Criticize Previous Claims of Global Plant Die-Off

A 2010 study saying that global warming was killing off plants is now being challenged by other researchers. The original study, conducted by Maosheng Zhao and Steven Running from the University of Montana, used NASA satellite data to show a global decrease in plant productivity from 2000 to 2009. Critics of the study claimed that it was erratic, poorly formulated and did not show “trends that are statistically significant.” One cause for criticism was that the study only showed a 0.1 percent decrease over the course of 10 years. “This is the proverbial needle in a haystack,” said Simone Vieira, co-author of the study critiquing the Zhao and Bunning’s work. However, this 0.1 percent was achieved by a 0.34 percent decrease in the southern hemisphere and a 0.24 percent increase in the northern hemisphere, including large swaths of lost plant productivity in Southeast Asia and China. According to Andy Pitman, co-director of the Climate Change Research Centre at the University of New South Wales, who was not involved in either study, “This does not mean that there has been no decline, or that Zhao and Running’s results were wrong, rather it highlights how strong research groups can reach different conclusions when using different assumptions.” The critique was published in the magazine Science.

For additional information see: AFP, Study (Presentation), Study (Technical Comments)

Other Headlines

Alaska says Climate Change is No Threat to Polar Bears, Opposes Protection

Local Fisherwomen in Mexico Band Together to Adapt to Climate Change

Japan’s Tepco Says to Review CO2 Goal

Can Water Treaties be Climate Proofed?

Documenting a Collapsing Ice Shelf

Some Desert Birds Less Affected by Wildfires and Climate Change

September 23-October 2: Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon will take place at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., Sept. 23–Oct. 2, 2011. The award-winning program challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. Open to the public free of charge, visitors can tour the houses, gather ideas to use in their own homes, and learn how energy-saving features can help them save money today.

Writers: Kate Glass, Joey Gosselar, Laura Parsons 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!

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

Climate Change and Extreme Weather: We’re Asking the Wrong Question

The President Sabotages Clean Air Protections, Part 1

Number of Walruses Hauled Out near Point Lay, Alaska, Swells to over 20,000

U.S. House to Push Pro-Polluter Agenda in Fall

President Obama Abandons Clean Air Standard

A Debate Arises on Job Creation and Environment

Mayor Declares Sept. ‘Climate Change Awareness Month’

Standing on Principle

UN-backed Climate Change Technology Mechanism Team Concludes First Meeting

China Aims to Rein in Car Sales

Europe Solar Power to Be Competitive by 2020: EPIA

Unlocked by Melting Ice-caps, the Great Polar Oil Rush Has Begun

“If we are going to get serious about reducing our carbon footprint in the United States, we have to get serious about coal. Ending coal power production is the right thing to do, because, while it may seem to be an inexpensive energy source, the impact on our environment and the impact on public health is significant.”

– Michael R. Bloomberg

Cleaning Up Our Waters, Spending, and Energy Use Hot Pubs

USCAN — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:13:43 +0000

Member Reports:

Toxic Oil Dispersants: This month Toxipedia Consultants and Earthjustice released “The Chaos of Clean-Up: Analysis of Potential Health and Environmental Impacts of Chemicals in Dispersant Products.” The study responds to public concern over the safety of chemicals poured into the Gulf of Mexico to disperse oil after the Deepwater Horizon spill. According to the report, the dispersants lacked consistent toxicity testing, testing for non-acute impacts, and full information on their ingredients prior to their use to combat the spill. The research done on the dispersants found that of their 57 ingredients, 5 chemicals are associated with cancer, 33 with skin irritations, while 8 are suspected to be toxic to aquatic organisms and 5 are suspected to have moderate acute toxicity to fish.

Green Scissors: A Green Scissors 2011 report released this month suggests cuts in environmentally harmful government subsidies that could potentially save taxpayers over $380 billion over the next five years. The report, released by Friends of the Earth, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Public Citizen, and the Heartland Institute, targets spending in the areas of energy, agriculture, transportation, and land and water. Subsidies given to the oil and gas industry are specifically cited as unnecessary. According to the report, “Peabody Energy, the largest private sector coal company, earned record-breaking profits in 2008 and has already posted $461.3 million in profits in 2011, up 36 percent from the first six months of 2010. Consol Energy recorded near-record income of $540 million in 2009, and this year, first quarter profits nearly doubled from 2010 to reach $192 million.”

Clean Energy for the World’s Poor: Earlier this summer, ActionAid International, along with Oil Change International and the Vasudha Foundation in India released “Access to Energy for the Poor: The Clean Energy Option.” The report focuses on the dual benefit of increasing the world’s poorest population’s access to energy services and promoting clean energy sources for both development and the environment. The research highlights international, national, and local initiatives to increase access to clean energy services. It also stresses the role that multilateral development banks could play in funding the transition to a more sustainable energy future. Recommendations for the World Bank made in the report include focusing its energy lending on increasing energy access to the poor through “clean, decentralized energy sources,” clarifying its criteria for “’energy access,’ focusing on the world’s poorest,” and stopping lending for fossil fuels with the exception of “extreme cases where there is clearly no other viable option for increasing energy access to the poor.” The report found that currently only 9 percent of the World Bank Group’s energy portfolio in FY 2009 and 2010 targeted increasing energy access for the world’s poorest populations.

Improving Water Use: The Nature Conservancy, partnered with PepsiCo, released a report, “Striving for Positive Water Impact” this month discussing the launch of five “Positive Water Impact pilot projects focused on understanding the watershed conditions and restoration opportunities for a group of diverse manufacturing plants in different parts of the world.” The research behind the projects worked to identify sub-watersheds for restoration, possible steps for improving water conditions, and the costs and benefits associated with these activities. The report highlights mitigation efforts underway in each of the pilot sites, located in the US, UK, China, India, and Mexico; efforts that include irrigation system upgrades, wastewater re-use, rainfall retention, rainwater harvesting, and rehabilitation of “defunct water infrastructure in local villages.”

Non-Member Reports:

The Western Energy Grid: On August 24, 2011, with support from the Western Clean Energy Advocates (WCEA), the Western Grid Group (WGG) released “Western Grid: 2050: Contrasting Futures, Contrasting Fortunes.” Based on the fact that over $200 billion will be invested in the western electricity sector by 2030, the report considers two opposing routes the electricity grid’s development course could follow through the year 2050, comparing their economic, environmental, security, and public health impacts. The first trajectory, a “Business As-Usual” approach, focuses discretionary investment on “retrofitting, repowering and adding coal generation and on meeting any incremental needs with new gas-fired generation” while the second, a “Clean Energy Vision,” focuses this investment on implementing renewable energy technologies. In comparing the two paths, the report finds that the Clean Energy Vision emits significantly less carbon dioxide and relative to 2010 water use, reduces “water use for electricity generation by 50 percent.”

Coal Capacity at Risk: On August 26, 2011, PJM Interconnection, the main regional transmission organization covering 13 states and the District issued “Coal Capacity at Risk for Retirement in PJM: Potential Impacts of the Finalized EPA Cross State Air Pollution Rule and Proposed National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.” The report focuses on PJM’s estimated impacts of these regulations on the amount of coal-fired generating capacity that may be eliminated. Even with the projection that “as much as 20,000 MW of coal-fired capacity are at risk for retirement in PJM, with as much as 4,400 MW of that capacity located in the Mid-Atlantic region,” there remain announced commitments to replace a portion of that capacity, the potential for new entry from Demand Resources, and unthreatened resource adequacy. The PJM report’s estimates challenge claims by several coal plant operators and some members of Congress that electric system reliability is threatened by coal plant retirements that could occur as a result of EPA’s new pollution rules.

Polls/Surveys:

New Yorker’s Feelings on Fracking: On August 11 Quinnipiac University released the findings of a statewide New York poll evaluating public opinion on drilling in the Marcellus Shale. The results indicate that, by a 47 – 42 percent margin, New York voters support the economic benefits of drilling for natural gas in the Shale more than they fear the possible environmental impacts of the fracking. The independent poll also found that respondents believe 75 – 17 percent that “natural gas drilling will create jobs…with strong support among all groups and in all regions of the state.” Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute says the poll shows New Yorkers want to “drill for the jobs…even though they’re worried about the environmental effects of hydro-fracking.” Results show voters believe 52 – 15 percent that the process will damage the environment, while 33 percent are undecided.

Coloradans Blame Oil Companies for Gas Prices: An August 2011 poll conducted by Keating research and commissioned by the Checks and Balances Project found a large majority of Colorado residents in favor of a reduction in oil price speculation and market manipulation to lower gas prices. The survey, conducting through live telephone polling between May 24-26, 2011, found 77 percent of Colorado voters believe that “reducing oil consumption through efficiency would be an effective way to reduce prices.” The results of the poll were released to the public just as the Americans for Prosperity “Running on Empty” tour, which has been promoting increased oil drilling, began its stops in Colorado. Based on 603 interviews with Colorado voters, the survey found seven out of ten respondents “favor diversification of the sources of energy by creating a national renewable electricity standard that requires 20 percent of electricity” to come from renewable sources.

Cooling Climate Concern: This month Nielsen released the results of its “2011 Global Online Environment and Sustainability Survey” which compiled Internet responses of more than 25,000 people in 51 countries. The updated findings, when compared to the results from 2007 and 2009, found that while 69 percent of respondents say they are concerned about climate change, up from 66 percent in 2009, concern for other environmental issues is of higher and increasing priority. The area of concern growing the fastest among 73 percent of global online consumers is on the “use of pesticides, packaging waste and water shortages, with reported concern increasing 16, 14, and 13 percentage points, respectively.” The results also saw the United States concern about climate change drop 14 percentage points from 2007 to 2011, with less than half (48%) of Americans reporting that they are concerned about the issue.

Cause and Effect and Other Hot Pubs

USCAN — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:56:21 +0000

Member Reports

Water-Related Impacts of Climate Change: Today the Natural Resources Defense Council released their new report called, “Thirsty for Answers: Preparing for the Water-related Impacts of Climate Change in American Cities.” The report makes clear that some of the most profound effects of climate change are water-related, like sea level rise, increased rain and storms, flooding, and drought. These changes affect the water we drink, fish, and swim in, as well as impact our infrastructure and the economy. They compiled local and regional research findings about the water-related impacts of climate change in 12 U.S. cities. They also analyzed what many of these municipalities are doing in terms of preparedness planning, and offer their solutions as examples for other communities to emulate.

Dirty Coal: On July 18, 2011 Greenpeace released a report, “Polluting Democracy: Coal Plays Dirty.” The report provides a sampling of the actions of a bipartisan cadre of 15 politicians, who are among those in the House of Representatives working for America’s dirty and decrepit coal-fired power industry. These 15 members have tried to stop EPA from modernizing standards for pollutants that come predominantly from coal-fired power plants, including mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, greenhouse gases, and coal ash. It is important to note that while renewable energy systems can provide job opportunities to 196,000 people, coal fired power plants can only provide 60,000.

National Parks: On July 13, 2011 the Natural Resources Defense Council released a report, “Great Lakes National Parks In Peril: The Threats Of Climate Disruption.” The report focuses on five national parks that surround the Great Lakes coastline: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (NL) in Indiana; Sleeping Bear Dunes NL, Pictured Rocks NL, and Isle Royale National Park (NP) in Michigan; and Apostle Islands NL in Wisconsin. For this report, the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization (RMCO) analyzed temperature records for the two weather stations in the U.S. Historical Climatology Networ(USHCN) in the immediate vicinity of Great Lakes national parks. It found extreme weather conditions can lead to the change in ecosystems, loss in wildlife, loss of cultural resources, and reduction of visitor enjoyment. Parks should be managed to preserve their resources at risk, to adapt to coming changes, and to provide visible leadership in addressing climate change.

Oil Independence: On July 7, 2011 Environment America released a report, “Getting Off Oil: A 50 State Roadmap for Curbing our Dependence on Petroleum.” The report states that the United States has the technology and policy legislation that will enable Americans to reduce its consumption of oil for energy by 1.9 billion barrels of oil per year by 2030 – 31 percent of today’s oil use – while achieving President Obama’s goal of reducing oil imports by one-third by 2025 and putting the nation on track to ending its dependence on oil. Several of the threats mentioned in the report that are induced by America’s dependence on oil consist of: global warming, oil spills, and air pollution. The United States and individual state governments are prompted to start taking action now by shifting towards renewable energy systems to ensure a sustainable environment.

Clean Vehicles: Also this month the World Resources Institute released a report, “The Role of Driving in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Oil Consumption.” The report explores whether technology improvements alone can achieve oil consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets consistent with recent draft legislation and international climate negotiations. The report provides the Department of Transportation with recommendations on how to reduce vehicles miles traveled (VMT), oil use, and GHG emissions. Although the rate of technological progress, such as fuel efficiency improvements, is uncertain, these improvements are encouraged by federal incentives and standards. Transportation planning at the local, regional, and state level should incorporate strategies to reduce VMT in order to reduce GHG emissions and oil consumption. With the production of more efficient vehicles and reduction on VMT the United States may no longer need to import any oil by 2030.

Humanitarian and Disaster Response to Climate Change: On June 17, 2011, Oxfam American and CNA Analysis and Solutions released a joint report, “An Ounce of Prevention: Preparing For The Impact Of A Changing Climate on US Humanitarian and Disaster Response.” The report analyzes both domestic and foreign civilian and military humanitarian responses systems to climate change emergencies, such as disease outbreaks, population displacement, and periodic droughts and floods. Thus far, the international community has allocated little aid to people who suffered from climate related disasters. “Between 2005 and 2009 the international community provided only 69 percent of the amounts requested in UN humanitarian appeals. In 2010, the figure fell to 63 percent.” The report recommends two policy shifts that can improve effectiveness and reduce costs: organizing a coherent, whole-of-government approach to humanitarian assistance and emphasizing strategies with a long-term perspective.

Deforestation: On June 2011, the Center for Clean Air Policy released a report, “REDD+ Design In Cambodia, Indonesia and Mexico: Lessons to Inform International REDD+ Policy Development.” According to the study, deforestation contributes approximately 17 percent of total global emissions of greenhouse gases every year. To prevent climate change disasters, deforestation must be reduced by at least 50 percent by 2020 and global forest loss by 30 percent by 2030. Thus, the Center for Clean Air Policy has joined forces with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change with the hope of helping key developing countries – Cambodia, Indonesia, and Mexico- participate in a post 2012 international REDD+ regime where they will be committed to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. The initiatives range from government legislation to local projects, with a focus on environmental, social and economic objectives. In-country experiences ought to provide insight to international policymakers to guide their decisions on REDD+.

Environmental Conservation and Development Integration: InterAction released a report in June 2011 called: “The Nature of Development: Integrating Conservation & Development to Support Sustainable, Resilient Societies.” The report focuses on the negative impact that rising food prices and lack of natural resources has on society. Today, nearly half the world’s people live in poverty, and the world’s poorest countries must provide for billions more as human numbers grow from 7 to 9.3 billion by the middle of this century. These two challenges—environmental protection and development—are profoundly interconnected. An integrated approach to conservation and development accomplishes a variety of critical goals, such as: saving money, protecting investments in development, creating jobs, building resilience, and enhancing security. The report mentions barriers that may potentially detain integration. Overall, the integrated approach calls for greater flexibility in our existing approach to development and how we account for its benefits.

Non Member Reports

Enhance Nuclear Power Safety: On July 12, 2011 the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) released a report, “Recommendations For Enhancing Reactor Safety In The 21^st Century.” The Near Term Task Force was established in light of the recent accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant to conduct methodical reviews and determine whether the NRC needs to make additional improvements to their regulatory system. Upon further examination of the Fukushima Dai-ichi disaster, the Task Force referred to protecting against accidents resulting from natural phenomena, mitigating the consequences of such accidents, and ensuring emergency preparedness.

Black Carbon and Tropospheric Ozone: On June 14, 2011, the United Nations Environment Programme released a report, “Integrated Assessment of Black Carbon and Tropospheric Ozone.” This study states scientific evidence and new analyses demonstrate that control of black carbon particles and tropospheric ozone through rapid implementation of proven emission reduction measures would have immediate and multiple benefits for human well-being. It reflects, in particular, a number of findings on the state of scientific knowledge as well as policy proposals to cut emissions provided by over fifty authors. The report provides a comprehensive assessment of the collateral benefits which can be derived from practical measures to reduce black carbon – a principal soot component – as well as the gases which contribute to the formation of tropospheric ozone, especially methane. Although the report mentions some discouraging facts, such as the number of people who fall ill from breathing in black carbon polluted air, there is substantial evidence that existing technologies, policies and measures – some of them linked to actions launched to improve energy access, sustainable transport and health – could immediately begin to provide significant benefits in terms of human well-being, the climate system and the wider environment, if they were rapidly and widely implemented.

Here We Go Again, Climate Action Hotline, 7.11.11

USCAN — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:22:01 +0000

Peter Bahouth, Executive Director

July 11, 2011

Here We Go Again

They are at it again! The House of Representatives is working on the fiscal 2012 budget for the government. Environmentalists want a responsibly funded government, but the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill, released last week, includes several dirty air riders that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from doing its job of protecting public health. Some especially concerning provisions would block the Environmental Protection Agency from curbing dangerous carbon pollution—similar to the attack saw several months ago in the continuing resolution (H.R. 1). The bill was marked up in Subcommittee last Thursday and is expected to move to the full Appropriations Committee early this week. Along with these dirty air riders the EPA would take an 18% cut in funding from last year’s level. More information on this latest attack can be found on USCAN’s Defending the Clean Air Act page.

The EPA was under barrage again on Friday, this time with redundant, bureaucratic, red tape legislation know as the ‘‘Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act of 2011” (TRAIN Act; H.R. 2401). The TRAIN Act is designed to sideline a specific list of life-saving public health protections provided by the Clean Air Act. This legislation would require a committee of cabinet secretaries and other high-level officials to scrutinize and attempt to project the economic impact of upcoming EPA rules—an analysis that both the EPA and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) already perform. The TRAIN Act was passed out of the Energy and Power Subcommittee, will now move to the full Energy and Commerce Committee, and if passed there will make it to the House floor. Not only does this bill require redundant analyses of EPA rules, wasting both time and taxpayer dollars, but it would also take the unprecedented step of forcing agencies to sit in judgment of each other.

But there is good news, too. Also last week, the EPA announced the finalized Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which protects over 240 million Americans from deadly power plant air pollution by reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) that cross state lines and worsen air quality in downwind states. The rule requires pollution reductions from power plants in 27 states in the eastern half of the United States. See more info here.

Friday, Governor John Lynch of New Hampshire vetoed a bill to exit Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) citing jobs and economic growth. RGGI is the first market-based regulatory program in the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Participants include ten Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states that have capped and will reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector 10 percent by 2018. Recently Environment America released an informative report on RGGI progress, success, and suggestions for improvement that can be found here.

Also of note, the report “Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2011” on renewable energy investment trends issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) was released. This report found that global investments in green energy rose nearly a third more than 2009 levels to the equivalent of $211 billion. It found China increased its renewable investment by a whopping 28% to $48 billion dollars. Other parts of the emerging world also showed large increases in renewable energy investments. India has invested 25% more, South and Central America are up 39%, and the Middle East and Africa take the cake by increasing renewable investment by an astounding 104%.

Marie Risalvato, Communications Coordinator

Vote Today to Repeal Light Bulb Efficiency Standards:

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote TODAY on legislation that would repeal energy efficiency standards for light bulbs. These standards, which were enacted in 2007 with strong bipartisan support, save consumers energy and money and reduce harmful pollution. Urge your senators and representative to oppose any bills that would weaken or repeal light bulb efficiency standards (such as H.R. 91/S. 395).

See sample action alerts opposing the BULB Act from the League of Conservation Voters and NRDC.

For examples of 2012 Budget Appropriations action alerts, click here: WWF and EDF. For more information contact mdixon@climatenetwork.org

Carol Werner, Executive Director

July 11, 2011

Bioenergy Newsletter Just Launched!

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) has launched a new weekly newsletter to examine sustainable bioenergy, farm, and forest policy issues. Sustainable Bioenergy, Farms, and Forests is available for free and will be published on Friday mornings. Please click here to subscribe.

Survey Shows Who Americans Trust About Climate Change

A new survey suggests the urgency of climate change can be communicated if the right people engage local constituencies and explain how human activities are impacting local communities. “You can’t talk about preparing for climate change in Seattle the same way you would in Phoenix,” said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, which released the survey results on June 27. The survey suggests many people remain uninformed about climate change but there is an opportunity to close the information gap. The survey found 39 percent of people were alarmed or concerned by climate change. On the other hand, 10 percent were dismissive, and may be unreachable because they distrust any source of data. A large sector of the public is in the middle, looking for information from trusted people who can explain why they are certain that humans are responsible for climate change. If more doctors, military officers, businesspeople or labor leaders speak out, the information gap may close. “We take our cues from key trusted individuals and organizations,” said Leiserowitz. “And different groups tend to trust different messengers.”

For additional information see: Reuters, Study

N.H. Governor Vetoes Plan to Leave Carbon Market

New Hampshire will stay in a regional carbon market after its governor vetoed a bill that would have led to its withdrawal. Gov. John Lynch said leaving the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) would cost the state $16 million that the program raises through its carbon auctions. “I am vetoing this legislation because it will cost our citizens jobs, both now and into the future, hinder our economic recovery, and damage our state’s long-term economic competitiveness,” said Lynch. The 10-state program requires reductions of carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and established the trading market. Power plants can buy allowances to cover their emissions and sell unneeded allowances on the market if they further reduce their emissions. Republican legislators in New Hampshire said leaving the program would lower costs for utilities and reduce electricity rates. RGGI has faced challenges in several states. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced in May that his state will leave the program later this year.

For additional information see: Reuters

House Takes Aim at EPA and Greenhouse Gas Regulations

House Republicans are trying another tactic to block the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases from power plants and oil refineries. Budget writers included a policy rider to the fiscal 2012 spending bill unveiled July 6 that would impose a one-year delay on the EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations, and sharply reduce funding for the agency. “The EPA’s unrestrained effort to regulate greenhouse gases, and the pursuit of an overly aggressive regulatory agenda, are signs of an agency that has lost its bearings,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, an Idaho Republican and chairman of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans may have enough votes to pass the bill, but it is expected to be blocked in the Senate, where Democrats have a majority. EPA rules that took effect in January regulate greenhouse gas emissions from new and modified large industrial facilities.

For additional information see: The Hill Story 1, The Hill Story 2, Platts

British Columbia Carbon Tax Seen as Good for Environment

Nearly three-quarters of the residents of British Columbia believe their province’s carbon tax has been good for the environment, or feel neutral about it, according to survey results released June 30. Strategic Communications, Inc. conducted the poll of 830 people. It found 69 percent of residents are worried about climate change. This year, the carbon tax, introduced in 2008, costs $25 per ton for carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of oil, natural gas and coal. Next year, it rises to $30 per ton. Future rate hikes have not been determined; 51 percent of those polled do not support an increase in the carbon tax. Similar taxes apply to jet fuel, diesel, propane and other fuels. Both businesses and consumers pay the tax. The tax adds about $142 a year to the home heating bills of the average homeowner. The province claims the tax is revenue neutral because personal, corporate and small business income taxes were lowered.

For additional information see: Vancouver Sun, British Columbia Carbon Tax Website

African Leaders Eye Climate Funds for Adaptation Projects

African leaders are creating a monetary infrastructure and developing a united front to press the international community to fully fund Africa’s share of the proposed Green Climate Fund. The Green Climate Fund was announced at the United Nations (U.N.) climate talks in Cancun in 2010 and is still being developed. Earlier this year, the U.N. announced the selection of a 40-person committee to design the fund, which would raise money from public and private sources to finance mitigation, adaptation, capacity building and other climate projects in developing countries. When the next round of climate change talks begin in November in South Africa, African leaders will advocate for the bulk of their continent’s funds to be allocated to climate adaptation projects. African nations will be some of the most affected by climate change on the globe because of their susceptibility to drought. African leaders have agreed that the African Development Bank would manage their share of the fund; many African nations lack the knowledge and technology to secure their share of international funding. “We want to use the knowledge and expertise of the African Development Bank in managing ad hoc mechanisms to set up that African Green Fund,” said Ibrahima Dia, a senior U.N. and African Union official.

For additional information see: Reuters

Coal Pollution Helped Ease Rate of Global Warming, Study Says

The decade of the 2000s was the hottest on record, but average global temperatures could have been hotter, a new study suggests. Pollution from China’s growing appetite for coal actually helped ease the rate at which global temperatures were rising, but that dampening effect won’t last. Burning coal emits large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas that causes climate change. But it also emits sulphate aerosol, a cause of acid rain. Researchers say sulphate aerosol helped constrain the increase in temperatures by reflecting solar energy back into space. Chinese coal consumption doubled between 2003 and 2007. China is taking steps to clean up its coal-fired power plants, installing scrubbers to remove particulates from emissions that harm human health. Sulphate aerosol is a relatively short-lived pollutant; it falls out of the atmosphere within a few weeks. CO2, on the other hand, remains in the atmosphere for decades. “What’s going on is, human activities do two things: They cool the planet and they warm the planet. People normally just focus on the warming effect of CO2 (carbon dioxide), but during the Chinese economic expansion there was a huge increase in sulfur emissions,” said Robert Kaufmann of Boston University, the lead author of the study, which was published in the July 4 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

For additional information see: BBC, Associated Press

U.S. Air Carriers Oppose Europe’s Carbon Rule

U.S. airlines are fighting a European Union (EU) law that would require them to pay for their carbon dioxide emissions when taking off or landing in Europe, beginning in 2012. An industry group and major airlines that include United and Continental made their case before the European Court of Justice on July 5. The 27-member EU voted to extend its emissions trading system to include aviation emissions. The airlines oppose the cost, given the routes are mostly outside EU airspace, and say there’s no firm guarantee the money will be spent on climate projects, as intended. The EU has offered to waive the costs for flights from countries that it judges to have taken “equivalent” steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “We are not thinking at all about the possibility of changing our legislation,” said José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission. “All the world should unite in some kind of directive like this one.”

For additional information see: The New York Times, The Economist

Proposal Would Set 56 MPG Standard for Cars by 2025

Federal regulators are considering an increase to fuel efficiency standards that would require cars and light trucks to average 56 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2025, the second round of rules aimed at curbing vehicles’ greenhouse gas emissions. Today’s cars must average 30 mpg and light trucks 24 mpg. The proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would apply to model years 2017 through 2025. Federal officials are emphasizing that the proposal would reduce oil use, consumers’ fuel costs, and emissions of other pollutants. Automakers and their allies say jobs are at risk if new cars become more expensive and consumers defer their vehicle purchases. They also say higher fuel efficiency standards may force automakers to produce vehicles that do not suit Americans’ lifestyles.

For additional information see: The Washington Post, The Detroit News

Climate Change Threatens Endangered Turtle, Study Finds

Researchers say the population of an endangered Australian turtle may suffer further declines as the average global temperature increases in the coming decades, another example of climate change’s detrimental impact on biodiversity. University of Queensland scientists who incubated eggs of the Mary River turtle at different temperatures found physiological and behavioral differences among offspring. Offspring incubated at higher temperatures swam poorly and preferred shallow water, two characteristics that increase the likelihood of being eaten by predators. “Whether climate change has already contributed to the decline (of the turtle) is not clear,” said Mariana Micheli-Campbell, one of the researchers. “But these results show it may be a danger to this species in the future.” The Mary River turtle already is listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, a category used to highlight species that face an elevated risk of extinction. The findings were presented at the Society for Experimental Biology Annual conference in Glasgow on July 3.

For additional information see: Science Daily

Climate Models Show Glaciers Melting Faster Than Projected

The great ice sheets of Greenland and the Antarctic will melt faster than previously believed, leading to a one-meter rise in sea level by the end of the century, a new study found. The study by University of Arizona researchers used 19 climate models to propose a new way that global warming will melt ice sheets near the poles. It looked at what will happen to tidewater glaciers as air and water temperatures warm. Tidewater glaciers flow from the land to the sea, with much of their leading edges submerged deep below the surface of the sea. “Ocean warming is very important compared to atmospheric warming because water has a much larger heat capacity than air,” said lead author Jianjun Yin. “If you put an ice cube in a warm room, it will melt in several hours. But if you put an ice cube in a cup of warm water, it will disappear in just minutes.” Greenland’s glaciers, in particular, are being exposed to increasingly warm subsurface water, partly due to the influence of the Gulf Stream. As the seawater warms, it melts the glacier from below, causing the upper portion to crumble into the ocean, and accelerating the rate at which the rest of the glacier flows from the land to the sea. The study was published online in Nature Geoscience.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Study

Study: Less Snowfall in the Arctic Enhances Melting of Ice

With less snow falling in the Arctic during the summer, sea ice is being deprived of protection from bright sunlight, causing it to melt more rapidly, a new study found. The study examined the cascading effects of rising temperatures in the Arctic, which is warming more rapidly than other parts of the globe. Of course, rising temperatures can directly affect sea ice, but they also have follow-on effects. Summer is typically still a time of significant snowfall in the Arctic. But rising temperatures have led to more of the precipitation falling as rain. Snowfall, in fact, is down 40 percent over the last 20 years. Reductions in snowfall affect sea ice, removing its protective covering and exposing it to sunlight. “Snow is highly reflective and bounces 85 percent of the incoming sunlight back into space,” said James Screen of the University of Melbourne. “Snow on top of ice effectively acts as a sunscreen protecting the ice from the power of the sun rays.” Measurements show the sea ice becoming thinner, and less extensive. The study was published in Climate Dynamics.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Study

Climate Change Forces Early Spring in Alberta, Canada

According to a University of Alberta study, climate change over the past 70 years has pushed the province’s native wildflowers and trees into earlier blooming times, making them more vulnerable to damaging frosts and decreased reproduction. Researchers used phenology, the study of the timing of life cycle events, to determine the historic bloom dates for plant species. The bloom dates for early spring species such as prairie crocuses and aspen trees had advanced by two weeks over the stretch of seven decades, while later-blooming species such as saskatoon and chokecherry bushes pushed ahead by up to six days. The average winter monthly temperature increased considerably over 70 years, with the greatest change noted in February, which warmed by 5.3 degrees Celsius. The study was published in the July issue of the journal Bioscience.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Study

Other Headlines

Utah Government Rebuffs ‘iMatter’ Greenhouse Gas Petition

U.S., European Media Still Worlds Apart on Climate Change Coverage

Climate Change Will Increase Threat of War, Chris Huhne Warns

Prospects Looking Up for Climate Investment Theme, Analyst Says

Fiscal Year 2012 Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill:

A bill to fund the Department of the Interior, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), the Forest Service, and various independent and related agencies.

Intent: To provide $27.5 billion in spending, a reduction of $2.1 billion below last year’s level and $3.8 billion below the administration’s budget request. The bill also includes a total cut to climate change programs of $83 million, or 22 percent, from last year, and imposes a one-year prohibition on the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of greenhouse gases from large stationary sources such as power plants and oil refineries.

Latest Major Action: On July 7, the subcommittee on interior, environment and related agencies reported the bill to the full appropriations committee.

For more information: Fiscal Year 2012 Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill.

Events

July 12: State and Federal Policy for Biogas

The American Biogas Council will host a webinar to explore federal and state-level policies that affect the development of biogas-producing anaerobic digestion facilities. You will learn from industry legislative experts from: ML Strategies, government relations and consulting experts, Stoel Rives, a leader in energy and renewable litigation, and project developer AgPower Group, a company with hands-on experience dealing with state and federal policy issues. This is your chance to learn from and interact with leading experts. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, July 12, at 12:00 EST. The webinar is free to American Biogas Council members and $100 for non-members. To register for this event, visit American Biogas Council. For more information, contact Josh Lieberman at jlieberman [at] ttcorp.com.

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

The Alliance for Green Heat invites you to “Scaling Up Residential Biomass Heating: A Stakeholder Symposium” at the U.S. Forest Service. While residential wood heat is the dominant player in residential renewable energy, most wood heat appliances in America are outdated and emit too many particulates. Robust deployment of modern, high efficiency appliances in Europe has succeeded in helping make substantial strides towards its energy independence. This stakeholder symposium will bring together non-profits, industry, government and forestry and air quality experts to explore how America can maximize the renewable energy potential of wood and pellet heat, and minimize associated drawbacks. The symposium will be held July 13, from 2:00-4:00 PM in the Yates Training Room at the USDA Forest Service Building, 201 14th Street SW. It is free but space is limited and advance registration is required. Please register at The Alliance for Green Heat.

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

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and WIRES (Working group for Investment in Reliable and Economic electric Systems) invite you to a briefing on how the manufacture and construction of electric transmission infrastructure can make a major contribution to reversing the nation’s stagnation in employment and economic activity. The electric transmission system is a critical and strategic asset for our nation. As policymakers focus on infrastructure development as an engine of new jobs and economic activity, this panel is a reminder that electric transmission – developed at the levels that experts project the country will need over the next two decades – can be a center of economic revitalization as more renewable resources are brought online. The briefing will be held on July 15, 10:00-11:30 AM, in Congressional Meeting Room North in the Capitol Visitor Center. This event is free and open to the public. For more information contact Laura Parsons at lparsons [at] eesi.org or (202) 662-1884.

July 19: Farm Bill Energy Title: Rural Energy for America Program

The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) and Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invite you to a briefing on the energy title of the Farm Bill, with a special focus on the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Big decisions loom in the next Farm Bill, including for key farm energy programs. REAP incentivizes a broad range of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies for all agricultural sectors across the country. As a result, thousands of rural producers and businesses are slashing energy costs with energy efficiency and renewable energy. They also are earning new income from renewable energy and creating new jobs, income, and wealth across rural America. This briefing will provide an overview of the Farm Bill Energy Title, as well as specific examples of dairy and poultry producers, rural electric cooperatives, and other rural producers and small businesses from across the country that have benefitted from the REAP program. The briefing will be held twice on the same day, July 19. The first briefing will be 10:00-11:30 AM in 1300 Longworth House Office Building. The second briefing will be 2:00-3:30 PM, in 188 Russell Senate Office Building. This briefing is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Ned Stowe at nstowe [at] eesi.org or (202) 662-1885.

July 21: Cool Roofs for Cooler Summers

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on the huge potential for solar-reflective roofs and other “cool-roofing” techniques to lower the surface temperature of buildings and entire cities. Cool roofs improve comfort on hot summer days and reduce the amount of energy used for air-conditioning – thereby reducing energy costs and improving air quality. Whitening flat roofs is a low-cost solution which, if implemented in certain cities across the globe, has been estimated to have the potential to offset the carbon emissions of 300 million automobiles. At this briefing, renowned physicist and energy efficiency expert Arthur Rosenfeld will discuss research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) that for the first time quantifies the reflective power (albedo) of urban surfaces that would be necessary to mitigate the urban heat-island effect and offset carbon dioxide emissions. Panelists also will discuss insulated and vegetated (“green”) roofs and how different types of cool roofs may be combined or integrated with solar-roofing systems, photovoltaics (PV) and/or solar thermal technology. The briefing will be held on July 21, 2:00-3:30 PM, in the Capital Visitors Center room SVC 212/210. This event is free and open to the public. No RSVP required. For more information contact Ellen Vaughan at evaughan [at] eesi.org or (202) 662-1893.

Writers: Dave Gershman, Justin Jones and Matthew Johnson

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 (202) 662-1887 or see www.eesi.org/donate to find out more. Thank you for your support!

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

Now its Yellowstone To Keystone

Researchers Show “Our Economy Isn’t Weatherproof”

National Energy Policy Needed, Electric Utilities Say

Tr-Ash Talk: House Buries Coal Ash in Appropriations Bill

Fossil Fuel Independence, Driving Electric in Tennessee

EDF Supports E.U. Efforts to Keep Airlines from Polluting

Government Asks Exxon to Retool Yellowstone Spill Plan

Texas Aglow With Effort to Save the Incandescent Bulb

Airlines Win Approval to Use Plant-Based Biofuels on Commercial Flights

$15 billion in tax cuts for low and middle income earners under carbon deal

Is Black Carbon Affecting the Asian Monsoon?

UN Says Green Energy Investment at Record Level

UN Security Council to Take Up Climate Change

“I am vetoing this legislation because it will cost our citizens jobs, both now and into the future, hinder our economic recovery and damage our state’s long-term economic competitiveness.”

– Governor John Lynch of New Hampshire

Clean Air Act Digest, 6.24.11

USCAN — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:32:06 +0000

UPDATES

Updates:

House:

Eight Energy and Commerce Committee members, four Republicans and four Democrats introduced H.R. 2250, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011, legislation that will delay and weaken EPA’s air toxics standards for boilers. Critics say the agency needs more time to get it right but EPA has already delayed the rule’s release allowing boilers- still a completely unregulated industrial source- to dump unlimited amount of pollution into our air endangering public health.

This week the House passed the Jobs and Energy Permitting Act H.R. 2021, legislation that will exempt the world’s largest corporations from important Clean Air Act requirements that otherwise require investment in air pollution controls for offshore drilling. This legislation would likely result in increased air pollution from OCS sources, including nitrogen dioxide, particulates, and sulfur dioxide. The While House issued a Statement of Administration Policy opposing the bill.

EPA:

This week EPA extended the timeline for public input by 30 days on the proposed mercury and air toxics standards. EPA’s statement underscored the extension will not alter the timeline for issuing the final standards in November 2011. American Lung Association issued a press release expressing disappointment in seeing ‘EPA accede to pleas from industry lawyers, lobbyists and there allies in Congress calling for additional time, on top of the 111 days already provided, to review and comment on the proposal…This deadline is vital because the Mercury and Air Toxics Rule, when fully implemented, will prevent an estimated 120,000 asthma attacks and 17,000 premature deaths each year.’

ACTION ALERTS

Mercury and Air Toxics Comment Deadline Extension:

We now an additional 30 days to submitt comments, for those who haven’t made their voice heard it’s time to take this extra oppurtunity to urge the EPA to finalize strong air pollution standards for power plants.

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.

Don’t waste any more time to weigh in and speak up for standards that will save lives and protect children. Please see the Sierra Club’s fact sheet for more information on the proposed standards and check out this sample action alert and comment card template that can be used to draft your own.

More resources :

Unbranded Mercury and Air Toxics Comment Postcard, Sierra Club

Public Comment How-to for EPA’s Proposed Mercury Rule, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Sample action alerts:

Tell the Obama Administration to Reduce Toxic Air Pollution from Power Plants, Natural Resources Defense Council

Tell EPA: Close Toxic Air Pollution Loophole from Coal-fired Power Plants, American Lung Association

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

Broad Coalition Smog (Ozone) Letter

Recently, the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) unanimously advised Environmental Protection Administrator Lisa Jackson that the scientific evidence strongly supports a new ozone health standard. Setting a more protective standard would save 10,000 lives annually. Ozone, the primary component of smog, is the nation’s most pervasive air pollutant. The American Lung Association is circulating a letter which will go to President Obama to urge him to support the more protective, scientifically proven, standard. Click here to add your organization’s name to the sign-on letter to President Obama by C.O.B June 30th. For questions or more information please contact Tiffany Williams at TTiffanyWilliams@lungusa.org. Please feel free to share with other organizations that would consider signing as well.

NEW MATERIALS

Clean Air Advocates Welcome White House Stance on EPA Climate Standards, Letter to White House 6.23.11

Group Letter In Support Of Opposing H.R. 2021, The Jobs And Energy Permitting Act of 2011, Joint Letter 6.22.11

Bishops Welcome Standards to Reduce Hazardous Emissions, Cite Protection of Human Life as God’s Creation, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops 6.22.11

Congresswoman Capps Letter to EPA on Mercury and Air Toxics Standard, 100 House Democrats Sign-on Letter 6.21.11

Mercury Falling: Many Power Plants Already Have Equipment To Slash Mercury, Toxic Contamination, Center For American Progress 6.21.11

American Lung Association Calls For EPA To Complete Mercury And Air Toxics Rule On Time, Criticizes Comment Extension, American Lung Association 6.21.11

EDF Release On Comment Period Extension: EPA Reaffirms Commitment to Finalizing Clean Air Standards for Power Plants,Environmental Defense Fund Press Release 6.21.11

Strengthening EPA’s Hand In Addressing Climate Change, Center For Clean Air Policy 6.21.11

Supreme Court Climate Decision Puts Spotlight on EPA, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog 6.20.11

Much Ado about Nothing, Sierra Club Blog 6.20.11

Don’t forget the Clean Air Act fan page on Facebook.

USCAN’s Clean Air Act Pages include a compilation of member materials.

Clean Air Act Digest is a publication put together by US Climate Action Network and Natural Resources Defense Council please contact Kate Smolski at ksmolski@climatenetwork.org for more details. Click here for past issues.

The Dangers of Delay, Climate Action Hotline, 6.13.11

USCAN — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:15:54 +0000

Peter Bahouth, Executive Director

June 13, 2011

The Dangers of Delay

In Bonn, Germany last week diplomats and climate advocates gathered to build on the international framework for climate cooperation. As the UNFCCC nears its 20th birthday, this annual session was marked by difficulties sorting out the wording and scope of the agenda of its ‘implementing’ bodies. Despite near universal acclaim for the Cancun Agreements that laid out a modest, but detailed plan for the next phase of negotiations, work was stalled over differences of opinion of what decisions are actually ready to be implemented and what still needs more discussion and debate. By the end of the week, the negotiators were hard at work, engaged in productive conversations. But they wasted some valuable time.

UNFCCC’s Christiana Figueres briefs press on first day of the conference Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/unfccc/

UN climate chief Christiana Figueres is calling for world leaders to revise its 2 degree goal, aiming for a more protective level of 1.5. She also indicated that the world may have to resort to geoengineering technology that sucks greenhouse gases from the air to stave off the worst effects of global warming. This call for greater ambition and extraordinary measures comes as new figures from the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggest that prospects for reaching the 2 degree goal are even dimmer. Global emissions of energy-related carbon dioxide in 2010 were the highest ever.

Newsweek ran a great article recently illustrating the real costs of political bickering about climate. It asked, “Are you ready for more” extreme weather events that are the result of the climate altering pollution of our modern age. The article focused on the adaptation measures that will be needed as a result of decades of denial, disputes and delays. The reality of the stalemate on climate issues in the US, with ripple effects internationally, is that we now must tackle a more difficult and disparate set of policy choices. Adaptation is not something we must plan for in the future. It has become just as urgent as curbing the emissions that has caused the problem.

In an announcement that should have been greeted with cheers, American Electric Power (AEP), one of the nation’s largest power companies, announced that it was closing some its most polluting power plants, ‘blaming’ new EPA regulations for forcing the shut down. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) both set the record straight in statements/blogs that are worth reading. Over a decade ago, this same company was sued by the Clinton Administration to avoid existing clean air rules that required modern pollution controls be installed on any modified power plant. The delays EPA rules AEP seeks, supported by Congressmen Dingell, Upton and Whitfield and Senator James Inhofe, is just another in a long line of delay strategies the utility industry has been using for over a decade. There is simply no more time to waste.

As climate advocates, we find ourselves in a war that has at least two fronts. First, we have to defend and implement the laws on the books, both domestically and internationally. Despite its smokescreen, AEP’s actions are proving that those laws can have real and beneficial effects for public health, the environment, and the economy. Second, we must seek new policies, investments and actions that will dramatically reduce emissions and enable both US cities and states, along with vulnerable nations, adapt to the reality of climate change. The risks and costs of both mitigation and adaptation measures only go up the longer we delay. Military experts are becoming increasingly vocal about the threats to our national security that will result if fail in this task. If politicians and industry continue to play games with the climate, what is now a war of words may become real life conflict over natural resources and climate refugees.

Angela Anderson, Program Director

Tell President Obama to Strengthen The Smog Standard!

Nearly a year ago, President Obama promised to set new smog air pollution standards. Since August, 2010, the decision has been postponed three times. The Administration has promised a decision by July 2011. Tell President Obama you want a new health standard for smog set now.

The Clean Air Act requires a national air quality standard that defines the limits on the amount of ozone pollution that can be in the air across the U.S. The national health standard drives the cleanup nationwide of this widespread and deadly pollutant. The federal government, states and communities must take steps to cut pollution. No more time should pass before setting a more protective standard that will reduce the levels of ozone, and reduce premature deaths.

Send a letter today urging President Obama to move forward without further delays.

See the American Lung Association’s action alert here or contact Kate Smolski at ksmolski@climatenetwork.org for more information.

Carol Werner, Executive Director
June 13, 2011

News

EPA to Delay Power Plant Rules, Sources Say
California Planning for Rising Sea Levels
Montana Attorney General Asks Judges to Reject Climate Lawsuit
New Hampshire May Withdraw from Regional Carbon-Trading Market
Australian Climate Scientists Receive Death Threats
Canada Joins Foes of Kyoto Extension
UN Climate Head Says Kyoto Will Expire Before New Pact in Place
Natural Gas Is Not the Solution to Climate and Energy Problems, IEA Warns
BP: Growth Rate of Global CO2 Emissions in 2010 Greatest in Four Decades
Amazon.com Shareholders Reject Climate Disclosure Report
Report Warns Climate Change Threatens Food Security in the Tropics
Climate Change Will Reduce Water for Farming, UN Agency Says
Today’s Heat Waves to Become Commonplace in 20 to 60 Years, Study Finds
Animals and Plants May Not Evolve Fast Enough to Adapt to Climate Change, Study Says
Other Headlines

Federal Legislative Action

H.AMDT. 378 to H.R. 2017: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2012

Events

June 16: 14th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Policy Forum

EPA to Delay Power Plant Rules, Sources Say

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reportedly is delaying proposing new rules to reduce greenhouse gases from major utilities. The rules would establish performance standards that could affect proposed and existing power plants but may provide utilities flexibility by participating in regional cap and trade markets or switching from coal to natural gas. In December, the EPA said the standards would be finalized by May 2012. Although the EPA has not confirmed the delay, the agency is coming under fire from Republicans and industry while coping with a heavy workload of rule-making procedures that include ozone and vehicle efficiency. Published reports say the delay could last one to two months.

For additional information see: Bloomberg,Reuters

California Planning for Rising Sea Levels

California would require certain public entities to draw up action plans to prevent or mitigate damage from rising sea levels under a bill approved by the state assembly on June 1. The legislation applies to about 75 coastal cities, counties, and harbor and sanitary districts that manage state-granted public lands that generate more than $250,000 in annual revenues, a category that includes facilities such as large public airports and ports. The bill states that rising sea levels from climate change will significantly affect the state’s economic and social future. Coastal activities contribute more than $50 billion to the state’s economy. The bill does not include any provisions requiring public entities to implement their action plans.

For additional information see: San Jose Mercury News, Text of Bill AB 752

Montana Attorney General Asks Judges to Reject Climate Lawsuit

A lawsuit filed last month by environmental groups in Montana to force that state to regulate greenhouse gases is being challenged by the state attorney general’s office. On June 6, Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock, a Democrat, requested that the Montana Supreme Court reject the lawsuit. A group of Republican lawmakers also wants to intervene to oppose the lawsuit. The plaintiffs want the atmosphere declared a “public trust” deserving special protection. It is one of a series of lawsuits filed in several states.

For additional information see: Associated Press

New Hampshire May Withdraw from Regional Carbon-Trading Market

On June 8, New Hampshire lawmakers approved a proposal that would withdraw the state from a regional carbon-trading market. Governor John Lynch, a Democrat, opposes pulling the state out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and may veto the proposal, which was passed by the Republican-led legislature as an amendment to a shoreland protection bill. The 10-state regional cap and trade initiative requires that power plants buy allowances for carbon dioxide emissions. The states have raised more than $860 million by auctioning the allowances. Most of the money is set aside for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, though several states, including New Hampshire, used some of the cash to fill budget holes. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican, announced in May that his state will leave the program later this year.

For additional information see: Bloomberg

Australian Climate Scientists Receive Death Threats

A number of Australian climate scientists have gone into hiding after receiving death threats in the midst of a debate regarding an increased carbon tax to go into effect July 1, 2012. Following a television ad promoting the tax and featuring actress Cate Blanchett, threats to climate scientists increased and numerous scientists began to take security precautions. According to Professor David Koroly, of the University of Melbourne School of Earth Sciences, “It is clear that there is a campaign in terms of either organized or disorganized threats to discourage scientists from presenting the best available climate science on television or radio.” The debate gained public attention two weeks ago when the government’s Climate Commission released a report calling for immediate action to prevent sea level increases of over a meter. About 10,000 people took to parks across Australia on June 5 to rally in favor of the carbon tax.

For additional information see: The Atlantic Wire, Guardian News, Sydney Morning Herald

Canada Joins Foes of Kyoto Extension

Opponents of an extended Kyoto Protocol gained a new ally when Canada said it will not agree to another round of the treaty. Canada’s announcement on June 8 came during the climate talks in Bonn, Germany, where developing countries are pressing for an extension of the treaty, which only requires limits on the greenhouse gas emissions of industrialized nations, but will expire at the end of 2012. Japan and Russia also have said they will not agree to an extension of the treaty. The United States was not part of the treaty.

For additional information see: Reuters

UN Climate Head Says Kyoto Will Expire Before New Pact in Place

The United Nations’ top climate official now acknowledges the Kyoto Protocol will expire before a new treaty is in place, resulting in a “regulatory gap.” Speaking June 6 at the climate talks in Bonn, Germany, Christiana Figueres said any replacement to Kyoto that is negotiated in Bonn or at the autumn talks in Durban, South Africa would have to be ratified by national parliaments to take effect. That would be impossible to complete before Kyoto expires at the end of 2012. The UN’s climate change secretariat for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change had insisted for years that a new treaty could be adopted before Kyoto expires. Still, Figueres maintained that a new treaty will be negotiated, although industrialized and developing nations remain at odds.

For additional information see: Business Green, Reuters

Natural Gas Is Not the Solution to Climate and Energy Problems, IEA Warns

At a June 6 press conference, the executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that natural gas is not an energy panacea. “While natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel, it is still a fossil fuel,” said Nobuo Tanaka, IEA’s executive director in discussing new research by the agency. “Its increased use could muscle out low-carbon fuels such as renewables and nuclear, particularly in the wake of Fukushima. An expansion of gas use alone is no panacea for climate change.” Gas companies are urging governments to support an expansion of natural gas, including the tapping of previously inaccessible shale gas through “fracking,” a process which is blamed for the contamination of water supplies. The IEA worries that low-cost natural gas would incentivize the building of gas-fired power plants while shelving plans for renewable projects.

For additional information see: The Guardian, IEA, World Energy Outlook

BP: Growth Rate of Global CO2 Emissions in 2010 Greatest in Four Decades

Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from energy use last year grew at the fastest rate since 1969, with China leading the way, according to an annual BP report released June 8. Global emissions of CO2 grew by 5.8 percent during 2010 while China’s CO2 emissions led the pack with a growth rate of 10.4 percent during that period, BP’s annual Statistical Review of World Energy shows. China also was the single largest source of CO2 emissions, representing one quarter of global emissions. The United States was the second largest source of CO2 emissions. The rapid growth of CO2 emissions stems from the fossil fuel-hungry economies of developing countries, but the U.S. and European Union also burned more coal.

For additional information see: Reuters, Bloomberg, BP Report, BP News Release

Amazon.com Shareholders Reject Climate Disclosure Report

A bid by a major stockholder to prod the online retailer Amazon for greater disclosure about how the company is tackling climate change was defeated by shareholders at the annual meeting in Seattle on June 7. Calvert Asset Management of Bethesda, MD, which owns $62 million in stock, had argued that climate change could affect the online retailer’s business, from the availability of raw materials to the types of products sold. Calvert wanted Amazon to report within six months on how climate change may impact its business, and how its business may impact climate change. Amazon’s board had urged shareholders to reject the measure, saying compiling the report would not be an efficient use of time or resources. The board also pointed to steps taken to reduce the company’s environmental impact, such as changes to packaging and the use of print-on-demand technology.

For additional information see: Seattle Times story 1, Seattle Times story 2

Report Warns Climate Change Threatens Food Security in the Tropics

Millions of people in the tropics may face food shortages in the next 40 years as climate change places greater stress on already vulnerable agricultural systems, according to a new report. The report by a group of international agricultural centers found areas that already experience food shortages could experience acute food security issues from shorter, hotter or drier growing seasons. Those so-called hotspots of future food insecurity are largely in parts of Asia, Africa, China and South America. “The sensitivity of food symptoms may be high and the coping capacity of those people may be low,” said Philip Thornton, co-author of the study entitled, “Mapping Hotspots of Climate Change and Food Insecurity in the Global Tropics.” Thornton is a researcher with the program on climate change, agriculture and food security at Northwestern University.

For additional information see: VOA, Northwestern University, Report

Climate Change Will Reduce Water for Farming, UN Agency Says

Climate change will siphon away the amount of water available to the world’s farmers, the United Nation’s food agency warned in a new report that calls for action to lessen the danger to both rural and heavily populated areas. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued its “Climate Change, Water and Food Security Report” on June 9. The report calls on countries to improve their management of water resources and urge farmers to adopt new crops and practices before more serious effects of climate change are felt. Regions already prone to water scarcity are at the greatest risk, but the FAO said the loss of glaciers from climate change “will eventually impact the amount of surface water available.”

For additional information see: Reuters, AFP, FAO Report

Today’s Heat Waves to Become Commonplace in 20 to 60 Years, Study Finds

Unprecedented summer heat will be here to stay within the next 20 to 60 years if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, a new study found. Stanford University researchers concluded that tropical regions of Africa, Asia and South America could see the “permanent emergence of unprecedented summer” heat in the next two decades. In the middle latitudes of Europe, China and North America, today’s heat waves will become the new normal within 60 years. “According to our projections, large areas of the globe are likely to warm up so quickly that, by the middle of this century, even the coolest summers will be hotter than the hottest summers of the past 50 years,” said lead author Noah Diffenbaugh, an assistant professor of environmental Earth system science. The study will appear later this month in Climate Change Letters.

For additional information see: MSNBC, Stanford University

Animals and Plants May Not Evolve Fast Enough to Adapt to Climate Change, Study Says

Animals and plants may not be able to evolve fast enough to avoid the perils of a warming world, according to the results of an experiment with a tiny seashore creature. University of California-Davis scientists asked whether organisms have the ability to adapt to climate change on a timescale measured in decades. They conducted a laboratory experiment on the short-lived tide pool crustacean called Tigriopus californicus. The crustacean is found at many latitudes along the West Coast, though each population is highly distinct. Scientists collected the crustacean from different locations and grew 10 generations in a laboratory, exposing each to increased heat stress. The animal showed little ability to evolve heat tolerance. “The critical point is that many organisms are already at their environmental limits, and natural selection won’t necessarily rescue them,” said Rick Grosberg, professor of evolution and ecology at UC-Davis and co-author of the study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

For additional information see: Science Daily, UPI, Study

Other Headlines

Romney Draws Early Fire from Conservatives Over Views on Climate Change

Report on Colorado River Notes Climate Change

Thinning Snows In Rockies Tied To Global Warming

Navy Official Says Greenhouse Gas Rule is Working

Unions Occupy a Middle Ground on Issues of Environmental Policy

H.AMDT. 378 to H.R. 2017: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2012

Intent: On June 2, the House voted 242-180 in favor of an amendment (H.AMDT.378) to prohibit the use of funds made available by the DHS Appropriations Act to be used for the Climate Change Adaptation Task Force.

Previous Action: Introduced to the House on June 1, 2011.

Sponsor: Rep Carter, John R. (TX-31)

For additional information see: H.AMDT. 378

June 16: 14th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Policy Forum

On June 16, the Sustainable Energy Coalition—in cooperation with Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucus—will host the 14th annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum. This year’s EXPO will bring together over 50 businesses, sustainable energy industry trade associations, government agencies, and energy policy research organizations to showcase the status and near-term potential of the cross-section of renewable energy (biofuels/biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) and energy efficiency technologies. Members of Congress and the Administration will speak from 11:30 – 2:00pm. Afternoon speakers will discuss the role sustainable energy technologies can play in meeting America’s energy needs. The EXPO is free, open to the public, and no RSVPs are required. The events will be held on June 16, 9:30am-4:30pm in 345 Cannon House Office Building (Cannon Caucus Room). For more information contact Ken Bossong at kbossong614 [at] yahoo.com.

Writers: Dave Gershman, Justin Jones and Matthew Johnson

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

LA City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl Supports a Coal-Free LA by 2020!

Crude Politics

Polluting Our Kids’ Report Cards

Keystone Could Add a “Billion-Tons” of CO2

Are Rising Temperatures Making You Sick?

Transportation Bill Gridlock: Is Doctrine Driving Our Country Into a Ditch?

New Report: Better Buildings = 114,000 New Jobs

Pennsylvania Health Agency Doesn’t Keep Marcellus Database

Thinning Snows In Rockies Tied To Global Warming

Drought Threatens Texas Oil Boom

White House to Launch New Smart Grid Initiatives

Fukushima Plant May Have Suffered Worst-Case ‘Melt-Through’

Senior diplomat says China continues to strive for renewal of Kyoto Protocol

Climate Change Brings Risk of More Infectious Diseases

UN climate talks reopen amid concerns over emission rise

“Governments lit a beacon in Cancun towards a low-emission world which is resilient to climate change. They committed themselves to a maximum global average temperature rise of 2 degrees Celsius, with further consideration of a 1.5 degree maximum. Now, more than ever, it is critical that all efforts are mobilized towards living up to this commitment.”

– Christiana Figueres UNFCCC Executive Secretary.

Dueling Narratives, Climate Action Hotline 5.31.11

USCAN — Tue, 31 May 2011 17:51:06 +0000

Peter Bahouth, Executive Director

May 31, 2011

Dueling Narratives

Photo by David Graham-Caso, Sierra Club

This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a series of three hearings on Mercury and Air Toxics standards that aim to cut mercury, lead, arsenic and particle pollution from hundreds of coal-fired power plants across the country. According to the EPA, the rule would save approximately 17,000 lives, prevent 120,000 asthma attacks and result in air quality improvements valued from $59 billion to $140 billion each year. The rule also would limit emissions of hazardous pollutants like arsenic, chromium, nickel and acid gases, toxics that can cause serious very health effects including cancer.

The community turned out in full force at the hearings in Philadelphia, Chicago and Atlanta, with hundreds of supporters calling for a strong rule regulating mercury and air toxics and expressing frustration with utility companies who continue to promote coal power. The lopsided impact upon poor communities and people of color was an ongoing theme at all three hearings.

Dr. Robert Bullard, director of the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University and famed justice and civil rights leader, spoke forcefully about the impacts on the communities he serves. “It’s well known that communities of color and low income communities bear the disproportionate share of the deaths and illnesses associated with pollution from coal-fired power plants,” Dr. Bullard said. “The EPA’s proposal to reduce toxic air emissions from power plants would help to improve this tragic inequality by cutting toxic emissions that have been proven to cause cancer, asthma and respiratory disease, cardiovascular ailments, and thousands of premature deaths annually.”

The national percentage of those living in poverty is around 11.9%. However, near coal plants nationwide, that rate jumps to 12.9%. Within EPA Region IV, which covers the Southeast, the poverty rate of those living near coal plants is even higher, at 14.9%. For example, in Alabama, the population of communities of color near coal plants is 46% higher than the statewide average would predict; in Mississippi it is 34% higher; and in Tennessee there is nearly twice as high a likelihood for non-white individuals to be living near coal plants as would be expected given the state average. (Source: Earthjustice) It is no secret that coal plants surround poor communities nationwide and the message was prominent throughout the hearing comments and testimony.

Doctors, clergy, justice leaders, expectant mothers and students emphasized the impacts to communities and individual health that comes from living near coal fired power plants. In Atlanta, pediatrician Dr. Yolanda Whyte, testified about her work with children, who “are the most vulnerable and most sensitive to dangerous pollutants in our air and water.” US Climate Action Network’s own Executive Director Peter Bahouth testified as well stating,“ Our mission is to support and help coordinate these organizations’ efforts toward effective, equitable, and sustainable strategies to reduce carbon pollution and promote a clean energy future at all levels of the debate: local, state, federal and international. And we all agree: Clean Air Act standards to protect our nation’s communities from the threats of toxic air pollution from power plants are long overdue. “ Peter also entered into the record several examples of support from coalitions of environmental, faith, health, business and environmental justice groups” On the other hand, utility officials complained of costs, “not enough time” to implement, “rushed” rulemaking and dire consequences in the form of blackouts and hire electricity rates. Notably, the EPA estimates that for every dollar spent to reduce this pollution, Americans would see $5 to $13 in health benefits.

On Thursday, Governor Chris Christie announced that New Jersey would pull out of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the nation’s only operating cap-and-trade system. While the Republican governor said he believed that humans were causing climate change, he cited market forces, the rise in natural gas usage and the decreased use of coal as avenues to lower greenhouse gasses, not RGGI. Christie pointed to a new report from NJ’s Department of Environmental Protection that the state’s emissions already stand below goals for 2020, making the regional trading program essentially moot.

It’s surmised that politics played no small part in the decision, as Christie is likely to rise in favor among national Republicans. For their part, environmentalists and renewable energy businesses were quick to fight back against the decision, since about half of the over $100 million benefitting the state went to renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. The other half went toward general deficit reduction; ironically, a key talking point of Governor Christie’s administration.

Also this week

Mississippi joined two other poorer Southern states, South Carolina and Kentucky, in having the highest vulnerability to gasoline prices, according to NRDC’s fifth annual “Oil Vulnerability Report.” Residents there pay the largest percentage of their incomes on gas, suffering the most when prices skyrocket. “The best way to end this pain for consumers is to get off this crazy, perilous ride” and reduce dependence on oil as a transportation fuel, said Deron Lovaas, NRDC’s federal transportation policy director. Calling for tougher pollution and fuel economy standards – 62 miles per gallon by 2025 – the authors also recommend an overhaul of the federal transportation program, including greater investment in transit.

In related news, House on both sides of the aisle doubled down on their energy platforms this week, with GOP messaging that domestic drilling is the key to job creation and Democrats reinforcing the “Medicare-and-oil” talking point formula stemming from the special election upset in western New York this week. But, while both parties made what amounted to closing arguments ahead of the summer driving season that kicks off Memorial Day weekend, neither party presented new plans for gas-cost relief, economic growth and deficit reduction, perhaps a sign that Republicans and Democrats see their constituents as weary of high pump prices.

Kellyn Eberhardt, Southeast Regional Coordinator

Protect Our Land; Say NO to Tar Sands!

Big Oil companies are pulling out all the stops to flood the State Department with messages calling on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to permit a new tar sands oil pipeline. We only have a few days left to fight back before the public comment period ends on June 6th.

The proposed Keystone XL pipeline would cross pristine land in six states and put over 2 million Americans’ drinking water at risk. Moreover, when TransCanada proposed the first Keystone pipeline, Keystone 1, they estimated that it would ONLY leak once every seven to eleven years. But they neglected to include the pipeline’s pumping stations, which have already sustained 11 reported spills in the last year!

Now Big Oil wants the State Department to allow the SAME company build a new pipeline so it can pump even more tar sands oil deeper into our country.

Tell Secretary Clinton to put our health and safety first, not Big Oil profits. See Sierra Club’s action alert here or contact Michelle Dixon for more information at mdixon@climatenetwork.org.

Carol Werner, Executive Director

May 31, 2011

News

Superior Court Judge Puts California’s Cap-and-Trade Program on Hold
Texas Seeks to Overturn EPA’s Endangerment Finding
Report: California Needs to Take Aggressive Measures to Meet Emissions Goal
Chicago Prepares for Warmer Climate
Micronesia Challenges Czech Coal Plant Over Sea-Level Rise
U.K. Cancels CO2 Offset Accreditation Program
Australian Climate Commission Suggests Immediate Action, End Logging in Old Growth Forests
Indonesian Activists Concerned Over Two-Year Moratorium on Forest Clearing
Ocean Acidity Could Doom Already Endangered Gourmet Abalone
Carbon Storage Capacity of Trees May Increase with Climate Change
Two of Greenland’s Biggest Glaciers Lost Enough Ice to Fill Lake Erie
Researchers Find Gardens Can Help Mitigate Climate Change
Climate Change to Significantly Reduce Tea Production in Kenya by 2050
Other Headlines

Federal Legislative Action

H.R. 1705, S. 699, S. 757

Events

June 9: Managing Nutrients to Protect Water Quality: Innovative Approaches
June 16: 14th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Policy Forum

Superior Court Judge Puts California’s Cap-and-Trade Program on Hold

On May 20, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith ruled that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) must put an immediate halt to work on its cap-and-trade program, part of the landmark climate bill A.B.32 which was written into law in 2006, until it completes a review of alternative approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Goldsmith’s opinion said the board violated the California Environmental Quality Act when it began to make rules “without first responding to comments, completing the environmental review process, and approving” the program. The agency filed a notice of appeal on May 23, according to a CARB spokesman. The ruling will not interfere with other aspects of A.B. 32 implementation involving clean cars, renewables and energy efficiency, which can proceed as planned.

For additional information see: NY Times, Reuters, Sacramento Bee, Bloomberg

Texas Seeks to Overturn EPA’s Endangerment Finding

On May 23, the state of Texas, on behalf of 14 other states, filed an opening brief in a case seeking to overturn the “endangerment finding” announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2009. The finding stated that greenhouse gases pose a danger to public health and welfare, which gave the EPA the authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling EPA v. Massachusetts. Texas is challenging the finding on the grounds that it is “arbitrary and capricious,” words in the U.S. Code that are grounds for a reversal of the decision. The brief stated that the EPA “never provides criteria for determining when [greenhouse gas] emissions or climate change endanger public health or welfare,” as well as the possibility that people might adapt to or even combat the effects of climate change over the extended time period in which it occurs, reducing its effects on health and welfare. The brief was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

For additional information see: Texas Tribune, Brief

Report: California Needs to Take Aggressive Measures to Meet Emissions Goal

In a report titled “California’s Energy Future: The View to 2050,” scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory concluded that California can meet its goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The report stated that the first 60 percent of emissions reductions could be met by aggressively implementing current technologies, including wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydro and offshore marine energy. The remaining 20 percent would be attained through technological advancements in artificial photosynthesis, fusion energy, more efficient and sustainable biofuels, hydrogen fuel, more effective carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), and advanced batteries for both vehicles and grid storage. The report also called for improvements to the electrical grid, to allow it to integrate more intermittent renewable sources and store more energy. In addition to faster development of renewable energy sources, scientists also stated that significant efficiency measures must be taken, retrofitting 1.8 percent of all buildings annually.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Report

Chicago Prepares for Warmer Climate

Warnings from climate scientists have caused Chicago to begin to prepare for a warming climate. By 2070, the city could expect to receive 35 percent more rain in the winter and spring, but 20 percent less in the summer, according to scientists.The city plans to repave public alleyways with materials that are permeable to water, to reduce runoff when it rains. Sidewalks will be widened to include planted areas with drought-resistant plants, to soak up the excess water and help filter pollutants like de-icing salts. In some areas, the runoff will flow into underground storage tanks to be used later for watering plants or in new decorative fountains. Thermal radar is being used to locate the city’s hottest areas, which will be targets for pavement removal and the addition of vegetated rooftops. The city also plans to remove six of the most common tree species. The warming climate will make them more susceptible to diseases such as emerald ash disease, and many species are expected to become extinct within decades. Hardier trees, such as swamp white oaks and bald cypress, will be used to replace them.

For additional information see: NY Times

Micronesia Challenges Czech Coal Plant Over Sea-Level Rise

Micronesia has mounted an unprecedented legal challenge against the Czech Republic’s plans to expand a coal-fired power station more than 7,000 miles away. They claim the increased greenhouse gas emissions from the plant will contribute to global warming, potentially threatening the country, with many parts that lie just over three feet above sea level. If expanded, the power plant will emit over 40 times as much carbon emissions annually as Micronesia as a whole. Micronesia, along with Greenpeace, want the Czech government to carry out a study, called a Trans-Boundary Environmental Impact Assessment, to assess how pollution from the coal plant will affect the Micronesian archipelago. This type of study usually occurs between countries that share a border, but has never been done between countries from different regions before. The Czech environment ministry is expected to come to a decision regarding Micronesia’s case within two weeks.

For additional information see: Telegraph

U.K. Cancels CO2 Offset Accreditation Program

On May 20, the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) cancelled its Quality Assurance Scheme (QAS) for carbon dioxide offsets, according to Carbon Retirement, a carbon offset provider. The program made sure that the carbon offsets that companies provided were accurately calculated, and were cancelled or retired after being purchased to make sure they were not sold again. According to Jane Burston, founder of Carbon Retirement, the decision would damage consumer confidence because businesses looking to offset their emissions will no longer have the same level of security around the carbon market’s principle uncertainties.

For additional information see: Business Green, Bloomberg

Australian Climate Commission Suggests Immediate Action, End Logging in Old Growth Forests

A report issued by Australia’s Climate Commission stated that the evidence for global warming is now ”exceptionally strong and beyond doubt,” and actions this decade will determine the impact of climate change for the rest of the century. The report concluded that the impacts of climate change are already being seen, despite the earth warming less than one degree Celsius so far. The commission addressed the issues of sea level rise and risks to the Great Barrier Reef, and suggested that carbon emissions must peak within the next few years, and then rapidly decline. The report also concluded that the country must end logging in old-growth forests with high carbon storage capacities, stating that it is one of the best ways of making timely cuts to Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions while the slower energy transforming and transport systems unfold. “We need to use whatever means we can to sequester carbon but also start reducing emissions from industry. We need some sort of price on carbon. A price is unavoidable,” said Climate Commission chief, Tim Flannery.

For additional information see: Sydney Morning Herald 1, Sydney Morning Herald 2, Business Green, Report

Indonesian Activists Concerned Over Two-Year Moratorium on Forest Clearing

More than one-third of Indonesia’s forest area will not be covered under the recently signed two-year moratorium on forest clearance permits. The moratorium covered only primary forests and peatland, areas that were already protected under Indonesian law, while 36.6 million hectares of secondary forests, areas that have been partially cleared for agricultural or industrial use, were not covered. According to Giorgio Budi Indrarto, program manager for forest and climate at the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law, the 1999 Forestry Law did not contain any reference to “primary forest” and instead used the terms protected forest, conservation forest and production forest to describe areas where varying degrees of human activity were allowed. “It is only a technical definition which is only used to define the levels of forest degradation and should not be put into context of policy or issuing permits,” said Teguh Surya, head of climate justice at the Indonesian Forum for the Environment.

For additional information see: The Jakarta Globe, AFP

Ocean Acidity Could Doom Already Endangered Gourmet Abalone

A study published in the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology concluded that increasing ocean acidity, caused by higher concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), negatively affects the already endangered northern abalone off the coast of British Columbia. Researchers found that increases of CO2 in sea water, from 400 to 1,800 parts per million, killed 40 percent of abalone larvae, decreased the size of larvae that did survive, and increased the rate of shell abnormalities. The current CO2 concentrations in the ocean are around 380 parts per million, but are expected to slowly increase over the next century. According to the study, this information could have implications for abalone species worldwide.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Study

Carbon Storage Capacity of Trees May Increase with Climate Change

A report published in the Proceedings on the National Academy of Sciences concluded that global warming may affect the capacity of trees to store carbon by altering forest nitrogen cycles. The report used data from a seven year study in central Massachusetts, where a section of the forest was artificially heated nine degrees Fahrenheit above ambient conditions, to simulate the potential warming from climate change by the end of the century. The warmer temperatures caused more rapid decomposition of the organic matter in soil, leading to an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released. However, the study showed that the warmer temperatures stimulated an increase in the amount of carbon stored in trees as woody tissue, which partially offset the soil carbon loss to the atmosphere. Scientists found that in the seventh year of the study, “warming induced soil carbon losses were almost totally compensated for by plant carbon gains in response to warming.” According to scientists, the increase in carbon storage in the trees is due to more nitrogen being made available to the trees with warmer soil. In addition to CO2, warmer temperatures also cause inorganic forms of nitrogen to be released from the soil. “When trees take up this inorganic nitrogen, they grow faster and store more carbon,” said lead author of the study Jerry Melillo, of the Marine Biological Laboratory.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Study

Two of Greenland’s Biggest Glaciers Lost Enough Ice to Fill Lake Erie

A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters has found that two of the largest three glaciers in Greenland have lost enough ice if melted to fill Lake Erie. The three glaciers, Helheim, Kangerdlugssuaq, and Jakobshavn Isbrae, contribute as much as one-fifth of the ice flowing out from Greenland into the ocean. The study focused on the rate of new ice being formed on the glaciers compared to the amount of ice lost. Apart from Helheim, which gained a small amount of mass, the other two glaciers have lost a significant amount of ice in the last decade. “Kangerdlugssuaq would have to stop flowing and accumulate snowfall for seven years to regain the ice it has lost,” said Ian Howat, lead author of the study. According to Howat, past estimates of ice loss in Greenland only accounted for short-term changes. “We really need to sample them very frequently or else we won’t really know how much change has occurred,” he stated.

For additional information see: Science Daily

Researchers Find Gardens Can Help Mitigate Climate Change

A scientific review conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society has found that gardens can help mitigate the effects of climate change. According to scientists, gardens mitigate the effects of extreme heat and cold by stabilizing urban temperatures, prevent flooding by soaking up excess rainwater, support human health by easing stress and providing physical exercise, and support a number of declining species of birds, mammals and invertebrates. According to Dr. Tijana Blanusa, lead author of the review, people can maximize the positive impact of horticulture by planting vegetation that have many uses, such as trees, which “take up water, capture pollution, offer shade and a habitat for wildlife, and add aesthetic value to the garden.”

For additional information see: Independent, Press Release

Climate Change to Significantly Reduce Tea Production in Kenya by 2050

A study published by the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture found that climate change will reduce Kenya’s tea production 40 percent by 2050, as suitable farm lands are moved to higher altitude. Scientists presented their findings at the Tea Research Foundation of Kenya in Kericho, organized by the Ethical Tea Partnership and the German International Cooperation. According to the report, the two organizations will aim to increase Kenyan tea producers’ resilience to climate change, secure their livelihoods and make them more environmentally and economically sustainable. Over the next three years, the organizations will train 10,000 Kenyan tea farmers on the most appropriate adaptation techniques. The study recommended crop diversification, and provided several alternatives to tea that would thrive in the region, such as maize, cabbage, peas, passion fruit, and bananas.

For additional information see: Business Daily Africa, Study

Other Headlines

Republicans Eye Summer Vote on Bill to Expand Scrutiny of EPA Rules

Climate Change Not a Priority in Tallahassee

‘Non-Aligned Movement’ Vital to Battle Against Climate Change, UN Secretary General Says

Inland Storms, Growing in Violence, Drive Insurers to Accept Riskier Reality

Mastercard Corporate Credit Card Statements to Include Carbon Emissions Soon

H.R. 1705: Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act of 2011
The House Subcommittee on Energy and Power scheduled a markup of H.R. 1705 on Tuesday, May 24, 2011.
Intent: To require analyses of the cumulative and incremental impacts of certain rules and actions of the Environmental Protection Agency, including rules or guidelines related to climate change under the Clean Air Act.
Previous Action: Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure on May 4, 2011.
Sponsor: Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK)
For more information: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.1705.IH:

S. 699: Department of Energy Carbon Capture and Sequestration Program Amendments Act of 2011
May 26, 2011 was the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources date of scheduled consideration.
Intent: To authorize the Secretary of Energy to carry out a program to demonstrate the commercial application of integrated systems for long-term geological storage of carbon dioxide, and for other purposes.
Previous Action: Introduced to the Senate on March 31, 2011, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
For more information: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:S.699.IS:

S. 757
May 26, 2011 was the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources date of scheduled consideration.
Intent: To provide incentives to encourage the development and implementation of technology to capture carbon dioxide from dilute sources on a significant scale using direct air capture technologies.
Previous Action: Introduced to the Senate on April 7, 2011, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Sponsor: Sen. John Barrasso (D-WY)
For more information: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:S.757.IS:

June 9: Managing Nutrients to Protect Water Quality: Innovative Approaches

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and Water Environment Federation (WEF) invite you to a briefing on innovative, market-based approaches to controlling nutrient pollution in the nation’s waters from agriculture. Fertilizer and manure applications can release excessive amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus into local watersheds. These can degrade water quality, potentially causing human illness and harming aquatic ecosystems. This briefing will focus on innovative agricultural solutions to these issues, including trading programs such as those used for the Long Island Sound and Ohio River Basin, “safe harbor agreements”, and current on-the-ground nutrient management programs. The briefing is free, open to the public, and no RSVPs are required. For more information, contact Laura Parsons at lparsons [at] eesi.org or (202) 662-1884.

June 16: 14th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Policy Forum

Writers: Deep Ghosh and Matthew Johnson

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

Residents Flood This Week’s EPA Mercury Hearings

Graduating 8th Grader to Scholastic Publishing: Stop Pushing Coal

“Smell of Death” Described at Clean Air Public Hearings

Countdown to 2012: The Road to Rio +20

New Poll: Strong Support for RGGI In New Jersey

Risk From Spent Nuclear Reactor Fuel Is Greater in U.S. Than in Japan, Study Says

New Mileage Stickers Include Greenhouse Gas Data

Michael Bloomberg: Too Much ‘Hot Air’ on Climate Change

An Unlikely Power Duo Emerges in the Global Fight Against Climate Change

Public Health Benefits of Dethroning King Coal in the U.S.

Food Prices to Double by 2030, Oxfam Warns

Indonesian Forest Plan May Be Breakthrough on Climate Change

Germany: Nuclear Power Plants to Close by 2022

G8 leaders need to quit gambling with our future

“There is not enough money in the world that you can pay an individual for loss of life and for a short life expectancy due to fact that they have inhaled toxic chemicals. Our children are suffering. I ask EPA to resist pressure of industry whose only concern is the bottom dollar.”

– Reverend Horace Strand, Chester Environmental Partnership.

Necessity for Safe and Clean Energy

USCAN — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:39:36 +0000

USCAN MEMBER REPORTS

Credit: Stefan Kühn

Nuclear Plants and Safety: A March 17th report by the nuclear engineer David Lochbaum at the Union of Concerned Scientists reviews the performance of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which is responsible for safe performance of U.S. nuclear power plants. “The NRC and Nuclear Power Plant Safety in 2010: A Brighter Spotlight Needed” examines 14 “near-misses” at U.S. nuclear plants in 2010. These events exposed a variety of shortcomings: inadequate training, poor maintenance, faulty design, and failure to thoroughly investigate problems. NRC’s inspections reveal only a fraction of the problems that exist, and the report reviews examples of the agency’s effective and ineffective responses.

Top Mercury Emitters: A March 16th report by the Environmental Defense Fund identifies the top 25 emitters of mercury in the electric power sector. Coal-fired power plants are the primary source of mercury air emissions in the U.S., and the 25 plants identified by the study are responsible for nearly a third of all mercury emissions in sector. Meanwhile, these plants generate only 8% of the total supply. Twenty of these polluting facilities are located within 50-100 miles of some of the largest metropolitan areas – including Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, St. Louis and Austin. According to “Mercury Alert: Cleaning up Coal Plants for Healthier Lives”, Texas led the nation in mercury air pollution from coal-fired power in 2009.

Pollution and Wildlife: A March 16th report from the National Wildlife Federation highlights effects of climate change, mercury, acid rain, and smog on 10 U.S. wildlife species important to hunters and anglers. According to “Air Pollution, a Warming Climate, and the Troubled Future for America’s Hunting and Fishing Heritage”, more regions are witnessing strict warnings about mercury-laced favorites like brown trout, walleye, and largemouth bass. Remote forests, lakes, and streams are being degraded by acid rain. Ozone now makes some sensitive plants more prone to disease and less able to produce and store food. Climate change is resulting in a massive loss of fish spawning sites and higher summertime temperatures disrupt wildlife patterns and ecological balance.

Budget and the Environment: A report released on March 7th by 35 environmental organizations outlines this year’s recommendations for priority funding to support most critical U.S. environment and natural resource protection programs. “The Green Budget 2012” highlights the areas where even a small amount of investment will bring huge dividends. It also details how to eliminate the subsidies from polluting industries to fund protection for land and natural resources. Key elements of the proposal include a diversion of $900 million from offshore drilling to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, as well as an aggressive expansion of funding for clean energy. Maintaining current funding for national parks, ocean programs, and national refuges will sustain their contribution of 153 billion for the U.S. economy and 294,000 jobs for the U.S. private sector.

Green Infrastructure: Two February 28th reports by the Center for Clean Air Policy document approaches by innovative cities and counties throughout the U.S. to plan and adapt to emerging effects of climate change. “The Value of Green Infrastructure for Urban Climate Adaptation” and “Lessons Learned on Local Climate Adaptation from the Urban Leaders Adaptation Initiative” document compelling benefits of green infrastructure like green roofs, urban forestry, and water conservation. The multiples positive effects of these pioneering initiatives include improvements in community resilience, human health, air quality, energy demand, and economic prosperity.

OTHER HOT PUBS

Toxins and Coal Plants: A March 8th report from the American Lung Association highlights the urgent need for national standards to limit a plethora of hazardous air pollutants emitted from coal-generating power plants. Coal plants in the U.S. produce more toxic air pollution than any other industrial source – over 386,000 tons each year. Among the hazardous toxins released are arsenic, lead, mercury, dioxins, formaldehyde, benzene, radioisotopes, and acid gases like hydrogen chloride. These substances are known or suspected causes of cancers, reproductive problems, birth defects, neural damage, heart attacks, and stroke. Although most coal-fired plants are concentrated in the Midwest and Southeast, these toxins actually hitch-hike to other states on co-emitted particle pollution that kills about 13,000 people a year. The study “Toxic Air: The Case for Cleaning Up Coal-fired Power Plants” details the health effects of these emissions and the technologies available to reduce them.

Energy Efficient Appliances: According to the March 2nd study by the Consumer Federation of America, 95% of the public favors more energy efficient household items like refrigerators, air conditioners, and clothes washers. Ninety-six percent cited monetary savings as a reason, 92% said they reduce pollution, and 84% favor them because they would curb greenhouse gases. Seventy-two percent of respondents supported government standards for energy-efficient appliances, and approximately two-thirds of respondents were aware of existing standards. Respondents aware of current standards were more likely to support them: 74% versus 64%. Majority of Americans support efficient appliances even if they have to pay more up front. “Public Attitudes Toward Energy Efficiency and Appliance Efficiency Standards” also notes that average household energy consumption equaled gasoline consumption in 2009.

POLLS

Nuclear Energy Support: According to a mid-march USA TODAY/Gallup poll of 1,004 adults, 70% of the public has grown more concerned about the safety of nuclear energy since the crisis unfolded at the reactors in Japan. Thirty nine percent of the surveyed have grown “a lot more concerned”. The poll’s results also demonstrate that the overall support for nuclear power decreased to 44%, down from 57% about a week before Japan’s earthquake and tsunami created a crisis situation.

Nuclear – Beyond Disapproval: According to a poll of 814 Americans by ORC International on March 15-16, Japan’s nuclear crisis triggered more than decline in support for nuclear energy. Fifty three percent of Americans would now support a moratorium on new nuclear plants, 73% oppose federal loan guarantees for reactor construction, 73% would favor holding companies liable for damages resulting from nuclear accidents, 74% would support redirecting federal loan guarantees in favor of wind and solar, and 76% are more supportive of clean energy and energy efficiency as alternatives to more nuclear power. Among other findings, the survey reveals that over half of Americans residing near nuclear reactors do not know what to do in case of emergency.

EPA Budget: A poll of the general public conducted for Bloomberg News by the veteran Iowa firm Selzer & Co. found that 59% of respondents believe major cuts to U.S. EPA would produce “fairly small” or “little difference” with regard to deficit savings.

New Light Bulbs: Re-Run – an oldie, but goodie! According to a USA TODAY/Gallup poll from February 15th, seventy one percent of U.S. adults have replaced standard light bulbs at home with LEDs. Eighty four percent say they are “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the alternatives. Sixty one percent of Americans call the 2007 legislation that requires incandescent light bulbs to be more efficient a “good” law.

Climate Action » coal

Broad Support for a Strong EPA and Other Hot Pubs

Cues from Our Climate and Other Hot Pubs

Shaking up Coal, Climate Action Hotline 9.6.11

Carol Werner, Executive Director September 6, 2011

News

Events

Cleaning Up Our Waters, Spending, and Energy Use Hot Pubs

Cause and Effect and Other Hot Pubs

Here We Go Again, Climate Action Hotline, 7.11.11

Carol Werner, Executive Director July 11, 2011

News

Federal Legislative Action

Events

Clean Air Act Digest, 6.24.11

The Dangers of Delay, Climate Action Hotline, 6.13.11

UNFCCC’s Christiana Figueres briefs press on first day of the conference Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/unfccc/

Carol Werner, Executive Director June 13, 2011

News

Federal Legislative Action

Events

Dueling Narratives, Climate Action Hotline 5.31.11

Carol Werner, Executive Director May 31, 2011

News

Federal Legislative Action

Events

Necessity for Safe and Clean Energy

Carol Werner, Executive Director

September 6, 2011

Carol Werner, Executive Director

July 11, 2011

Carol Werner, Executive Director
June 13, 2011

Carol Werner, Executive Director

May 31, 2011