Climate Capsule Week of March 23

Highlight of the Week
Budget Proposal Slated To Move Climate Action Forward

The Budget Committees in both houses of Congress are slated to take up their own version of the budget this week, with floor action expected early next week.

President Obama has already released his own budget whose proposed funding focuses on support for critical priorities, including clean energy, energy efficiency, transportation, water infrastructure, and America's lands, fish, and wildlife.

President Obama's budget demonstrates his commitment to repower America with clean energy, confront global warming, and reinvest in the environment by funding vital programs.

National Wildlife Federation urges Congress to support the President's budget by passing a budget that assumes revenues from a cap on carbon that will help drive America's economic recovery, transform energy and protect the planet. Assuming these revenues in the budget lays the groundwork for comprehensive climate and energy action this year.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi intend to move on climate and energy legislation this year. Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman has committed to passing this legislation through the committee by Memorial Day.

Arctic-Area Nations: Emissions Cuts Can Save Polar Bear

Five nations that created a treaty almost four decades ago to protect polar bears have issued a joint statement identifying global warming as “the most important long-term threat” to the bears.

The statement was released at the end of a meeting held in Norway, with scientists and officials attending from the United States, Canada, Russia, Norway and Denmark, representing Greenland. All nations have territory that abuts the Arctic Ocean, which is prime polar bear habitat.

Experts at the meeting said the parties were committed to collaboration on programs aimed at limiting direct threats to bear populations from increasing tourism, shipping and oil and gas drilling in the warming region, The New York Times reports.

Bear experts said that the five nations who cosigned the 1973 agreement on the conservation of polar bears need worldwide cooperation to address greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

It is estimated that there are currently 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears worldwide.

North American Wildlife Conference

The North American Wildlife And Natural Resources Conference took place last week with a strong focus on climate.  The conference is an annual gathering of state and federal wildlife and natural resources managers, together with other environmental organizations.  

The agency representatives are responsible for many endangered ecosystems and have already begun to see and manage for global warming impacts.

National Wildlife Federation played a key role in education many of the participants on the variety of challenges global warming presents.  NWF hosted an all day seminar discussing on the ground management strategies that are already being implemented. 

NWF also hosted a breakfast that covered the impacts of sea level rise, saltwater intrusion, and intense hurricanes on Coastal Louisiana, explaining how climate needs to be incorporated into any plans for coastal restoration.  Coping with global warming was also an important part of the plan to restore the South's dwindling longleaf pine forests, another issue addressed by NWF at the conference.

Austin Named Largest Community Wildlife Habitat In The U.S.

Austin, Texas has been named the largest city in the country and the first city in Texas to be certified as a community wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

In a ceremony this month, NWF's Kevin Coyle presented the mayor of Austin with a plaque recognizing the city's achievement.

“Birds, butterflies and other wildlife need this kind of help to survive and thrive in urban areas,” Coyle said. “This program does more than just create sorely needed wildlife habitat. It also educates and inspires people to think about other ways they can live in closer harmony with the natural world.”

More than 900 Austin residences are now Certified Wildlife Habitat™ sites. In addition, 15 businesses, 25 school grounds, four church grounds, and 14 parks have been certified through the program.

“I’m proud to be one of the more than 900 homeowners who have discovered that having a garden filled with birds and butterflies is hardly a sacrifice,” said Council Member Lee Leffingwell, who certified his own yard in 2007. “Our wildlife garden is an improvement to our house, and the fact that it saves water and requires less maintenance is a bonus.”

Quote:

"We need a cap on carbon pollution and we need to support companies like GM who can help advance the clean energy economy."

—NWF President and CEO Larry Schweiger recently joined General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner to urge support for General Motors as it develops a new line of electric cars with next-generation batteries.

Economic Message of the Week

Northeast States Hold Latest Carbon Auction

As part of an effort to limit greenhouse gas emissions and reduce America’s dependence on fossil fuels, a coalition of 10 Northeast states has held its latest carbon auction and raised $117.2 million in proceeds.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the country’s first mandatory, market-based effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont signed on and will cap carbon emissions from the power sector with a phased approach.

States will sell carbon emission allowances via auctions and invest the proceeds in consumer benefits. Funds will benefit energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other clean energy technologies. RGGI will help jumpstart our clean energy economy and create green collar jobs in each signatory state.

Emissions from the RGGI states totaled 171 million tons in 2007, implying a surplus of permits covering more than 16 million tons.

Solar Industry: Department of Energy Announces First Energy Loan Guarantee

The Department of Energy has announced the first energy loan guarantee—$535 million for construction of a plant in California to manufacture solar panels.   

Energy Secretary Steven Chu offered a $535 million loan guarantee for Solyndra, Inc. to support the company’s construction of a commercial-scale manufacturing plant for solar photovoltaic panels. The company expects to create thousands of new American jobs through construction of its products.

The investment is part of the Obama Administration’s aggressive strategy to put Americans back to work and transform the way America uses and produces energy. 

Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) views this milestone as a positive sign that the culture is changing at the Department of Energy.

"This news is especially welcome at a time when our nation’s economic problems have made it so difficult for companies to find financing for clean energy projects," Sen. Bingaman said in a statement.

California Study Shows 5 Feet Oceanrise By End Of Century

The ocean is expected to rise nearly 5 feet along California's coastline by the end of this century, hitting San Francisco Bay the hardest of all, according to a new state study.

Nearly half a million people and $100 billion in property are at risk of major flooding, researchers found in the comprehensive study of how global warming will alter California's coastal areas.

Some of the infrastructures put at risk by rising sea levels along the California coast include roads and highways, hundreds of hazardous waste sites, schools, and two Bay Area airports. The 99-page state-commissioned report was conducted by the Pacific Institute.

Healthy wetlands that nourish fish and birds and act as a buffer against flooding will be inundated, and constructing seawalls and levees, if needed, could cost $14 billion plus an annual maintenance cost of $1.4 billion, the study said.

The study shows a greater sea-level rise for California than previous studies because it takes into account recent changes in glaciers and ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland. Low-income citizens will be disproportionately vulnerable to sea level rise, according to the report.

Happening This Week

Wednesday, March 25: NWF President & CEO Larry Schweiger testifies on safeguarding wildlife and natural resources from climate change impacts. Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing on “Preparing for Climate Change: Adaptation Policies and Programs”, 9:30 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building.

House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on Climate Change and the Arctic: New Frontiers of National Security, 9:30 a.m. in 2172 in Rayburn House Office Building.