Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Climate Policy Program Bulletin Presented by: 7th Generation Advisors and the New America Foundation www.seventhgenerationadvisors.org www.newamerica.net.

Similar presentations


Presentation on theme: "Climate Policy Program Bulletin Presented by: 7th Generation Advisors and the New America Foundation www.seventhgenerationadvisors.org www.newamerica.net."— Presentation transcript:

1 Climate Policy Program Bulletin Presented by: 7th Generation Advisors and the New America Foundation www.seventhgenerationadvisors.org www.newamerica.net

2 From the Director… As a prelude to a federal policy, the U.S. states are leading the way in building a U.S. climate change and clean energy policy from the ground up. This bulletin will be telling the story of these states. It will showcase the important state work that has occurred in the past few years to fight climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and it will highlight the building blocks the states use to create a comprehensive de facto national Climate Action Program. State climate action policies not only provide examples and lessons learned that are helpful to other states, but they serve as a blueprint for our current federal government to follow in order to make the United States an international leader on climate change. -- Terry Tamminen CEO / Founder, Seventh Generation Advisors Director of the Climate Policy Program, New America Foundation

3 Introduction Now is the Time GHG Emissions Reduction Targets StatesCase Study InternationalFederalRegional

4 Now is the Time Because the United States is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs), the world needs a comprehensive U.S. national program to address GHG emissions to avoid passing critical tipping points. 1

5 GHG Emissions Reduction Targets It is now widely accepted by both the scientific community and most governments that GHG emissions must decline to stabilize the worlds climate at no more than a 2 degree Centigrade temperature increase. To meet this objective it requires that global GHG emissions must be cut back to at least: 1990 levels by 2020 80% below that by 2050 GHG reduction targets must be established to meet these goals. 2

6 Introduction States Why the States? Strength in Numbers Building Blocks A De Facto National Climate Action Plan Plans into Action Case Study InternationalFederalRegional

7 Why the States? = Other nations are more likely to reduce their own GHGs when the United States is taking action, even when that action is at the subnational rather than the national level.

8 Strength in Numbers Currently: 22 states have set GHG reduction targets 32 states have completed or are in the process of completing Climate Action Plans 33 states are participants or observers in a regional cap and trade program The science is clear. The debate is over. The time for action is now. California will reduce emissions to their 1990 levels by 2020 and an additional 80% by 2050. –California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger June 1, 2005 3

9 Building Blocks A goal without a plan is just a wish. Antoine de Saint-Exupery There are specific building blocks that a state needs to implement to develop a comprehensive Climate Action Program that actually delivers results. 1.Measure, Register, Verify 2.Emissions Reduction Targets 3.Climate Action Plans a)Transportation and Land Use Policies b)Renewable Portfolio Standards c)Energy Efficiency Policies d)Market Based Systems

10 A De Facto National Climate Action Plan Many states have taken action by developing thorough climate action plans, one state at a time, creating a de facto national climate action plan. Completed climate action plans or equivalent Have plans underway 32 states have Climate Action Plans

11 Plans into Action States that have adopted: (Clockwise from top right) Emissions Reductions Targets, Renewable Portfolio Standards, Vehicle Emission Standards Codified one or more GHG emissions targets in state law Declared GHG emissions targets via executive order or other means States with Renewable Portfolio Standards States Adopting California Vehicle Emission Standards

12 IntroductionStates Case Study Merit in Minnesota Minnesota: Future Predictions InternationalFederalRegional

13 Merit in MinnesotaMinnesota is on track to reach the goal stipulated in its Green Solutions Act of 2008 of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 15% below 2005 levels by 2015. That's roughly equivalent to reaching 1990 levels of emissions by 2015 – five years ahead of President Obamas current goal. -- David Sassoon, Founder, Science First In a January 2009 progress report submitted to the Minnesota Legislature by the state's Department of Commerce and its Pollution Control Agency, it was stated that greenhouse gas emissions reached a peak and are starting to decline in Minnesota. 4

14 Minnesota: Future Predictions It is likely that Minnesotas emissions will continue to decline because of these three reasons: Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) : Requires the state's utility companies to dedicate a portion of their revenues for projects that reduce the consumption of electricity and natural gas. Renewable Energy Standard : Established in 2001, Minnesota now ranks No. 4 in the nation in installed wind capacity. By 2020, Xcel, the state's largest utility, must deliver 30% of its power from clean sources; other utilities must deliver 20%. Metropolitan Emissions Reduction Project (MERP) : The program makes it easier for utilities to retire, replace, or improve dirty coal-burning power plants and thereby substantially reduce emissions by allowing utilities to propose emissions reductions projects to the state. 5 6 7

15 IntroductionStatesCase Study InternationalFederal Regional Regional Carbon Trading Systems Complete List of Participants and Observers

16 Regional Carbon Trading Systems Western Climate Initiative (WCI) 8 Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord (MGGRA) 9 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) 10 8

17 Complete List of Participants and Observers Western Climate InitiativeRegional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord *Alaska Arizona *Baja California British Columbia California *Chihuahua *Coahuila *Colorado *Idaho *Kansas Manitoba Montana *Nevada New Mexico *Nuevo Leon Ontario Oregon Quebec *Saskatchewan *Sonora *Tamaulipas Utah Washington *Wyoming Connecticut Delaware Maine Maryland Massachusetts *New Brunswick New Hampshire New Jersey New York *Ontario *Pennsylvania *Quebec Rhode Island Vermont Iowa Illinois *Indiana Kansas Manitoba Michigan Minnesota *Ohio *Ontario *South Dakota Wisconsin * Asterix denotes observer status, as opposed to active participants

18 IntroductionStatesCase Study International Federal If 20 Leadership States With Climate Plans Achieve Their Targets… If All 50 States Achieve the Targets Set by 20 Leadership States… The Role of the Federal Government The Federal Government Working with the States Federal-State Partnership President Obamas Address to Congress Regional

19 If 20 Leadership States With Climate Plans Achieve Their Targets… 11

20 If All 50 States Achieve the Targets Set by 20 Leadership States… 12

21 The Role of the Federal Government My presidency will mark a new chapter in Americas leadership on climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of new jobs in the process... Well establish strong annual targets that set us on a course to reduce emissions to their 1990 levels by 2020 and reduce them an additional 80% by 2050. – President-Elect Barack Obama / November 18, 2008 Governors Global Climate Summit / Beverly Hills, CA 13

22 The Federal Government Working with the States On February 21, 2009, 12 governors and President Barack Obamas top energy and environment cabinet officials met to discuss a federal-state partnership on clean energy and climate change issues. 14

23 Federal – State Partnership Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger emphasized the importance of meeting with President Obamas energy and environment officials for the federal-state partnership by stating: Todays meeting was the first step in creating a close and lasting partnership with President Obama and his administration on climate change. -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger February 21, 2009 Federal Cap & Trade Federal Policies & Measures States Policies & Measures

24 President Obamas Address to Congress Energy and the environment were key issues in President Obamas Address to Congress on February 24, 2009. But to truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. And to support that innovation, we will invest fifteen billion dollars a year to develop technologies like wind power and solar power; advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks built right here in America. --President Obama February 24, 2009 15

25 IntroductionStatesCase Study International Copenhagen 2009 Conclusion FederalRegional

26 Copenhagen 2009 In 2012, the Kyoto Protocol will expire. In December of 2009, International leaders will meet at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen to discuss negotiations toward the next global climate agreement. 16

27 Conclusion The states are implementing critical policies that reduce GHG emissions and in doing so have created a framework for the federal government to follow to make the United States an international leader on combating climate change. The state work sets the foundation for the U.S. to participate in Copenhagen, where international understanding and cooperation is imperative to further our world to the ultimate goal of a low carbon economy. We need men who can dream of things that never were. John F. Kennedy

28 Endnotes 1: www.edf.org/article.cfm?ContentID=3344 2: www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/tp-climate-change-water.htm 3: gov.ca.gov/executive-order/1861/ 4: solveclimate.com/blog/20090203/minnesotas-greenhouse-gas-emissions-start-decline 5: www.state.mn.us/portal/mn/jsp/content.do?subchannel=-536881736&sc2=-536881993&id=-536881351&agency=Commerce 6: www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/incentive2.cfm?Incentive_Code=MN14R&state=MN&CurrentPageID=1&RE=1&EE=1 7: www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/incentive2.cfm?Incentive_Code=MN14R&state=MN&CurrentPageID=1&RE=1&EE=1 8: www.westernclimateinitiative.org/ 9:www.midwesternaccord.org/ 10:www.rggi.org/home 11: www.climatestrategies.us/ *Note: The calculations are based on 20 states that have a full plan with approximately 50 actions that show exactly how targets will be attained in the near and mid term. The 20 states are: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Washington 12: www.climatestrategies.us/ *Note: The calculations are based on the 20 states mentioned above. 13: www.uctv.tv/search-details.asp?showID=15705 14: gov.ca.gov/press-release/11531/ 15: www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/remarks-of-president-barack-obama-address-to-joint-session-of-congress/ 16: unfccc.int/2860.php

29 References Sources for this bulletin include: Environmental Defense Fund www.edf.org Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) www.ipcc.ch Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord (MGGRA) www.midwesternaccord.org Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative www.rggi.org Solve Climate solveclimate.com The Center for Climate Studies www.climatestrategies.us Union of Concerned Scientists www.ucsusa.org United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) www.unep.org United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) http://unfccc.int Western Climate Initiative www.westernclimateinitiative.org

30 Contact Terry Tamminen Jenna Cittadino terry.tamminen@gmail.com jenna.cittadino@gmail.com +1 310 581 5472 +1 310 581 5487 www.seventhgenerationadvisors.org www.newamerica.net


Download ppt "Climate Policy Program Bulletin Presented by: 7th Generation Advisors and the New America Foundation www.seventhgenerationadvisors.org www.newamerica.net."

Similar presentations


Ads by Google