Climate Action » emissions http://blog.usclimatenetwork.org US Climate Action Network's Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:12:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 EPA Presses Case to Regulate Greenhouse Emissions http://blog.usclimatenetwork.org/energy-rebellion/epa-presses-case-to-regulate-greenhouse-emissions/ http://blog.usclimatenetwork.org/energy-rebellion/epa-presses-case-to-regulate-greenhouse-emissions/#comments Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:12:59 +0000 Suzanne Bopp http://blog.usclimatenetwork.org/?p=294
  • EPA Says Greenhouse Gases Are Dangerous, Can Be Regulated
  • The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Asks Court to Block EPA from Regulating Emissions
  • The Case for Clean Energy and Clean Air, Climate Action Hotline 10.17.11
    • ]]>     This week, the EPA is holding public hearings in Arlington, Va., and Chicago on the agency’s proposal to begin regulating global warming gases from power plants, oil refineries, factories and other major sources, under the authority of the Clean Air Act. epa

    The current Clean Air Act regulations for such pollutants as lead, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides apply to facilities that emit 100 to 250 tons annually. That threshold is inappropriate for the six global warming gases EPA has authority to regulate (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride). Under the EPA’s proposed “tailoring” rule, facilities that emit at least 25,000 tons of greenhouse gases a year would have to obtain permits. This program would cover nearly 70 percent of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources. Small farms, restaurants and other small facilities wouldn’t be affected under the new rule.

    The EPA will accept written comments on the proposed rule until December 28, 2009.

    – Suzanne Bopp

    Share

    Related posts:

    1. EPA Says Greenhouse Gases Are Dangerous, Can Be Regulated
    2. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Asks Court to Block EPA from Regulating Emissions
    3. The Case for Clean Energy and Clean Air, Climate Action Hotline 10.17.11

    ]]>     http://blog.usclimatenetwork.org/energy-rebellion/epa-presses-case-to-regulate-greenhouse-emissions/feed/ 0     Forward Progress in Copenhagen: Climate Action Hotline, Nov. 19 http://blog.usclimatenetwork.org/hotline/climate-action-hotline-nov-19/ http://blog.usclimatenetwork.org/hotline/climate-action-hotline-nov-19/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:31:18 +0000 Rhys Gerholdt http://blog.usclimatenetwork.org/?p=297
  • Small Steps Forward…, Climate Action Hotline 12.13.10
  • Copenhagen Climate Progress Feels More Real
  • Although Still Unclear, Copenhagen Meeting Will Produce Real Progress
    • ]]>
    US Climate Action Network

    November 19, 2009

    cah_feature_11-19-2009
    Just as in Stockholm in 1972, when global leaders first met to limit the harm caused by industrial pollution, and again in Rio in 1992 and in Kyoto in 1997, the approaching United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen is a rare turning point moment for the world to carefully consider the ties between the environment and the economy, and act to solve the dire consequences of burning fossil fuels.

    What’s important to understand is that much of hard work of writing an agreement that cools the planet and heats up the global economy is done. Delegates met in Bali two years ago, and a year later in Poznan to construct the basic architecture of a new climate treaty. They agreed to build a five-story treaty, the results of which are clearly visible. The limits that developed countries are willing to put on carbon pollution that causes climate change is now common knowledge. The dimensions of the technological changes that are necessary to completely alter how the world powers itself have come into clearer focus. The science of climate change is irrefutable. The magnitude of the cost of making the transition to a new epoch have been calculated. And there is general agreement that the wealthy nations that burned all that carbon-rich fuel have financial responsibilities to the developing countries that want to get cleaner and economically greener.

    Media attention in the U.S. and globally has focused on the several large barriers to completing the treaty, including crucial commitments from the United States to limit carbon emissions and contribute financially to the clean energy economic transition in developing nations.

    But the question of how much of the remaining work will be finished in Copenhagen can now be answered. Almost all of it.

    During the U.S.-China Summit in Beijing this week, President Obama declared his resolve to reach a substantive climate agreement in Copenhagen. “Our aim is not a partial accord or a political declaration,” the president said, “but rather an accord that covers all of the issues in the negotiations, and one that has immediate operational effect. This kind of comprehensive agreement would be an important step forward in the effort to rally the world around a solution to our climate challenge.”

    The United States and 191 other nations, we are convinced, can leave Copenhagen with much of what they committed to in 2007: A comprehensive, ambitious, and fair international agreement to solve climate change. Talk to you next week, Keith
    Action Alert  

    Hold Big Polluters Accountable

    The EPA recently proposed a draft rule which would require the largest industrial facilities covering 70% of the country’s global warming pollution to obtain clean air permits. By generating a large number of grassroots comments into the docket in support of this rule we can strengthen the Administration’s hand in regulating greenhouse gases through the EPA and we can show Congress that Americans support action on clean energy and climate. The docket closes December 26.
    Check out Sierra Club’s action alert.

    For more information, contact jkurz@climatenetwork.org.

    Climate Progress

    Climate Talks Progress Ahead of Copenhagen

    A new climate strategy dubbed “one agreement, two steps” was unveiled at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in Singapore this weekend. The first step would involve signing on to a framework in Copenhagen including key ingredients such as financing for developing countries, to be followed by a legally binding deal to cut carbon emissions at a later date. President Obama supports the strategy, saying his goal for Copenhagen is not to produce a “partial accord,” but rather one that has “immediate operational effect.”

    U.S., China Could Bring Targets to Copenhagen

    At the conclusion of his week-long trip in Asia, President Obama released a joint statement with Chinese President Hu Jintao that implied the U.S. administration is likely to offer emission-reduction targets in Copenhagen so long as China offered a proposal of its own. The two countries also announced commitments on renewable energy, energy efficiency and electric vehicle production.

    Senate Climate Bill to Hit Floor in Spring

    Senate Democratic leaders are planning to bring the climate and energy bill to the floor in the spring “as early as possible,” announced bill sponsor Senator John Kerry on Monday.

    EU to Surpass Kyoto Targets

    The European Union is on track to curb greenhouse gas emissions by more than eight percent, exceeding the goal set for the bloc under the Kyoto Protocol. However, these reductions include those made through government purchases of emission credits.

    Sens. Alexander, Webb Unveil Energy Bill to Double US Nuclear Power

    On Monday, Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Jim Webb (D-VA) introduced the Clean Energy Act of 2009, a measure which aims to double nuclear power generation in the US within 20 years. The proposed legislation would increase the Department of Energy’s loan guarantee program up to $100 billion.

    Coal Lobby “Dishonors” Veterans Day, Say Veterans

    On the eve of Veterans Day, major lobbying group American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity released a statement tying veterans to its pro-coal message. Veterans group VoteVets said their claim was an “act of despicable hubris” and that ACCCE doesn’t understand the national security threat climate change poses.

    Study Shows: Yes, It’s Getting Warmer

    Daily record high temperatures occurred twice as often as record lows over the last decade across the continental United States, according to new research.
    Climate Action Hotline is the new weekly update by the US Climate Action Network. Let us know what you think.
    Special Coverage

      
    Video Of The Week
    Quote Of The Week
    “Our aim [in Copenhagen], is not a partial accord or political declaration, but rather an accord that covers all of the issues in the negotiations and one that has immediate operational effect.”  

    -Barack Obama
    Headlines
    Events

    Share

    Related posts:

    1. Small Steps Forward…, Climate Action Hotline 12.13.10
    2. Copenhagen Climate Progress Feels More Real
    3. Although Still Unclear, Copenhagen Meeting Will Produce Real Progress

    ]]>     http://blog.usclimatenetwork.org/hotline/climate-action-hotline-nov-19/feed/ 1