Complete list of press releases

Contact:
Joaquin McPeek, 916-492-7173 jmcpeek@edf.org

“CARB’s approval of linkage is a big milestone for California and the nation, and yet another strong example of California’s leadership in fighting climate change, while moving further down the path to a clean energy economy.

This linkage comes at a moment when momentum for carbon market development has been building around the world, and sends a positive signal to other jurisdictions that are working on building their own carbon markets and might ultimately seek to join with California and Quebec.”

 -Erica Morehouse, Staff Attorney, US Climate and Energy

(Washington, D.C. – April 18, 2013) Today, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013.

The measure is an energy efficiency bill designed to help America cut energy use and related energy costs, while also creating jobs and reducing greenhouse gas pollution. 

“Energy efficiency is a common sense idea that benefits both the economy and the environment. It represents an enormous opportunity to cut energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and it can help American families and businesses lower their power bills,” said Jim Marston, vice president of EDF’s U.S. Climate and Energy Program. “We look forward to working with Senators Shaheen and Portman on this bipartisan bill, and to helping states and localities advance stronger energy efficiency policies.” 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                              

Contact:
Joaquin McPeek, 916-492-7173 jmcpeek@edf.org

(San Francisco, CA – April 17, 2013) Tomorrow Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) will be honored with the inaugural ‘Mary D. Nichols Climate Action Champion’ Award in recognition of their long standing commitment to fighting climate change and leadership in advancing climate policy.

The award – in the form of a championship belt — will be given by the Climate Action Reserve (CAR) during a public ceremony at Navigating the American Carbon World Conference (NACW), the largest and most comprehensive gathering on climate change policy and carbon markets.

“EDF is proud of the role it has played, along with countless partners, to champion policies that protect our climate,” said Derek Walker, Associate Vice President US Climate and Energy Program. “We are especially honored to be recognized by CAR, a world-class organization doing critical work on these issues. We look forward to working with CAR to promote new and innovative ways to reduce pollution and lead us to a cleaner energy future.”

CAR, an environmental non-profit that runs the premier carbon offset registry in North America, has presented the ‘Climate Action Champion’ Award annually for 10 years in recognition of individuals and organizations that exemplify leadership and commitment to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

This year, the award was renamed after Mary D. Nichols, Chairman of the California Air Resources Board and someone who has devoted her entire career to advocating for the environment and public health. Ms. Nichols will be handing out the award to EDF at the conference.

To receive the award, EDF exemplified one or more of the following criteria:

• Leadership that has helped transform public policy and created broad movement to address climate change
• Leadership that advances climate policy within a non-profit, academic institution, business or government agency
• Leadership that engages and shapes public response to climate change
• Action that has substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions

“We are excited to honor EDF this year with the inaugural Mary D. Nichols Climate Action Champion Award,” said Gary Gero, President of the Climate Action Reserve. “Their deep commitment to addressing climate change, and influential role in shaping and pursuing innovative climate policy, makes them a well-deserving recipient of this award.”

Other recipients of this award include Disney, Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and James Goldstene, former Executive Officer of the California Air Resource Board.

Also receiving recognition was Robert Parkhurst, Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Markets Director for EDF. Parkhurst was given the CARROT (“Climate Action Reserve Recognizing Our Team”) Award for his extraordinary work in the field of climate action and contributions that have gone above and beyond in service to the Reserve. This is the second CARROT award for Robert. He earned the first in 2008 for helping to create the first credits and early offset protocols with the Reserve.

Parkhurst is currently working to create new opportunities for farmers, ranchers and foresters in California and across the country to participate in and profit from the state’s efforts to reduce carbon pollution.

The NACW runs April 16-18 in San Francisco and will take an in-depth look at California’s historic cap-and-trade program, including discussions on market structure, revenue allocation, legal issues and forecasts. The conference will also delve into other established and emerging carbon markets around the world and potential linkages.

BP Oil Disaster Unresolved at Three-Year Mark

Gulf Coast residents, public officials, conservation groups gather onsite at BP trial

(New Orleans, LA—April 16, 2013) Today, as the April 20 three-year memorial of the 2010 BP oil disaster approaches, impacted community members, public officials and local and national conservation groups convened at the site of the ongoing BP trial. The groups demanded that BP be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law for its role in the oil disaster so that Gulf restoration can begin. The BP oil disaster dumped 4.1 million barrels of oil into the Gulf and killed 11 men.

Speakers included National Wildlife Federation’s David Muth, who represented the Mississippi River Delta Restoration Campaign, a coalition of local and national conservation organizations; Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser; well-known New Orleans chef and restaurateur Susan Spicer; Patty Whitney, local community advocate with Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing (BISCO); Jordan Macha, Gulf States representative for Sierra Club and Cynthia Sarthou, Gulf Restoration Network’s executive director.

Representing a variety of diverse interests—including local communities, the seafood and tourism industries and environmental groups—all speakers spoke on the common need for BP accountability, Gulf restoration and needed support for the Mississippi River Delta, an area that bore the brunt of the Gulf oil disaster. In addition to speakers, the event was attended by volumes of affected Gulf residents, who displayed signs symbolizing the amount of oil spilled into the Gulf and calling for BP to pay its maximum fines as soon as possible, so that comprehensive Gulf restoration can begin.

“Three years after the Gulf was inundated with BP oil, the wildlife, habitats and people of the Gulf are still feeling the effects of the disaster,” Muth said. “In 2012 alone, some 6 million pounds of BP oil was collected from Louisiana’s shorelines and 200 miles of coast remain oiled. We can’t allow BP off the hook for anything less than justice requires—a full payment for its recklessness so that real restoration of the Gulf’s ecosystem and economy can begin.”

“We still have concerns about the long term effects on the Gulf and its estuaries. We still see oil on the surface after storms with no one out there monitoring it. We will not stop until we get the help we need,” Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser said.

“Our cuisine, culture and economy are all dependent on a thriving, healthy Gulf. That means we’ve all got a stake in holding BP accountable and ensuring effective restoration begins as soon as possible,” said Susan Spicer, chef and owner of Bayona and Mondo restaurants.

“Two years ago, BP promised $1 billion to early restoration to be used in two years. To date, BP has only spent seven percent of the promised total,” said Cynthia Sarthou, executive director of the Gulf Restoration Network. “Despite BP’s slick ad campaigns, the Gulf is still hurting and can’t wait any longer for restoration. It’s time BP be held fully accountable under the law.”

“BP’s oil disaster continues to impact our communities,” said Patty Whitney of Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing (BISCO). “After three years, the Gulf and its people can’t wait any longer for environmental restoration that supports resilient communities.”

“The emerging science shows that the BP oil disaster continues to have wide-ranging impacts on the ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico,” noted Jordan Macha, Gulf States representative for the Sierra Club. “The people, communities and economy of our region depend on a healthy and restored Gulf. Citizen representation is crucial towards building a resilient and sustainable ecosystem and economy.”

The event occurred outside the Hale Boggs Federal Building, where BP is currently at trial defending its role in the disaster.

Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation are members of the Mississippi River Delta Restoration Campaign. Made up of scientists, engineers, policy experts and outreach professionals, the campaign works to advance long-term sustainable solutions for the delta’s communities and wildlife. More at www.mississippiriverdelta.org.

Gulf Restoration Network is an environmental advocacy organization exclusively focused on the health of the Gulf of Mexico. Founded in 1994, GRN’s mission is to unite and empower people to protect and restore the natural resources of the Gulf region. More at www.healthygulf.org.

The Sierra Club is a national environmental advocacy organization and one of the oldest conservation groups in the country. The Central Gulf Coast regional office, based in New Orleans, advocates for vibrant and sustainable solutions for Gulf Coast communities and its environment. More at www.sierraclub.org.

Joint Statement: Leading conservation groups issue joint statement marking BP oil disaster’s third memorial

Groups call for BP’s accountability, payment of fines so Gulf restoration can begin

(New Orleans, LA—April 16, 2013) Today, as the April 20 three-year memorial of the BP oil disaster approaches, impacted community members, public officials and local and national conservation groups convened at the site of the ongoing BP trial. The groups demanded that BP be held accountable to fullest extent of the law for its role in the 2010 BP oil disaster that dumped 4.1 million barrels of oil into the Gulf and killed 11 men.

The conservation groups, Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, Gulf Restoration Network and Sierra Club, issued the following joint statement today:

“The BP oil disaster was the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. The fines BP pays should equate to the unprecedented and egregious nature of its recklessness. This ought to be a clear-cut case of gross negligence, and justice for the Gulf demands nothing less than a robust and fair settlement from BP, as soon as possible.

“Three years later, the oil spill is still a living disaster with ongoing effects, many of which will remain unknown for decades to come. Real restoration for the Gulf is possible, but not until BP pays its justified fines. The sooner BP’s case is resolved, the sooner we can get to work repairing the Gulf.

“In Louisiana, more than 200 miles of coastline remain oiled. As the state continues to lose wetlands at a rate of one football field every hour, nowhere in the Gulf is restoration more urgent than in the Mississippi River Delta.”

The groups noted that progress on Gulf restoration also depends on swift and meaningful action by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, an entity that Congress created in last year’s RESTORE Act and charged with developing a comprehensive restoration plan. The groups continued:

“The Restoration Council can make a tremendous positive impact on the future of the Gulf by crafting a sustainable, long-term vision for the region that focuses on a healthy ecosystem. The Council’s plan must be comprehensive and prioritize large-scale ecosystem restoration projects as the best path forward toward restored natural resources, revived economies and resilient communities. The Gulf’s economy depends on healthy natural resources, so restoring the ecosystem sustains the economy.

“For Louisiana, the Council should rely on the state’s Coastal Master Plan and prioritize master plan projects in the Council’s priority 3-year strategy. Implementing the ecosystem restoration projects in the master plan is critical to minimize additional land lost around the Mississippi River Delta and maximize new land built.”

(Washington, D.C. – April 10, 2013) President Obama unveiled his FY 2014 budget proposals today, and one program in particular is winning cheers from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

EDF strongly supports plans for a “Race to the Top” for energy efficiency and grid modernization, which is included as part of the proposed Department of Energy budget. The energy race would create a competitive grant program for states and communities that adopt innovations in energy efficiency, clean energy deployment and smart grid technologies. The initiative would support the President’s goal of doubling energy productivity from 2010 levels by 2030.  

“The proposed Race to the Top sets both an impressive and an achievable goal,” said EDF’s Elgie Holstein. “By rewarding state innovations for energy productivity, this proposal forges a new kind of federal-state partnership that will accelerate the transition to more efficient, less polluting energy sources, reduce household energy costs and cut harmful pollution – including climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions.”

You can read more about EDF’s clean energy efforts here. 

(ARLINGTON, Va. – April 8, 2013) Could your merlot be growing near the moose, grizzly or elk of Yellowstone National Park soon or in prime panda habitat in China? A new study by a team of international researchers and led by Conservation International suggests that it could. Their key finding: climate change will dramatically impact many of the most famous wine-producing regions in the world today and prompt the opening of new areas to wine production in unusual places, which would likely degrade or put pressure on the critical natural capital and ecosystems that support species and human well-being.

The study appeared today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and is the first ever worldwide analysis of the impacts of climate change on wine production and conservation. It found that the area suitable for wine production will shrink by as much as 73% by 2050 in certain parts of the globe, with high potential for stress on rivers and other freshwater ecosystems as vineyards use water to cool grapes or irrigate to compensate for rising temperatures and declining rainfall.

Dr. Lee Hannah, lead author and Senior Scientist for Climate Change Biology at Conservation International’s new Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Ecosystem Science and Economics, said, “Climate change is going to move potential wine-producing regions all over the map. These global changes put the squeeze on wildlife and nature’s capacity to sustain human life in some surprising places. Consumer awareness, industry and conservation actions are all needed to help keep high quality wine flowing without unintended consequences for nature and the flows of goods and services it provides people. This is just the tip of the iceberg – the same will be true for many other crops.”

The researchers looked at nine major wine producing areas within the first global map of future winemaking using multiple models of wine suitability. The areas analyzed in more details are: California, Western North America, Chile, Mediterranean Europe, Northern Europe, Cape Floristic region of South Africa, parts of Australia with Mediterranean climate, parts of Australia with non-Mediterranean climate and New Zealand.

Another key finding from the study is that new areas will become more productive, including parts of Western North America and Northern Europe. These places at higher latitudes and higher elevations will become increasingly suitable for wine making and sought after by vineyards as they search for the climatic conditions that are ideal for wine grape growing.

This will have implications for conservation of wildlife and ecosystems in regions as diverse as the Rocky Mountains around Yellowstone National Park and in Central China, where new vineyard suitability will open in the habitat of the endangered giant panda. Mature, producing vineyards have long-lasting effects on habitat quality for native species as they involve, for instance, removal of natural vegetation, spraying of chemicals and use of fences. According to the study, the greatest area of increasing wine production suitability is in the Rocky Mountains near the Canadian-US border, putting at risk species such as the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), gray wolf (Canis lupus) and pronghorn (Antilocapra americana).

“Climate change will set up competition for land between agricultural and wildlife – wine grapes are but one example. This could have disastrous results for wildlife. Fortunately, there are pro-active solutions. We are creating incentive-based programs with private landowners to provide wildlife habitat as we expand our capacity to feed a growing planet in the future under a changing climate,” said co-author Dr. Rebecca Shaw, a climate scientist and Associate Vice President for Environmental Defense Fund’s Land, Water and Wildlife program.

Solutions

The authors concluded that wine grapes are symbolic of a wide variety of crops whose geographic shifts in response to climate change will have substantial implications for conservation, and that adaptation strategies are urgently needed to maintain productivity and to minimize impacts on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Among their key recommendations are:

• joint planning of vineyard expansion between business managers and conservationists to avoid areas of high environmental importance;
• investment in new varieties of grapes that offer similar flavors but with altered climate tolerances;
• consumer awareness (by purchasing bottles with natural cork, and from vineyards that adopt sustainable practices)

Patrick Roehrdanz of the Bren School of the University of California at Santa Barbara, one of the study authors, said, “Consumers can do their part by purchasing wine from vineyards that participate in programs like the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance or the South African Biodiversity and Wine Initiative and through supporting organizations that are dedicated to finding solutions such as Vinecology, Conservation International or Environmental Defense Fund.”

Available content for media:

Photos and maps available for download (image credits mandatory): http://bit.ly/10vfD0R

View the paper: http://www.conservation.org/climate-wine-conservation

Blog from Lead Author: http://blog.conservation.org/2013/04/climate-change-puts-the-squeeze-on-wine-production/

Presentation of Climate Change, Wine and Conservation, with Drs. Lee Hannah and Rebecca Shaw: http://bit.ly/ZEq3Zz

Google Earth Flyover: http://youtu.be/7DqbJTv42Dw 

Additional quotes from co-authors: 

Anderson Shepard with the Bren School of the University of California at Santa Barbara, said: “This study reveals the alarming potential for climate change to drive dramatic expansion of agriculture into some of the most intact wildlife habitat in the US. This could have a significant impact on some of our most treasured wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves and elk.”

Gary Tabor, Director of the Center for Large Landscape Conservation in Montana, U.S.: “With the impacts of climate change growing daily, we need landscapes that support wildlife’s ability to move and migrate in response to these changing conditions. This is one of the reasons all 19 US States in the Western Governors Association approved a policy framework to conserve wildlife corridors across the US West. Future vineyard designs should facilitate this ecological need and avoid becoming another impenetrable landscape feature.”

Pablo Marquet, Professor at the Department of Ecology at the Catholic University of Chile: “These results are not good news for the Chile´s wine industry. The projected increases in stress for wine production are dramatic. Here is an important challenge for the wine industry — how to become more efficient at water use. The bigger challenge, however, is how to accommodate a growing agricultural industry in the most densely populated area in the country where more than 70% of natural habitats have been lost or severely degraded, where less that 3% of its area in currently under protection and where large changes in climate are expected.”

Maki Ikegami with the Bren School of the University of California at Santa Barbara: “Vineyards are already expanding into the predicted suitable areas rapidly. Conservation measures in those areas must be taken immediately.”

Robert Hijmans, Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Policy at UC Davis: “Wine grapevines, which are sensitive to climate and largely concentrated in regions with Mediterranean climates, provides a good test case for measuring indirect impacts that result from climate-driven modifications in agriculture.”

Conservation International - Building upon a strong foundation of science, partnership and field demonstration, CI empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature and its global biodiversity to promote the long-term well-being of people. Founded in 1987, CI is headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area. CI employs more than 800 staff in 20+ countries on four continents and works with more than 1,000 partners around the world. For more information, please see www.conservation.org or visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

(Chicago, IL – April 3, 2013) Today, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) announced that they have reached an agreement with Illinois utilities ComEd and Ameren Illinois (Ameren) to move one of the nation’s largest efforts to date ($3.2 billion) forward to track customer, including environmental, benefits from smart grid deployment plans in the state. These plans outline how each of the utilities intends to continue to upgrade their electricity network into a digital “smart” grid.

EDF and CUB worked directly with ComEdand Amerento develop the set of new tracking mechanisms and metrics, which will be reported on annually by the utilities. This information will be used to help determine how upgrades to Illinois’ electric grid are delivering benefits to consumers. The tracking mechanisms and metrics will help measure utility performance on issues ranging from reductions in peak energy demand and increased adoption of renewable energy, such as solar power, to the uptick in use of smart energy devices and reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, among others.

ComEd provided the initial reporting of 20 new tracking metrics in its annual smart grid deployment plan update filed on April 1^st with the Illinois Commerce Commission. ComEd’s new tracking metrics will be tracked alongside the metrics now used by ComEd as required by the Illinois Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2011. The other metrics focus on measures such as overall energy savings, utility-led efforts to conduct customer outreach and enrollment in energy conservation rebate programs.

Ameren provided notice to the Illinois Commerce Commission in its annual smart grid deployment plan update on April 1st that it will begin voluntarily reporting on a similar set of 19 new tracking mechanisms in its annual filings.  Currently, Ameren Illinois tracks performance in areas such as reliability, outage restoration, system safety, and satisfaction of customers with on-premise services.

In addition, through stakeholder workshops later this year, ComEd and Ameren have agreed to continue to work with EDF and CUB to work towards the development of new and improved ways to measure how smart grid technology can help reduce GHG emissions and electrical line losses, which are harmful to both our environment and our wallets. These measures are integral to unlocking the environmental and economic benefits of smart grid technologies.

To date, utility smart grid and AMI metrics around the country have commonly focused on general measures to gauge customer benefits, such as customer awareness survey completions and number of customer outreach events attended. These new tracking mechanisms and metrics go further in that they will allow the utilities to track and report where customers are realizing the benefits of electric grid improvements, and the extent to which they are participating in these opportunities. This includes measures like the number of customers who can directly access their own energy usage data and the time it takes to connect renewable energy resources, like solar power, to the electric grid.

“These new tracking mechanisms and metrics will help ComEd and Ameren ensure that their smart grid investments deliver environmental and economic benefits to customers in the form of cleaner air and reduced energy costs. EDF hopes that these tracking mechanisms and metrics will serve as models for other utilities around the country looking to modernize their aging energy infrastructure and realize the full potential of a smart, “green” electric grid,” said EDF senior regulatory attorney Raya Salter.

“A smart grid begins with smart policy,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. “These new tracking mechanisms and metrics will help bring the power grid into the 21^st century more quickly and cost-effectively, ensuring that consumers see the benefits in the form of lower electric bills.”

EDF previously worked with the California Public Utility Commission to develop a report card and framework to critically evaluate the efficacy of California public utilities’ smart grid deployment plans.

(Austin, Texas – April 1, 2013) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today released a report titled “The State of the Energy Crunch in Texas,” highlighting the pressures facing the Texas electric grid, which include a shrinking water supply, growing population and rising summer temperatures. The report provides solutions to help keep the lights on in Texas, which is critical to retain and attract new businesses, and details legislation that will help meet future energy needs while providing direct benefits to customers and reducing water usage.

The ongoing drought puts Texas’ power plants at risk, threatening a return of the rolling blackouts caused by extreme winter conditions in 2011. Fortunately, many of the solutions that are available to keep the lights on also benefit people and the environment.  Our report focuses on solutions like customer, or demand-side, resources such as demand response (DR) initiatives (which allow customers to voluntarily reduce peak electricity use and received a payment for doing so in response to a signal from their utilities), energy efficiency programs and increasing renewable energy sources like solar and wind, all of which consume almost no water and can be built faster than gas and coal plants.

The report also provides an overview of Texas legislation currently being considered by several committees in the 83^rd Legislature. This includes bills that allow all customer classes to participate in electric markets, provide innovative clean energy financing mechanisms and offer fair compensation for customers who provide power back to the electric grid by generating excess electricity from renewables or conserving energy using demand response initiatives.

“It’s crucial that we take action now to preserve our electric grid, said Colin Meehan, policy manager at EDF “This report highlights several ways to protect customers from rising electric costs while keeping the lights on and protecting our limited resources.”

The Texas Public Utilities Commission (PUC) actions to date will lead to higher electric costs for customers, by 9 percent or more, according to economists at the University of Texas. In EDF’s opinion, the only other action seriously considered by the PUC was proposed by GDF SUEZ, an independent generator and retailer based in France, with U.S. headquarters in Houston.  As the author of this proposal noted in a public workshop, the concept is not intended as a direct solution to resource adequacy and is projected by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to cost up to $2 billion during a summer like 2011.  Yet, neither action is expected to ensure the state will meet its future energy reliability needs.

(Washington, D.C. – March 29, 2013) A coalition of health and environmental organizations appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court today to reconsider a controversial appeals court ruling in a lawsuit over the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.

American Lung Association, Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, and the Clean Air Council filed the appeal – officially called a petition for writ of certiorari – with the Supreme Court today.

“The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule is vital for the health and well-being of hundreds of millions of Americans,” said EDF counsel Sean H. Donahue. “We have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the lower court’s decision given the profound public interest in ensuring healthier, longer lives for the 240 million Americans afflicted by power plant pollution and given the appeals court’s sharp deviation from settled legal principles.”

The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule is a historic pollution reduction measure that would protect air quality for 240 million Americans across the Eastern United States and save up to 34,000 lives each year. The rule was created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the “good neighbor” provision of the Clean Air Act, which is intended to ensure that the emissions from one state’s power plants do not cause harmful pollution levels in neighboring states.

Opponents of the clean air standards sued to block them. In August, a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated and remanded the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule to EPA.

Judge Judith Rogers, who dissented in the case, argued that the ruling represented a “trampling on this court’s precedent on which the Environmental Protection Agency (‘EPA’) was entitled to rely in developing the Transport Rule rather than be blindsided by arguments raised for the first time in this court.” (from the Dissent Opinion at page 1)

You can read more about the history of the case, find all the legal briefs, and read about the benefits of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule on EDF’s website.

More Information about the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule

The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule would reduce the sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen pollution emitted from coal-fired power plants across 28 eastern states. Those emissions, and the resulting particulate pollution and ozone — more commonly known as soot and smog — drift across the borders of those states and contribute to dangerous, sometimes lethal, levels of pollution in downwind states.   

The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule would reduce power plant sulfur dioxide emissions by 73 percent and oxides of nitrogen by 54 percent from 2005 levels. While no one is immune to these impacts, children and the elderly in downwind states are especially vulnerable. 

EPA estimates the Cross-State Rule would: 

• Save up to 34,000 lives each year
• Prevent 15,000 heart attacks each year
• Prevent 400,000 asthma attacks each year
• Provide up to $280 billion in health benefits for America each year 

(Washington, D.C. – March 29, 2013) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today praised the long-awaited proposal of updated standards to reduce soot, smog and other dangerous types of tailpipe pollution from cars and light trucks.

The updated national vehicle emissions and fuel standards, commonly referred to as Tier 3, were unveiled today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“The new Tier 3 standards will make our cars cleaner, and that means we’ll have cleaner air to breathe,” said EDF’s Mark MacLeod. “Reducing tailpipe pollution will provide healthier, longer lives for millions of Americans for less than a penny per gallon of gas. That’s why updating the standards has such broad support from U.S. auto makers, state health commissioners, and health advocates.”

Cars and light trucks are the second largest emitters of oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in the U.S.; those are the primary pollutants that form ozone. Those vehicles also emit more than half of all carbon monoxide pollution, and contribute significantly to levels of dangerous particulate matter in our air. 

According to EPA, the proposed new standards will slash the level of those pollutants in the air, cutting volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides by 80 percent and establishing a 70 percent tighter particulate matter standard.

The proposed standards will also reduce sulfur in gasoline by more than 60 percent. Lower sulfur levels in gasoline will allow vehicles to run more efficiently. It also means we’ll see immediate benefits once the new standards go into effect, because older cars that are already on our roads will emit less tailpipe pollution thanks to the cleaner gasoline.

By 2030, EPA estimates that the new standards will prevent 2,400 deaths every year, prevent tens of thousands of cases of respiratory illnesses in children, and provide total health-related benefits worth up to $23 billion per year.

Updating the standards will also provide greater regulatory certainty for the automobile industry. All of those benefits can be achieved at a modest cost; the additional cost to consumers of the cleaner gasoline would be less than a penny a gallon.

Auto makers, the emissions control industry, state and local officials, national recreation groups, health groups and the public all support updating Tier 3 standards.

 EPA will now hold a public comment period on its proposal.

Contact:
Joaquin McPeek, 916-492-7173, jmcpeek@edf.org

(SACRAMENTO, CA - March 28, 2013) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) issued the following statement today at a California Air Resources Board workshop on the first agriculture offset protocol in the state’s historic program to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, known as climate law AB 32:

“It is critical ARB adopt the rice protocol,” said Robert Parkhurst, director of EDF’s agricultural offsets program. “Doing so will support our farmers in being part of the solution on climate change, create economic opportunity in California, and provide the world a model for how a successful cap-and-trade program works.”

“Representing more than $1 billion in carbon offsets by 2020, agriculture is vital to making the California greenhouse-gas market work and rice farmers are ready to provide offsets to the nearly 400 businesses that must comply with AB 32’s cap-and-trade program.  

“But they need the right signal to know that their efforts will be cost-effective and efficient. Adopting the rice offset protocol can be that sign. It will serve as the gateway to establishing the much-needed agriculture offset market in California, and result in benefits for all participants – the environment, farmers and business.”

(UC DAVIS, CA – March 26, 2013)  Today, indigenous leaders from Brazil, Mexico, and Belize joined international policy experts and government officials in an unprecedented joint effort to tackle climate change, promote sustainable development in local communities and conserve tropical forests throughout the world.

Today’s workshop on “Benefits Sharing and Safeguards” for policies to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) also included newly released recommendations for how California can bring REDD+ offset credits into its statewide cap-and-trade system with environmental integrity and social equity. 

“Today presents a unique opportunity to come together and have a serious conversation about the potential benefits of REDD. Ultimately, we must work collectively to find ways that empower indigenous communities, provide us the tools to protect our lands and preserve our traditional ways of life,” said Almir Surui, Chief of the Surui People of the Brazilian Amazon.

The event marked the second of three workshops being conducted and hosted by California’s REDD+ Offset Working Group (ROW).

“The world is watching today,” said Elsa Esquivel Bazán, Co-Founder of AMBIO, Chiapas, Mexico. “This is an important dialogue space between governments and indigenous and forest peoples to consider local and global needs for development and climate change mitigation. We recognize that successful implementation of REDD will help our communities develop stable economies that protect the natural resources that we – and all – people depend on.”

In accordance with California’s Global Warming Solutions Act’s (AB32) guidance, the ROW recommends that California allow states or countries that reduce their total emissions from deforestation below an historical average to generate compliance credit in California.

“The ROW is forging new ground, developing a first-of-its-kind, gold standard set of recommendations for how to do REDD right and ensure that it delivers real benefits to indigenous communities and fights climate change. I am pleased to participate in this critically important workshop,” said Steve Schwartzman, Director of Tropical Forest Policy at Environmental Defense Fund.

The ROW also recommends requiring states to show that they have made their own efforts to reduce deforestation, beyond any reductions that they seek credit for and ensuring that local – particularly indigenous – communities participate in policy design, have a choice about whether or not to participate in programs, and benefit directly if they do.

Deforestation and forest degradation currently account for nearly 20% of the world’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of ROW is to lead efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change, recognizing it will require significant global cooperation to lower greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Draft Recommendations from the REDD Offset Working Group are now available for public comment and will be accepted through April 30. 

The workshop was co-hosted by UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment and the Economy, Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, IPAM International Program and Green Technology Leadership Group.

A full list of today’s speakers and agenda can be found here.

(SAN FRANCISCO—March 26, 2013) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is bringing onboard an experienced business leader and conservation advocate to guide the organization’s habitat program, a program dedicated to creating incentives for farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who provide conservation benefits on their land.

Daniel Heagerty joins EDF as Habitat Markets Director after 30 years experience in conservation and environmental markets at top environmental engineering firms, including CH2MHill and David Evans and Associates. He also served as co-chairman of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and as a board member of The Nature Conservancy Oregon and the Portland Zoo. Heagerty is based in EDF’s San Francisco office.

“Dan has significant experience designing programs that integrate economic growth and conservation benefits,” said David Festa, vice president, Land, Water & Wildlife, EDF. “Dan will direct EDF’s efforts to bring to scale our work with landowners and developers to implement systems that will make it possible to feed and fuel America far into the future, while ensuring an equally bright future for our water and wildlife resources.”

Heagerty will lead EDF in developing and implementing landscape-scale conservation programs that provide incentives for landowners to conserve habitat and help restore species. In addition to EDF’s long-term work on farm bill payments and conservation banking, EDF’s newest tools are Habitat Exchanges.

Habitat Exchanges are specifically designed to overcome certain limitations of existing systems, as well as address the challenge of funding long-term management and monitoring of conserved land. Habitat Exchanges are scientifically based programs in which developers pay landowners, such as farmers and ranchers, to create, maintain and restore wildlife habitat on their property. These exchanges work in concert with existing tools such as conservation banks to create net benefits for wildlife, allow developers to meet their regulatory requirements and create new revenue sources for landowners.

“I am excited to join EDF and help take Habitat Exchanges to scale,” said Heagerty. “By enhancing our partnerships with landowners, energy companies and elected officials, we have the opportunity to transform conservation in America, taking it from conflict and delay to a cooperative, fast and effective model.”

WHEN:
Tuesday March 26^th, 2013 | 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. PDT

WHAT:
Indigenous leaders from Brazil and Mexico will join international environmental policy experts and government officials in examining how policies to reduce tropical deforestation can best ensure social and environmental protections.

Tuesday’s event on “Benefits Sharing and Safeguards” for policies to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is hosted by California’s REDD+ Offset Working Group (ROW), and will feature presentations and in-depth panel discussions, including how these policies can link with California’s statewide cap-and-trade system. The provisional agenda can be viewed here.

WHO:

• Anthony Eggert, UC Davis Policy Institute for the Energy, Environment, and the Economy
• Tony Brunello, Green Technology Leadership Group
• Steve Schwartzman, Environmental Defense Fund
• Jill Blockhus, The Nature Conservancy
• Monica Julissa, Acre Climate Change Institute, Acre, Brazil
• Tashka Yawanawa, Chief of the Yawanawa People
• Felicia Line, Director of Climate Change and Energy Department, Chiapas Ministry of Environment, Chiapas, Mexico
• Valentino Shal, Indigenous Social Development Consultant, Maya Mopan Community, Belize
• Rosa Maria Vidal, Pronatura Sur, Chiapas, Mexico
• Almir Surui, Chief of the Surui People
• Elsa Esquivel, Director of Cooperativa AMBIO
• David Hernández Pérez, Cooperativa AMBIO
• Juan Reategui, Technical Coordinator, Coordination of the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA)

Participants and media (including those participating via webcast) will have the opportunity to ask questions.

WHERE & REGISTRATION:
UC Davis Conference Center – University of California, Davis or via webcast.

*Register to attend in-person or via webcast: http://stateredd.org/row-workshop-benefits-sharing-and-safeguards-march-26-at-uc-davis-conference-center/#reg

BACKGROUND:
his workshop is the second of three conducted by California’s REDD+ Offset Working Group (ROW), and is hosted by UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment and the Economy, Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, IPAM International Program and Green Technology Leadership Group.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) policies provide economic incentives for forest conservation by placing a value on living forests and their ecosystems. The REDD+ Offsets Working Group (ROW) – convened by California, the Brazilian state of Acre, and the Mexican state of Chiapas – recently released recommendations for how California can bring REDD offset credits into its carbon market with environmental integrity and social equity.

(Pinedale, Wyo.) The Wyoming Outdoor Council and Environmental Defense Fund today responded to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality’s strategy to tackle persistent and severe air pollution from oil and gas operations in the Pinedale region expressing support for the plan but noting further efforts are needed. In particular, the groups noted that more action will be needed to improve local air quality as outlined in consensus recommendations from the Upper Green River Basin Ozone Task Force — a group that comprises government officials, representatives from the oil and gas industry, environmental and public health groups, and local area residents.

“I am pleased that the DEQ has maintained its pledge to continue forward on all of the task force’s recommendations,” said Bruce Pendery with the Wyoming Outdoor Council, who served on the task force. “These actions will help clean up the air in Pinedale and better protect local citizens. However, certain actions, including reducing pollution from drilling rigs and engines used in the oil and gas fields, are not included in the strategy and they should be going forward.”

Among the positive elements of DEQ’s strategy is a plan to immediately take strong air quality requirements already in place in a portion of the region – the Jonah- Pinedale Development Area – and to make them applicable across the nonattainment area.

“This was a proposal we brought to DEQ and we are very pleased to see it included in this strategy,” said Jon Goldstein, EDF senior energy policy manager. “Wyoming has a  history of leadership in regulating air emissions from the oil and gas sector, and the requirements already in place in the Jonah and Pinedale Anticline fields are a big piece of that. Expanding the requirements to install the best emissions controls available across the region makes sense and is good news. Questions remain about plans to reduce emissions in the medium to long term, but this strategy shows that DEQ is giving many of the nearer term actions the attention they deserve.”