Complete list of press releases

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(Washington, DC – April 28, 2009) Experts outlined a new path for the United States and Cuba to work together on environmental issues to protect diverse marine resources in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean at a meeting today at the Brookings Institution. The meeting comes less than two weeks after President Obama eased travel restrictions on Cuban-Americans and announced plans to revisit U.S. policy on Cuba. EDF has asked that environmental protection be among the top priorities in future Cuban policy for the administration.

“The U.S. and Cuba share many ecological resources, but the countries have different ways of managing them,” said Daniel Whittle, a senior attorney at Environmental Defense Fund. “More information exchange among academics, scientists and conservation groups will help both countries do a better job of managing coastal and marine resources. The sooner we work together, the sooner we’ll see benefits for the people, the environment and the economy in both countries.”

Whittle added that expanded scientific and management cooperation can help address the growing threats to coral reefs, ocean fish populations, habitats for migratory birds, marine mammals and turtles, and biodiversity. Fishing, development in coastal areas, and offshore oil and gas exploitation have a direct impact on the United States.

Under current U.S. law, travel to Cuba for U.S. citizens is extremely limited and Cuban scientists are rarely granted visas to conduct research or attend professional meetings in the United States.

“An important first step toward managing our shared marine resources would be to greatly increase the flow of information and expertise between the two countries,” said Vicki Huddleston, a visiting foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution and former chief of the United States Interests Section in Cuba from 1999 to 2002.

Just 90 miles from the tip of Florida, Cuba shares a large amount of ocean territory with the United States. Because of the prevailing currents and Cuba’s proximity, preserving its marine resources is critically important to the economies of coastal communities in both countries.

“Cuba is well positioned to take a positive environmental course, led by smart growth, protection of biodiversity, and sustainable economic development,” said Scott Edwards, director of the Latin America and Caribbean Program at EDF. “Greater cooperation on the environment between the U.S. and Cuba would help both countries develop new capacity within their environmental agencies, scientific institutions and non-governmental organizations.”

President Obama has the legal authority to institute far-reaching cooperation with Cuba on joint marine environmental projects.

“There is essentially no limit to the conservation activities in Cuba that President Obama can authorize, whether they take the form of government-to-government initiatives or the authorization of American NGO projects in that country,” said Robert Muse, an attorney based in Washington, D.C. and an expert on U.S. laws relating to Cuba. “It is hard to think of a more constructive use of the President’s foreign affairs prerogative than the preservation of the marine environment the U.S. shares with Cuba.”
 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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(Sacramento CA—April 23, 2009) Environmental Defense Fund commends the California Air Resources Board for today adopting the world’s first Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) that, once implemented, can dramatically reduce the environmental impact of transportation. By achieving this ambitious yet critical milestone, California will usher in widespread use of low carbon fuels that drive innovation and commercialization in new fuel production technology, vehicle designs and new and expanded fueling infrastructure. 

While achieving the 2020 goal will require expenditures, this measure is an investment that will yield extensive returns through fuel diversification, increased resilience to fuel price fluctuations, independence from foreign fuel sources, and development of emerging businesses.

Environmental Defense Fund believes the standard is an important hedge against higher, future conventional fuel prices. By helping develop better and cheaper alternative fuel production methods, low carbon fuels will become increasingly more affordable than gasoline as increasing crude oil prices take hold.

There are many reasons why Environmental Defense Fund, which has been analyzing the concept and structure of the standard for two years, supports it. Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of the LCFS is the market based structure that gives fuel producers flexible compliance options: they can reduce their own carbon intensity or use a carbon fuel market to find reductions. This approach is designed to inspire and reward extensive and immediate reductions in the carbon intensity of fuels.

The low-carbon fuel standard is an important tool to help California transform its fuel mix. When coupled with an economy wide cap on emissions that includes the transportation sector, the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard represents the ultimately cost effective and technologically feasible way to transform our transportation sector and meet carbon reduction goals.

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Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.

• Chicago, Illinois:  The McDonald’s CycleCenter is an essential part of MillenniumPark, with 300 secure indoor parking spaces for bicycles, showers, lockers, bike repair services and solar panels.
• Connecticut: Statewide van pool service for commuters that offers more than 300 routes transporting 3,000 riders daily and even goes into New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
• *Kings County, California: Van pool service that ensures access to schools, jobs and medical services and reduces air pollution in this heavily polluted, yet very rural San JoaquinValley.
• *Los Angeles, California: Bus rapid transit that connects the residents and employment centers of San Fernando Valley with the end point of LA’s main highway in North Hollywood, and reduces traffic.
• *Manassas/Prince William County, Virginia: Flexible bus route system that uses modern global positioning technology (GPS) to pick up passengers up to ¾ mile off route in this exurban area.
• *Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota: Operating on highway shoulders reconstructed for bus use, Metro Transit riders can safely zip past stalled traffic, saving people time and frustration.
• Mobile, Alabama: Shuttle service that picks up people at home and brings them downtown and back.
• *Orlando, Florida: Bus rapid transit system that has helped spur development of five new downtown office buildings (each 1 million square feet) and six new apartment communities.
• Eugene, Oregon: The bus rapid transit line called EmX features hybrid buses with a dedicated bus lane and a partnership with local universities and schools to provide low-cost service to students.
• Portland, Oregon: Streetcar system serves 13,000 riders daily, cutting traffic, pollution and spurring economic development and a new local industry manufacturing streetcars at Oregon Iron Works.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(New Orleans, LA – April 23, 2009) A new online calculator released today makes it easier than ever for fleet managers to measure their greenhouse gas emissions as a first step in creating “greener” vehicle fleets. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA) created the Fleet Greenhouse Gas Calculator that enables fleets to track their progress in reducing emissions over time.

The EDF-NAFA Fleet Greenhouse Gas Calculator will be unveiled tomorrow at an opening seminar at the NAFA 2009 Institute & Expo in New Orleans. The seminar, entitled “Carbon Footprint Calculation and Management,” will cover data needs and options for quantifying fleet greenhouse gas emissions.

“Fleet managers today face immense pressures from all sides to cut costs – and reducing emissions is one way to do so,” said Jason Mathers, Green Fleet project manager for EDF. “Our goal in launching this online calculator is to put fleet managers in the driver’s seat when it comes to measurement, efficiency and cost savings.”

Recognizing that it is difficult to capture the complete data required by more advanced calculation methods, the Fleet Greenhouse Gas Calculator is designed to minimize data entry needs for fleets while retaining accuracy.

“With environmental goals front and center for so many fleet managers today, they need help calculating and quantifying their successes when it comes to minimizing the carbon footprint of their operations” said Phil Russo, executive director of NAFA. “This new tool combines great data with ease of use and fills a big gap for fleet managers as a result. NAFA will also be using this tool to speak with legislators and regulators to help them understand the kinds of data fleet managers can collect and the impact fleet operations can have on mitigating emissions.”

The Fleet Greenhouse Gas Calculator estimates total fleet greenhouse gas emissions from fuel consumption data. This data is directly used to calculate emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which accounts for about 95% of greenhouse gas from vehicles. Emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) are estimated based on their prominence among greenhouse gas from transportation source as reported in the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2006. You can access the calculator by clicking here.

Vehicles are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 28% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. In the U.S., fleets account for nearly nine million vehicles on the road. Combined, these vehicles emit millions of metric tons of greenhouse gases annually. Fleet operators, both private and public, are seeking ways to lessen their greenhouse gas footprint. The most effective fleet actions are directly tied to seeking greenhouse gas reductions.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Tony Kreindler, National Media Director, Climate, 202-445-8108, tkreindler@edf.org
 

(Washington – April 21, 2009) A just-released analysis from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the cap on carbon pollution proposed by Reps. Henry Waxman and Ed Markey can be achieved for as little as $98 per year per household – or roughly 12 cents per person per day. 

“For about a dime a day we can solve climate change, invest in a clean energy future, and save billions in imported oil,” said EDF Director of Economic Policy and Analysis Nat Keohane, PhD, who will be testifying before the House Energy and Commerce Committee tomorrow on the economic benefits of the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

“EPA’s analysis confirms what all credible economic models have found, which is that we can easily afford to reduce carbon pollution,” Keohane said. “In fact, the most expensive climate policy is not having one at all. In the real future – not the fantasy land that opponents of action live in — continuing along the so-called business as usual path will incur huge costs from leaving climate change and oil addiction unaddressed.”

EPA’s new analysis shows that the market-based cap on carbon contained in the American Clean Energy and Security Act can be met for $98 to $140 per year for the average American household. Those estimates only consider the costs of reducing global warming pollution, and do not take into account the benefits of action.

“The analysis clearly refutes unfounded suggestions by opponents of an emissions cap that household impacts would be much higher. Those misguided estimates are off by orders of magnitude,” Keohane said. “Opponents of action will always try to cherry-pick the numbers and use models with biased assumptions. The EPA analysis sets the standard for economic analysis, using the most credible, transparent, and peer-reviewed models available.”

EPA’s analysis is online at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/economics/economicanalyses.html#wax.

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Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

View this release with interactive elements

(LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. – April 21, 2009) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today highlighted environmental innovations that are helping companies cut costs, create business opportunities and carve out competitive advantage in a challenging economy. EDF unveiled Innovations Review 2009: Green Advances for a New Economy at the Fortune Brainstorm Green Conference, where executives from highlighted companies gathered to discuss how environmental innovations are benefiting their business.

“Environmental innovation is a powerful way to create business value,” said Gwen Ruta, vice president of corporate partnerships at EDF. “These innovations tackle today’s environmental and economic challenges head on – improving the planet and the bottom line at the same time. We hope that they serve as useful models, inspire further innovation and continue to redefine business as usual. “

Innovations Review 2009 showcases innovations from companies including Cisco Systems, Coca-Cola, Google and Wal-Mart. Other examples include:

• High-tech computer systems produced by Hydropoint and PureSense that monitor real-time weather and soil conditions to help companies reduce water used for crop irrigation and commercial landscaping by 15 to 40 percent.
• A financing plan developed by Midwest Energy that allows homeowners to lower their monthly bills through efficiency upgrades, while generating a new source of revenue for the company. This model has the potential to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 5%.
• A mortgage program developed by Zocalo Community Development in Colorado that is boosting sales by offering homebuyers lower interest rates if they elect to buy condominiums equipped with solar panels.
• Intel’s annual employee bonus calculation now includes environmental metrics, tying compensation to the company’s environmental results for all employees – from the mailroom up to the C-Suite.

One of the featured innovations is Bon Appétit Management Company’s Low-Carbon Diet, now implemented in 400 corporate and university cafes around the country.

“Nearly half of all American meals – about 500 million per day – are produced in commercial kitchens,” said Fedele Bauccio, founder and CEO of Bon Appétit Management Company. “With each plateful of food that comes out of our kitchens, we are creating a clear example of low-carbon eating.”

The featured innovations were vetted by EDF and a distinguished panel of experts from the fields of environmental science, law and finance. The final selection includes 15 innovations from around the country. Each innovation was evaluated for environmental benefits, business benefits, replicability and innovativeness.

“Reducing our buildings’ environmental impact is an important step in achieving our business and stewardship goals,” said Kevin Hagen, REI’s director of corporate social responsibility. “Through energy-efficient technology, the use of recycled and renewable materials and connecting our members to local outdoor recreational opportunities, we are better aligning our brick and mortar stores with our commitment to the outdoors.”

Verizon has rolled out energy-saving solutions on employee desktops, reducing operating costs, emissions and energy.

“Verizon’s power-management project is a simple but powerful example of how technology can help both the environment and the bottom line” said Kathryn C. Brown, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility at Verizon. “We’re also proud of the wide range of customer applications from teleworking to smart electrical grids, all of which utilize broadband technology to benefit the environment.”

Innovations Review 2009 also highlights two innovations by EDF and its corporate partners: a Green Portfolio Project developed by EDF and private equity firm KKR, and Climate Corps, a program that embeds MBA fellows into corporations to help create energy efficiency investment plans.

The Review is part of EDF’s broader effort to foster collaboration on corporate environmental innovation through its recently launched Innovation Exchange. Details on all the innovations, as well as multimedia clips, are available at http://innovation.edf.org.

Tag: IR2009 . Twitter: #IR2009 . Twitter Username: EDF_InnovEx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Marbury, Environmental Defense Fund, (512) 691-3430-w or (512) 786-4960-c or lmarbury@edf.org
Media Contact: Laura Williamson at (512) 691-3447-w or (512) 828-1690-c or lwilliamson@edf.org

(Austin, TX - April 17, 2009) State and city water planners, academics, business representatives and environmentalists gather in Austin today to discuss new opportunities to help meet growing demands on important and finite resource: water.

“Demands on our state’s water resources are already high and they will continue to grow,” said Laura Marbury, Texas Water Projects Director for Environmental Defense Fund. “We are fast approaching the point where traditional strategies to obtain water, like drilling a new well or laying another pipe to the river, aren’t going to cut it anymore.

“We need to explore new ideas to help meet future water supply challenges,” Marbury said. “The goal of this conference is to help everyone involved to start thinking outside the box of traditional water supply strategies.”

The conference will cover three different opportunities that could help secure Texas’ future water supply:

• Water-neutral New Residential and Commercial Development – offsetting new water demands by using new development to achieve a higher standard of water use efficiency and conservation in existing communities.
• Reverse Auctions for Protecting Environmental Flows – utilizing reverse auctions as a way for the state to buy back unused water rights and free up water to meet environmental needs.
• Energy-Water Nexus – integrating energy and water policy with planning to reap the benefits of increased efficiencies in both realms.

Presenters include Richard Harris, from the California-based East Bay Municipal Utility District and other experts from San Antonio Water System; Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Austin Water Utility; The University of Texas, Environmental Defense Fund and more.

The conference takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at 801 LaCrosse Ave. in Austin. A 35$ fee is required for admittance (waived for media), which includes lunch. Registration is available at the door. Audio recordings of presentations will be available after the conference online.

Learn more at http://www.texaswatermatters.org/2009/index.htm.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:

Tony Kreindler, National Media Director, Climate, 202-445-8108, tkreindler@edf.org
Vickie Patton, Deputy General Counsel, 720-837-6239, vpatton@edf.org

(Washington – April 17, 2009). In an historic step, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson today formally determined that global warming pollution “endangers” the nation’s human health and well-being.

“The U.S. is taking its first steps as a nation to confront climate change,” said Vickie Patton, deputy general counsel at Environmental Defense Fund. “Global warming threatens our health, our economy, and our children’s prosperity. EPA’s action is a wake up-call for national policy solutions that secure our economic and environmental future.”

Today’s landmark action is required by the U.S. Supreme Court, which rejected the Bush EPA’s “laundry list” of reasons not to address global warming pollution under the federal Clean Air Act in a landmark April 2, 2007, judicial decision.

Today’s decision – a determination that global warming pollution is a danger to America’s health and well-being – reflects the first step under the federal Clean Air Act to begin establishing national emission standards for large global warming emitters but does not contain such emission limits. It is anticipated that EPA will finalize the “endangerment” determination while it begins developing national emission standards for new motor vehicles and new coal-fired power plants, the nation’s two largest sources of global warming pollution.

EPA’s action comes as Congress takes its own historic steps toward enacting a cap on global warming pollution. The House Energy and Commerce Committee next week will begin hearings on comprehensive energy and climate legislation and move quickly to a vote on the bill, called the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Chairman Henry Waxman has committed to moving the bill out of committee by Memorial Day. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she intends to bring the bill to the House floor this year.

Background

EPA Responds to an Order from the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2003, the Bush EPA denied a 1999 request to establish greenhouse gas emission standards for motor vehicles under the Clean Air Act. EPA claimed it had no power to address global warming pollution, expressly reversing prior EPA legal opinions. On April 2, 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court in Massachusetts v. EPA pointedly admonished EPA for its refusal to act by proffering a “laundry list of reasons not to regulate” greenhouse gas emissions. The high Court commanded EPA to make a decision on the basis of science: “That EPA would prefer not to regulate greenhouse gases because of some residual uncertainty…is irrelevant. The statutory question is whether sufficient information exists to make an endangerment finding.”

The Science Shows Abrupt Climate Impacts and Threat to Poor, Elderly, Human Health. EPA’s extensive review of the science, conducted as part of today’s “endangerment” determination, documented: (1) abrupt climate change impacts including the accelerated flow and thinning at the edges of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets and associated effects on sea level rise; (2) the climate-related human health perils for the poor, the elderly, the disabled, and the uninsured, and (3) the expected climate-induced rise in smog pollution and heat-related deaths in major regions of the country.

Pollution Has Soared While EPA Denied Responsibility. EPA’s action is long overdue. Since citizens petitioned EPA to address global warming pollution in 1999, the nation has discharged nearly 70 billion tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and heat-trapping carbon dioxide concentrations have soared to 385 parts per million (2008).

Policy Solutions, Not Scare-Tactics. EPA’s announcement is a wake up call for national policy action that will reduce global warming pollution and grow America’s clean energy economy. But the usual suspects that lobby to delay progress and avoid accountability continue to use scare tactics to claim that action by EPA will result in a “cow tax” and make other absurd claims. EPA is not even requiring reporting of greenhouse gas emissions for sources emitting less than 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. To put the 25,000 reporting threshold into perspective, it is the amount of pollution emitted from the annual energy use of about 2,200 homes, approximately 58,000 barrels of oil consumed, or 130 railcars of coal.

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Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org