LIVE IN LIMA - DAY 7: UN COP20 climate change summit

<> LIVE IN LIMA – DAY 7: UN COP20 climate change summit - Rolling commentary, news, analysis and video from the 20th Conference of the Parties to the UN Climate Convention in Lima, Peru

• News & Conference Highlights from UNFCCC COP20

• Webcasts & documents from COP20

Getting Going in Lima?

<> Getting Going in Lima? - Although the ADP (The Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action) is charged with the unenviable task of producing an agreement text for Paris in just one year and has been running for three years with this in mind, the opening days here are once again like watching the opening rounds of a chess match, with the Parties positioning themselves for later confrontation rather than attempting to clear the way and open up the game. News & Conference Highlights from UNFCCC COP20 Webcasts & documents from COP20 LIVE IN LIMA – DAY 5: UN COP20 climate change summit - Rolling commentary, news, analysis and video from the 20th Conference of the Parties to the UN Climate Convention in Lima, Peru

House Passes Tax Extension Legislation

<> House Passes Tax Extension Legislation - The House passed H.R. 5771, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, by a vote of 378 to 46, which includes extend the wind production tax credit (PTC) and other energy incentives only through the end of 2014. Legislative details for H.R.5771 AWEA urges clean energy supporters in Congress and White House to work to pass two-year extension of critical tax policies - "A three-week extension kills jobs and provides businesses little ability to create the jobs we want to create"

NGOs Pledge Support, Align Resources with Urban Waters Federal Partnership

<> Organizations Pledge Support, Align Resources with Urban Waters Federal Partnership – U.S. EPA announces a broad coalition of 27 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including The Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and The Conservation Fund has pledged to support the Urban Waters Federal Partnership as it works to restore waterways and revitalize communities across the country.  NGOs Support Federal Agencies in Efforts to Revitalize Urban Waterways, Boost Metropolitan Communities

After years of finger pointing, world leaders finally ready to tackle global warming

<> After years of finger pointing, world leaders finally ready to tackle global warming - As global leaders gather in Peru Monday to start negotiating a new U.N. climate deal, there is a sense that finally the world may be ready to take action. Lima Climate Change Conference - December 2014

Lima COP to Lay Foundation for Paris 2015 Agreement

<> Lima COP to Lay Foundation for Paris 2015 Agreement - Governments are preparing to meet for the UN Climate Change Conference in Lima starting (1 - 12 December) to lay the foundation for an effective new, universal climate change agreement in Paris in 2015 while also raising immediate ambition to act on climate change in advance of the agreement coming into effect in 2020. COP20 Information website Lima Climate Change Conference - December 2014

Supreme Court Will Hear Challenges To EPA MATS Rule

<> Supreme Court Will Hear Challenges To EPA MATS Rule – [See SCOTUS blog discussion] The Court accepted three new petitions, but consolidated them for one hour of argument and for decision.  The cases are Michigan v. EPA, Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA, and National Mining Association v. EPA. The Court Says Challenge Is Limited - The petitions for writs of certiorari are granted limited to the following question: "Whether the Environmental Protection Agency unreasonably refused to consider costs in determining whether it is appropriate to regulate hazardous air pollutants emitted by electric utilities." Statement by Attorney General Schuette on SCOTUS Decision to Review Michigan v. EPA Case EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) website

Todd Stern on China, India and the UN climate deal

<> Todd Stern on China, India and the UN climate deal - US special envoy for climate change spells out what his country hopes to achieve in the UN's climate change deal. . . Climate Change Diplomacy - [Video & Transcript including Questions] - Todd Stern, the State Department's special climate change envoy, talked about global climate change policy following President Obama.'s climate change deal with China.

EPA Delays Renewable Fuels Volume Standards for 2014

<> EPA Delays Renewable Fuels Volume Standards for 2014 - 11/21/14. EPA is announcing that the Agency will not be finalizing 2014 applicable percentage standards under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program before the end of 2014. EPA Renewable Fuels: Regulations & Standards website API: EPA incapable of implementing the RFS, time for repeal - API President and CEO Jack Gerard said the administration's decision to punt on this year's RFS standards is a clear demonstration to Congress that the Renewable Fuel Standard has become completely unworkable and must be repealed. RFS Announcement: A Cloud of Uncertainty with a Silver Lining - Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association said: "Deciding not to decide is not a decision. Unfortunately, the announcement today perpetuates the uncertainty that has plagued the continued evolution of biofuels production and marketing for a year. AEC: New Path on RFS Makes Sense - Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) Executive Director Brooke Coleman said, "Pulling back on the 2014 RFS rule is the right thing to do at this stage in the game when it comes to preserving the integrity of the program. Sen. Murkowski Comments on EPA Delay of RFS Standard Vitter: EPA Delay on RFS Mandate Shows Recognition of Flawed Program Committee Leaders Respond to EPA's RFS Announcement Chairwoman Stabenow Statement on RFS Inaction Peterson Statement: EPA Delays RFS Decision

Lima Climate Change Conference - December 2014

<> Lima Climate Change Conference - December 2014 - The 20th session of the Conference of the Parties and the 10th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol will be held from 1 to 12 December. COP 20/CMP 10 will be hosted by the Government of Peru, in Lima, Peru. Briefing: What to expect in Lima and on the road to a Paris agreement - C2ES Executive Vice President Elliot Diringer hosted a pre-Lima briefing for journalists on Nov. 20.  Topics included recent events that have helped build momentum, a brief history of UNFCCC negotiations, likely issues for Lima, and the potential shape of the Paris agreement.

OIG: 8 staff paid not to work nearly 21,000 hours cost taxpayers more than $1 million

<> OIG: 8 staff paid not to work nearly 21,000 hours cost taxpayers more than $1 million - EPA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) released an early warning report alerting EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to the fact that employees were on extended periods of administrative leave through fiscal year 2014 – in some cases for several years. Vitter: EPA Paid 8 Employees Over $1 Million for Not Working

Keystone XL Pipeline Bill, fails by 1 vote; Votes, Reactions

<> S.2280, to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, fails by 1 vote - 14 Democrats joined all Senate Republicans to account for 59 votes of 60 needed to pass the bill [See the roll call] McConnell Statement on Keystone Vote - "Tonight, Senate Democrats once again stood in the way of a shovel-ready jobs project that would help thousands of Americans find work —  a remarkable stance after an election in which the American people sent a clear message to Congress to approve serious policies like the Keystone XL Pipeline and get the Senate working again. . ." Sen. Murkowski Vows to Revisit Keystone XL in New Congress Boehner: A Keystone Veto "Equivalent of Calling the American People 'Stupid'" – Before the vote the House Speaker said, "Vetoing an overwhelmingly popular bill would be a clear indication that he doesn't care about the American peoples' priorities. It would be [the] equivalent of calling the American people 'stupid.'" Markey: Keystone XL is a Part of Oil Industry Export Plan - ". . .This export pipeline would make the United States a middleman to ship Canadian oil to the thirstiest foreign markets abroad, where they can charge more for their oil while our country assumes all the environmental risk. . . Senator Boxer's Statement Following Defeat of Keystone XL Pipeline Bill - "I want to thank the 40 other Senators who stood up for what is right - protecting the health of families and the health of the planet. . .

<> U.S. Senate Rejects Attempt to Force Approval of Keystone Pipeline - Environmental Defense Fund: We believe the pipeline is the wrong choice for America, a step in the wrong direction at a time when we need a rapid shift to clean energy in order to safeguard the climate and our economy. Center for Biological Diversity - The pipeline, which would transport tar sands oil from Canada to Texas, would worsen the climate crisis and put rivers, streams, wildlife and pristine landscapes directly in harm's way. Sierra Club - There's no good reason the Senate should have wasted all this time on yet another meaningless push for Keystone XL. Some in Senate block biggest bi-partisan jobs and energy security bill - American Petroleum Institute (API) President and CEO Jack Gerard said the Senate's failure to pass legislation to build the Keystone XL pipeline shows a few stood in the way of the largest bi-partisan jobs and energy security bill ignoring the will of the American people on Election Day. U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy - Unfortunately, there have been no indications that the Obama administration will stop ignoring the vast majority of Americans that support the pipeline, but we do know that Keystone will have even stronger support in the next Congress.

Senate To Consider Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Bill

<> Senate To Consider Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Bill - On Tuesday, November 18, 2014, following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of S.2280, a bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline -- There will be up to 6 hours of debate equally divided between opponents and proponents. McConnell Urges Senate Democrats to Support Cassidy Keystone Bill - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate Floor urging his colleagues to support Keystone XL jobs: "Later today, the Senate will vote on whether or not to send Congressman Cassidy's Keystone jobs bill to the President. It's a vote that's long overdue, but welcome. "Keystone XL is just common-sense. It's a shovel-ready jobs project that would help thousands of Americans find work. It would increase our supply of North American energy. Access the Senate Roll Call website for final results when available

Recommendations to the President from Climate Task Force

<> FACT SHEET: Recommendations of the President's State, Local and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience and New Executive Actions – Nov. 17: New Climate Resilience Toolkit Unveiled to Help Plan for Changing Climate -- The Task Force's recommendations are the culmination of a year of work to solicit input from across State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, trade associations, academic organizations, civil society, and various other stakeholders and translate their first-hand experiences into action items for the Federal Government to support climate-ready communities. Task Force On Climate Preparedness and Resilience Recommendations to the President State, Local, and Tribal Leaders Task Force On Climate Preparedness and Resilience website

Cassidy Urges Support for Keystone Solution

<> Cassidy Urges Support for Keystone Solution - Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) yesterday spoke on the House floor in support for his bill, H.R. 5682, to approve the application to build the Keystone XL pipeline [vote expected soon today]. Legislative details freo H.R. 5682 Markey: Senate Should Reject Keystone Oil Export Strategy Republican Senators Request "Yes" or "No" from Obama on Keystone Sierra Club Statement On Forthcoming Keystone XL Votes API welcomes pathway of bipartisan Keystone XL bill to president's desk

House to Vote on Cassidy Keystone Solution that Says #Yes2Energy

<> House to Vote on Cassidy Keystone Solution that Says #Yes2Energy - The House will vote tomorrow on a bill, H.R. 5862, authored by Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) that would immediately authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Cassidy Introduces Bill To Approve Keystone XL Pipeline on November 12 - Vote expected this afternoon Keystone pipeline approval bills advance in Congress Keystone Pipeline bills by Sen. Landrieu and Rep. Cassidy advancing before Dec. 6 Senate runoff NRDC: Senators Should Oppose Bill Forcing Approval of Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline - The lame duck Senate soon may consider a bill forcing approval

U.S.-China Joint Announcement on Climate Change

<> U.S.-China Joint Announcement on Climate Change - President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping reaffirmed the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation on climate change and will work together, and with other countries, to adopt a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties at the United Nations Climate Conference in Paris in 2015. FACT SHEET: U.S.-China Joint Announcement on Climate Change and Clean Energy Cooperation McConnell Reacts to President Obama's New Emissions Reduction Targets - LOUISVILLE, KY– U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement regarding the President's unrealistic  Boehner: "the president's crusade against affordable energy. . ." Senator Boxer's Statement on Historic U.S.-China Agreement to Combat Climate Change Inhofe: U.S.-China Climate Deal a Non-Binding Charade Markey: China-U.S. Climate Agreement Could Protect Health of People and Planet US, China Climate Moves Boost Paris Prospects - Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, said: "These two crucial countries have today announced important pathways towards a better and more secure future for human-kind. Allied to the European Union's recent announcement, this signals in an increasingly positive way a determination towards addressing the climate change challenge from a growing number of key economies".

<> Historic US-China deal marks the beginning of the end of China's coal chapter - Today could be the most important day so far this century in climate and energy politics -- China and United States have come to an historic agreement, negotiated privately over a period of months. . . Sierra Club Statement on U.S.-China Climate Announcement  Environmental Defense Fund Welcomes Bilateral Talks on Climate Between U.S. and China New Carbon Reduction Goals by China, U.S. Are a Critical Step Forward - China and the Unites States tonight announced new targets for carbon pollution reductions. The following is a statement from Frances Beinecke, president of NRDC SEIA Embraces Efforts to Double Renewables Worldwide by 2030 - The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), along with other U.S. renewable power industries, today hailed the goal announced at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing of doubling renewable energy in the 21-member economies by 2030. Bob Perciasepe, C2ES statement on US-China climate announcement Statement from Ceres president Mindy Lubber on US-China Climate Agreement - "The agreement by the world's two largest economies and carbon emitters is a game changer on every level.

GAO Report Blasts FDA's Inadequate Pesticide Monitoring of Fruits, Vegetables

<> GAO-15-38, Food Safety: FDA and USDA Should Strengthen Pesticide Residue Monitoring Programs and Further Disclose Monitoring Limitations, October 07, 2014 - Data from 2008 through 2012 show that pesticide residue violation rates in 10 selected fruits and vegetables were low, but FDA's approach to monitoring for violations, which targets commodities it has identified as high risk, has limitations. GAO Report Blasts FDA's Inadequate Pesticide Monitoring of Fruits, Vegetables

McConnell: Top Priority is "to try to do whatever I can to get the EPA reined in."

<> McConnell: Top Priority is "to try to do whatever I can to get the EPA reined in." - "It will be hard because the only good tool to do that ... is through the spending process, and if (President Barack Obama) feels strongly enough about it, he can veto the bill. But I view it as a complete outrage that he could not get cap and trade through the Congress when he owned the place — owned the place — and decided to do it anyway."

President Obama Responds to "Massive Repudiation"

<> President Obama Responds to "Massive Repudiation" – [Editor's Note: If you do a Google search of the term "massive repudiation" (use quotations) over the last 24 hours you might be surprised to see how many times various Republicans, pundits and media referred to the November 4, election as a massive repudiation of everything that Barack Obama and Democrats represent.] The President responded to the election saying in part: "What stands out to me, is that the American people sent a message, one that they've sent for several elections now. They expect the people they elect to work as hard as they do. They expect us to focus on their ambitions and not ours. They want us to get the job done. As President, I have a unique responsibility to try and make this town work" Email from President Obama: "Here's what's next" - President Obama sent this message to the White House email list about what's next for his Administration.

Republicans take U.S. Senate majority

 

<> Republicans take U.S. Senate majority - Republicans captured majority control of the Senate Tuesday, gaining at least seven seats as Democrats faced strong political headwinds in midterm elections where discontent with President Obama was a decisive theme. Riding Wave of Discontent, G.O.P. Takes Senate - Resurgent Republicans took control of the Senate on Tuesday night,expanded their hold on the House, and defended some of the most closely contested governors' races, in a repudiation of President Obama that will reorder the political map in his final years in office

<> Here are the top candidates for Senate chairmanships under the GOP majority - Republicans gained control of the Senate on Tuesday, which means the GOP will chair the committees in that chamber of Congress next year – e.g. Environment and Public Works Committee, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.); Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) the ranking member of the Senate Energy Committee, and she could potentially succeed Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) once the GOP takes control next year.