Complete list of press releases

Today, the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and <a href=”http://www.edf.org>Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) released The World’s Carbon Markets: A case study guide to emissions trading, a collaborative series of case studies examining carbon market development around the globe.

Note: The case studies are available at www.edf.org/worldscarbonmarkets.

The report compares key features of current and prospective policies in 18 jurisdictions around the world. It is a resource for policy makers, analysts, and anyone interested in learning more about emissions trading.

The report focuses on both mature carbon markets, such as the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the northeastern U.S. Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), and also emerging policy developments across the world, from Kazakhstan to Mexico to China.

IETA CEO and President Dirk Forrister said, “This is an exciting time for climate action powered by markets. This landmark report showcases the wide range of countries taking serious decisions on climate change. Many have concluded that market mechanisms make the most sense in achieving emissions reductions while preserving economic growth.”

“Emissions trading programs vary in their features, but they all share the key insight that well-designed markets can be a powerful tool in achieving environmental and economic progress,” EDF vice president for international climate Nathaniel Keohane said. “Market-based policies are a proven way to limit carbon pollution and channel capital and innovation into clean energy, helping to avert the catastrophic consequences of climate change. Policy makers considering market-based approaches can take inspiration from the growing number of jurisdictions already headed in that direction. These case studies are meant to help point the way.”

By providing a comprehensive overview of the features of different trading systems, the report also can help to facilitate “linking” of carbon markets, where doing so can enhance the effectiveness and performance of existing programs. For example, California and Québec expect to host their first joint auction in January 2014. The European Union (EU) and Australia will commence a two-stage linking process from 2015.

Mr Forrister commented, “As carbon markets diversify, IETA believes it is essential to communicate the different approaches in a clear way. This report can help policymakers see what their peers in other parts of the world are doing on carbon market design. The imperative to link is still there, to gain greater efficiency and reduce the costs of achieving policy targets.”

Mr Forrister added, “Understanding and comparing program elements is key to building these necessary linkages, and ensuring that environmental integrity is maintained or even strengthened.”

IETA and EDF have developed these case studies to give businesses, policymakers, and thought leaders a clear picture of global carbon market developments occurring around the globe.

AUSTIN, Texas – The Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) commend the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) on its biggest overhaul of oil and gas rules in over thirty years. The RRC adopted dozens of highly technical rules today aimed at improving well integrity – procedures critical for constructing and operating oil and gas wells in a way that protects the environment, public health and safety.

Texas is the nation’s top oil and gas producer and a leader in new, innovative drilling technologies used for extraction. Proper construction of oil and gas wells is essential to isolate chemicals, salt water and oil and gas product from protected water.

“State regulators made significant progress with the Rule 13 revisions,” said Cyrus Reed, Ph.D., Sierra Club Texas conservation director. “The Texas oil and gas industry has changed rapidly and this overhaul of Rule 13 is a good start to address some of the public health and environmental concerns associated with hydraulically fractured wells.”

Improvements were made covering distinct aspects of well integrity such as casing materials, cementing and pressure management. The rule is among the first in the nation to pay attention to the geology that separates protected underground water from rock being hydraulically fractured. This is important to be sure that any risks of fractures extending into water supplies are avoided.

Other key innovations in the rule include a more sophisticated approach to determining which rock layers in a well need to be sealed off in order to assure the well’s pipes and cement protect water supplies from pollution.

“Texas has moved back into a leadership position on regulation of oil and gas well construction,” said Scott Anderson, EDF’s senior policy advisor. Agencies around the country, including the federal Bureau of Land Management, can learn a lot from studying these rules as well as similar rules adopted last year in Ohio.” 

The Railroad Commission began revising Rule 13 a year ago. It is part of a longer term process by the state to overhaul its oil and gas regulations and bring the rulebook in line with today’s leading practices.

One particular provision in Rule 13, however, falls short of requiring industry to follow best practice regarding the amount of space surrounding casings, the steel pipes that go underground. This “annular space” (or “annular gap”) is supposed to be filled with cement as necessary to isolate groundwater from pollution, protect the casing from corrosion and prevent gas from migrating to places it does not belong. The RRC set this space below the limit experts advise in order to protect the environment.

“In other respects, however, the rule is excellent,” said Anderson. “That doesn’t mean it addresses every aspect of well integrity. There are only so many issues that can be addressed at one time and the Commission is well aware that there is more to be done.”

“There is a long road ahead,” said Reed. “The agency has been deeply engaged for a year in updating its regulations, and we look forward to continuing to work with them on improvements.”

(WASHINGTON—May 24, 2013) Yesterday, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council released its draft plan for restoring the Gulf of Mexico following the 2010 BP oil disaster. Leading restoration organizations released the following statement in response:

(Washington, D.C. – May 22, 2013)  Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today welcomed the introduction of bipartisan legislation that would significantly strengthen health protections for American families.

The bill, the Chemical Safety Improvement Act, would modernize the nearly 40-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA) to bring chemical management into the 21^st century.

The bill’s lead sponsors, Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and David Vitter (R-LA), have forged a compromise that, on balance, would give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the tools it needs to address the risks chemicals pose to health.

“This bill is both a policy and political breakthrough,” said Dr. Richard Denison, EDF Senior Scientist.  “It gives EPA vital new tools to identify chemicals of both high and low concern, and to reduce exposures to those that pose health risks. While certainly not perfect, it embodies a hard-fought compromise that opens a bipartisan path forward to fix our badly outmoded system to ensure the safety of chemicals in everyday use.”

The Chemical Safety Improvement Act would for the first time require that EPA review the safety of all chemicals in commerce. This fixes a significant flaw in current TSCA, which allowed the great majority of chemicals on the market today to be grandfathered in without any evidence of their safety. 

EPA would also be able to act more quickly and easily to close the huge safety data gaps on chemicals in use today. For the first time, EPA would be able to issue orders to require testing of chemicals, avoiding the prolonged and resource-intensive rulemaking process and court challenges – barriers that have meant EPA has been able to require testing on only a few percent of chemicals in use.

The bill would also ensure that more of that new information about chemical safety will enter the market and the public realm, to inform the thousands of daily decisions made by both companies that make and sell products and by consumers. The bill would significantly tighten conditions under which chemical companies can hide information from the public.

There are some deficiencies in the legislation, according to EDF. The bill contains too few deadlines by which EPA needs to initiate and complete actions.  Also, while EPA would be required to consider the heightened vulnerability of some subpopulations (including infants and children), EPA would have only limited means to address disproportionately high chemical exposures experienced by residents in many communities in America.

On balance, however, EDF is urging support for the Chemical Safety Improvement Act. 

(WASHINGTON – May 22, 2013) “Eric Schwaab’s leadership at NOAA has been critical for the health of our nation’s fisheries. He has guided the agency toward a balance of conservation and economic concerns while working to end overfishing and ensure the long-term survival of one of the world’s most important resources, the ocean.  Eric brought the interests of recreational fishermen into the agency’s consideration in a way it had not been before – ensuring that all stakeholders had a voice within NOAA. All of us who care deeply for our nation’s fisheries wish Eric well in his new role at the National Aquarium and thank him for his dedicated service.”

• John Mimikakis, Associate Vice President, EDF Oceans Program

(New York, N.Y. — May 21, 2013) Today, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) kicks off its sixth and largest season of EDF Climate Corps, an innovative fellowship program that places specially trained graduate students in companies, cities and universities to save energy, money and the environment.

This summer, EDF will place 116 Climate Corps fellows in 106 organizations. New participants such as Apple, Colgate-Palmolive, General Motors, and the cities of Austin and Philadelphia will join returning hosts including AT&T, Facebook, PepsiCo, New York City Housing Authority and Chicago Public Schools.

“Leading energy management practices in our operations is a key pillar of GM’s sustainability strategy, and EDF Climate Corps will provide a fresh perspective that can enhance our energy efficiency efforts,” said Mike Robinson, vice president of sustainability and global regulatory affairs for General Motors. “EDF Climate Corps will build upon our work and help develop a business case to maximize the environmental and economic benefits.”  

Since its launch in 2008, EDF Climate Corps has uncovered more than $1.2 billion in total energy savings for participating organizations, finding an average of $1 million in savings at each one. In terms of reducing carbon emissions, these savings are equivalent to taking 200,000 cars off the road each year.  

EDF Climate Corps recruits students from the nation’s top graduate programs to accelerate adoption of smart energy management practices in participating organizations. The findings of these EDF Climate Corps fellows are often scalable solutions that take organizations’ energy management efforts to the next level.  

“In our fourth summer participating in EDF Climate Corps, the program has become a trusted and invaluable resource for AT&T where EDF Climate Corps fellows play a critical role supporting in the building and implementation of our enterprise-wide system for energy efficiency,” said John Schinter, executive director of energy at AT&T. “There is always more to do, which is why we keep coming back.” The leading U.S. communications company has hired five fellows since 2010, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in energy savings.  

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings consume 70 percent of electricity in the U.S. and account for over a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. EDF created Climate Corps to catalyze immediate reductions in emissions from buildings by breaking down the barriers that keep organizations from capturing the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency.  

“Despite projections of more than $1.2 trillion in energy savings available to the U.S. economy, many organizations are still missing the opportunity to grow their profits through effective energy management,” said Victoria Mills, managing director of EDF Climate Corps. “EDF Climate Corps is designed to seize the financial and environmental rewards of energy efficiency, while putting in place the energy management practices that deliver systemic and lasting reductions in costs and emissions.”  

See the full list of organizations and fellows participating in EDF Climate Corps. For more information, please visit edfclimatecorps.org.

“I’m thrilled that the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted today in favor of Gina McCarthy as our next EPA Administrator. In the end, the committee approved a highly-qualified candidate for one of our country’s most important jobs.

“Ms. McCarthy is an experienced leader who has a well-deserved reputation for being pragmatic and fair. She has worked with both parties, and has garnered the support of both environmental advocates and industry leaders. I think she’ll do an outstanding job as head of EPA, and I look forward to her quick confirmation by the full Senate.”

— Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense Fund

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Keith Gaby, kgaby@edf.org, 202-572-3336
Sharyn Stein, sstein@edf.org, 202-572-3396 

“Today’s unanimous Senate vote to confirm Ernest Moniz as our next Secretary of Energy is great news for America. It shows that when Congress puts politics aside, a highly-qualified and experienced nominee can win bipartisan support in order to tackle some of the most pressing problems facing our country.

“Dr. Moniz is a theoretical physicist from MIT and a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology with a well-deserved reputation for being thoughtful and pragmatic. He’s also well-known for his enthusiasm for creating a clean energy future for America, and he has repeatedly observed that just because the environmental challenges of shale gas are manageable does not mean that they are yet managed.

“I look forward to working with Dr. Moniz on accelerating the transition to a clean energy economy by developing a smart “green” electric grid, promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy through a “Race to the Top” program, and furthering other critical energy projects.”

-       Fred Krupp, EDF president

(WASHINGTON – May 2, 2013) “The direction and vision set by the Commerce Department are crucial to managing our nation’s fisheries. EDF looks forward to Ms. Pritzker’s leadership as secretary and will continue to work with fishermen, regional councils and NOAA to develop solutions that will end overfishing while protecting the business and sport of fishing for future generations.”

• John Mimikakis, Associate Vice President, EDF Oceans Program

View the ads on the Moms Clean Air Force YouTube Channel or the EDF YouTube Channel

(Washington, D.C. – April 29, 2013) – Today, Moms Clean Air Force, a group of mothers concerned about clean air and public health, is launching a six-figure TV ad buy in Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Virginia for the next two weeks, thanking Senators Claire McCaskill, Kay Hagan, Jeanne Shaheen, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner for their opposition to budget proposals that would have gutted EPA clean air standards that protect the health of Americans.

The ads, funded by the Environmental Defense Fund, express gratitude for the senators’ opposition to anti-Clean Air Act amendments during Senate budget debates in March that would have blocked the EPA’s historic Carbon Pollution Standard, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, as well as other clean air standards and public health protections. Thanks to the courageous leadership of these and other Senators, these amendments were turned back.  

“All of these Senators deserve thanks for standing up for our kids’ health,” said Elizabeth Thompson, EDF’s Director of Congressional Affairs. “Congress shouldn’t ever use the budget process to cut important public health protections against dangerous, dirty and deadly air pollution. All kids, especially those with asthma, need strong clean air rules.”

The text of the ad — a takeoff on the popular AT&T commercials, featuring a man sitting in semi-circle with a group very young kids — reads as follows:

     MAN: What’s better? More industrial carbon pollution that leads to more asthma attacks, or less industrial carbon pollution that leads to less asthma attacks?

     Kids: (kids tell why less is better)

     Man: Got ya.

     VO: It’s pretty simple. Reducing industrial carbon pollution protects kids.

     Let’s thank Senator _____________ for showing the guts to stand up for them, by voting to support reducing industrial carbon pollution.

The ad campaign, sponsored by Moms Clean Air Force (MCAF) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) will appear in eight major media markets in four states: Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Virginia (including Washington, DC). The MCAF/EDF ads will appear in Columbia-Jefferson City, MO; Kansas City, MO; St. Louis, MO; Greensboro, NC; Manchester, NH; Norfolk, VA; Richmond, VA; and Roanoke, VA. You can see the ads on the Moms Clean Air Force YouTube channel or the EDF YouTube channel.

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Pinedale, Wyo. — The American Lung Association’s “State of the Air 2013” report, released on Wednesday, finds that while air quality might be improving nationwide the opposite was seen in Wyoming.

The lung association, which works to prevent lung disease and promote healthy air, and which grades counties annually on their air quality, gave Wyoming’s Sublette County an “F” for ozone pollution, also known as smog.

“If you live in Sublette County, the air you breathe may put your health at risk,” the organization’s report warns.

Wyoming’s Fremont County also received a poor grade for ozone pollution — a “D” — because it had several days of high ozone levels in the previous year. “If you live in Fremont County, the air you breathe needs your support,” the America Lung Association urges.

Large-scale oil and gas drilling is a significant source of ozone pollution in Wyoming. The Pinedale area has been plagued with dangerous levels of wintertime ozone for several years.

In March, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality announced its strategy to address air pollution in the Pinedale area based in large part on consensus recommendations from a citizens advisory task force. The department brought a broad group of local citizens, elected officials, oil and gas industry and environmental representatives together to recommend ways to reduce the harmful ozone.

“This report is a sharp reminder that Pinedale’s ozone problem is a public health issue that can and should be corrected as soon as possible,” said Bruce Pendery with the Wyoming Outdoor Council. “Anything less than swift action unnecessarily puts Wyoming citizens at risk.”

Ozone is a toxic air pollutant widely known to cause a host of respiratory problems, even in relatively low concentrations. Smog contributes to serious health problems, including decreased lung function and premature mortality. Children, the elderly, Americans with existing lung and heart issues, and those who are active outside are especially vulnerable.

These facts were recently borne out by a scientific study conducted by the Wyoming Department of Health that showed more Sublette County residents seek medical help for respiratory ailments on days with higher ozone pollution levels.

“The unhealthy smog pollution that we have seen in the Upper Green River Basin in recent years — and that we’re now seeing east of the Wind River Range in Fremont County — must be addressed to ensure public health is protected,” said Pendery.

Pendery was a member of the citizens’ advisory task force.

“The state’s move to pursue all 10 of the task force’s recommendations signals its commitment to this effort — but, as they say, the devil will be in the details. It’s essential that the DEQ implement these steps as quickly as possible,” Pendery said.

“The task force’s proposals – especially efforts to eliminate gas leaks from equipment – are also actions that make economic sense,” said Jon Goldstein, senior energy policy manager with the Environmental Defense Fund.

“In the natural gas business, a leak means less product to sell and a hit to the bottom line,” Goldstein said. “And business as usual is not an option here. Recent emissions studies show that leaky equipment is a large source of local pollution. Detecting and fixing these leaks makes sense from both a public health and an economic perspective.”

Since the EPA has formally designated the Upper Green River Basin in “nonattainment” with the national ozone standard, if the state does not bring the area back into compliance with this standard by the end of 2015, even more significant pollution controls could be required by the Clean Air Act.

“Local citizens have suffered for too long from ozone problems that threaten public health and the environment and that are bad for economic development,” Pendery said. “We need the DEQ to follow through on its promises as quickly as possible. And we hope that all Wyoming citizens will join us in pushing the state to make these improvements.”

NEWS RELEASE

(WASHINGTON – April 22, 2013)  Indigenous groups in the Brazilian Amazon are experiencing indications of climate change that threaten their traditional way of life, according to an article published today in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.

“Indigenous people are telling us rainfall and river levels have changed; the fires they’re dealing with are different now; and the climate systems they used to depend on for growing crops have become unpredictable,” said Steve Schwartzman, lead author of the study and director of tropical forest policy at Environmental Defense Fund. “When these ancient practices are no longer reliable, that in itself is an early indication of climate change.”

In the article, “The Natural and Social History of the Indigenous Lands and Protected Areas Corridor of the Xingu River Basin,” the authors cite original interviews with indigenous leaders who note significant changes in the forest’s rainfall patterns, river levels, fires and agriculture cycles their groups have relied on for thousands of years.

These “observed changes may themselves be indicators of climate change,” the authors write in the article, which focuses on a massive tract of the Amazon – about the size of the United Kingdom – called the Xingu River Basin.

“The future of the last, largest remaining forest is something that affects everybody. But, by that same token, we affect it too,” Schwartzman said. “Indigenous groups who have lived in the Amazon for centuries, even millennia, are seeing signs that the climate is changing there. It’s another of many signals that we really need to be doing something about climate change.”

Around 15% of the global carbon dioxide emissions that cause climate change come from deforestation, and much of that occurs in the Amazon. However, since 2005 the Amazon has seen its deforestation rate drop more than 70% below the historic average. Evidence strongly suggests this is a result of Brazilian laws that have established “protected areas” and, in particular, indigenous-controlled land, with the latter now accounting for more than 20% of the Amazon.

The sustainability of indigenous and protected areas, the authors write, “also depends on sustainable sources of finance.” The article highlights policies to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and payment for ecosystem services, whether from public or private sources, as possible sources.