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Regulatory and Partnership Approaches to Climate Change Mitigation an EPA Perspective

Regulatory and Partnership Approaches to Climate Change Mitigation an EPA Perspective. Moral Heat: Ethical Dimensions of Environmental Regulation and Economics in the 21st Century Fordham University New York, NY April 20, 2010. Overview. Climate Change Background Regulatory Overview

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Regulatory and Partnership Approaches to Climate Change Mitigation an EPA Perspective

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  1. Regulatory and Partnership Approaches to Climate Change Mitigation an EPA Perspective Moral Heat: Ethical Dimensions of Environmental Regulation and Economics in the 21st Century Fordham University New York, NY April 20, 2010

  2. Overview • Climate Change Background • Regulatory Overview • EPA Partnership Programs • Climate Controversy

  3. Atmospheric concentrations of CO2 far exceed the natural range over the last 650,000 years. Source: IPCC WGI AR4, 2007.

  4. GHG Warming Potential(plus black carbon)

  5. Climate Changes Temperature Sea Level Rise Precipitation Health Impacts Ecosystems • Weather-related deaths • Infectious diseases • Air quality - respiratory illnesses • Loss of habitat and diversity • Species range shifts • Ecosystem services Forest Impacts Water Resources • Changes in precipitation, water quality, and water supply • Geographic range • Health, composition, and productivity Coastal Areas Agriculture • Crop yields • Irrigation demand • Pest management • Erosion and inundation of coastal lands • Costs of protecting vulnerable lands Expected Impacts

  6. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) conclusions: • GHG are increasing in the atmosphere and the climate is warming. • Most of the warming is very likely due to emissions from human activities. • We can do something about it, including much with current technologies.

  7. GHG Emission Sources

  8. Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U.S. We all can play a role in the solution… Source: Inventory of U.S. GHG Emissions and Sinks, 2007

  9. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson's Top Priorities - 1/12/10 Taking Action on Climate Change: • Historic progress with a range of GHG initiatives. • Support the President & Congress on enacting clean energy and climate • Use Clean Air Act for mobile source rules • Build on the success of ENERGY STAR • Common-sense solutions to reduce GHG emissions from large sources • Recognize that climate change will affect other parts of EPA core mission Improving Air Quality Assuring the Safety of Chemicals Cleaning Up Our Communities Protecting America’s Waters. Expanding Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for EJ Building Strong State and Tribal Partnerships

  10. U.S. Climate Policy and Actions • Current and Near-Term Greenhouse Gas Reduction Initiatives • Climate Change Technology Program • Climate Change Science Program • International Cooperation

  11. Looking Forward • A wide range of policies will be needed to address climate change • Across all sectors of the economy • Regulatory, financial and voluntary policy mechanisms • Mitigation and adaptation • Government, industry and local action

  12. Cap and Trade Bill(s) • Would cap power plant and major industrial facility emissions • Would allow for sale or trading of emissions from plants that are below their cap encouraging cleaner plants • Other mitigation approaches • Northeast states already have a carbon trading market (RGGI) • Nationally still under debate

  13. EPA Regulatory Initiatives • Waste Energy Recovery Registry • California Greenhouse Gas Waiver Request • Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule • Renewable Fuel Standard • Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide • Air Permit Tailoring Rule • National Fuel Economy Policy • Endangerment Finding

  14. LDV Standards & Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards • On April 1, 2010, EPA and DOT’s NHTSA announced a joint final rule • Affects Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards • Covers 2012 to 2016 and later model years • 250 grams per mile CO2 (35.5 mpg equivalent) • Single light duty fleet would satisfy US and CA

  15. CAA Endangerment Finding • Effective January 14, 2010 • Mix of 6 GHGs threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations (CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, SF6) • Combination of 4 GHGs from motor vehicles and engines contribute to atmospheric concentrations (4% of global and 23% of US GHG)

  16. Climate Change is More than AirWe must also address water use and waste/land aspects. • A lot of energy is used to pump, treat and heat water. • Saving water saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions • Recycling and reducing waste also decreases greenhouse gas emissions. • Using recycled or re-used materials reduces the amount of energy needed to extract raw materials and manufacture goods • Decreasing waste reduces methane emissions from landfills

  17. EPA National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change: Goals • Water program mitigation of GHG • Water Program Adaptation to Climate Change • Research • Educate professions and stakeholders • Establish management capabilities

  18. EPA Programs Supporting GHG Reductions www.epa.gov/partners

  19. Northeast Diesel Collaborative • Nationally EPA has taken critical steps to ensure new diesels are clean • 11 million older vehicles/engines in operation nationwide • Diesels last a long time • New York, New Jersey & New England participate in voluntary collaborative • Municipal, transit, ports, construction, trucks and locomotives

  20. Green BuildingsConstructing or Retrofitting Buildings to Improve Energy/Water Efficiency and Use of Recycled Materials • The impacts of building are significant: • Nearly 40% of energy use and carbon dioxide emissions • About 68% of total electricity consumption • Nearly 60% of total non-industrial solid waste • Over 12% of total water consumed • EPA is advancing green building practices by: • Addressing market factors • Implementing demonstration projects on green building performance and benefits • Working with communities to update codes and ordinances • Region 2 Green Construction and Operations www.epa.gov/greenbuilding

  21. Green InfrastructureManaging Wet Weather and Reusing Stormwater • Using technologies to infiltrate, capture and reuse stormwater such as: • Building green roofs • Promoting rain barrels • Planting trees and other vegetation • Communities can support this effort by: • Planning and implementing demonstration projects on public sites • Involving all city departments • Updating codes and ordinances to create incentives www.epa.gov/greeninfrastructure

  22. Sustainable InfrastructureImproving Efficiency for Water and Wastewater Treatment • Energy represents 25 to 30% of a water or wastewater plant’s total O&M cost • Program’s goals include: • Reducing the need to treat water • Promoting the ability to save/capture energy • Variety of programs available: • WaterSense • Green Infrastructure • ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager • Combined Heat and Power • Energy management guidebook for wastewater and water utilities available on line. www.epa.gov/waterinfrastructure/bettermanagement_energy.html

  23. Urban Heat IslandCooling Communities • EPA’s UHI Program promotes methods to cool communities and: • Save energy • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions • Improve air quality • Strategies for heat island mitigation include: • Trees and Vegetation • Green Roofs • Cool Roofs / White Roofs • Cool Pavements www.epa.gov/heatislands

  24. Climate Controversy • Is climate change real or not? • Anthropogenic or naturally occurring? • Was that polar bear really drowning? • If India and China don’t do anything what’s the point? • East Anglia University hackers • Russian temperature data • How fast are the Himalayan glaciers melting? • Were the Copenhagen meetings a flop? • What about the cost?

  25. Potential Benefits of Climate Action • Clean and green energy • Energy independence • New technologies • Green jobs • More livable cities • Safer coastlines • Preserve rain forests and coral reefs • Less health risk from pollution • International cooperation

  26. Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) • 4/15/10 Sec. of State Announcement • Sustainable energy in the Caribbean • Energy security in Central America • Sustainable biomass • Peace Corps initiative • Natural gas development • Better urban planning / Brazilian initiative • www.ECPAmericas.org

  27. In Summary… • Climate change is a documented phenomena – human activity is a major contributor • Climate change debate continues • EPA is pursuing a regulatory and program actions • EPA encourages partnership initiatives and offers support

  28. Thank you! EPA’s Climate Change Web site: www.epa.gov/climatechange John Filippelli, 212-637-3754 filippelli.john @epa.gov

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