by Anu Joshi | Apr 23, 2010 | Climate Justice, Global Cooperation
-A guest blog written by former intern Komal Hiranandani-
Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) have plans to unveil a comprehensive climate change bill in the Senate next weak, tentatively called the “American Power Act.” Running on the heels of Earth Day celebrations, this Senate Bill follows the passage of the House’s H.R. 2454 Waxman-Markey Bill in June last year.
A lot has happened between then and now. President Obama attended the Copenhagen climate summit in December, which acknowledged the scientific need to prevent climate change, acknowledged the assistance needed for developing countries to transition to clean energy economies, and saw the U.S. agreeing to pledge aid to developing countries for this purpose. However, the summit failed to produce the binding agreement across nations to take specific measures to fight this threat. The U.S. Senate debated the Kerry-Boxer climate bill that tried to follow H.R. 2454, but this moved fizzled out as Senators refused to come together and other issues clogged the agenda.
Once again, Senator Kerry has attempted to pick up the reins, and lead efforts to complete this process in the Senate. Conjecture has already begun about what this might and might not include. Reports indicate that it will pursue a 17% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2020, which was H.R. 2454’s target. The new bill is expected to move away from the House version’s economy-wide cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions, limiting itself to the utilities and industrial sectors. Support for the nuclear industry is also expected. Manufactures can expect to see tax breaks for employing energy-efficiency measures.
However, the bill still needs to iron out several points of contention. These include opposing views on whether the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority should be retained, oil and gas revenue- sharing systems from federal waters with coastal states , and the issue of new federal legislation superseding stronger state and regional measures already taken in states like California.
As Senators work out such technicalities, the need for finding common ground must be kept in mind. NASA confirmed that the earth has experienced the warmest decade on record. The U.S. draft report on climate change said that “Global warming is unequivocal and primarily human-induced,” and the International Energy Agency calculated that the cost of greenhouse gas emissions abatement increases by half a trillion dollars for every year that the world fails to take comprehensive steps to address climate change.
Meanwhile, Senator Kerry has emphasized the tremendous opportunity that a clean-energy economy represents. He noted that the energy market is a 6 trillion dollar market with about 4.5 billion eligible users. This explains why China is currently investing aggressively in alternative energy development.
Don Kraus, CEO of Citizens for Global Solutions pointed out that, “the Senate must pass a climate bill for three reasons: morality, security, and diplomacy. First, reducing U.S greenhouse gas emissions is the right thing to do. We continue to have a lopsided impact on the global climate that affects the lives of people throughout the world. Second, our oil habit still supports tyrannical regimes and makes our nation less secure. Finally, the U.S. will not be seen as credible partner at global climate change negotiations without it. The history of our presidents making agreements that are not back by the Senate is long, sad, and too well known.” Kraus went on to add that the EPA’s authority should be retained saying that “whatever is passed will only be a first step. This and future administrations will need an ‘EPA stick’ along with carrots to keep Congress engaged.”
The new Senate Bill must provide incentives for such a transition to take place in the U.S. Speedy legislation is necessary to mitigate uncertainties currently faced by companies here because they are unsure about what new laws might penalize or reward. Easing cap-and-trade to only apply to utilities and industries may be an acceptable short-term compromise, but this should be pushed as a concession that is accepted in exchange for broader cap-and-trade coverage in the future. The use and development of clean energy, like solar and wind, should be amply rewarded, and the EPA’s regulatory authority should be retained as far as possible. Strong incentives should be provided for companies to invest in clean energy and energy efficiency. If this is accomplished, the Senate might successfully win this battle in the long chain of steps we need to take to fight climate change.
This Earth Day urge your Senator to pass strong climate change legislation.
by Melissa Kaplan | Apr 22, 2010 | Climate Justice, Global Cooperation
HAPPY EARTH DAY!
As GlobalSolutions.org, we naturally love the earth. Today, we are proud to join in celebrating the milestone 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
Earth Day was first launched on April 22, 1970 as the brainchild of the late Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, who was frustrated by Washington’s failure to adequately address environmental issues. A few months after the first Earth Day celebration, Congress had passed and President Nixon had signed the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created. Ever since the first Earth Day celebration, April 22nd has provided environmentalists with an opportunity to both celebrate the earth and to stress that despite environmental progress, much more still needs to be done to safeguard the health of the planet for future generations.
In the U.S. Senate, a new climate change bill is expected to be introduced early next week to coincide with Earth Day celebrations. This legislation, sponsored by Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), is expected to place greenhouse gas emission limits on different sectors of the U.S. economy, and also to expand domestic production of oil and gas, as well as nuclear power. To learn more about climate change legislation, visit our website at http://www.globalsolutions.org/issues/climate-change.
Plans are afoot to celebrate Earth Day around the nation. Here in Washington, DC, a “Climate Rally” is scheduled to take place on the National Mall this Sunday, April 25th at noon, with participants urging Congress to “get serious about climate change.” If you are unable to make it to DC, there are plenty of other events taking place around the country. To learn about Earth Day events in your area, visit http://www.earthday.org/events/search/distance/21048.
by Abigail Long | Apr 21, 2010 | Climate Justice, Global Cooperation
The island nation of Tuvalu has less than 10 square miles of total actual land area. Those ten square miles of land area hold the 12,000 residents of this tiny nation. Lately, environmentalists around the world have been infatuated with Tuvalu. But why? Tuvalu’s islands are mere feet above sea level and the slightest increase in sea level threatens life on the islands. Increases in sea level are caused by the emission of greenhouse gases. Close to Tuvalu, the Federated States of Micronesia have dealt with similar troubles. The Federated States of Micronesia already had to declare a national emergency last year due to a rise in sea levels. The government spent more than 7 percent of its budget and $42 million to bring rice and drinking water to the islands. Taro, one of the staple foods on the island had been impossible to grow due to the increase in sea levels and rising high tides as the soil has been soured and the aquifer heavily salted. Unfortunately, Tuvalu may be in the same dire straits.
The Federated States of Micronesia, under the principle of transboundary harm, actually lodged a legal challenge to the Prunéov plant, the largest polluter in the Czech Republic, on the grounds that its chronic pollution threatens the nation’s existence. Transboundary harm in the sense of air pollution means pollution whose physical origin is situated wholly or in part within the area under the jurisdiction of one Party and which has adverse effects, other than effects of a global nature, in the area under the jurisdiction of the other Party. Micronesia filed a formal objection against the Prunerov Plant under the Czech Republic’s environmental impact assessment law.
Countries affected by oceanic changes could also seek redress via the Convention on the Law of the Sea, although it can’t be used against the US—which hasn’t ratified the treaty. At CGS, we’re fighting to see the U.S. ratify the Law of the Sea treaty. Click here to tell your Senator how YOU feel.
For more information, you can hear from Rachel Morris at Mother Jones Magazine or Max Fisher from the Atlantic Wire on the same topic.
by Veronica Glick | Mar 22, 2010 | Climate Justice, Global Justice, News
Did you know that today is World Water Day? The UN General Assembly designated the first World Water Day in 1993, and on 22 March every year since, the focus has been on a different aspect of freshwater sustainability. In a statement today, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that more people die from unsafe water than from all forms of violence, including war. He further stated that water is vitally linked to all UN development goals including maternal and child health and life expectancy, food security and sustainable development. On behalf of UN-Water a three-day celebration for World Water Day has begun in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together scientists and policy-makers to discuss how to address the challenges posed by degrading water quality worldwide.
It is children that are most affected by world water problems, one child under the age of five dies every 20 seconds from water-related diseases, according to the UN Environment Program (UNEP). In a new publication, entitled Clearing the Waters: A focus on Water Quality Solutions, the agency points out that in some developing nations, more than half of treated water is lost to leaks, but by some estimates, saving just half of the water could benefit 90 million people without additional investment. Additionally they argue that an investment of $20 million in low-cost water technologies, such as drip irrigation and treadle pumps, could potentially lift 100 million families out of extreme poverty.
In the United States, a trillion gallons of water is wasted each year due to household leaks, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. For the average family in the US, this amounts to 10,000 gallons, enough to fill a swimming pool. The EPA has labeled this week “Fix a Leak Week” and offers tips on how to fix household leaks and on how to conserve water more generally.
Photo: Reuters. March 21, 2010, A floating restaurant is stranded in a branch of the Yangtze River in Chongqing Municipality. A severe drought in southwest China is now affecting more than 50 million people.
For FAQs on World Water Day CLICK HERE
For information on Promoting Equitable Environmental Policies CLICK HERE
by Veronica Glick | Mar 12, 2010 | Climate Justice, Global Cooperation
A coffee-powered car, dubbed the “car-puccino,” went on a 250-mile road trip yesterday from London to Manchester. The vehicle, powered by nothing more than coffee beans, burned the equivalent of more than 10,000 espressos during its journey.
The car is part of a showcase for alternative fuels at the annual “Big Bang: UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair.” It is the creation of engineer Jem Stansfield, presenter of the BBC show ‘Bang Goes The Theory.’ The car, formerly destined for a scrap heap, began as a 1988 VW Scirocco bought on eBay for £400 (roughly $600). A furnace built into the back of the car roasts coffee grounds to generate flammable vapors that fuel the engine.
The car was cheered through the streets as it battled endless traffic jams and eventually made it to Manchester last night. The journey took approximately 17 hours and was interrupted by some hiccups along the way, as well as for a coffee refueling stop every 60 miles. The UK’s Telegraph reported, “by lunchtime it seemed more likely to be using decaf.” Francesca Bennett, a member of the team responsible for the car, responded by saying: “It’s not the most reliable form of transport, but we knew that.This is the first time this has been done and it wasn’t about reliability. It was about energy and making people think about how they use it.”
Car-paccino is unlikely to become commercially viable; it consumes a kilo of ground coffee for every three miles, which pales in comparison to one’s daily Starbucks habit. Nonetheless, the car’s designers say the same gasification process could be used to power a car with other unusual fuels such as woodchips or walnut shells. The idea behind the car remains a creative way demonstrate how easily obtainable products can be used to generate energy. Just don’t expect it to take the grind out of commuting.
CLICK HERE to learn more about alternative energy and climate change
by Veronica Glick | Feb 26, 2010 | Climate Justice, Global Cooperation, News
Last week the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) held a meeting in Antalya, Turkey where world weather agencies agreed to compile data from around the world and allow independent scrutiny of the raw figures. The UK Met Office put forward the “grand challenge” proposal which was accepted by 150 delegates from around the world. The details will be agreed upon at a conference to be held in Britain later this year.
The Met Office proposal explains that this “effort will ensure that the datasets are completely robust and that all methods are transparent” The proposal additionally states that “any such analysis does not undermine the existing independent datasets that all reflect a warming trend.”
The proposal aims to have the entire global record of land-based air temperatures from 5,000 weather stations available to anyone. Several groups of scientists working independently in different countries will re-examine millions of observations, dating back to before 1860. The methods of the scientific groups will also be made transparent and open to scrutiny. The task is expected to take three years.
The Met Office stated that current measurements were “fundamentally ill-conditioned to answer 21st-century questions, such as how extremes are changing, and therefore what adaptation and mitigation decisions should be taken.”
The new agreement came about amidst criticism that climate change data had been exaggerated in recent documents. Scientists and other climate specialists said the WMO has been trying to enhance data collection for years. Interestingly they said that it took a persistent campaign by opponents of climate change to take the issue more seriously.
To learn more about climate change CLICK HERE
Support Stronger Legislation to Combat Global Warming CLICK HERE
