Complete list of press releases

(Austin, Texas, Dec. 17, 2012) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today announced the release of a peer-reviewed report, titled “Panama Canal Expansion: Emission Changes from Possible U.S. West Coast Modal Shift,” in a special issue of the journal Carbon Management. The report is a collaboration of scientists at the School of Marine Science and Policy at the University of Delaware and EDF transportation analysts.

The report focuses on the environmental opportunities presented by the expansion of the Panama Canal for the intermodal container shipping industry, and features a case study comparing estimates of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and non-carbon dioxide emissions from Asia-U.S. cargo routes. The report evaluated whether a modal shift of east coast-bound cargo onto larger ships through an expanded canal offers net emission reductions compared with the land-freight truck/rail network via the west coast.

As ocean transport is more carbon efficient than truck or rail, it is expected that the use of larger ships and more water routes will reduce the CO₂ footprint of freight transported through an expanded canal. However, the authors found that diverting cargoes from transportation modes with higher emissions per ton-mile, or the emissions released by moving one ton of freight one mile, may not provide emission benefits in this scenario. When taking future cargo volumes into consideration and assuming a 10 percent diversion from the west coast to the east coast, the effects of the expansion on CO₂  emissions appear to be negligible due to longer distances traveled.

“While infrastructure investments like an expanded Canal will help shipping shift to lower-emission vessel designs, the multimodal supply chain must be considered a system to fully realize the sustainability benefits of freight innovation,” said Dr. James Corbett, Professor of Marine Policy at the University of Delaware. “We look forward to helping all parts of the freight sector – industry and policy decision makers – visualize the potential for green freight networks.”  

Changes in emissions of criteria pollutants could be regionally significant for air quality due to the localized nature of their environmental and health impacts. The model used in this analysis estimates a 17 percent increase in particulate matter (PM) emissions and an 18 percent increase in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions for East Coast routes, with associated reductions for west coast routes. Short sea shipping, the movement of cargo by sea that does not involve crossing the ocean, can potentially mitigate emission increases in regions with higher container traffic volumes. Therefore, system-wide and intermodal consideration is crucial to improve freight transport from origin to destination, not just from port to port.

“As greenhouse gas emissions from freight transportation are expected to increase 25 percent by 2030, this paper plays a critical role in presenting data that focus on the emissions implications of evolving trends within the shipping industry,” said Elena Craft, PhD, a Health Scientist at EDF.

(SACRAMENTO – December 13, 2012) Eric Holst, a senior director of Environmental Defense Fund’s working lands program, was appointed to the California State Board of Food & Agriculture by Governor Jerry Brown.

“Eric is a terrific choice for the California Board of Food & Agriculture,” said David Festa vice president of EDF’s Land, Water and Wildlife Program. “He is leading the way in developing innovative partnerships with farmers, ranchers and foresters to improve environmental and economic performance on working lands.”

According to its website, the California State Board of Food and Agriculture is a fifteen-member state board, appointed by the Governor, and carefully selected to represent a broad range of agricultural commodities, a variety of geographic regions and academic systems. The board encourages public participation and input in all matters concerning agriculture and food policy within the state.

“It is an honor to be chosen to participate on the California State Board of Food & Agriculture,” said Holst. “California’s farmers, ranchers and foresters provide numerous benefits to the people of California including food, fiber and numerous ecosystem benefits such as clean water and clean air and wildlife habitat. I look forward to representing these interests and to bringing wider-recognition to the multiple environmental benefits provided by California’s working lands.”

Holst has been senior director for working lands at the Environmental Defense Fund since 2006. He was principal at Holst Conservation Consulting from 2004 to 2006 and served as executive director of the Resources Legacy Fund in 2004. Holst was program officer at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation from 1999 to 2003 and was a manager at Conservation Agriculture Program at the Rainforest Alliance from 1996 to 1999. He earned a Master of Science degree in environmental management from Duke University.

(Washington, D.C. – December 14, 2012) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today unveils its updated standards for a particularly dangerous, and often deadly, type of air pollution — fine particle pollution, better known as soot.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) praised EPA for the move, which will help secure healthy air for millions of Americans.

“EPA’s new health standards to protect Americans from soot pollution are a perfect holiday gift,” said EDF President Fred Krupp. “This is a big step towards cleaner, healthier air for all of us.”

The new annual standard will be 12 micrograms per cubic meter. That standard will save thousands of lives threatened by soot-related health problems, and will help protect the one in 11 children in the U.S. who have asthma. 

Soot is one of the deadliest forms of air pollution. It’s known to cause or exacerbate heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, and bronchitis, and it’s a risk factor for diabetes. People with those underlying health problems, children, and the elderly face a higher risk from soot pollution.  

“Almost half of all Americans — our mothers, our brothers, our uncles, our kids — are considered to be especially vulnerable to the harmful impacts of soot,” said Elena Craft, Health Scientist for EDF. “EPA’s new standards will help protect them, and all of us. Now Americans must work together to put in place the smart solutions that will reduce soot levels in our air.” 

(Boulder, CO – December 11, 2012) A practical, flexible plan to bring balance back to the Colorado River is one of several approaches assessed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in a major study that will help determine the course of the iconic river and the seven Colorado River Basin states that depend on it.

The plan proposed by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Western Resource Advocates, the Nature Conservancy, Protect the Flows, Pacific Institute and Nuestro Rio starkly contrasts with a separate proposal by the Colorado River Basin states’ water agencies and utilities to build an expensive 700-mile pipeline from the Upper Missouri River to Colorado. The states’ utilities also advocate for construction of five large desalination plants off the coast of California and Mexico to turn ocean water into drinking water.

The landmark study is expected to confirm that demand for the Colorado River’s water will outpace supply in coming years. Referred to as the Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study, it provides an important look at the costs and benefits of a range of proposals to ensure the Colorado River Basin region has enough water to support its economy, environment and quality of life.

More than 30 million people in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming depend on the Colorado River for drinking water, crops, ranching, tourism, energy and business.

“The Colorado River is the lifeblood of the dry West and what makes it possible for us to live in this spectacular region.  But we can’t keep bleeding the river dry,” says Dan Grossman, Rocky Mountain regional director of EDF. “The Basin Study says loud and clear that it’s time for a new approach that puts conservation first, so we can both maintain the river we love and ensure our cities, businesses, farms and families have the water we need.”

The study evaluates more than 100 options and strategies to see how they would address the challenges facing the water supply in the Colorado River, both alone and in four “portfolios” that combine different options.

Known as Portfolio C, the plan by EDF and its partners emphasizes modern river management and includes strategies such as conservation, reuse of waste water for irrigation, and desalination of brackish groundwater. Conservation is comparatively cheaper, faster and easier to implement than strategies contained in other portfolios, which include the costly new pipeline and the impractical, energy-guzzling plants to desalinate ocean water.

Jennifer Pitt, EDF’s Colorado River Project Director, said, “Two things are clear: One, there’s a big problem and if we don’t do something about it we leave our children a legacy of water shortages and dried up rivers; and two, everyone agrees on the common sense solutions like more water conservation throughout the basin. There’s plenty we can do now before we need to decide on the more controversial solutions like expensive infrastructure projects.”

Portfolio C also relies on market-oriented solutions, such as water banking in which conserved water is “banked” to help water users in times of drought and to benefit healthy river flows for boating, rafting and the environment.

“These approaches will ensure we have the water we need for thriving economies and prosperous communities in the Basin while still protecting the river and the ecosystems and wildlife it supports,” Grossman added.

NEW YORK (Dec. 11, 2012) – In response to growing interest in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues among leading private equity firms and institutional investors, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a leading national nonprofit organization, today announced the release of a comprehensive, new ESG Management Tool for the private equity industry. Created in collaboration with Irbaris, the Tool defines for the first time the practices necessary to build a successful ESG management program and a framework to assess, analyze and improve ESG management at private equity firms of all sizes. 

“EDF has been a value-added partner for Carlyle in the development of our ESG practices,” said Bryan Corbett, Principal at The Carlyle Group. “As the private equity industry’s interest in ESG issues continues to grow, there’s a clear market need for leadership and resources from EDF and others to help convert this growing interest into sound strategies for implementation and results.”

Free to download, users of the Tool will evaluate and enhance performance across 22 best practice areas, including commitment and leadership from the top, access to ESG resources and expertise, integration of ESG management into the investment process and portfolio company operations, and measuring and reporting results.

“Leading private equity firms have already begun to capitalize on ESG opportunities and expectations are growing for the rest of the industry” said Tom Murray, managing director with EDF’s Corporate Partnerships Program. “This active management tool will not only help firms assess current performance, but also develop plans to better integrate ESG management and create measurable environmental, social and financial results.”

The Tool reflects the leading thinking in the industry and was informed by:  

• EDF’s experience partnering with prominent private equity firms including Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), The Carlyle Group (Carlyle) and Oak Hill Capital Partners. These partnerships combined have impacted over 30 portfolio companies and resulted in approximately $370 million dollars of operating cost savings or revenue growth as well as 820,000 metric tons of avoided CO2 emissions. 

• Research and publications by the British Venture Capital Association, BSR, Doughty Hanson, Irbaris, Malk Sustainability Partners, PwC, Private Equity International, the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment, and World Wildlife Fund. 

• Detailed peer review and feedback from a broad range of stakeholders, including Actis, Blackstone, Bloomberg, BSR, Carlyle, Doughty Hanson, Harvard Management Company, KKR, Oak Hill Capital Partners, PwC US, TPG and four other leading global LPs.

“Reviewing the Tool helped expand our thinking about ESG management and best practices” said J. Taylor Crandall, Managing Partner of Oak Hill Capital Partners. “EDF’s new Tool provides clear and helpful guidance on the building blocks necessary for a successful ESG program.”

Going forward, EDF will work with BSR and other industry partners to broadly disseminate the tool across the industry with the goal of making measuring and managing environmental, social and governance performance a standard practice for value creation across the private equity sector.

“The private equity sector is giving more and more consideration to ESG issues in the context of their business decisions” said Jane Mendillo, CEO of Harvard Management Company. “If investment performance can be enhanced by good ESG management the entire sector stands to benefit.”  

(DOHA/ WASHINGTON – Dec. 8, 2012)  After another marathon negotiating session, countries at the UN climate talks in Doha managed to scrape together minimal progress on its scope of work and agreed to begin addressing the hardships that climate change is already inflicting on the most vulnerable countries, but left a number of lingering issues unresolved, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) said at the conclusion of the talks Saturday evening.

Working through long nights, delegates ultimately agreed to a three-part deal: i) a second round of emission reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol; ii) the close of the “LCA” negotiating track, which — since launched in Bali in 2007 — has led many countries to make voluntary emission reduction pledges; and iii) a course for negotiating the “Durban Platform for Enhanced Action” (ADP), a new climate deal for all countries to be agreed by 2015 and to take effect in 2020.

“With the unfinished business of the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali agenda finally behind them, countries can now face forward and concentrate on crafting the robust new agreement that we so urgently need,” said EDF’s International Climate Program Director Jennifer Haverkamp. 

As predicted, a large sticking point across the negotiations was climate finance. Seeking firm commitments and clarifications of how financing would scale up between now and the $100 billion a year by 2020, as they were promised in Copenhagen, developing countries instead got a workplan and reassurances. The talks’ modest outcome also failed to send the policy signal needed to unlock critical private investments in climate change.

“Not until we get clarity on how all countries will participate in reducing emissions, and on the legal structure of the agreement and its institutions, will we see substantial funds flowing to address climate change, both inside and out of the UN process. Doha barely began to answer some of those questions,” said Haverkamp.

Countries also agreed to establish a process to address “loss and damage” resulting from climate change. Haverkamp says it indicates the UN’s recognition that the severe consequences of climate change have become today’s problem, no longer one of the distant future.

“This is the next step in the UN’s increasingly reactive response to climate change. First the focus was on avoiding emissions. When mitigation efforts proved inadequate, it turned more attention to adaptation. Now, as the effects of extreme weather and rising oceans hit communities from the Philippines to New Jersey, the UN has realized it must begin to grapple with the damaging effects of climate change it had been mostly trying to avoid,” said Haverkamp.

Doha’s outcome also reinforces the importance of continuing to make climate progress at the domestic and local levels. During the Doha talks, the Dominican Republic announced its commitments to reduce its carbon emissions 25% by 2030 from 2010 levels, and Belarus announced a domestic carbon market that will start in 2014.  

“While more and deeper cuts are needed around the world, we’re seeing real action via national and state-wide climate programs in Europe, Australia, California, South Korea, China and others. It is domestic efforts like these, in tandem with multilateral accords and initiatives, that will get us to a secure climate future,” said Haverkamp.

(Sacramento, CA, Dec. 7, 2012) – An innovative and pioneering energy efficiency and renewable energy finance mechanism took a step closer to reality yesterday with the introduction of Senate Bill 37 (SB 37) by Senator Kevin de León. The bill would authorize the Public Utilities Commission to establish a first-in-the nation On-Bill Repayment (OBR) program allowing consumers a creative way to save money and energy by financing energy efficiency retrofits and renewable energy projects through their utility bills. The OBR program was envisioned by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the sponsor of SB 37.

“An On-Bill Repayment program opens up new funding opportunities for energy efficiency and renewable energy at no cost to taxpayers or ratepayers.  It can do so while enabling homeowners and renters to lower their utility bills. EDF is pleased to work with Senator De León to make this win-win a reality for Californians,” said Brad Copithorne, director of financial innovation for EDF’s Energy Program.

“Every Californian should be able to participate in the clean energy economy, and On-Bill Repayment helps us achieve this goal,” said Senator De León. “OBR will lower utility bills, reduce pollution from dirty energy, and put thousands of Californians back to work. I am proud to be working with a broad coalition dedicated to moving this bill forward.”

EDF estimates that even with 1 percent of residential properties participating annually, the program could generate more than 20,000 jobs for the hard-hit construction industry and reduce more than seven million tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per year.

SB 37 builds on the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) landmark decision last May that requires the investor-owned utilities to establish pilot On-Bill Repayment programs to finance projects for commercial properties. SB 37 provides the CPUC with authority to extend the program to residential properties.

EDF also estimates that this program could generate $2.7 billion in annual private investments once it is up and running. “A well-designed On-Bill Repayment program could meaningfully increase the banking industry’s ability to finance energy efficiency projects throughout California,” said Vincent Siciliano, CEO of New Resource Bank, a likely participant in the program.

The bill is pending referral to the state policy committee and is expected to be first heard in early spring.

(Houston, Texas, Dec. 5, 2012) Vision Industries Corporation (OTCBB: VIIC), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Air Products and project partners were recently awarded $500,000 from the Texas Emission Reduction Program (TERP) to partially fund the building of the first public hydrogen fueling station in the state. The station, which is proposed to be fed from an existing hydrogen pipeline, will fuel port trucks and be publicly available for personal vehicles.

An alliance of diverse organizations, including hydrogen truck manufacturer Vision Industries, trucking company TTSI, non-profit organization Environmental Defense Fund and Air Products were awarded the funds for the new facility for hydrogen fueling infrastructure through the TERP Alternative Fueling Facilities Program (AFFP). 

The facility will support new hydrogen fuel cell electric hybrid trucks being developed for use at the Port of Houston. In addition, the station offers the opportunity to provide fuel for future hydrogen equipment and vehicles used at other facilities, including warehouses and distribution facilities. The station, along with the hydrogen fuel cell electric hybrid trucks manufactured by Vision, will be the role model for ports worldwide for a zero-emission, sustainable fuel initiative.

“This award symbolizes the type of forward and creative thinking that has always driven innovation in this country,” said EDF health scientist Elena Craft, Ph.D. “It means a cleaner fuel choice and healthier air for Houstonians.”

“We are very happy and excited about the decision by TERP to support this first, large-scale commercial hydrogen fueling station in the world.  It will support a fleet of 20 Hydrogen Class 8 trucks initially.  However, since hydrogen is supplied through a pipeline, this station could ultimately supply hydrogen for up to 1,000 trucks,” said Martin Schuermann, CEO of Vision Industries.

“We believe this is a wonderful project and we are proud to be part of the team.  Air Products has tremendous experience in developing the hydrogen infrastructure for fueling and in the production of hydrogen.  This could be a model location for alternative energy for the Port and Texas,” said Brian Bonner, global product manager for Hydrogen Energy Systems at Air Products.

The new hydrogen facility supports the efforts of several of the project partners to reduce emissions, noise, and other environmental impacts of port truck activities. The hydrogen station will be built near the Port of Houston Authority’s Bayport Container Terminal in Harris County, which is part of the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria nonattainment area for ozone, which is a harmful air pollutant.  Additional benefits of this location include the presence of an existing hydrogen pipeline that is owned by Air Products, making the fuel 100 percent locally sourced.   By 2020, trucks fueled at the station are expected to result in a reduction of particulate matter by 46 tons, nitrogen oxides by 2,200 tons, and volatile organic compounds by 23 tons. 

(WASHINGTON—November 30, 2012) The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced its initial listing decision today for the lesser prairie chicken as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

This decision could trigger new scrutiny by state and federal wildlife agencies on permits and operations for energy developers and ranchers that could impact the bird’s habitat in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado – states that are prime grounds for oil, gas and wind development, as well as farming and ranching.

“In the past, these kinds of ESA listing decisions have led to years of litigation and conflict,” said David Festa, Vice President of the Land, Water and Wildlife program for Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). “Now, with the lesser prairie chicken, we’re working with land users to set up Wildlife Habitat Exchanges that provide cooperative, cost-effective habitat conservation.”

EDF is working with landowners, developers and energy companies to design a new, cooperative approach to conservation that promises ample habitat protection at low cost – potentially enough habitat to reverse dwindling populations and avert a final listing under the law. This approach, known as Wildlife Habitat Exchanges, enlists private landowners like ranchers and farmers to create and maintain vital habitat, which energy companies and other developers can in turn use to meet their obligations to protect wildlife.

“There’s an energy boom in the West and Wildlife Habitat Exchanges allow for thoughtful, well-planned mitigation strategies that will result in measurable conservation benefits for wildlife species like the lesser prairie chicken,” said Eric Holst, senior director of EDF’s Working Lands program. 

This cooperative approach is essential to achieving long-term results, as 90 percent of the bird’s habitat exists on private lands. Many states, farmers and ranchers are already throwing their weight behind the model: Texas used it to protect the golden cheeked warbler, and the Texas and Kansas Farm Bureaus want to see it used for the lesser prairie chicken.

“Habitat Exchanges are a smart solution for threatened species such as the lesser prairie chicken,” said Steve Swaffar of the Kansas Farm Bureau. “Exchanges deliver quantifiable measures of habitat and resources, at the same time giving private landowners an opportunity to derive income by providing for the specific needs of the species, and continue to use their property for agriculture production.”

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Agency has up to a year to make a final listing decision.

“EDF supports Wildlife Habitat Exchanges as a proven model that could change the trajectory of the lesser prairie chicken,” said Festa. “It can bring the species back from the brink and put it on a path toward recovery before the final listing decision is made.”

(PHOENIX—November 29, 2012) This week the San Francisco River was profiled as the “River of the Month” in a year-long series celebrating Arizona’s centennial year. The river profile released today by five conservation groups is the ninth in the “Celebrating Arizona’s Rivers” series, which raises awareness about the ecology and geology of rivers in Arizona as well as the uses they serve and the threats they face.

The 160-mile-long San Francisco River originates in Arizona’s White Mountains and flows east into New Mexico, flowing through the remote San Francisco Box Canyon. It continues south along the Arizona and New Mexico border until it makes a 90-degree turn back into Arizona, just south of the San Francisco Hot Springs. It is then joined by the Blue River and flows past the copper mining town of Clifton. The San Francisco continues southwest and joins the Gila River in the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area, a 23,000-acre preserve that protects unique habitat and wildlife.

“In a landscape increasingly fragmented by development, the watersheds of the San Francisco and its largest tributary, the Blue River, serve as a biological refuge of largely undisturbed riparian habitat where diverse, rare species of plants and wildlife thrive,” say the conservation organizations in the River of the Month profile.

The San Francisco’s year-round flows and surrounding landscape support many endangered species including the Southwestern willow flycatcher, Chiricahua leopard frog, and Mexican grey wolf. While the river is relatively undisturbed, it is still threatened by a variety of activities including impacts from off-road vehicles and removal of native vegetation.

Rural communities depend on the health of the watershed for municipal water supply and recreational uses, and efforts are underway to restore and protect the San Francisco River. These efforts include watershed mapping, re-introduction of native fish populations, increased enforcement of off-road vehicle regulations, fencing and stream protection efforts, invasive species removal, and volunteer tree-planting and river clean-up events.

The River of the Month series profiles one of Arizona’s rivers each month. It is produced by Environmental Defense Fund, Grand Canyon Trust, Sierra Club, Sonoran Institute, and Western Resource Advocates, with technical assistance provided by the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center. Previous profiles—starting with a feature of the iconic Colorado River—may be downloaded from Environmental Defense Fund, Sonoran Institute, or Western Resource Advocates, and interested groups and individuals may sign up here to receive a notification when a new profile is released.

“WWF called for a veto of this bill and we are disappointed that it passed. However, there is a silver lining here — the administration has appointed high level representatives to pursue a global solution for aviation and climate. The White House now must endorse a global, market-based measure to rein in carbon pollution from aviation. If they do, we are optimistic that the U.S. can work with ICAO to develop a package of policies that will reduce our share of global emissions,” said Keya Chatterjee, Director of International Climate Policy at WWF.

“The signing of the Thune bill is largely symbolic,” said Sarah Saylor, Senior Legislative Representative for Earthjustice. “Implementing it would be a mess that could lead to a taxpayer bailout for the airlines or a potential trade war. We are pleased to see the Obama administration turning our collective attention to the international arena where real progress can be made,” she added.

“Unlike the bill that passed here in the U.S., Europe’s stop-the-clock on its law aims to ‘create a positive atmosphere’ for the international talks,” said Annie Petsonk, international counsel at Environmental Defense Fund.  “Now the spotlight is on ICAO, and on whether the U.S. will step forward with the real leadership needed to drive agreement on an ICAO program to cut aviation’s carbon pollution,” she added. 

“We echo the Obama administration in calling for an international solution, as that is the best way to address the growing problem of carbon pollution from international aviation,” said Jake Schmidt, International Climate Policy Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “We are glad that the Administration is signaling its willingness to roll up its sleeves to get that done.”

The groups reiterated that now is the perfect time to make a global deal happen, and they underscored their readiness to work with all stakeholders to get the job done. 

Background:

Aviation is a significant source of global warming pollution and is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions if left uncontrolled.  If it were ranked as a country, the aviation sector would be the world’s 7^th largest source of this pollution, which is rising 3 to 4 percent per year.

Europe’s Aviation Directive, which includes aviation within Europe’s economy-wide Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) from January 2012, is a pioneering law that holds airlines accountable for emissions associated with commercial flights that land at or take off from EU airports.  The program is projected to reduce carbon pollution equivalent to that produced by 30 million cars by 2020.

On November 9, the 36-nation Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) decided to form a high-level advisory group to provide guidance on crafting an international program to reduce emissions from aviation, with the aim to adopt an agreement at their next triennial Assembly in September-October 2013. In response, the European Union announced it would stop the clock for one year on the implementation of its law capping the carbon emissions of international flights landing and taking off from European airports.

The preceding developments render irrelevant S. 1956, U.S. legislation signed today authorizing the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to prohibit U.S. airlines from taking part in the European emissions program.  If the Secretary of Transportation were to implement the prohibition outlined in the bill, it would require unlawful behavior on the part of U.S. airlines and would risk igniting a trade war with the European Union. However, the bill also puts the U.S. government on record supporting efforts to secure an international approach to reduce aviation’s global warming pollution.

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Contact:

Chris Conner, WWF, (202) 492-2001

Sarah Saylor, Earthjustice (202) 667-4500

Annie Petsonk, EDF, (202) 365-3237

Jake Schmidt, NRDC (202) 425-1515

(DOHA/ WASHINGTON – Nov. 26, 2012) Parties gathering in Doha, Qatar for the latest United Nations climate conference (COP-18) could achieve some measured progress on key issues, including launching new negotiations for a global climate agreement, developing new climate finance incentives, and reducing deforestation emissions, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) said as the talks opened today.   

The countries now meeting in Doha are scheduled to finalize a second round of commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, the international agreement to cut greenhouse gases, and wrap up the Long-term Cooperative Action (LCA) negotiating track, which was launched in Bali in 2007 and led many countries to make voluntary emission reduction pledges but fell short of a comprehensive binding agreement. Doha will also set the course for the “Durban Platform for Enhanced Action” track, whose goal is a new climate agreement for all countries to be agreed to by 2015 and to take effect from 2020.

“Countries can make real progress in Doha by agreeing to the Kyoto Protocol’s second commitment period with minimal fuss and delay, and concluding the Long-term Cooperative Action track, so they can turn their full attention to bringing lessons learned and key policy tools from those agreements forward into the new negotiations,” said EDF’s International Climate Program Director Jennifer Haverkamp.

“Even the U.S. founding fathers didn’t get the Constitution right the first time – remember the Articles of Confederation? Countries, in constructing this new agreement, have a chance to incorporate the key elements of these tracks: Kyoto’s binding structure and accountability, and the LCA’s broadened participation among countries and new tools to fight climate change,” said Haverkamp.

For climate finance, countries in Doha should deliver clear signals of ambitious commitment to address climate change, a much-needed policy signal that will help unlock and target critical climate finance funds that exist right now in the stock and bond markets and in countries’ national public expenditures. For policies for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+), countries have the opportunity to agree that multiple sources of finance can be used to pay for REDD+ reductions, and thereby send another positive signal to tropical forest nations.

Outside the UN negotiations, countries and states have been busy launching and benefiting from emissions reductions programs. Even just since last year’s negotiations, Australia’s carbon price has gone into effect, Korea and Mexico have passed domestic climate legislation, China is moving forward with emissions trading pilot programs, and Europe’s Emissions Trading System, which has achieved significant emissions reductions at minimal cost, is about to transition to its third phase.

“A full quarter of the world’s economy – from California to China, Mexico to South Korea – has or is putting in place programs to reduce emissions,” said Haverkamp. “The top-down UN process is still critical to stopping dangerous climate change, but more and more countries are deciding not to wait around for it to tell them what to do. We’re already in a bottom-up world.”

In the United States, California begins its state-wide cap-and-trade system on January 1, and the northeastern states’ regional cap-and-trade system (RGGI) is already cutting emissions while their regional per capita GDP is growing faster than the nation as a whole. And a new report shows that the U.S. is on track to reduce its emissions by more than 16 percent from 2005 levels by 2020, thanks in part to these states’ initiatives.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today released a report titled “Review of Texas’ Clean School Bus Programs: How Far Have We Come and What Is Still Left to Do?” This report evaluates each of the clean school bus programs in Texas, reviews accomplishments, and offers suggestions for improvement. 

Diesel engines power most of the estimated 480,000 school buses in the United States, and the World Health Organization recently classified diesel exhaust as a known carcinogen, specifically noting a causal link between exposure to diesel exhaust and lung cancer. One of the most dangerous components of diesel exhaust is particulate matter (PM). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is particularly concerned with these smallest-sized particles, because they are known to aggravate asthma, cause lung inflammation, lead to heart problems, and increase the risk of cancer and premature death.

Texas children riding to school in buses built before 2007 may be breathing air inside the cabin of the bus that contains 5-10 times higher the amount of diesel pollution than found outside the bus. These older bus engines spew nearly 40 toxic substances and smog-forming emissions. Children, who breathe in more air per pound of body weight than adults, are therefore exposed to even higher health risks because their lungs are still developing.

As of the 2010-2011 school year, the Texas Education Agency reported that nearly two-thirds of current school buses were over six years old, emitting at least 10 times as much PM as newer buses, and much more in many cases because a large proportion of the fleet is even older. More than 700,000 children are impacted, meaning that nearly half of the students relying on school buses for transportation in Texas still ride dirty buses.

Texas has made a great deal of progress with clean bus programs. Through the end of the 2011 calendar year, 7,068 buses were retrofitted, 700 buses were replaced, and several other projects related to clean fuels and idle reduction were successfully implemented in Texas. Over $38 million has been spent on these projects, with funding received from the federal and state government, as well as from local donors.

“I’m thrilled to see the progress we’ve made with the Texas clean school bus programs,” said Elena Craft, Health Scientist at EDF. “But our work is not finished. I hope that school districts will take advantage of available programs and remaining funds to clean up the older, more polluting school buses.”

There are two current programs available to help retrofit or replace the remaining 17,000 dirty schools buses in Texas. Under the Texas Clean School Bus Program, The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is accepting applications for grants through November 30. This is a comprehensive program designed to reduce diesel exhaust emissions through school bus retrofits. All public school districts and charter schools in Texas are eligible to apply for this grant. Private schools are not eligible for funding. Public school districts that lease buses are also eligible.

EPA also launched a new rebate funding opportunity for school bus replacements under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act. Applications will be accepted from Nov. 13 to Dec. 14.  The first round of rebates will be offered as part of a pilot program and will focus on the replacement of older school buses in both public and private fleets. If the pilot proves successful, EPA will look at rebates for other fleet types and technologies.