Complete list of press releases

(Washington, D.C. – March 24, 2016) Environmental Defense Fund praised the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today for finalizing a new rule to protect American workers from silica dust.

“Silica dust is a particularly dangerous pollutant linked to serious diseases and premature deaths in workers across many industries. This new rule — which has literally been decades in the making — will finally lead to significant reductions in workers’ exposures,” said Richard Denison, an EDF Lead Senior Scientist. “We thank and congratulate OSHA on finalizing these vitally important new standards.” 

Silica dust causes lung cancer, silicosis, and other serious health problems. More than two million Americans are at risk of exposure while at their jobs, including workers in construction, foundries and hydraulic fracturing.

Today, OSHA announced a final rule to protect those workers. The new rule replaces much weaker standards set more than half a century ago.

OSHA estimates that the new rule will save more than 600 lives and prevent 900 new cases of silicosis each year, once it is fully in place.

(Washington, D.C. – March 24, 2016) A new joint commitment by the U.S. and Argentina is another important step forward in the race to address climate change, according to Environmental Defense Fund. 

“EDF commends President Obama and President Macri of Argentina for their joint efforts to avert catastrophic climate change and protect the ozone layer,” said Annie Petsonk, International Counsel for Environmental Defense Fund. “Their joint announcement lends wings to the global effort toward a robust, high-integrity, market-based measure that caps aviation emissions at 2020 levels and launches a process to ratchet that cap downward.”

In their historic meeting this week, Presidents Obama and Macri affirmed their commitment to reach a decision on adopting a market-based measure on aviation emissions at the 2016 Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This 2016 deadline is consistent with the 2013 ICAO Assembly Resolution, and the U.S.-Argentina joint announcement will play a particularly important role in regional meetings currently underway, including the Global Aviation Dialogue session (GLAD) slated to be held in Mexico City the first week in April. 

EDF lauds Argentina for its commitment to sign the Paris Agreement and enhance its intended nationally determined contribution (INDC), as well. The two countries also jointly announced that they will be adopting a phase-down amendment to the Montreal Protocol on hydrofluorocarbons, a significant step forwards in the global effort to heal the fragile ozone layer that protects life on Planet Earth.

(PARIS – 22 March 2016) Laurent Kraif, CEO of PERFESCO – a subsidiary of Groupe EDF (Électricité de France) – today joined the Steering Group of the Investor Confidence Project Europe (ICP Europe). Headquartered in Paris, France, with operations on five continents, Électricité de France is the largest producer of electricity in the world. ICP Europe, an initiative launched by international NGO Environmental Defense Fund, began just one year ago with a single goal: standardising energy efficiency projects to enable a marketplace for mass-scale investment in the sector.

 Mr. Kraif brings years of experience in energy efficiency and investment to ICP Europe’s Steering Group. At Électricité de France, Mr. Kraif directs the ESCO Department’s efforts to work with large customers to provide top-line efficiency services that reduce demand and improve reliability. Previously he served as founder and CEO of Akol Energies, an investment firm specialising in renewable energy.

 “I am very excited to represent Électricité de France on the Investor Confidence Project Europe Steering group. We believe that our customers and the European community need a dramatic increase in high quality energy efficiency renovation projects. To do this we need to improve savings, increase investment and collect and use better project data. The Investor Confidence Project Europe is providing the tools and guidance that could facilitate many of these changes in the marketplace and I look forward to adding our insights into their operations and plans,” said Mr. Kraif.

 “We are incredibly excited about the supply-side perspective and financial expertise that Mr. Kraif’s participation brings to our project. Utilities will play a major role in transforming the renovation market and unlocking the huge savings potential in Europe’s buildings. This is a vote of confidence in the strength of the Investor Ready Energy Efficiency™ system, which will build a marketplace for energy efficiency projects” said Panama Bartholomy, ICP Europe Project Director.

 ICP Europe is a sister project of the Investor Confidence Project launched five years ago in the United States by Environmental Defense Fund. Its Steering Group is made up of experts from the energy efficiency industry, advocacy, research and academia, and government sectors. The group advises ICP Europe’s staff on program development and deployment, and ensures products and services are market-ready and industry-relevant.

 In addition, ICP Europe has forged strategic alliances with the financial, real estate, and efficiency sectors to develop project origination and underwriting standardization through its protocols, which help reduce transaction costs and accelerate deal flow for building renovation projects.

Interested parties are invited to contribute to ICP Europe’s efforts through the Technical Forum and help bring energy efficiency to market as a global asset class by joining the ICP Europe Ally Network.

New regulations proposed last week by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) would step up safety inspections on the nation’s natural gas pipelines in an effort to keep pace with the evolving needs of a pipeline system that is rapidly expanding in some areas while facing the ravages of old age in others. Although the plan represents progress for the agency, it would also defer action on other key concerns.

This is the agency’s first major regulatory overhaul since a series of high profile accidents, starting with the 2010 explosion in San Bruno, California that killed eight people, and culminating in the massive four-month leak at the Aliso Canyon storage facility in Los Angeles, which released nearly 100,000 metric tons of methane into the atmosphere. It’s also PHMSA’s first big step since the Obama administration made clear its plans to reduce the nation’s oil and gas methane emissions.

“It is good to see the agency moving the ball forward, and to see PHMSA beginning to address the risks associated with pipelines and gathering systems,” said Mark Brownstein, head of the oil and gas program at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). “But recent accidents have also shown the serious problems that can erupt on other parts of the system, particularly storage facilities like Aliso Canyon. The agency needs to set a concrete timetable for meaningful action on these hazards as well.”

Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas, with more than 84 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over a 20 year timeframe. All told, the industry emits at least 9.3 million metric tons of methane a year according to the newest draft estimates by the Environmental Protection Agency (which is 27 percent more than tallies using EPA’s earlier methods). Together gathering, storage, and transmission (pipeline) sectors of are responsible for 42 percent of the oil and gas industry’s methane emissions. 

“The Paris Agreement was a milestone in the fight against climate change, and the U.S. played a major role in bringing it about. As the face of U.S. climate diplomacy for the past seven years, Todd Stern deserves a great deal of the credit. His steady vision, persistence and unwavering commitment to a strong agreement — and above all, the principle that to make real progress on climate change, all nations must contribute to addressing it even as the U.S. and other large emitters take the lead — played a major part in securing an outcome in Paris that is good for the world and good for the United States.

“Nobody is better prepared to step into Todd’s role than Jonathan Pershing, his deputy for the first several years of the Obama Administration. Jonathan combines a deep understanding of the diplomatic context, a keen intellect, and a sterling reputation earned through decades of work on climate change. As one of the key architects of the Mission Innovation initiative, he also brings a new and valuable perspective on the revolution underway in the clean energy space and the potential for breakthrough technological change to generate new climate solutions.” 

               — Nat Keohane, EDF Vice President, Global Climate

(CHICAGO – March 21, 2016) Illinois utility Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) today agreed to measure the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions associated with advanced energy infrastructure through a first-of-its-kind metric, proposed by the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and developed in concert with ComEd. The ability to calculate the environmental benefits of clean energy investments, like smart meters, is critical to accelerating the new energy economy.

To pave the way for a 21^st-century business model, electric utilities must be able to define and measure the results of their environmental efforts, among all others. By outlining the emissions savings and operational benefits of advanced meters, this innovative GHG metric provides ComEd the framework to demonstrate the impact of its investments.

“As the first utility in the country to adopt this greenhouse gas measurement tool, ComEd is leading the way to a cleaner energy future,” said Dick Munson, Midwest director of clean energy for EDF. “Utilities should be recognized for putting in place more efficient, smarter energy options, but it’s impossible to know the true value of investments without a way to measure results. This metric allows ComEd to definitively show how its smart-grid initiatives are reducing pollution and clearing our air.”

After conducting a series of workshops to identify the best approach, EDF, CUB, and ComEd developed methods to calculate emissions savings due to changes in electricity usage for each hour in the year. The resulting measurement determines the variable carbon value of a kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity for all 8,760 hours in the year. For example, a kWh saved during an hour of high-carbon intensity, when marginal power comes from coal, is worth more (carbon-wise) than a kWh saved when that power is mostly coming from wind, solar, nuclear, or hydro power. Similarly, a reduction in electric demand that avoids the need for “peaker” plants (dirty power plants typically only used during periods of extreme weather) creates a system-wide environmental benefit.

The metric will capture GHG reductions resulting from a variety of clean energy and smart grid efforts, such as:

• Enabling energy efficiency and conservation;
• Reducing peak electric demand;
• Enabling demand response, an important resource that pays customers to conserve electricity when the grid needs it most; and     
• Enabling the integration of clean, renewable generation sources, like rooftop solar.

Additionally, the metric allows ComEd to count operational benefits, such as the reduced use of meter-reading vehicles. Because it can now receive meter data remotely, ComEd will avoid sending employees to read the device, thus saving money and cutting pollution.

“In Illinois, a smarter grid has the potential to make our electricity system more efficient and cleaner,” said CUB Executive Director David Kolata. “As the nation tackles the issue of carbon emissions, we owe it to consumers to clearly track such benefits.”

While entrepreneurs continue to bring innovation to energy markets in the form of smart appliances, electric vehicles, and affordable, on-site renewable energy generation, utilities need new business models that reward performance and efficiency. Such models depend upon metrics that identify and measure important performance goals, and ComEd is helping to realize that future through the adoption of this metric.

Moreover, by launching its leading smart grid initiative and incorporating 20 different metrics to evaluate its performance, Illinois is at the forefront of grid modernization. The GHG metric is one of those key measures; it allows ComEd to calculate and report on the clean air benefits from advanced metering infrastructure, as well as the programs and technologies they enable. The implementation of this final metric by the state’s leading utility solidifies Illinois’ place as a trailblazer in the clean energy economy.

“The nation is watching how Illinois builds a better power grid,” Kolata added. “Consumer advocates and the Illinois Commerce Commission have worked very hard to make sure that we’re using the right metrics to gauge the consumer benefits of the smart grid.”

(NEW YORK – March 18, 2016) The New York Public Service Commission approved Consolidated Edison’s proposed plan for deploying Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) yesterday, providing essential support for the state’s goal to revamp the way utilities are regulated in order to establish a 21st century energy system. These new, two-way communicating meters can both send and receive information like electricity prices and energy usage, enabling a style of electricity pricing that incentivizes customers to use electricity when it is cheaper and cut back when it is more expensive.

“Accelerating the rollout of advanced meters opens doors to the innovative future envisioned by New York’s historic energy transformation. This is a significant step forward for New York’s ability to achieve its clean energy and pollution reduction goals, establishing a foundational component for greater levels of customer engagement and facilitating the participation of third-party innovators in the marketplace. Advanced meters empower people to cut their energy use during times of the day when it matters most, saving money on utility bills and reducing harmful pollution.”

·         Rory Christian, Director, New York Clean Energy, Environmental Defense Fund

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) March 16, 2016 — Eight members of Congress will be recognized today by leading national conservation groups for their critical role in protecting the Endangered Species Act.The “Champions of the Endangered Species Act” reception will feature former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt and honor Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tom Udall (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and House members Don Beyer (D-VA), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Betty McCollum (D-MN), and Niki Tsongas (D-MA).

The honorees will be recognized by theAnimal Welfare Institute, Audubon, Born Free USA, the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, the Endangered Species Coalition, Environmental Defense Fund, the League of Conservation Voters, the Native Plant Conservation Campaign, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, the Union of Concerned Scientists, WildEarth Guardians, and Wildlands Network.

The groups jointly issued the following statement:

“We celebrate and honor these conservation leaders whose vision and leadership has created a legacy of immeasurable benefit to our environment, to our nation’s most imperiled wildlife, and to our communities. Their tireless support for wildlife is vital as powerful special interests continue efforts to weaken or eliminate the Endangered Species Act and other bedrock conservation laws grounded in science.”

The Endangered Species Act is more at risk today than ever before, as several members of Congress continue to push legislative agendas designed to undermine the Act, threatening public lands and iconic wildlife. Collectively, the legislative attacks on the Endangered Species Act introduced by this Congress represent the most sweeping attacks since the landmark conservation law was passed 43 years ago.

The repeated attacks come despite strong public support for the Endangered Species Act. A July 2015 poll found that 90 percent of U.S. voters support the Endangered Species Act, affirming similar findings from previous polls over the last decade.

“We congratulate Judge Merrick Garland on his nomination. As EDF works to achieve lasting solutions to the world’s most serious environmental problems, we cannot ignore the critical role of the Supreme Court. The Court has made, and will continue to make, decisions that have an enormous impact on the protection of human health and the environment under our nation’s laws —particularly on issues of climate change and clean air. So it is vitally important that Justices respect the rule of law and faithfully carry out these safeguards to ensure clean air, a safe climate and clean water for all Americans, as the Court has in repeatedly affirming EPA’s responsibility to protect human health and the environment from climate pollution under the Clean Air Act.”    

               - Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund

The Obama Administration today released the newest version of a proposed five-year plan for offshore oil and natural gas drilling. The proposal does not include plans for oil and natural gas leasing activity in the Southern Atlantic region. More than 100 coastal communities and nearly 1,000 local businesses expressed opposition to offshore drilling along the Southern Atlantic coast, a region stretching from Virginia to Florida.

 “The plan recognizes that Southern Atlantic waters are home to globally important marine life and biodiversity. It’s a region that should remain off limits to offshore fossil fuel development. This proposal will continue to provide essential protection for wetlands, estuaries, fish habitat, marine mammals and other aquatic species.

 “In communities along the Southern Atlantic coast, the livelihoods, values, and traditions of local residents are intimately linked to the coastal environment and abundant natural resources that characterize the region. EDF welcomes the decision to continue protections that help preserve the Southern Atlantic for future generations. EDF will remain strong advocates for the restoration of coastal environments already impacted by offshore drilling, such as those in the Gulf of Mexico.”

 ·        David Kelly, EDF Policy Manager

Today, the Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition sent a letter to Governor John Bel Edwards signed by 29 Louisiana business associations, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and civic groups urging him to protect funding for coastal restoration and to move forward with the implementation of the state’s Coastal Master Plan. The groups thanked Governor Edwards for his leadership in protecting coastal restoration funds from mid-year budget cuts and for his continued statements that coastal funds should only be used for coastal restoration and protection.

“Our ongoing land loss crisis creates significant business risks to the many industries that depend on a healthy Gulf ecosystem,” said the letter. “A recent study prepared for the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority evaluated the economic impact of coastal land loss in the state. Their report showed that another 25 years of continued land loss would cost residents and business owners $2.1 billion to replace commercial and residential properties, roads, rails and pipelines lost due to erosion. Disruption to business activities during that same time period would cause an additional loss of $5.8 billion. Implementing our Coastal Master Plan can help reduce such losses.”

“Investing in coastal restoration will not only reduce the economic impact to businesses and communities, but will actually grow the economy through development of a new water management sector and expertise,” continued the letter. “The expected infusion of billions of dollars in coming years from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlements, GOMESA and other sources will fuel the creation of jobs and expansion of companies working in this sector.”

A recent analysis by the Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition based on The Data Center’s methodology shows that water management – which includes coastal restoration, coastal protection and urban water management – is the fastest growing industry in southeast Louisiana, with more than 32,000 jobs. Coastal restoration is not only the biggest job creator in the region, it also has some of the highest-paying jobs, averaging $69,277 per year.

“Coastal restoration projects will not only rebuild our vanishing coast – they will create and sustain jobs, protect communities and provide a sustainable future for the people and industries that call Louisiana home,” said Steve Cochran, Campaign Director for the Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition. “By safeguarding coastal dollars for coastal efforts, the state is keeping its commitment to restoring and protecting Louisiana’s coast.”

“Coastal restoration and protection will create long-lasting, good-paying jobs and be an economic driver for Louisiana,” said Michael Hecht, President of Greater New Orleans, Inc. “As evidenced in GNO, Inc.’s ‘State of the Sector: Water Management’ report, there are currently 30,350 people employed in the water management sector in the Greater New Orleans region. Additionally, this sector is predicted to grow by 23 percent over the next ten years. And with the influx of hundreds of millions of dollars in oil spill money for coastal restoration over the next 16 years – money that is dedicated solely to this growing industry – we will continue to create jobs and provide economic opportunities for the people and industries of coastal Louisiana.”

“The citizens and businesses of Louisiana are relying on you, as our new governor, to prioritize coastal restoration, protect coastal restoration funding and continue to implement restoration plans,” concluded the letter. “Thank you for your continuing attention to this top priority for Louisiana business interests and citizens.”

Read the letter in full along with all signers here: http://www.mississippiriverdelta.org/blog/2016/03/14/mrd-coalition-sends-governor-edwards-letter-touting-economic-potential-of-coastal-restoration/.

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The Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition is working to protect people, wildlife and jobs by reconnecting the river with its wetlands. As our region faces the crisis of threatening land loss, we offer science-based solutions through a comprehensive approach to restoration. Composed of conservation, policy, science and outreach experts from Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, we are located in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Washington, D.C.; and around the United States. Learn more at MississippiRiverDelta.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Baroness Bryony Worthington has joined Environmental Defense Fund Europe as its new Executive Director. She is the first to hold this position for the European affiliate of the international nonprofit organization, Environmental Defense Fund.

Bryony joins Environmental Defense Fund after a career spent campaigning for environmental solutions in a range of organizations, including the civil service, where she helped draft the UK Climate Change Act 2008; UK energy firm Scottish and Southern Energy; Friends of the Earth; and most recently as founder and Managing Director of the Sandbag Climate Campaign. She was appointed a member of the House of Lords in 2010 and served as a Shadow Minister for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, stepping down in late 2015 after leading two energy bills through the Lords.

“Under Bryony’s leadership, Environmental Defense Fund will bring a fresh voice to the European environmental debate — a voice for practical solutions grounded in science and harnessing the power of markets,” said Board Chair Carl Ferenbach. “We are honored and delighted that Bryony has chosen to join us and bring her considerable skills to bear as a champion for effective environmental policy.” Ferenbach, who cofounded Berkshire Partners in 1986, served as a Managing Director through 2011, and has served as chairman of the board of Environmental Defense Fund since 2008, and chairman of the board of its European affiliate since its formation in 2015.

“No single entity can do what’s needed to address today’s increasingly complex and global environmental problems,” said Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp. “Solving these problems requires collaboration on a far greater scale, not only among nongovernmental organizations but also among partners ranging from investors and inventors to fishermen, government officials and business executives. Bryony is uniquely qualified to help Environmental Defense Fund bring these voices to the table from across the political spectrum.”

The Rt Hon. Lord Barker of Battle, who serves on the Environmental Defense Fund Europe board, also hailed the appointment. “I’m delighted Bryony and I will be working on the same team, promoting practical, non-ideological solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental problems,” he said. “By combining the latest scientific evidence with smart policy-making, we can ensure capital flows to where it makes the biggest impact. I’m looking forward to working with Bryony to establish Environmental Defense Fund Europe as a progressive force for change.” Greg Barker recently served as Energy Minister in the coalition government and is now actively involved with a range of organizations promoting sustainable energy solutions.

Globally, Environmental Defense Fund focused on four key areas: climate and energy, oceans, ecosystems, and human health. In Europe, the focus is currently on developing and implementing solutions in the areas of marine fisheries and clean energy—two critically important issues where Europe plays a central role and where Environmental Defense Fund brings strong expertise. Our global goals are set out in the strategy document Blueprint 2020 and our Annual Report 2015 describes recent achievements. 

“Today’s announcement of a joint climate strategy between the U.S. and Canada moves the world a step closer to a future safe from climate change.

“The historic agreement addresses one of the most serious aspects of our climate crisis – methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Methane is responsible for about a quarter of today’s warming, and the U.S. and Canada are the second and fourth largest emitters of oil and gas methane respectively. Today, Canada is pledging to reduce its oil and gas methane pollution by 40 to 45 percent over the next decade, matching an earlier U.S. commitment, and regulating new and existing oil and facilities. At the same time, the U.S. is committing for the first time to rapidly addressing methane emissions from existing oil-and gas facilities. Together, the new commitments demonstrate that these leaders recognize the urgent need for action to limit methane pollution. 

“In the U.S., EPA will soon finalize the first national scale limits on methane pollution from new oil and gas sources. Today’s commitment to limit methane emissions from existing oil and gas sources goes much further, addressing the single largest industrial source of methane in the U.S. Cost-effective solutions are readily available, and are already being deployed in some states. I look forward to the day when national limits on methane from existing oil and gas sources are fully implemented. That will be the ultimate measure of progress. For today, the issue is generating the global momentum it deserves. That means we can make enormous strides toward reducing levels of this potent greenhouse gas, helping to protect our planet and its people. I would like to thank President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau for their leadership in tackling this critical problem.

“President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau also affirmed their commitment to securing agreement this year in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to cap carbon pollution from international aviation. Action by ICAO is one of the world’s top priorities on climate this year, and their leadership will be critical to getting the job done. A well-designed market based measure would prevent an estimated eight billion tons of carbon pollution in the first twenty years — pollution that lies outside national boundaries, and thus outside the Paris Agreement.  Even greater reductions are possible if ICAO agrees a process to ratchet that cap down in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of holding warming to well below 2 degrees and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees. 

“Today’s announced climate strategy also included a number of other important steps to reduce climate pollution. President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau committed to strengthening greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for our semis, delivery trucks and buses — working together to finalize a second phase of aligned standards; they also addressed accelerating the clean energy economy. The U.S. has already seen remarkable success in these areas. We are on track to complete updated truck standards this year that will further reduce climate pollution and oil use while saving truck drivers, shippers and American families a great deal of money. We are also spurring innovation, accelerating renewables, and strengthening our energy system, which will allow more abundant, clean energy to power our economy without threatening our health and safety.

“The two leaders committed to support timely implementation of the historic Paris Agreement, including on the key issue of carbon markets, where they agreed to work together and in close communication with subnational governments to ensure environmental integrity and clear accounting to avoid ‘double-counting’ of emissions reductions. They also affirmed their commitment to reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) through an amendment to the extraordinarily successful Montreal Protocol, and said they would create a new, ambitious conservation goal for both land and marine wildlife in the Arctic. These are all important steps we must take to protect planet Earth from climate change.  

“Today’s announcement demonstrates continued international cooperation and determination to address climate change. The U.S. and China announced a breakthrough climate agreement in November, 2014. Last year,195 countries approved an historic climate agreement in Paris. The U.S. finalized the Clean Power Plan to put the first-ever national limits on carbon pollution from power plants. And China committed to a national cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions beginning next year. Around the world, citizen and their leaders are calling for cleaner energy, healthier air, and more steps to protect us all from the dangers of climate change. Today’s U.S.-Canada agreement is another welcome example of that international momentum.

“Climate change is a clear and present danger to every human being on the planet. We’re in the race of our lives, and today’s agreement puts more spring in our step. It is a source of hope for all of us.” 

                    - Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund

“Today’s announcement of a joint climate strategy between the U.S. and Canada moves the world a step closer to a future safe from climate change. 

“The historic agreement addresses one of the most serious aspects of our climate crisis – methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Methane is responsible for about a quarter of today’s warming, and the U.S. and Canada are the second and fourth largest emitters of oil and gas methane respectively. Today, Canada is pledging to reduce its oil and gas methane pollution by 40 to 45 percent over the next decade, matching an earlier U.S. commitment, and regulating new and existing oil and facilities. At the same time, the U.S. is committing for the first time to rapidly addressing methane emissions from existing oil-and gas facilities. Together, the new commitments demonstrate that these leaders recognize the urgent need for action to limit methane pollution. The issue is generating the global momentum it deserves. That means we can make enormous strides toward reducing levels of this potent greenhouse gas, helping to protect our planet and its people. I would like to thank President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau for their leadership in tackling this critical problem.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates continued international cooperation and determination to address climate change. The U.S. and China announced a breakthrough climate agreement in November, 2014. Last year,195 countries approved an historic climate agreement in Paris. The U.S. finalized the Clean Power Plan to put the first-ever national limits on carbon pollution from power plants. And China committed to a national cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions beginning next year. Around the world, citizen and their leaders are calling for cleaner energy, healthier air, and more steps to protect us all from the dangers of climate change. Today’s U.S.-Canada agreement is another welcome example of that international momentum.

“In the U.S., EPA will soon finalize the first national scale limits on methane pollution from new oil and gas sources. Today’s commitment to limit methane emissions from existing oil and gas sources goes much further, addressing the single largest industrial source of methane in the U.S. Cost-effective solutions are readily available, and are already being deployed in some states. I look forward to the day when national limits on methane from existing oil and gas sources are fully implemented. That will be the ultimate measure of progress.”

- Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund

(ZURICH/ WASHINGTON – March 10, 2016)  A well-designed Emissions Trading System can drive down greenhouse gas emissions and help build the ambition to cut more pollution, according to a new Handbook from the World Bank’s Partnership for Market Readiness (PMR) and the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP).

Emissions Trading in Practice: a Handbook on Design and Implementation was co-authored by a team from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and New Zealand-based Motu Economic and Public Policy Research, with contributions from Vivid Economics in the UK and over 100 international experts and practitioners. EDF is recognized as a global leader in analyzing and advocating for Emissions Trading Systems (ETSs), in which a cap on emissions guarantees environmental results. Emissions trading also creates a market for carbon allowances that helps companies innovate to meet, or come in under, their allocated limit.

“Emissions trading is based on the simple idea that the market can be a powerful tool for fighting climate change,” EDF’s Chief Natural Resource Economist Ruben Lubowski said. “Well-designed emissions trading systems can channel business decisions and private investment to drive technology development and the other socioeconomic transformations that will support more ambitious climate action. Tools like this will be especially important in light of the Paris climate agreement. This handbook will help empower any country, state or jurisdiction to develop its own system that is appropriate to its circumstances, and contribute to the growing momentum around climate action.”

The new World Bank-ICAP Handbook is the first comprehensive roadmap for designing and implementing carbon markets. Created for nations, states and provinces that are considering or actively working to implement emissions trading systems, the Handbook sets out 10 steps to ETS design, from “Decide the scope” to “Implement, evaluate, and improve.”

“The fundamental concept of emissions trading is as simple as it is powerful,” the Handbook says. “The next decade of emissions trading experience lies in the hands of the decision makers, policy practitioners, and stakeholders who rise to the challenge of developing an ETS in their specific geographic and socioeconomic context.”

The Handbook will be a key resource for the World Bank, which, through its PMR, supports the development of ETSs and other market mechanisms in more than 20 of the largest emerging economies.  ICAP will also use the Handbook to help build capacities for addressing climate change around the world.  The Handbook draws on conceptual analysis as well as lessons learned from emissions trading systems in the European Union; provinces and cities in China, California and Quebec; the northeastern United States (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative); Alberta; Australia; New Zealand; Kazakhstan; the Republic of Korea; Tokyo; and Saitama (Prefecture in Japan).

Find Emissions Trading in Practice: A Handbook on Design and Implementation online at: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/23874.