Tag Archives: policy

Massive Turnout for the People’s Climate March in NYC

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More than 400,000 people took to the streets of New York City on Sunday for the People’s Climate March. Calling for action on climate change, organizers say it was one of the largest environmental demonstrations ever held.

From scientists to activists to parents concerned for the future of their children, this massive grassroots event attracted people from across the country and around the world. It even included some boldface political names like former U.S. Vice President Al Gore (founder of the Climate Reality Project), NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, as well as high profile environmentalists like Jane Goodall and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The message of this enormous rally was aimed at the more than 120 heads of state that will be attending the U.N. Climate Summit this Tuesday in NYC.  The summit is an effort to mobilize political will ahead of the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Paris next year where the objective is a binding global agreement on greenhouse gas emissions.

Demonstrators making their down Sixth Ave in mid-town Manhattan during the People's Climate March. Image Credit: Fox News/AP

Demonstrators making their down Sixth Ave in mid-town Manhattan during the People’s Climate March.  Image Credit: Fox News/AP

EPA Seeks to Cut Carbon Pollution 30% by 2030

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The issue of climate change mitigation was front and center in Washington, DC yesterday as the EPA unveiled its new Clean Power Plan. The proposed regulation would reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from all the fossil fuel based power plants across the United States.

According to the EPA, “The combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity is the largest single source of CO2 emissions in the nation, accounting for about 38% of total U.S. CO2 emissions in 2012.”  Since coal is known to release more CO2 than any other fossil fuel, this new regulation targets existing coal-fired power plants.  Specifically, it calls for a 30% cut in carbon pollution compared to 2005 levels by 2030.

To comply with this new national regulation, individual states will have flexibility in how they choose to cut emissions. Some options include increasing energy efficiency, maximizing renewable energy sources like solar and wind, and joining a regional cap-and-trade program like RGGI in the northeast.

In addition to fighting climate change, this new rule would also improve air quality and human health. Issued at the direction of President Obama under the authority of the Clean Air Act, the EPA says this regulation will “reduce pollutants that contribute to the soot and smog that make people sick by over 25 percent.” In fact, the agency projects the lower emissions will help avoid as many as 6,600 premature deaths and over 100,000 asthma attacks in children.

While this new rule is not without its critics, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy emphasized the need for action. In a press conference, she said: “This is not just about disappearing polar bears and melting ice caps. This is about protecting our health and it is about protecting our homes.”  The new regulation – scheduled to be finalized next summer – will also help the U.S. meet its commitment to the U.N. to cut carbon pollution by 17% by 2020.

US Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Source. Credit: EPA/Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2012

US Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Source.                          Credit: EPA/Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas            Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2012

Climate Change Note Included with Book Delivery

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Climate change is a complex subject impacting all aspects of human society. In an effort to better understand the political and economic side of the subject, I recently ordered some books from a well-known e-commerce company. Arriving a few days later, they came with a little something extra.

Inside the box, someone left a note to tell me how they feel about climate change. Written in marker on a blank shipping label, it read: “It’s all about control and taxes.”

It is no secret that climate change – a scientific issue – has been hijacked by politics and feelings run deep. Nonetheless, in a world with so many forums to share your opinion, I find it strange that someone was so compelled by my choice of books to risk their job by leaving this note. While only a single incident, it hints at how much work needs to be done to build a consensus to address the most pressing environmental issue of our time.

Handwritten note included in delivery of books on climate change. Image Credit: The Weather Gamut

Handwritten note included in delivery of books on climate change.  Image Credit: The Weather Gamut

U.S. National Climate Assessment: 2014

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The White House released the third US National Climate Assessment (NCA) report yesterday. It clearly states that climate change is not a distant problem of the future; it is happening now and impacting every region of this country.

Issued every four years to assess how climate is changing in the US, this latest report says: “Summers are longer and hotter, and extended periods of unusual heat last longer than any living American has ever experienced. Winters are generally shorter and warmer. Rain comes in heavier downpours. People are seeing changes in the length and severity of seasonal allergies, the plant varieties that thrive in their gardens, and the kinds of birds they see in any particular month in their neighborhoods.” In terms of agricultural production, “Corn producers in Iowa, oyster growers in Washington state and maple syrup producers in Vermont are all observing climate-related changes that are outside of recent experience.”

“U.S average temperature,” according to the report, “has increased by 1.3°F to 1.9°F since 1895, and most of this increase has occurred since 1970. The most recent decade was the nation’s and the world’s hottest on record, and 2012 was the hottest year on record in the continental United States.” Over the next few decades, temperatures are projected to rise another 2°F to 4°F.  By the end of the century, our average temperature could soar by 10°F if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase unchecked.

While similar in theme to the recently released IPCC report from the UN, this assessment focuses solely on the United States. Emphasizing the fact that rising temperatures will affect different parts of our vast country in different ways, the NCA breaks the nation down into specific regions. It details the current and future impacts of climate change in each one. Here are some regional highlights:

Northeast: Increased frequency and duration of heat waves; Increased flooding due to sea level rise and extreme rain events

Southeast: Increased frequency and intensity of extreme heat events; Decreased availability of fresh water; Increased threat from sea level rise

Mid-west: Increased frequency of extreme heat events; Increased heavy downpours and flooding; Decreased air quality

Southwest: Increased heat, drought, and wildfires; Increased insect outbreaks

Northwest: Decreased summer water supplies due to earlier snow melt; Increased threat from sea level rise; Increased insect outbreaks and wildfires

Alaska: Warming twice as fast as the rest of the nation; Loss of sea ice, melting glaciers, thawing permafrost; Increased wildfires

Hawai’i: Increased saltwater intrusions from sea level rise; Decreased availability of fresh water

As a nation with over 95,000 miles of coastline, the report also addresses the issues of ocean warming and acidification.

Written by over 300 NOAA scientists and endorsed by dozens of other experts from both the public and private sector (including two oil companies), the NCA concludes that, “Climate Change presents a major challenge for society.” It goes on to say, “There is mounting evidence that harm to the nation will increase substantially in the future unless global emissions of heat trapping greenhouse gases are greatly reduced.” While this comprehensive report does not offer policy, it does emphasize the urgent need for both adaptation and mitigation at all levels of government.

The colors on the map show temperature changes over the past 22 years (1991-2012) compared to the 1901-1960 average for the contiguous U.S., and to the 1951-1980 average for Alaska and Hawai'i. Image Credit: NCA

Change in annual average temperature, 1991-2012. Credit: NCA

 

IPCC Report: Mitigation of Climate Change

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The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the third part of its massive fifth assessment report (AR5) yesterday.  Building on the science from part I, this section focuses on mitigation – how we can slow down climate change.

Written by 235 scientists from 58 countries, the report finds that quick and dramatic action needs to be taken to avoid a warming increase of 2°C (3.6°F) above pre-industrial levels – a goal set by international agreement.  Driven by population and consumption growth, as stated in the report, “Anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have increased from 27 to 49 gigatonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent per year (+80%) between 1970 and 2010; GHG emissions during the last decade of this period were the highest in human history.” While the burning of fossil fuels accounts for the majority of these emissions, deforestation and agriculture also play a key role.

To meet the 2°C target, according to this 2007 Nobel Prize winning group, carbon-dioxide emissions need to be cut by 40%-70% by 2050. And, by 2100, they need to be almost zero. The report emphasizes that delaying mitigation will only increase the cost of dealing with climate change later – both economically and socially.

In writing this tome, experts analyzed over one thousand potential solution scenarios.  While the report does not recommend any one particular policy approach for lowering emissions, it emphasizes that zero-carbon energy sources, like solar, wind, and even nuclear power need to triple by 2050.  It also stresses utilizing carbon capture technology, reforestation, and the implementation of more energy efficient building codes.

According to the report, “Without additional efforts to reduce GHG emissions beyond those in place today … global mean surface temperature increases in 2100 from 3.7°C to 4.8°C (7°F-9°F) compared to pre-industrial levels.” This amount of warming could have catastrophic consequences on human civilization, as pointed out in the IPCC’s Working Group II report on impacts and vulnerabilities released two weeks ago.

This coming autumn, the IPCC will publish an official synthesis of the reports from its three working groups. It will be used as a guide for the policy makers at the next Global Climate Summit scheduled for December 2015 in Paris.  Any treaty agreed to there is supposed to take effect in 2020.

What is the IPCC ?

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The news, recently, has been filled with articles about the latest report from the IPCC.  But what, you may ask, is the IPCC?

Formed by the United Nations in 1988, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assesses our planet’s changing climate and its impacts on society.  It consists of three working groups that publish massive in-depth reports every six to seven years.  Working Group I examines the physical science of climate change. Working Group II considers the impacts to and vulnerability of human and natural systems facing climate change.  It also assesses the potential for adaptation. Working Group III deals with mitigation. When put together, they form the scientific basis for all U.N. negotiations on global climate treaties.

Authored by hundreds of scientists from around the world, the IPCC reports summarize the latest peer-reviewed science on climate change. Before they are published, the wording of the reports must be approved by delegations from participating national governments – usually well over one hundred.

The IPCC is considered the global authority on the subject of climate change. In 2007, along with former US Vice-President, Al Gore, the group was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for calling attention to the climate crisis.

IPCC Report: Impacts and Vulnerabilities

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The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the second part of its fifth assessment report (AR5) earlier this week.  Focused on impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation, it emphasizes that climate change is happening now and is a serious threat to human civilization.

Authored by more than 300 scientists from 70 countries, the report states, “In recent decades, changes in climate have caused impacts on natural and human systems on all continents and across the oceans.” If left unchecked, according to this 2007 Nobel Prize winning group, the risks will only increase.

Of the many hazards listed in the massive report, one of the most significant involves global food production.  Crop yields – especially wheat and corn – are forecast to decrease 2% per decade through 2100 while demand is expected to grow by 14% per decade through 2050.  Renewable freshwater supplies are also likely to become stressed as weather patterns shift and dry areas become even drier.  According to the report, “Each degree of warming is projected to decrease renewable water resources by at least 20% for an additional 7% of the global population.”

Another dire finding in the report concerns coastal communities around the globe. It states, “Due to sea-level rise throughout the 21st century and beyond, coastal systems and low-lying areas will increasingly experience adverse impacts such as submergence, coastal flooding and coastal erosion.”

Some of the other potential vulnerabilities mentioned in the report include political instability, economic losses, and threats to human health.

To minimize these grim possibilities, the IPCC emphasizes that, “Mitigation is considered essential for managing the risks of climate change.” If greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, we can expect an additional 6-7°F increase in global temperature by 2100. “Large magnitudes of warming increase the likelihood of severe, pervasive and challenging impacts,” according to the report. The current international goal is to keep the temperature increase below 2°C (3.6°F).

The third part of this report, the mitigation section, is due out later this month.

Below is a short video summary of the IPCC Working Group II report ….

Video Credit: IPCC and YouTube

IPCC Report: Humans Causing Climate Change

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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the first part of its fifth assessment report (AR5) on Friday.  It clearly states that climate change is real and human activities are the main drivers.

Authored by hundreds of scientists from around the world, the report says, “It is extremely likely (95% confidence) that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-twentieth century.” This is stronger language than the panels’ previous report in 2007, which said human activities that emit greenhouse gases were “very likely” (90% confidence) causing the atmosphere to warm. As a consensus report with data gathered from thousands of peer-reviewed published research papers, the wording is very conservative.  Even so, the change of phrasing reflects a significant improvement in scientific understanding and increasing certainty on the issue.

According to the report, global average temperatures have increased 1.5°F between 1880 and 2012. Offering four different scenarios for the future, based on varying controls of greenhouse gas emissions, the panel projects an additional rise in global temperatures ranging from 0.5°F to 8.6°F.  They say the worst impacts of climate change will only be avoided if warming is limited to 3.6°F above pre-industrial levels.  To do this, the report endorses a carbon budget for the atmosphere – an absolute ceiling on greenhouse gas emissions – of one trillion tons.  Globally, we have already released one-half of that amount and energy demand is growing.

The report also found that global average sea level has risen 7.5 inches since 1901. As the world’s oceans thermally expand and land ice continues to melt, the panel expects sea levels to rise another 10 to 38 inches by the end of the century.

Despite the fact that last decade was the warmest on record and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, climate change still has its skeptics.   One of their fundamental arguments is the decrease in the rate of warming over the past fifteen years. While acknowledging the slowdown, the IPCC emphasizes the fact that short-term records are sensitive to natural variability and do not represent a long-term climate trend. A thirty-year data set is the minimum rule of thumb for dealing with climate and the long-term trend shows overall warming.  In fact, the report states, “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia.”

Formed by the United Nations in 1988, the IPCC assesses climate change and its impacts on society.  It consists of three working groups that publish reports every five to six years.  This most recent document was issued by Working Group I, which focuses on the science of climate change.  Working Groups II and III deal with adaptation and mitigation, respectively. Their reports are due out early next year.  When put together, they form the scientific basis for all U.N. negotiations on global climate treaties.

IPCC_AR5_temps

Graph Credit: IPCC

Extreme Weather Impacts the National Flood Insurance Program

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Hurricanes and floods are nothing new in the United States.  In the last decade, however, this country has seen a significant increase in these types of extreme weather events.  In response to the financial strain they have put on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Congress passed the Biggert-Waters Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW-12).

The NFIP, operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), offers insurance for individual businesses and homeowners in flood prone areas. Congress created this program in 1968 in response to the financial chaos caused by Hurricane Betsy in 1965. This storm, which devastated the Gulf Coast, was the first billion-dollar natural disaster in U.S. history.

To calculate flood risk and the corresponding insurance rates for properties, the NFIP uses special maps that indicate flood zones.  Many of these flood insurance rate maps, however, have not been updated in decades and do not reflect the current flood risk associated with our changing environment.  As a result, many policyholders have been paying below market rates.

The Biggert-Waters Insurance Reform Act re-authorizes the NFIP for five years, but requires a number of changes.  These include, the gradual phasing out of subsidized policies and moving the program toward risk-based rates as new flood insurance rate maps become available.  Subsidized policyholders will see a rate increase of 25% per year until their premiums reflect the actual risk of their location. Non-primary residences, non-residential properties, and repetitive loss properties will be among the first to see these changes.

BW-12 was signed into law a few months before Super-storm Sandy devastated coastal communities throughout the northeast.  Many people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Sandy’s record storm surge are now beginning to feel the effects of this new policy.

Climate Reality Leadership Corps

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Someone once said, the only constant in nature is change.  This is very true; Earth’s climate has changed a number of times in its nearly five billion-year history.  The change happening now, however, is occurring faster than it has before.  The overwhelming majority of experts agree that modern climate change is rooted in human activities that emit massive amounts of heat trapping green house gases into the atmosphere.

One group working to address the perception gap that exists between scientists and the general public on this pressing issue is the Climate Reality Project. This non-profit organization educates and trains concerned citizens to be climate leaders – volunteers who share the facts about climate change and its diverse impacts with their local communities. Last week, I was invited to participate in their training conference in Chicago, IL.  Selected through an application process, I was one of 1,500 attendees representing all 50 states and more than 70 countries.

This three-day event was packed with presentations and breakout sessions that ranged from science to best practices for communication.  The headline speaker, however, was Noble Laureate Al Gore.  Knowledgeable and extremely generous with his time, the former vice-president spent the entire second day with us.  He delivered the most recent version of his now famous Inconvenient Truth slideshow and then broke it down slide by slide, explaining the history and science behind each image and chart.  While the subject of climate change has become politically charged in recent years, this event was not about propaganda.  It was about the science – the reality – of our changing climate.  As such, two of the world’s most prominent climate scientists, Dr. Michael McCracken and Dr. Henry Pollack, were on hand to clarify facts and answer questions.

As a self-educated weather and climate blogger, I was excited to learn about the newest developments in climate science from leading experts. In the past, most scientists said climate change only increased the odds for extreme weather events, but could not say it was solely responsible for any one storm. Now, according to the National Center for Atmospheric Research, “Global warming is contributing to an increased incidence of extreme weather because the environment in which all storms form has changed from human activities.”

These extreme weather events have a wide range of impacts.  From mega-storms and floods to heat waves and drought, they each take a toll on our economy and public health. As a human generated issue, only humans can change climate change and the first step is acknowledging the problem.

The Climate Reality Project's Green Ring is a symbol of commitment to spread the reality about climate change.

The Climate Reality Project’s “green ring” is a symbol of commitment to spread the facts about climate change.

Image Credit: CRP