Policy and Congressional Bills

1. CLIM 101: Weather, Climate and Global Society Policy and Congressional Bills James Kinter Lecture 21: Nov 12, 2009

4. Frederick W. Smith, President & CEO, FedEx Corp; Co-chair, Energy Security Leadership Council (ESLC) • 60% of petroleum used in the USA is imported (was 30% in the 1970s) • 90% of all oil reserves are in countries that are not US allies! • ESLC recommendations: • Diversify US transportation fuels: electrification of short-haul personal transportation • “50% of US defense budget is directly or indirectly related to protecting the oil trade.”

5. Robert Puentes, Fellow, Brookings Institution • Washington Metropolitan Area: 7.6million people (2000)  10.6m (2030) • Employment: 4.4m (2000)  6.4m (2030) • Non-residential dev.: 3.6 billion square feet (2000)  5.2 billion square feet (2030)

6. Ronald Bogle, President & CEO, American Archeological Foundation • By 2037 four times as many buildings and structures on the planet than exist today • US Energy Administration (2007) Report: • Buildings contribute 48% of greenhouse gas emissions annually • 76% of all electricity generated by US power plants supplies the built environment

7. Larry Flores, National Technical Director, Wind Powering America Program • The US Department of Energy May 2008 Report: “20% wind energy by 2030” • Wind energy costs are now competitive with new conventional electric sources • Wind represented 35% of NEW US generating capacity in 2007 (40% in 2008) • US could stall 300,000 MW by 2030 - this will create $440 billion in economic development; create 500,000 jobs; save $155 billion in fossil fuel costs; save 4 trillion gallons of water; is equivalent to removing 140 million vehicles off the road

8. 2007 The US Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts vs. EPA affirmed that the EPA had the authority to control emissions from motor vehicle tailpipes and ordered the EPA to issue an endangerment finding.

9. EPA has the authority to regulate air pollutants that have “effects on (public) welfare,” “on … weather, … and climate, … as well as effects on… personal comfort and well-being.” • The EPA Administrator (Stephen L. Johnson) was close to issuing such an endangerment finding in 2007 on the basis of “public welfare” but he opted for another public comment period after intense pressure from the Bush administration. (the

10. April 17, 2009 • The EPA issues a finding for public comment that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions pose a danger to the public’s health and welfare. The finding identified carbon dioxide; methane; nitrous oxide; hydro fluorocarbons,; per fluorocarbons; and sulfur hexafluoride as contributing to global warming. • “In both magnitude and probability, climate change is an enormous problem” • “The greenhouse gases that are responsible for it endanger public health and welfare within the meaning of the Clean Air Act.”

11. Sustainable Development “The balance of economic growth, social justice, and environmental health that meets the needs of present generation and enables future generations to meet their needs.” Our Common Future (1987) The Brundtland Report

12. “ --- laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times.” Thomas Jefferson Letter to George Wythe, August 13, 1790

13. Presentation to the Member Representatives of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research April Burke, Wendy Naus and Frank Steinberg Lewis-Burke Associates LLC October 14, 2009 Climate Change Policy: Positioning Universities for New Opportunities

14. Status of FY 2010 Appropriations • CJS (NSF, NOAA and NASA) • Senate action pending • Energy and Water (DOE) • Final FY 2010: • $4.9 billion Office of Science • $2.24 billion EERE • Continuing Resolution • Through Oct. 31 Amounts in billions

15. Status of Climate Change Debate • Issues on the table: • Cap and trade • Adaptation • Climate services • Research/USGCRP • Energy efficiency • Renewables • Nuclear • Timing: • House – Holding pattern, passed “Waxman-Markey” in June • Senate – Depends who you ask: • Maj. Leader Reid – Push to 2010? • Boxer – Markup in October

16. Status of Climate Change Debate: Senate

17. House vs. Senate Bill

18. House vs. Senate Bill

19. Emerging Adaptation Opportunities • State Programs to Build Resilience – Distribution of allowances to state governments to implement projects, programs or measures to build resilience to impacts of climate change. • Public Health – Federal Government assist in preparing health systems to respond to impacts of climate change; ensure sufficient information; enhance preparedness; and assist developing nations. • Natural Resources – Efforts to protect, restore and conserve natural resources (including wildlife) in response to climate change; possible financial support and incentives for such programs.

20. Emerging Adaptation Opportunities (continued) • International – Financial support for bilateral assistance to help vulnerable countries in development of adaptation plans, policy and financing; support adaptation research in/for most vulnerable developing countries. • Climate Services – Will be responsible for coordinating and providing services to users, decision-makers and stakeholders. Many states/decision-makers are not prepared to use this information.

21. Take Away Messages • Opportunities will emerge with the enactment of climate legislation. • Adaptation is the future; the community needs to position itself to be helpful and inform decision-making. • Get creative, partner, and make new friends with non-traditional atmospheric research agencies (DOD, NIH, USDA, State, etc.).

23. Which Countries are Emitting the Most per Capita Greenhouse Gases?

24. Center of Ocean-Land-Atmosphere studies THANK YOU! ANY QUESTIONS?