Policy Updates
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - December 22, 2008
Andrea Hudson Campbell, Megan Ceronsky, Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Kevin GallagherDecember 22, 2008
A common thread among President-elect Obama’s recent cabinet appointments – from Labor to NOAA to the Science Advisor – is a concern for and deep expertise in climate change and clean energy . . . The outgoing EPA Administrator sent a letter to the agency’s regional offices allowing them to issue permits for coal-fired power plants without CO2 emission limits. Expect the decision to be revisited by the Obama Administration . . . The RGGI held its second allowance auction. Notably, a report issued this week concludes that the system already is “long”; emissions are below the cap.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - December 15, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin Gallagher, Megan CeronskyDecember 15, 2008
President-elect Obama named his green team this week, choosing experienced, tough-minded regulators and a Nobel-prize winning physicist instead of political heavyweights. As expected, the COP-14 in Poznan ended without meaningful agreement, although several countries - Australia and Mexico included - announced significant reduction commitments. The California Air Resources Board formally adopted the CARB Scoping Plan for implementation of AB 32, setting the stage for a statewide cap-and-trade program. Statements in Congress made clear that a Democratic majority does not mean Democratic unanimity on the timing and ambition of cap-and-trade legislation.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - December 9, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherDecember 9, 2008
Poznan: positioning or posing? At the Fourteenth Conference of Parties (COP-14) in Poznan, Poland, Brazil agrees to adopt an ambitious target for reducing deforestation, and legislators from “advanced developing countries” - Brazil, India, China, South Africa, and Mexico - suggest that they might be willing to accept targets based on emissions intensity. Will Poznan see progress on reforms to the Clean Development Mechanism? When will the new Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Rep. Henry Waxman, make a statement about his plans for energy and climate change legislation?
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - November 24, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherNovember 24, 2008
Last week, the legislative environment continued to develop, as President-elect Obama made a forceful statement of commitment to cap-and-trade legislation despite a difficult economy; Senate EPW Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) said that she would work to achieve the President-elect’s goals for reductions, and would come forward with a “streamlined” program; Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) announced that he and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) would begin work on a new Lieberman-McCain bill; and a decisive majority of voting Democratic caucus members handed the gavel of the House Energy & Commerce Committee to Henry Waxman (D-CA).
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - November 17, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherNovember 17, 2008
EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board decided this week that EPA could not issue a permit to a coal-fired power plant without considering whether to impose a “Best Available Control Technology” CO2 limit, a decision that could bring permitting of new fossil-fired power plants to a halt until the agency or the Congress establishes new GHG policies. Senator Jeff Bingaman, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, expressed skepticism about the use of offsets in cap-and-trade legislation. Robert Sussman, co-chairman of the Obama transition for EPA, published a paper arguing that the Dingell-Boucher bill “should not be the starting point for legislative action in the Congress...”
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - November 11, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherNovember 11, 2008
What can we expect from President-elect Obama and the new Congress? Expect some near-term green energy legislation and possibly cap-and-trade legislation. Another big change? Rep. Henry Waxman is challenging John Dingell’s Chairmanship of the House Energy & Commerce Committee. Rep. Waxman is seen as more aggressive on environmental issues than Chairman Dingell, the most senior House member, who has strong ties to the Detroit-based auto industry. Dingell’s recently released discussion draft (offered with Rep. Rick Boucher) suggested some innovative solutions to some of legislative problems, but Waxman’s openness to market-based approaches to GHG regulation is unclear.
Post-Election Update
Edited by Curt RichNovember 6, 2008
Democrats captured the White House and substantially improved their majorities in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives during Tuesday’s national elections. President-elect Barack Obama and his team plan to move quickly with a transition plan, with key cabinet positions possibly being announced as early as next week.
Weekly Climate Change Update - November 4, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherNovember 4, 2008
Phased and confused? The European Union member governments are currently stalemated on approval of an ambitious program for Phase III of the European Union Emissions Trading System. Proponents are eager to reach an agreement between the EU Council and the EU Parliament by mid-December, so that the EU can assert a lead-by-example role at the UN talks in Copenhagen. Clean Air Act-based regulation of GHG emissions? Republican candidate for President John McCain would not go there, says a top campaign advisor, but an association of state environmental regulators wants to go there - and wants to go there today.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - October 27, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherOctober 27, 2008
With election day approaching, speculation is growing about what to expect in 2009 on climate change if an economy-wide cap-and-trade program proves infeasible to enact. Also, how to make use of EPA’s endangerment finding could be a particularly contested area. Some NGOs are pushing for EPA to start acting as soon as possible to promulgate regulations covering the largest sources of emissions.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - October 20, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherOctober 20, 2008
The Obama campaign says that, absent Congressional action, an Obama Environmental Protection Agency would move forward with Clean Air Act-based regulation of GHG emissions. The California Air Resources Board came out with its final Scoping Plan for GHG regulations, which calls for a phased-in, but ultimately broad, cap-and-trade program complemented by a raft of other emission controls, efficiency measures, and an ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standard of 33%.
Weekly Climate Change Update - October 13, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherOctober 13, 2008
The major news of the week is the release of the Dingell-Boucher discussion draft. In both content and process, the draft is a departure from the Boxer-Lieberman-Warner program. In content, the draft proposes a moderate start, but an ambitious long-term emissions reduction path. In terms of process, the Chairmen are seeking a more open and deliberate stakeholder consultation process. Both the United States and the European Union are working on their post-2012 domestic programs, with many similar issues up for debate.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - October 6, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherOctober 6, 2008
Action is possible in the House of Representatives this week with the potential release of a much anticipated Dingell-Boucher “discussion draft,” which may address such contentious issues as emission targets and timetables, allowance distribution, offsets, cost containment, and the point of regulation for natural gas. The Senate “Gang of 10” is now a “Gang of 16” and it continues to draw a group of heartland and mountain state Democrats. It was a busy week for California climate initiatives, with action by both the Governor and the California Air Resources Board. In the international arena, several countries released position papers outlining their views of what a post-2012 regime should look like.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - September 29, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherSeptember 29, 2008
With the unfolding financial crisis on Wall Street, it seems likely that federal climate change legislation might not top the agenda of Congress in 2009. This means that there could be increasing attention to the state and regional climate programs. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative had its first auction of allowances, while the Western Climate Initiative released its design principles and the California agencies oversee electric power provided recommendations on the design of a cap-and-trade program for the state’s power sector.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - September 15, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherSeptember 15, 2008
In the news this week, House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) and Subcommittee on and Energy and Air Quality Chairman Rick Boucher (D-VA) may release a "discussion draft" in the next few weeks that will outline a detailed climate change legislative program. Also, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has launched a campaign to persuade Congress that there are serious drawbacks to having EPA regulate GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - September 8, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherSeptember 8, 2008
States and science are in the news this week. Futures trading of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative allowances show low prices for December 2009. An analysis of California Air Resources Board’s scoping plan for AB 32 compliance concluded that allowance prices for the trading portion of the program could be anywhere between $15-60. A raft of scientific reports came out this week with bad news about climate change, including findings that: (1) climate change could push some ecosystems beyond restoration; (2) the Arctic is an island for the first time in recorded history; and (3) melting permafrost is both an effect and then a cause of climate change.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - September 2, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherSeptember 2, 2008
In a potentially influential settlement with the New York Attorney General, a major US electric power company, Xcel Energy, agreed to disclose risks posed by climate change, including risks from present and future regulation, litigation, and physical impacts. In international talks in Ghana, developing countries stood together in their traditional negotiating bloc to call on developed countries to provide funding equivalent to 0.5 to 1% of GNP for low-carbon technologies.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - August 25, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Emily PitlickAugust 25, 2008
Environmental groups continue to pursue challenges claiming that EPA must set emission limits for new and modified power plants and other major stationary sources of GHG emissions. Should they succeed, they would force EPA to develop a massive regulatory program for GHG emissions that could cover countless small sources. Also in the news, at the Ghana meetings for negotiating a post-Kyoto treaty, Japan will introduce a new proposal on how to create emission limits for major developing countries.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - August 18, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherAugust 18, 2008
Taking advantage of a slow August, House Energy and Commerce Committee staff is reportedly drafting climate legislation. A new report concluded that a third of China's GHG emissions are associated with exports, which could provide support to those who advocate for a provision in federal legislation that would require the submission of allowances for energy-intensive goods imported from countries without emission caps.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - August 11, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherAugust 11, 2008
Energy policy has moved to the front burner in the contest for the White House as both Senator McCain and Senator Obama released greater details of their energy platforms. Massachusetts appears prepared to pass legislation that would create the nation's most ambitious emissions cap seen yet among the states, while Florida considered joining one of several regional cap-and-trade programs.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - August 4, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherAugust 4, 2008
This week's most significant developments include: a marine advocacy group study naming global shipping as the 6th largest source of global GHG emissions; Japan's plan of a $30 billion investment over 5 years to develop carbon capture and sequestration technologies; Senator Rockefeller adding a new proposal to provide tax benefits to offset high capture and sequestration costs; and states as diverse as Nevada, Massachusetts and Wisconsin providing details about their future climate strategies.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - July 28, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherJuly 28, 2008
The Western Climate Initiative released a draft outline of a regional cap-and-trade system, although many of the details remain unresolved. In the Northeast U.S., Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative members are preparing for the first auction of emission allowances, to be held in September. Attention to the issue of deforestation and reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation is growing, and the World Bank launched an initiative to fund programs in 14 nations. Senator Carper announced a hearing on the D.C. Circuit decision vacating the Clean Air Interstate Rule, which could renew calls for four-pollutant legislation.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - July 21, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherJuly 21, 2008
Turmoil in air quality regulations at the state and federal levels has arisen due to the invalidation of both the Clean Air Interstate Rule and the Clean Air Mercury Rule. This raises the question as to whether Congress will re-visit legislation that would regulate power plant emissions. Also in the news was Al Gore's speech encouraging the U.S. electricity system to be carbon free by 2018 and the cap-and-trade plan released by the Australian Climate Change Ministry.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - July 14, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherJuly 14, 2008
In this week's climate change headline news was the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking set forth by the Bush Administration. In summary, the document stated that the current Administration will not move forward with the development of CO2 regulations and also that Congress should devise a better approach to replace the Clean Air Act in addressing the issue of carbon emissions. Also in the news was the meeting of the G8 in Japan, which resulted in the proposal of a collective goal to reduce GHG emissions by 50% by 2050. Also, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) outlined 10 principles for future climate change legislation.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - July 7, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherJuly 7, 2008
The White House and the EPA are still going back and forth about the contents of the NOPR that could frame the options available to the EPA under the next Administration to regulate GHG emissions. A Georgia state court held this week that a state agency erred in providing a permit for a new 1200 MW coal-fired power plant without first requiring a Best Available Control Technology determination for CO2 emissions. We might learn at the next Major Economies meeting later this month if the Bush Administration is close to making a deal for mid-term global emission targets with some other large countries.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - June 30, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherJune 30, 2008
The California Air Resources Board released its A.B. 32 "Scoping Plan," suggesting policies to help the state meet its reduction targets under the legislation. A cap-and-trade program is at the heart of the plan. Also, EPA is expected to release its Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which will outline and request comment on issues and options for regulation of GHG emissions using the Agency's authorities under the Clean Air Act. The big question is what actions the new President will take with EPA's Clean Air Act authority to monitor GHG emissions.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - June 23, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin Gallagher, Alex LazurJune 23, 2008
This week Representatives Doggett, Blumenauer, and Van Hollen released a cap-and-trade bill with strict emissions limits and an emphasis on auctions. This has brought to the forefront a potential battle over the jurisdiction of drafting a climate bill. Also in the news is the letter sent to G-8 ministers by the CEOs of 99 major companies asking for a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. The letter lays out their vision for a new treaty.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - June 16, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin Gallagher, Alex LazurJune 16, 2008
Climate change and clean energy initiatives are continuing to move slowly. Neither the Senate nor the House has successfully passed an extension of renewable energy tax credits and it is unlikely that New York and New Jersey will be ready to participate in the U.S.'s first auction of allowances in September. This week, as the mid-year mark approaches for the Kyoto Protocol commitment period, government negotiators are convening in Bonn as part of the Bali "roadmap."
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - June 9, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Alex Lazur, Kaitlin GreggJune 9, 2008
Front and center in climate change news last week was the Senate's failure to invoke cloture on the Lieberman-Warner-Boxer Climate Change bill. Afterwards, a group of ten moderate Democratic Senators sent a letter to Majority Leader Reid and Chairman Boxer outlining several points that would need to be addressed in future climate change legislation in order to gain their support.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - June 2, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin Gallagher, Alex LazurJune 2, 2008
In anticipation of the Lieberman-Warner-Boxer bill debates expected in the coming days, there were two developments last week in the House of Representatives that alluded to the path that climate change legislation might take in that chamber. These markers were the white papers issued by the Energy & Commerce Committee, as well as the detailed cap-and-trade bill outline released by Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), Chairman of the Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update- May 27, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin Gallagher, Alex LazurMay 27, 2008
The most notable climate change news this week was the release of the Manager's Amendment to the Lieberman-Warner bill, which suggests significant changes and effects to climate change legislation.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update- May 19, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin Gallagher, Alex LazurMay 19, 2008
This week, Senator McCain released his version of a climate change plan which adopts some provisions from the Lieberman-Warner bill and rejects others. In addition, the state of California reported that it may provide emissions credits for projects from China and Mexico. Also, the Western Climate Initiative issued a draft of recommendations for a regional greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program intended to reduce emissions by 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.
Weekly Climate Change Update- May 12, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Kevin Gallagher, Alex LazurMay 12, 2008
The Lieberman-Warner bill continues to take center stage in Climate Change news, as it appears that Democratic Senators from manufacturing states may not vote for it. Provisions allowing the use of Clean Development Mechanism credits and credits from activities to reduce deforestation in developing countries might possibly be added to the Manager's Amendment. In addition, the Pew Center on Global Climate Change released a report reviewing the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme and how it might be helpful in designing a U.S. program.
Weekly Climate Change Update - May 5, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherMay 5, 2008
Over the last week, the biggest emerging question is what will be in the Manager's Amendment, an overhaul of the Lieberman-Warner bill designed to attract more votes. Meanwhile, the Energy Information Administration released its analysis of the Lieberman-Warner bill, showing allowance prices doubling from $30/ton to $60/ton between 2020 and 2030. Also, some Senate Republicans may endorse an alternative approach proposed by Senator Voinovich that focuses on tax incentives and other subsidies for clean energy technologies.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - April 28, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherApril 28, 2008
Noteworthy in Climate Change news this week was the "Manager's Amendment" drawn up by the staff for Senators Boxer, Lieberman, and Warner. In addition, Senator Voinovich (R-OH) is working on a bill focusing on technology incentives. Also, some Senators are considering ways to expand the Lieberman-Warner bill to target deforestation.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - April 21, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherApril 21, 2008
President Bush's Rose Garden speech on climate change policy was the topic of conversation in this week's climate change news, although it brought about less of an impact than anticipated. In addition, the Governors of 18 states signed a declaration requesting a federal-state partnership to address climate change. Also in the news were the two front-page articles in the Wall Street Journal on problems with the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Upate - April 14, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherApril 14, 2008
It is expected that the Lieberman-Warner bill will be brought to the Senate floor on June 2nd, which will likely include a manager's amendment to the bill. Also in the news is the "cost containment" compromise that could be in the works with the help of the National Commission on Energy Policy, the Nicholas Institute, and the US Climate Action Partnership.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - April 7, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherApril 7, 2008
The climate change news this week includes the request of 12 states that the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals force EPA to take action on GHG emissions, the reports issued by three subcommittees of the Western Climate Initiative, and Former Vice-President Al Gore's new media campaign to build support of US effort to regulate GHG emissions.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - March 31, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherMarch 31, 2008
The pace of activity on the Hill last week was slow due to Congress' recess and the Easter holiday. However, EPA announced it will issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the spring in response to the Supreme Court's finding in Massachusetts v. EPA. This development has implications in the speed at which the rulemaking process is moving.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - March 24, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherMarch 24, 2008
This week's climate change news included the readiness of Senators Cantwell and Ensign to make another attempt at renewing renewable energy tax credits. Also in the news was the belief held by Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that the EPA is delaying findings for GHG emissions. Lastly, RGGI is ready to hold its first auctions, and the EU is warning US airlines of limitations on landing rights that would be imposed on them should they refuse to join the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - March 17, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherMarch 17, 2008
Developments with the Lieberman-Warner bill dominated the news this week. The EPA came out with its analysis of the bill, and a study by the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Council for Capital Formation predicts adverse impacts arising from the bill, such as doubled gas prices by 2030. In addition, the Coalition for Emission Reduction Projects (CERP) released a letter to the Senate offices advocating that regulated entities be able to use offsets for compliance in any cap-and-trade program.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - March 10, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherMarch 10, 2008
Very noteworthy this week was the tremendous caliber of the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) that was held in Washington, D.C. In addition, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) stated that he will release a draft bill by mid-April, and he also held a hearing discussing international competition in U.S. climate change legislation.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - March 3, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherMarch 3, 2008
This week Florida considered linking its climate change program to those of other states and regions in the US. In addition, PG&E bought forestry offsets in anticipation of California's regulatory program. Also, the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee issued a new "white paper" on climate policy discussing questions on the distribution of various efforts once the plan comes into place.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - February 25, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherFebruary 25, 2008
In the coming weeks, keep an eye out for analyses from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Information Administration on the impacts associated with the Lieberman-Warner bill. Also in the news are the efforts of various states to move towards emissions programs as well as the Bush Administration's newfound consideration of global carbon markets.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - February 19, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherFebruary 19, 2008
There were a variety of developments in this week's climate change news including the consensus that was reached during the hearing in the Senate Finance Committee on the notion of trade sanctions on imports from countries that do not have an absolute emissions cap. Also in the news were the CA Public Utilities Commission's recommendations for California's emissions trading program, the Congressional Budget Office's strong support of carbon tax as the best climate policy, and statements issued by banks and other financial institutions regarding investment in clean energy and energy efficiency.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - February 11, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherFebruary 11, 2008
Mercury and its relation to global warming legislation dominated the climate change news this week. With the federal court's rejection of the EPA's Clean Air Mercury Rule, Congress is looking to other ways in which to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - February 4, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherFebruary 4, 2008
Developing countries, carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology, and voluntary offsets dominated the news this week. Developments included those related to climate change legislation, funding for the launch of CCS technology, the Bush Administration's withdraw of funding for the FutureGen project, and the scrutiny the retail voluntary market for GHG offsets in the U.S. is receiving.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - January 28, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherJanuary 28, 2008
In the US, developments continue with regards to several issues including the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, California Air Resources, and the EPA's rejection of the waiver for the California vehicle emissions standards. Internationally, the European Commission released its proposal for a post-2012 phase of the European Union Emission Trading Scheme, some aspects of which were received with much contention by the United States.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - January 22, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherJanuary 22, 2008
As the House of Representatives resumed its session this week, climate change was on the top of the agenda. Specific issues included developing climate legislation, the auto industry's role in carbon emissions programs, and the EPA's denial of California’s request for a Clean Air Act waiver for its vehicle emissions standard.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - January 14, 2008
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea Campbell, Kevin GallagherJanuary 14, 2008
2008 could be an unexpectedly busy year for EPA due to many developments. It will be drafting a registry rule while finalizing a low carbon fuel standard and federal vehicle standards. At the same time, it will face legal challenges from California and the other states whose vehicle regulation plans it thwarted. The beginning of 2008 will also bring additional progress for a myriad of climate change initiatives.
Weekly Climate Policy Update - December 21, 2007
Kyle Danish, Andrea Hudson, Shelley FidlerDecember 21, 2007
This week, President Bush signed an energy bill that significantly increases fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks, mandates greater biofuels production, and creates efficiency standards for buildings. Although the bill was not as comprehensive as earlier versions – which included a renewable portfolio standard and tax incentives for renewable energy production – it addresses a number of energy issues facing the U.S. The enactment of the bill and its increased fuel economy standards also contributed to EPA’s landmark decision to deny California’s request for a waiver to implement its vehicle CO¬2 emission standards. The denial marks the first time that EPA has denied such a waiver and sets the stage for a showdown between the state and the agency. The denial, and EPA’s reasoning for denying the waiver, may have important implications for the future of GHG regulation at the agency.
Weekly Climate Policy Update - December 14, 2007
Kyle Danish, Andrea Hudson, Shelley FidlerDecember 14, 2007
After a dramatic finish, the Bali talks produced a two-year road map for development of a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. The Bush Administration successfully avoided inclusion of any explicit emission targets in the Action Plan. However, after the 2008 Presidential election, a different team will take the field for U.S., and that team will face strong international pressure to accept binding reduction obligations.
Weekly Climate Policy Update - December 7, 2007
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Andrea HudsonDecember 7, 2007
This week saw two major successful developments in Congress – Senate Committee passage of climate legislation after months of negotiation, as well as passage of an energy bill of 1,000 pages by the House of Representatives.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - November 30, 2007
Kyle Danish, Andrea Hudson, Alex LazurNovember 30, 2007
It looks likely that the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee will report out the Lieberman-Warner bill at the end of its Dec. 5-6 markup. The bill underwent some significant surgery this week, including modifications to the allowance allocation provisions and a shift to "upstream" regulation of emissions from natural gas. Also, there are indications that the House and Senate could close on an energy bill in December. The final bill appears likely to include a substantial tightening of fuel economy standards.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - November 16, 2007
Kyle Danish, Andrea Hudson, Shelley FidlerNovember 16, 2007
Chairman Boxer has decided to stick to a scheduled December 5 markup of the Lieberman-Warner bill by the full Environment & Public Works Committee. Twenty US states have now committed themselves in some way to a regional cap-and-trade program. The federal courts continue to issue decisions requiring federal agencies to account for climate change impacts in their actions.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - November 9, 2007
Andrea Hudson, Kevin Gallagher, Kyle DanishNovember 9, 2007
Presidential politics are starting to complicate Chairman Boxer's goal of passing a version of the Lieberman-Warner bill out of her Senate Environment & Public Works Committee before the Bali negotiating conference in mid-December. Senator Hillary Clinton has outlined her preferences for a cap-and-trade bill and her preferences add up to something far more aggressive than Lieberman-Warner.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - November 2, 2007
Andrea Hudson, Kyle Danish, Shelley FidlerNovember 2, 2007
A Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee approved the Lieberman-Warner climate change legislation in a 4-3 vote. This milestone marks the first time that a Congressional committee has reported economy-wide climate change regulatory legislation and, in many respects, marks the official beginning of a long and arduous effort to enact such legislation.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - October 26, 2007
Andrea Hudson, Kyle Danish, Shelley FidlerOctober 26, 2007
The Lieberman-Warner bill got its first Congressional hearing this week in a subcommittee of the Environment & Public Works Committee. Permitting issues for coal-fired power plants remain at the forefront of the climate change debate. Read more about these and other developments in this week's Update.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - October 19
Andrea Hudson, Kyle Danish, Shelley FidlerOctober 19, 2007
This was Lieberman-Warner week as the Senators finally introduced their long-expected legislation. The bill first will be considered in Senator Lieberman’s subcommittee of the Environment & Public Works Committee.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - October 12
Kyle Danish, Andrea Hudson, Shelly FidlerOctober 12, 2007
Former Vice President Al Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this week, along with the United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This announcement, along with the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Bali in December, is likely to put pressure on Democratic leaders in Congress to demonstrate some progress on climate change legislation. Also, the experience with the energy bill underscores the obstacles that this Congress will face in gaining an agreement on climate legislation.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - October 5
Kyle Danish, Andrea Hudson, Shelly FidlerOctober 5, 2007
This week, the House of Representatives gave the first indication that its climate legislative machinery is moving into gear. House Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell and Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher issued the first in what is expected to be a series of white papers on design issues for climate legislation.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - September 28
Andrea Hudson Campbell, Kyle W. Danish, Shelley N. FidlerSeptember 28, 2007
International climate talks at the United Nations and in Washington were top news items this week. House Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell introduced a carbon tax bill, and several notable energy efficiency and climate change commitments were made at the Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative. Read more about these and other developments in this week's edition.
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - September 21
Andrea Hudson Campbell, Kyle W. Danish, Shelley N. FidlerSeptember 21, 2007
This week, publicly-traded companies faced inquiries from two different angles regarding disclosure of risks and opportunities related to climate change.