WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/9/14

<> White House: We the Geeks: "Polar Vortex" and Extreme Weather - at the White House, while we're beginning to thaw from this week's bone-chilling deep freeze, our discussions about the science of weather extremes are heating up. We know that no single weather episode proves or disproves climate change. Video and Friday January 10,  2:00 PM ET

<> The Clean Energy Economy in Three Charts – White House: The simple fact is that key clean energy technology costs are continuing to come down, and these technologies are producing more American energy than ever before.

¨      Competitive Enterprise Institute Criticizes Proposed Carbon Pollution Standard - WASHINGTON, D.C., JAN, 8 – Today, the Competitive Enterprise Institute criticized EPA's proposed Carbon Pollution Standard, a regulation which would effectively ban the construction of new coal-fired power plants. The regulation was published in today's Federal Register, thereby kicking off a 60 day comment period. CEI's initial comments on the proposal, submitted today, 

¨      Today: EPA to Publish Rules For New Power Plants After Delay- (Huffington Post) The Environmental Protection Agency will finally publish notice of new proposed rules limiting greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants on Wednesday, more than three months after announcing the rules last September. Read original story

1.    AIR, CLIMATE – PR/Withdrawal. EPA. Proposed Standards of Performance: Withdrawal of Proposed Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating UnitsPDF | Text | 

2.    AIR, CLIMATE – PR. EPA. Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New Stationary Sources: Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units PDF | Text | 

<> CRS report outlines PTC phaseout allowing wind, gas parity - The renewable energy production tax credit is gone for now and, even if it is reinstated this year, there are growing calls to replace the current system of year-to-year extensions with a more definitive path meant to phase out the credit altogether. To that end, the Congressional Research Service last month produced a report weighing the pros and cons of various phaseout proposals. . .

<> Paper: Shining a Light on Fossil Fuel Subsidies at the WTO: How NGOs can contribute to WTO notification and surveillance - Liesbeth Casier, Robin Fraser, Mark Halle, Robert Wolfe - Fossil fuel subsidies undermine efforts to mitigate climate change and damage the trading system. However, multilateral discussion is hampered by inconsistent definitions and incomplete data. Members do not notify such subsidies as much as they should under the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing measures 

<> U.S. Ethanol Export Opportunities Abound - (January 8, 2014) WASHINGTON — U.S. ethanol exports surged to 82.4 million gallons (mg) in November, with large volumes finding their way into new or emerging markets such as China and India, as well as the Philippines, Tunisia, Panama, and Mexico, according to government data released this week. Total exports were up 54 percent from October, reaching the highest 

<> UN urged to recognize benefits derived from mountain regions as essential for sustainable development - As United Nations-led talks on outlining the future global development agenda continue to progress, UN agency officials joined representatives of mountain countries and organizations today at Headquarters to encourage mountain-specific policies in sustainable development strategies, with a particular focus on plans for adaptation and mitigation of climate change.

<> Road Map to Clean Energy and Climate Initiatives in Governor Cuomo's 2014 State of the State Report - Governor Cuomo announced some significant new clean energy and climate initiatives.  In case you didn't have time in listen in, or to pore through the 219-page State of the State report that the Governor's office released 

<> The Koch brothers political empire continues to metastasize - what a Washington Post investigative article on January 5 calls "a far-reaching operation of unrivaled complexity, built around a maze of groups that cloaks its donors"

<> USDA Extends Deadline for Conservation Stewardship Applications- Related ATTRA Resource:Accessing the New Conservation Stewardship ProgramThe U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has extended the deadline for new enrollments in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

<> China sets targets for curbing air pollution - BEIJING (Reuters) - China has set new targets for its provinces to reduce air pollution by 5 to 25 percent, state media said lateon Tuesday, underscoring the government's concern about a source of public anger.

<> Net metering controversy: How to calculate the true value of solar

<> First-Year Report: Market Strong for Cap and Trade in California

<> Bird Conservation Groups Announce Intention to Sue Over Ohio Wind Turbine in Key Bird Migration Corridor - The Ohio National Guard facility at Camp Perry, near Port Clinton in northern Ohio, is the focus of possible legal action by American Bird Conservancy and Ohio's Black Swamp Bird Observatory, which today announced the intention to sue the Ohio National Guard in connection with violations of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other federal laws

<> Senator Vitter: EPA Basing New Carbon Rule on Impracticable Technology

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/8/14

<> API's Gerard outlines election year campaign in State of American Energy event - WASHINGTON, January 7, 2014 - API President and CEO Jack Gerard outlined API's advocacy and messaging priorities, issued a new report, and launched a new advertising campaign during his 2014 State of American Energy speech, which focused on the impact of future policy decisions on America's energy revolution.

·   API begins election year with launch of new website, campaign video - The American Petroleum Institute has begun the election year with a campaign video that promotes domestic energy production as a driver of economic growth 

<> Debate grows over whether U.S. should end decades-long ban on oil exports

·   Murkowski calls for end to US crude oil ban - Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) officially came out in favor of ending a decades-old ban on crude exports on Tuesday. At a conversation hosted by the Brookings Institute on Tuesday the ranking member on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources.

<> Oregon Legislation To Restrict Home Use of Bee-Killing Pesticides -

(Beyond Pesticides, January 7, 2014) An Oregon state representative, Rep. Jeff Reardon (D-Portland), plans to introduce legislation in February that will effectively ban for home and garden use certain neonicotinoid pesticides implicated in mass bee deaths this summer. This legislation is part of the growing national effort to ban or restrict the use of neonicotinoid pesticides. 

<> Cold Snap Will Be a Killer for Birds, Group Warns - American Bird Conservancy is reminding people that we're not the only ones suffering in the cold gripping much of the nation. This weather can be deadly to birds, some of which are being driven farther south than normal in search of open water and sources of food.

<> Ocean Acidity is Increasing for Reasons Beyond CO2 Emissions: PLoS Study – [Abstract] Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) from anthropogenic sources is acidifying marine environments resulting in potentially dramatic consequences for the physical, chemical and biological functioning of these ecosystems. Yet, there is also substantial temporal variability in pH and other carbon system parameters in the ocean resulting in regions that already experience change that exceeds long-term projected trends in pH. 

<> New method for assessing nanoparticle toxicity in cells - Read the full story at Safenano. Researchers from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland have developed a novel method, based on optical techniques, for measuring the level of oxidative stress induced by nanoparticles in cells.

<> Ford to Introduce First Solar-Powered Car - Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is first-of-its-kind sun-powered vehicle with the potential to deliver the best of a plug-in hybrid without depending on the electric grid for fuel.

<> Leaked Document Reveals Big Food Lobby's Plans to Preempt State GMO Labeling - Grocery Manufacturers Association pushing legislation after spending millions against state ballot initiatives Center for Food Safety (CFS) today strongly criticized the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), after Politico revealed the lobbying group intends to carry through with legislation aimed at blocking states from mandating labeling of genetically engineered foods 

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/7/14

<> Updates & Information Request For Executive Order 13650: Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security - The Chemical Facility Safety and Security Working Group, is seeking feedback on rules and regulatlions.

·     ACC Comments on Release of Federal Agency Report to Improve Safety and Security at Chemical Facilities - The Working Group formed as a result of Executive Order (EO) 13650 on Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security has released a report of their initial options to accomplish goals set in the EO.

 

<> National Law for the Implementation of the Basel Convention - The objective of this webinar is to present tools, including the model legislation and other legal instruments or tools as adopted by Parties to implement the Basel Convention, and to see how these could be linked or integrated with the provisions of overarching national legal frameworks that regulate hazardous chemicals and wastes, looking at the benefits of an integrated approach to. . .

 

<> State Department Releases 2014 Climate Action Report - Monday, January 6, 2013 On January 1, the State Department submitted the 2014 U.S. Climate Action Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The report details actions that the U.S. is taking domestically and internationally to address climate change.

·     Secretary Kerry Aggressively Pursues Major Climate Pact, Could Close Door on Keystone XL Pipeline - The tubes have been buzzing over a new New York Times report on Secretary of State John Kerry's aggressive pursuit of a new global climate agreement, which  has some clear implications for approval of the controversial Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline. 

 

<> EPA Funds LSU Study to Protect Bees from Pesticides - DALLAS – (Jan. 6, 2014) Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will present a grant for more than $167,000 to Dr. Kristen Healy of the Louisiana State University AgCenter at a ceremony on Wednesday, January 8. The grant will fund a study to assess the impact of mosquito-control methods on honey bees. The study will look at development and application of. . . 

 

<> House Energy Committee to release report on natural gas exports - The House Energy and Commerce Committee plans to release a report this month focusing on natural gas exports.It's the latest move in the accelerated debate on the nation's booming new fossil-fuel abundance. The report will discuss the...

 

<> Upton Releases Report Chronicling Energy and Commerce Accomplishments in 2013 -WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) today released a report on the work of the committee in 2013. The end-of-session update continues the tradition of reports issued throughout the 112th Congress

 

<> Energy Department Announces $3 Million to Support Clean Energy Businesses and Entrepreneurs - January 6, 2014Energy Department Announces $3 Million to Support Clean Energy Businesses and Entrepreneurs The Energy Department today announced $3 million to support clean energy business incubators that provide critical services to entrepreneurs and small businesses and accelerate the commercialization of clean energy technologies.

 

<> Report: Logging Would Impede Rim Fire's Benefits for Wildlife, Water, Forest - Center for Biological Diversity - New Report: Logging Would Impede Rim Fire's Benefits for Wildlife, Water, Forest - Center for Biological Diversity (press release)

 

<> Sen. Alexander: Ending Wind Subsidy a Good Way to Celebrate New Year, Reduce Federal Debt and Save Tennesseans $52 Million – He said: "The massive taxpayer subsidy to windmill developers expired Jan. 1. A good way to celebrate the New Year would be to not renew it and to reduce the federal debt by $60 billion, an amount about equal to the spending in the recent budget agreement." 

Udall Presses Congress to Pass Critical Job-Creating Tax Extenders Package, Extend Wind Production Tax Credit

 

<> 2014: Export of American Oil Is Contentious Industry Goal After 4-Decade Federal Ban -Lure of greater profits from global markets on collision course with national security goal of keeping supplies at home and protecting domestic gas prices. By Elizabeth Douglass Emboldened by the recent boom in U.S. crude production, oil company executives and others closed the year by launching a highly public push for the right to freely export U.S. crude oil.

 

<> UN Applauds China Efforts to Combat Illegal Ivory Trade - Six Tonnes of Ivory Destroyed at Landmark Event in China

·     International Community Hails China's Destruction of Ivory - Mon, 01/06/2014:  Today in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, the Chinese Government destroyed over 6 tons of confiscated elephant ivory and ivory products in a symbolic act to help stop the illegal wildlife trade. read more

 

<> USDA Seeks Comment on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Herbicide-Resistant Corn and Soybeans - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) as part of its review to determine whether to deregulate genetically engineered (GE) corn and soybean pla…

 

 

WIMS Environmental HotSheet, January 6, 2014

<> UN Climate Change Conference in Warsaw keeps governments on a track towards 2015 climate agreement - UN Climate Change Conference in Warsaw keeps governments on a track towards 2015 climate agreement

• Warsaw Talks Provide Just Enough to Move Process Forward on Path to Paris - Climate talks in Warsaw, Poland today reached agreement on a pathway to Paris in 2015, where they have committed to adopt a new, comprehensive, post-2020 agreement to address the climate crisis

<> Conservative Donors Pump $1 Billion A Year Into Climate Denying Groups, Study Finds.

<> Top Clean Energy and Climate Breakthroughs in 2013

<> EPA Releases Chemical Screening Data on 1,800 Chemicals/Agency improves access to chemical data and announces ToxCast Data Challenges (HQ) - WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the release of chemical screening data accessible through the new interactive Chemical Safety for Sustainability or iCSS Dashboard. The iCSS Dashboard provides access to data from innovative screening technologies for chemicals that are found in industrial and consumer products, food 

<> Fuel Economy of New Vehicles Sets Record High / Fuel Economy Gains to Continue Under President Obama's Clean Car Programs (HQ) - WASHINGTON – EPA issued its annual report that tracks the average fuel economy of vehicles sold in the United States. The report shows that model year 2012 vehicles achieved an all-time high fuel economy of 23.6 miles per gallon (mpg). This represents a 1.2 mpg increase over the previous year, making it the second largest annual increase in the last 30 years.

<> EPA Seeks Environmental Education Grant Applications (HQ) - WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently accepting applications for environmental education projects under the agency's Environmental Education Grant Program. The program works to engage communities across the country through a wide variety of educational projects that have a lasting impact on people's health by facilitating environmental 

<> EPA Appoints New Scientific Integrity Official (HQ) - Washington, DC – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has appointed Dr. Francesca Grifo as the agency's new scientific integrity official. Dr. Grifo's responsibilities in her new role include coordinating and carrying out EPA's scientific integrity policy and chairing a standing EPA scientific integrity committee

<> EPA Proposes 2014 Renewable Fuel Standards / Proposal Seeks Input to Address "E10 Blend Wall," Reaffirms Commitment to Biofuels (HQ) -

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed for public comment the levels of renewable fuels to be blended into gasoline and diesel as required by Congress under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Developed with input from the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S

<> EPA Releases Agency Plans for Adapting to a Changing Climate (HQ) -

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its draft Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plans for public review and comment. In support of President Obama's Climate Action Plan and Executive Order on Preparing theUnited States for the Impacts of Climate Change announced today, the Implementation Plans provide detailed 

<> EPA Releases Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data from Large Facilities / Carbon pollution from power plants declines 10 percent from 2010 due to growing use of natural gas (HQ) - WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its third year of greenhouse gas data detailing carbon pollution emissions and trends broken down by industrial sector, greenhouse gas, geographic region, and individual facility. The data, required to be collected annually by Congress, highlight a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions as more

<> Department of Energy Releases $8 Billion Solicitation for Advanced Fossil Energy Projects - ◊Department of Energy Releases $8 Billion Solicitation for Advanced Fossil Energy Projects The Energy Department published a solicitation today, making up to $8 billion in loan guarantee authority available to support innovative advanced fossil energy projects that avoid, reduce, or sequester greenhouse gases

<> Energy Department Releases Grid Energy Storage Report - Energy Department Releases Grid Energy Storage Report Detailed Discussion of Benefits, Challenges, and Next Steps for Wider Adoption onto the Nation's Electric Grid

<> Energy Department Invests $12 Million to Slash Red Tape and Speed Solar Deployment for Homes and Businesses - Energy Department Invests $12 Million to Slash Red Tape and Speed Solar Deployment for Homes and Businesses Through Rooftop Solar Challenge , Eight Teams Streamline and Standardize Solar Installation Process to Cut Costs, Save Time

<> Executive Order -- Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change -  EXECUTIVE ORDER - - - - - - - PREPARING THE UNITED STATES FOR THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to prepare the Nation for the impacts of climate change by undertaking actions to enhance climate preparedness and resilience, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Policy.

<> FACT SHEET: Executive Order on Climate Preparedness - President Obama Establishes a Task Force on Climate "We're going to need to get prepared.  And that's why this plan will also protect critical sectors of our economy and prepare the United States for the impacts of climate change that we cannot avoid.  States and cities across the country are already taking it upon themselves to get ready… And we'll partner with communities seeking help to prepare

 

WIMS Environmental News Blogs

WIMS Environmental News Blogs - Sep 30: WIMS is relocating our offices and is taking a temporary leave from all of our publications and blogs. We will return on January 6, 2014.

In the meantime it is a great opportunity to check out our Environmental News Blogs. The blogs are continuously, automatically updated with the latest news and information from various RSS feed sources selected by WIMS.

• White House News;
  
• Congressional News;
  
• Federal Agencies News;
  
• Industry News;
  
• Enviro Group News;
  
• Air Quality News;
  
• Hazardous Waste News; and
  
• Transportation News

 

    

IPCC Releases Physical Science Basis Climate Report

Sep 27: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the Working Group I (WGI) contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) – the first of three major reports that will be released over the next several months. The new assessment by IPCC -- Climate Change 2013: the Physical Science Basis -- was approved today by member governments of the IPCC in Stockholm, Sweden. The report concludes that the human influence on the climate system is clear. According to a release, it is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century. The evidence for this has grown, thanks to more and better observations, an improved understanding of the climate system response and improved climate models.

 

    IPCC indicates that, "Warming in the climate system is unequivocal and since 1950 many changes have been observed throughout the climate system that are unprecedented over decades to millennia. Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer at the Earth's surface than any preceding decade since 1850." The role of the IPCC is to supply policy-relevant information about climate change to the world's governments. The complete AR5 Report will be considered by negotiators responsible for concluding a new agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2015.

 

    Despite the claims of the IPCC and the 259 authors and review editors of the WGI report and the hundreds of contributing authors and expert reviewers, four Republican Senators -- David Vitter (R-LA), Ranking Member on the Environment and Public Works Committee, Jeff Sessions (R-AL), John Barrasso (R-WY) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) -- are claiming that the Administration is downplaying "the importance of the 15-year hiatus in global temperature increases in the upcoming Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report." [See WIMS 9/26/13].

 

    The Senators indicate, "The AP reported that several nations lobbied the IPCC to select a conclusion to their report that might account for, or otherwise hide, the lack of global warming since 1998.  In addition, the AP noted the United States government chose to ignore the potential for flaws in the climate models used by the IPCC, while also lobbying the IPCC on the possibility that oceans had absorbed global warming."

 

    Qin Dahe, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group I said, "Observations of changes in the climate system are based on multiple lines of independent evidence. Our assessment of the science finds that the atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amount of snow and ice has diminished, the global mean sea level has risen and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased."

 

    Thomas Stocker, the other Co-Chair of Working Group I said, "Continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and changes in all components of the climate system. Limiting climate change will require substantial and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. Global surface temperature change for the end of the 21st century is projected to be likely to exceed 1.5°C relative to 1850 to 1900 in all but the lowest scenario considered, and likely to exceed 2°C for the two high scenarios Heat waves are very likely to occur more frequently and last longer. As the Earth warms, we expect to see currently wet regions receiving more rainfall, and dry regions receiving less, although there will be exceptions."

 

    Projections of climate change are based on a new set of four scenarios of future greenhouse gas concentrations and aerosols, spanning a wide range of possible futures. The Working Group I report assessed global and regional-scale climate change for the early, mid-, and later 21st century.

 

Co-Chair Qin Dahe said, "As the ocean warms, and glaciers and ice sheets reduce, global mean sea level will continue to rise, but at a faster rate than we have experienced over the past 40 years." The report finds with high confidence that ocean warming dominates the increase in energy stored in the climate system, accounting for more than 90% of the energy accumulated between 1971 and 2010.

 

    Co-Chair Thomas Stocker concluded: "As a result of our past, present and expected future emissions of CO2, we are committed to climate change, and effects will persist for many centuries even if emissions of CO2 stop."

 

    Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the IPCC, said, "This Working Group I Summary for Policymakers provides important insights into the scientific basis of climate change. It provides a firm foundation for considerations of the impacts of climate change on human and natural systems and ways to meet the challenge of climate change."

 

    U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a press statement, "This is yet another wakeup call: Those who deny the science or choose excuses over action are playing with fire. Once again, the science grows clearer, the case grows more compelling, and the costs of inaction grow beyond anything that anyone with conscience or common sense should be willing to even contemplate.

    "Boil down the IPCC report and here's what you find: Climate change is real, it's happening now, human beings are the cause of this transformation, and only action by human beings can save the world from its worst impacts. This isn't a run of the mill report to be dumped in a filing cabinet. This isn't a political document produced by politicians. It's science.

    "It builds on the most authoritative assessments of knowledge on climate change produced by scientists, who by profession are conservative because they must deal in what is observable, provable and reviewable by their peers. If this isn't an alarm bell, then I don't know what one is. If ever there were an issue that demanded greater cooperation, partnership, and committed diplomacy, this is it.

    "What one country does impacts the livelihoods of people elsewhere -- and what we all do to address climate change now will largely determine the kind of planet we leave for our children and grandchildren. With those stakes, the response must be all hands on deck. It's not about one country making a demand of another. It's the science itself, demanding action from all of us. The United States is deeply committed to leading on climate change. We will work with our partners around the world through ambitious actions to reduce emissions, transform our energy economy, and help the most vulnerable cope with the effects of climate change. We do so because this is science, these are facts, and action is our only option.

    World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Michel Jarraud commented saying, "Multiple lines of evidence confirm that the extra heat being trapped by greenhouse gases is warming the Earth's surface to record levels, heating the oceans, raising sea levels, melting ice caps and glaciers, and changing weather patterns and extremes. The IPCC report demonstrates that we must greatly reduce global emissions in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change. It also contains important new scientific knowledge that can be used to produce actionable climate information and services for assisting society to adapt to the impacts of climate change."

    UN Under Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said, "Climate change is a long term challenge but one that requires urgent action, not tomorrow but today and right now, given the pace and the scale by which greenhouse gases are accumulating in the atmosphere and the rising risks of a more than 2 degree C temperature rise. For those who want to focus on the scientific question marks, that is their right do so. But today we need to focus on the fundamentals and on the actions. Otherwise the risks we run will get higher with every year."

    "A universal new UN climate agreement by 2015 is critical, backed by supportive voluntary initiatives such as those managing down short-lived climate pollutants like black carbon. As work under the inclusive Green Economy shows, the benefits of a transition to a low carbon future are multiple from improved public health, food security and job generation to combating climate change now and for future generations."

    Access complete information on the WGI report (click here). Access release from Secretary Kerry (click here). Access a release from UNEP (click here). Access a release from the Senators including the complete letter (click here). Access the IPCC website for additional information (click here). [#Climate]

State Department Draft 2014 Climate Action Report

Sep 26: The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental Scientific Affairs has provided notice [78 FR 59412-59413] of the opportunity to submit comments to the draft 2014 Climate Action Report (CAR) on U.S. climate change actions. This draft CAR consists of two documents, the National Communication and the Biennial Report, that respond to reporting requirements under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The document contains the sixth National Communication, which is provided in accordance with Articles 4.2 and 12 of the UNFCCC and accompanying decisions. The draft CAR also includes the Biennial Report, which summarizes major actions taken to address climate change, covering the period up to 2020, and contains additional reporting information. The United States submitted the first U.S. CAR to the UNFCCC Secretariat in 1994, and subsequent reports in 1997, 2002, 2006, and 2010.

 

   The documents set out major actions the U.S. government is taking at the Federal level, highlight examples of state and local actions, and outline U.S. efforts to assist other countries in addressing climate change. Each document meets specific UN reporting requirements, resulting in overlap between the documents. The report reflects the
U.S. Government commitment to the UNFCCC to communicate U.S. actions and policies addressing climate change transparently. The agency must receive comments on or before noon, October 24, 2013.

 

    Table of Contents of the Draft Sixth U.S. CAR includes the following chapters: 1. CAR Foreword; 2. Biennial Report; 3. Executive Summary; 4. National Circumstances; 5. Greenhouse Gas Inventory; 6. Policies & Measures; 7. Projected Greenhouse Gas Emissions; 8. Vulnerability Assessment, Climate Change Impacts, and Adaptation Measures; 9. Financial Resources and Transfer of Technology; 10. Research and Systematic Observation; and 11. Education, Training, and Outreach. Among other things the draft report indicates:

A major contributor to the decline in U.S. GHG emissions has been the displacement of coal with natural gas that is extracted from shale rock formations through hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. The production of "shale gas" has grown rapidly in recent years. In 1996, U.S. shale gas wells produced 0.3 trillion cubic feet (8.5 billion cubic meters) of natural gas, representing 1.6 percent of U.S. gas production. By 2011, production of shale gas had increased to 8.5 trillion cubic feet (241 billion cubic meters) of natural gas, 30 percent of U.S. gas production. The extraction and use of shale gas are projected to continue to grow during the next several years.

 

The U.S. transportation system has evolved to meet the needs of a highly mobile, dispersed population and a large economy. Automobiles and light trucks still dominate the passenger transportation system, and the highway share of passenger miles traveled. In 2013, the most recent year of available data, automobiles and light trucks constituted about 87 percent of the passenger miles traveled, down 2 percentage points from the highway share listed in the 2010 CAR. Air travel accounted for slightly more than 11 percent (up 1.5 percentage points from the 2010 CAR), and mass transit and rail travel combined accounted for only about 1 percent of passenger miles traveled. . .

 

Given implementation of programs and measures in place as of September 2012 and current economic projections, total gross U.S. GHG emissions are projected to be 4.6 percent lower than 2005 levels in 2020. Between 2005 and 2011 total gross U.S. GHG emissions have declined significantly due a combination of factors, including the economic downturn and fuel switching from coal to natural gas (U.S. EPA 2013). Emissions are projected to rise gradually between 2011 and 2020. Emissions are projected to remain below the 2005 level through 2030, despite significant increases in population (26 percent) and GDP (69 percent) during that time period. More rapid improvements in technologies that emit fewer GHGs, new GHG mitigation requirements, or more rapid adoption of voluntary GHG emission reduction programs could result in lower gross GHG emission levels than in the "with measures" projection.

Between 2005 and 2020, CO2 emissions in the "with measures" projection (measures in place as of 2012) are estimated to decline by 7.5 percent. In contrast, in the 2010 CAR, CO2 emissions were expected to increase by 1.5 percent between 2005 and 2020 (U.S. DOS 2010), a change of about 9 percent, and in the 2006 CAR, emissions were expected to increase by 14 percent between 2004 and 2020 (U.S. DOS 2006). During the same period, CH4 and N2O emissions are expected to grow by 3.5 percent and 6.1 percent, respectively. The most rapid growth is expected in fluorinated GHGs (HFCs, PFCs, and SF6) which are expected to increase by more than 60 percent between 2005 and 2020, driven by increasing use of HFCs as 6 substitutes for ODS.

    Access the FR announcement (click here). Access links to the individual report chapters and alternative commenting instructions (click here). Access the DOS docket for this action for further details and to submit and review comments (click here). [#Climate]

IPCC On Track To Release First Of Three Reports On Friday

Sep 24: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is on track to release the Working Group I (WGI) contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) – the physical science basis of climate change – Summary for Policymakers will be released on September 27, 2013. IPCC will be holding  a press conference at 10.00 AM Stockholm time. (AR5). The full report will be released in an unedited version on September 30, 2013. It will be published online in January 2014 and in book form a few months later.

 

    The Working Group II (WGII) contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability will be considered in Yokohama, Japan, on March 25-29, 2014. The Working Group III (WGIII) contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report on mitigation of climate change) will be considered in Berlin, Germany, on April 7-11, 2014. Finally, the Synthesis Report (SYR) of the Fifth Assessment Report will be considered in Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 27-31, 2014.

 

    Government representatives and scientists opened a meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Stockholm, Sweden on Monday to finalize a WGI report assessing the evidence for climate change and its causes. The meeting, the culmination of four years' work by hundreds of experts who have volunteered their time and expertise to produce a comprehensive assessment, will approve the Summary for Policymakers of the first part of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report, subjecting it to line-by-line scrutiny. It will also accept the full report, which includes a Technical Summary, 14 chapters and several annexes, including, for the first time, an Atlas of Global and Regional Climate Projections.

 

    Qin Dahe, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group I said, "The scientific evidence for anthropogenic climate change has strengthened year by year, leaving fewer uncertainties about the serious consequences of inaction, despite the fact that there remain knowledge gaps and uncertainties in some areas of climate science." Thomas Stocker, the other WGI Co-Chair said, "Our assessment draws on millions of measurements which permit an unprecedented and unbiased view of the state of the Earth System. Millions of billions of bytes of numerical data form the foundation for estimates of possible futures of our climate. We have produced a Summary for Policymakers that presents the findings in the clearest possible manner, a document with no compromises to scientific accuracy."

 

    A total of 259 authors and review editors were selected to produce the Working Group I report; they in turn enlisted the help of more than 600 contributing authors. Hundreds of expert reviewers provided comments to earlier drafts of the report, which draws on observations, model runs and cites more than 9,200 scientific publications. For the Fifth Assessment Report as a whole, a total of 831 authors and review editors were selected.

    Access a release from IPCC on the upcoming WGI report (click here). Access more information on the WGI and link to the report and press release as soon as it is posted (click here). Access additional information from the IPCC website (click here). [#Climate]

Medical Groups Urge Action To Reduce Toxic Exposure

Sep 23: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) issued a joint Committee Opinion indicating that "toxic chemicals in the environment harm our ability to reproduce, negatively affect pregnancies, and are associated with numerous other long-term health problems." The College and ASRM urge ob-gyns to advocate for government policy changes to identify and reduce exposure to toxic environmental agents. 

    Jeanne Conry, MD, PhD, president of The College said, "Lawmakers should require the US Environmental Protection Agency and industry to define and estimate the dangers that aggregate exposure to harmful chemicals pose to pregnant women, infants, and children and act to protect these vulnerable populations. Every pregnant woman in America is exposed to many different chemicals in the environment. Prenatal exposure to certain chemicals is linked to miscarriages, stillbirths, and birth defects." According to a release, many chemicals that pregnant women absorb or ingest from the environment can cross the placenta to the fetus. Exposure to mercury during pregnancy, for instance, is known to harm cognitive development in children.

    The scientific evidence over the last 15 years shows that exposure to toxic environmental agents before conception and during pregnancy can have significant and long-lasting effects on reproductive health. Linda Giudice, MD, PhD, president of ASRM said, "For example, pesticide exposure in men is associated with poor semen quality, sterility, and prostate cancer. We also know that exposure to pesticides may interfere with puberty, menstruation and ovulation, fertility, and menopause in women."

    The groups indicated that, other reproductive and health problems associated with exposure to toxic environmental agents include: Miscarriage and stillbirth; Impaired fetal growth and low birth weight; Preterm birth; Childhood cancers; Birth defects; Cognitive/intellectual impairment; and Thyroid problems. Approximately 700 new chemicals are introduced into the U.S. market each year, and more than 84,000 chemical substances are being used in manufacturing and processing or are being imported. Dr. Conry said, "The scary fact is that we don't have safety data on most of these chemicals even though they are everywhere -- in the air, water, soil, our food supply, and everyday products. Bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone disruptor, is a common toxic chemical contained in our food, packaging, and many consumer products. To successfully study the impact of these chemical exposures, we must shift the burden of proof from the individual health care provider and the consumer to the manufacturers before any chemicals are even released into the environment."

 

    The groups said certain groups of people and communities have higher exposures to harmful environmental chemicals than others. Dr. Conry said, "For example, women exposed to toxic chemicals at work are at higher risk of reproductive health problems than other women. Low-wage immigrants who work on farms have higher exposures to chemicals used on the crops that they harvest." Dr. Giudice said, "As reproductive health care physicians, we are in a unique position to help prevent prenatal exposure to toxic environmental agents by educating our patients about how to avoid them at home, in their community, and at work."

 

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) commented on the medical group concerns saying, "We support efforts to promote the health and well-being of pregnant women, infants and young children. We agree with the underlying premise of the Opinion that pregnant women and women who are trying to conceive should eat a healthy diet and be sensitive about the kinds of things they ingest or are exposed to. "However, we have serious concerns with the Opinion: "We are disappointed that the Opinion takes scientific consensus about highly-regulated substances like mercury or lead, and applies the conclusions about safety to other substances that both science and federal regulators tell us are used safely in consumer products.

    "We are concerned that the Opinion inappropriately draws conclusions based on biomonitoring data that ignores the fact that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that just because a chemical is present in the body, doesn't mean that it will cause effects or disease. And, we are concerned that the Opinion includes references to specific chemicals, which are based on a limited number of flawed studies, and ignores thorough scientific assessments that demonstrate safe use of these substances. For example, bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most tested substances in use today and regulatory agencies around the world have repeatedly found that the evidence does not show a connection between typical exposure levels and health effects or disease. BPA is used to make the linings in food cans—food that's an important source of nutrition for millions of Americans -- to prevent contamination and food-borne illnesses. The FDA has examined this use and scientists at FDA tell us that the trace amounts we are exposed to from materials that keep our food safe, are safe for us.

    "Women rely on their physicians for sound medical advice and access to reliable information. Creating confusion and alarm among expectant mothers will distract from the well-established steps doctors recommend to support a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Chemicals are regulated by nearly a dozen federal laws today, and any new chemical must be reviewed and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency prior to manufacture. We share the group's interest in achieving policy reforms that will modernize and enhance federal chemical regulation. We are actively working with bipartisan leaders in Congress to achieve the first chemical regulatory reforms in decades, even as ACC member companies continuously improve industry product stewardship and safety programs."

 

    Access a joint release from the groups with further details and multiple links to related information (click here). Access the complete statement from ACC and a video (click here). [#Toxics]

Turning Point In The Corporate Response To Climate Change

Sep 23: Two new studies released at the New York Stock Exchange today by CDP – formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, in conjunction with PwC and Sustainable Insight Capital Management, Inc. (SICM), respectively demonstrate that CDP leaders who incorporate environmental factors into their business strategies are mitigating climate related risks, finding opportunities to strengthen their businesses and delivering higher profitability than their industry peers. The findings of these two complementary reports add significantly to the body of knowledge on the role of environmental factors in corporate performance.

    CDP's President, North America, Tom Carnac said, "The release of today's report findings show the link between climate change management and superior financial performance is building. These two studies validate that relationship by exhibiting how companies incorporating environmental stewardship into their business model and investment decision making process can gain strength and protect their competitive advantage."

    The CDP S&P 500 Climate Change Report, by CDP and PwC, provides an annual update on greenhouse gas emissions data and climate change strategies at America's largest public corporations in response to CDP's disclosure request from 722 investors representing $87 trillion. This year, seventy-seven percent of respondents (258 companies) reported an increase in climate change exposure, up from 61 percent in 2012, with extreme weather topping the list of highest-impact. In response, the report showed:

• S&P 500 companies investing on average over four percent of annual capital expenditure in emissions reductions, representing $50 billion worth of investments on a range of emissions reduction activities and energy-saving processes. The energy sector leads with a reported $27.3 billion invested, followed by utilities with $13.7 billion invested. Greenhouse gas emissions were reported to have been reduced on aggregate by 6.1%.
• S&P 500 companies reported $4 billion in monetary savings from their investments in emissions reductions, including product design innovations ($1.2 billion), energy efficiency processes ($991 million), and changes to their transportation fleet and use ($709 million).
• Twenty companies generated 85 percent ($3.5 billion) of the monetary savings reported by all the respondents and twenty companies accounted for nearly 90 percent of the carbon emissions reductions. The seven companies who overlap both of these lists are Ameren Corporation, AT&T, Dell, Exelon Corporation, Northeast Utilities, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Waste Management.
• Companies from the S&P 500 on the 2013 Climate Performance Leadership Index (CPLI) more than doubled in number from 2012, demonstrating the significance of incorporating climate change risks and opportunities into their overall business strategy.

    PwC Sustainable Business Solutions (SBS) partner Doug Kangos added that the results of the 2013 report indicate a turning point in the corporate response to climate change. He said, "The overarching story is business transformation. Leading companies are innovating to create value on many levels while demonstrating increasing sophistication and confidence in addressing the risks and opportunities associated with climate destabilization."

    The complementary report covering the Global 500, Linking Climate Engagement to Financial Performance: An Investor's Perspective, released at the same event and co-written by CDP and Sustainable Insight Capital Management, shows that superior transparency on climate engagement is associated with higher financial performance.

    The analysis is based on the CDP disclosure scores of 702 companies covered in CDP's Global 500 climate change reports from 2008 to 2012. Using peer to peer comparisons, companies were ranked by industry and split into quintiles by their CDP disclosure score, then examined against various metrics of financial profitability. The analysis shows that industry leaders in the first quintile based on their relative CDP scores, provide a higher return on equity (+5.2%), more stable cash flow generation (+18.1%) and higher dividend growth (+1.6%).

    The analysis leverages CDP's unique data set on corporate engagement on climate change to demonstrate that strategic management of climate change risks and opportunities is reflected in the underlying financial performance of companies. US S&P 500 companies' CDP disclosure and performance scores are listed in full in the CDP S&P 500 Climate Change report.

    Access a lengthy release from CDP additional details with links to both reports (click here). [#Climate]