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  • State Climate Leadership: How (and Why) States are Acting on Climate Change (December 24, 2003) -- Presentation by NESCAUM Executive Director Ken Colburn at COP-9.
     
  • U.S. Climate Change Technology Program: Research and Current Activities (December 18, 2003) -- This report highlights presidential initiatives and other important research, development, and deployment activities, such as the establishment of the Climate Change Science Program and the CCTP, the launch of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, carbon sequestration initiatives, and other activities focused on monitoring and reducing GHG emissions.
     
  • U.S. Climate Change Technology Program: Technology Options for the Near and Long Term (December 18, 2003) -- This report describes a wide array of federal research and development investments in climate change technology development. The report identifies more than 80 potential technology options for addressing climate change, organized within five major categories: reducing emissions from energy end use and infrastructure, reducing emissions from energy supply, capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide, reducing emissions of non-carbon dioxide GHGs, and enhancing capabilities to measure and monitor emissions.
     
  • COP-9 Reports and Documents (December 16, 2003) -- STAPPA Global Warming Committee co-chair Chris James and STAPPA/ALAPCO Senior Staff Associate Amy Royden attended the second week of the COP-9 meetings in Milan. Click here for their daily reports. Click here for the COP-9 web site. Click here for the web site with presentations from the side events at the COP.
     
  • Rising Tide: Growing Momentum on Global Warming in the U.S. (December 15, 2003) -- This World Wildlife Fund report highlights activity at the state and local level to address climate change. It includes information on which states have laws mandating GHG reductions or renewable energy programs, describes regional approaches to climate change, provides an overview of litigation filed to attempt to force the federal government to address climate change, and describes actions at the local level.
     
  • Climate Change Mitigation: Process and Policy Options for State GHG Plans (December 15, 2003) -- The Center For Clean Air Policy prepared this report to assist states in developing options for state climate change policy plans.  It provides some lessons learned and advice based on state and local climate planning efforts to date.  Click here for Appendix 1, which lists states with GHG targets and comprehensive action plans.  Click here for Appendix 2, which lists states with reports on climate change mitigation or action plans.
     
  • New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers Resolution Concerning Environmental Projects and Issues (28-7) (November 19, 2003) -- This resolution was adopted at the 28th NEG/ECP meeting held September 7-9, 2003. Among other issues, the Governors and Premiers accept the reports and next year's work plans of the Climate Change Steering Committee and direct its Committee on the Environment and the Northeast International Committee on Energy to continue to develop a GHG registry.
     
  • Power Switch: Impacts of Climate Policy on the Global Power Sector (November 13, 2003) -- This report assesses the financial consequences of climate change policy for 14 leading global power companies. The report was prepared for the World Wildlife Fund by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors.
     
  • Final Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Action Plan (November 12, 2003) -- This is the action plan agreed upon by the participating states' environmental commissioners on September 29, 2003. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) grew out of an invitation by New York Governor George Pataki to other northeastern states to develop a regional strategy regarding carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants. All states responded positively, though Pennsylvania and Maryland are participating as observers. Click here for the draft stakeholder process. Click here for a list of suggested topics for which RGGI is seeking to briefed.
     
  • Climate Change Trends in GHG Emissions and Emissions Intensity in the U.S. and Other High-Emitting Nations (November 10, 2003) -- This is a report by GAO in response to a request by Senators Hollings and Kerry to describe how US GHG emissions and emissions intensity compare with other nations that emit a large amount of GHGs.
     
  • Emissions of GHGs in the U.S. in 2002 (November 3, 2003) -- This report presents the Energy Information Administration's latest estimates of emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other greenhouse gases in the United States.
     
  • European Union GHG Emission Allowance Trading Directive (October 31, 2003) -- This directive became law on October 25, 2003.
     
  • The Climate Stewardship Act (S.139) (the McCain-Lieberman Bill), As Amended (October 30, 2003) -- This is the version of the bill that was defeated in the Senate, which only includes one phase for GHG reductions (by year 2010) and no second phase. Click here for OMB's Statement of Administration of Policy, which says that the administration strongly opposes the bill. Click here for a summary of the bill prepared by the Pew Center on Global Climate change. Other documents prepared by the Pew Center include a fact sheet on the MIT cost estimates; a fact sheet on the CRA cost projections; and an assessment of the EIA cost analysis of the bill.
     
  • Presentation of Amy Royden (STAPPA/ALAPCO) on STAPPA/ALAPCO's Clean Air and Climate Protection Software (October 29, 2003) -- This presentation was given at STAPPA/ALAPCO's Fall Membership Meeting in San Francisco, CA.
     
  • MOU Between USDA and NRECA to Encourage Voluntary GHG Reductions (October 24, 2003) -- This memorandum of understanding between the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is a voluntary agreement to identify and advance jointly cost-effective, voluntary opportunities for rural electric cooperatives to reduce GHG emissions. Click here for a press release issued by the USDA regarding this initiative.

  • Testimony Presented at Climate Change Hearing (October 3, 2003) -- The hearing was convened by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on October 1, 2003. Click here for Senator John McCain's opening statement, which includes a statement that he and Senator Lieberman intend to modify their bill (the Climate Stewardship Act of 2003) to eliminate the second target date for GHG reductions. Click here for Dr. Tom Wigley's testimony. Click here for the GAO's testimony on the administration's climate change initiative to reduce GHG intensity by 18 percent by 2012.
     
  • Statement by Governors of California, Oregon and Washington on Regional Climate Strategy (September 22, 2003) -- The states of California, Oregon and Washington will develop a regional strategy for addressing climate change. Global warming will have serious adverse consequences on the economy, health, environment of the three states; and because present federal policies will not lead to a reduction in current emission levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs), the governors of the west coast states have concluded that the states must act individually and regionally to reduce GHG emissions. All three governors� offices will work together to develop joint policy recommendations focused on solutions that require regional cooperation and action. These recommendations are to be presented to the governors no later than September 1, 2004. Click here for a press release from Washington's governor about this strategy. Click here for a press release from Oregon's governor.
     
  • North Carolina Report: CO2 Emission Reduction Options for Coal-Fired Electrical Utility Boilers and Other Stationary Sources (September 16, 2003) -- This is the first in a series of three reports assessing the impact of North Carolina's Clean Smokestack's Act (CSA) on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The report presents a policy background on the issue of climate change, details emissions from North Carolina sources, and lists some options for reducing carbon emissions and increasing carbon sequestration. It does not contain any recommendations for legislative or regulatory action. NCDAQ plans to continue to evaluate programs and methods for reducing CO2 emissions, including sequestration, to make recommendations on whether to participate in a registry, and to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of statewide goals for the reduction of greenhouse gases. Results of these efforts will be detailed in the future reports.
     
  • 2003 Buildings Energy Databook (September 10, 2003) -- This DOE databook includes statistics on residential and commercial building energy consumption. Data tables contain statistics on construction, building technologies, energy consumption, and building characteristics.
     
  • EPA Notice Denying Petition to Regulate GHG Emissions from Motor Vehicles (August 28, 2003) -- EPA denied a petition submitted by the International Center for Technology Assessment (CTA) and other groups that called upon EPA to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from motor vehicles. CTA�s petition argued that GHGs are �air pollutants� under the Clean Air Act (CAA), GHG emissions reasonably threaten human health and public welfare, and therefore under the section 202(a)(1) of the CAA the administrator has a mandatory duty to regulate GHG emissions from new motor vehicles. EPA denied the petition for two main reasons: 1) Congress has not granted EPA the authority to regulate GHGs for climate change purposes, and 2) EPA has determined that setting GHG emission standards for motor vehicles is not appropriate at this time. Click here for EPA's press release on this denial. Click here for the EPA General Counsel legal memorandum concluding that EPA does not have the authority under the CAA to regulate for global climate change purposes. Click here for the September 8, 2003 Federal Register notice.
     
  • Transcript from July 29, 2003, Hearing of Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Climate History and the Science Underlying Fate, Transport, and Health Effects of Mercury Emissions (August 6, 2003)
     
  • The U.S. Climate Change Science Program: Vision for the Program and Highlights of the Scientific Strategic Plan (July 24, 2003) -- This strategic plan document contains a detailed discussion of the goals and priorities for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) and how climate and global change research activities will be integrated. Click here for a Power Point presentation on the plan.
     
  • Climate Solutions for the Northeast: Presentations and Session Notes (July 2, 2003) -- The conference was held May 11 - 13, 2003 in Hartford, CT.  
     
  • Climate Change Roadmap for Connecticut (June 30, 2003) -- This report by Environment Northeast advocates that the United States reduce GHG emissions by 75 percent from current levels by 2050, and details a suite of actions Connecticut can take to achieve this target. Click here for a presentation on the report.
     
  • Maine Statute on Reducing GHG Emissions (June 16, 2003) -- This statute sets GHG reduction goals for the state of Maine that correspond with the GHG reduction targets adopted by the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers. It provides that Maine will adopt by July 1, 2004, a state action plan to meet these targets, with stakeholder input.
     
  • Emissions Trading to Reduce GHG Emissions: the McCain-Lieberman Proposal (June 12, 2003) -- This economic analysis of the McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act was conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. 
     
  • Electric Power, Investors and Climate Change: A Call to Action (June 9, 2003) -- A group of investors, electric utilities and environmental groups convened by The Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) issued a consensus statement with recommendations to help address climate change; notably, the groups recommend that the federal government develop a mandatory market-based program to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
     
  • Lawsuit Against EPA by Three Attorneys General for Failure to Regulate CO2 (June 4, 2003) -- Attorneys general from the states of Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts filed suit in federal district court in Connecticut against EPA for its failure to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) under the Clean Air Act. According to the lawsuit, EPA has acknowledged both that CO2 emissions pose a serious risk to human health and that it has authority to regulate CO2 emissions under the Clean Air Act. Accordingly, EPA has a mandatory duty to regulate CO2 emissions under the Clean Air Act. If the lawsuit is successful, EPA would have to list CO2 as a criteria pollutant and develop a national ambient air quality standard for it.
      
  • Clean Air and Climate Protection Software (June 2003)
     
  • Potential Climate Change Effects on the Rocky Mountain/Great Basin Region (June 4, 2003) -- This document contains an assessment of potential climate change effects on the Rocky Mountain/Great Basin (RMGB) region, which encompasses parts of nine western states. The researchers identified five socio-economic sectors in the region that are most likely to be affected by climate change: water resources, cultivated agriculture, livestock ranching, outdoor recreation and tourism, and natural ecosystems. They then developed a set of climate-change scenarios for the 21st century with input from a workshop of professional climatologists, analysis of 20th-century climate patterns in the region, and projections of 21st century climate change with two, large computer models (general circulation models, or GCMs) that simulate the earth�s climate system. The projections were based on the assumption of a doubled increase in atmospheric CO2 by 2100. The two GCMs project increases of 2.5 - 4.5 degrees Centigrade (4.5 - 8.1 degrees Fahrenheit) and 5.0 - 8.0 degrees Centigrade (9.0 - 14.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in seasonal temperatures in the region by 2080-2100. The same models project 54-119% and 59-184% increases in mean annual precipitation. The report analyzes the impact of these increases in temperature and precipitation on the five socio-economic sectors identified above.
     
  • GAO Report on Sulfate Aerosols, Tropospheric Ozone and Black Carbon (May 30, 2003) -- The General Accounting Office (GAO) released this report (Report GAO-03-25) summarizing scientists� views of the climate change effect of these air pollutants, which are not covered by the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change but which have recently been identified as possibly affecting the climate. GAO found that the scientific community agrees in general that tropospheric ozone and black carbon warm the climate, while sulfate aerosols cool it, but that there is uncertainty about the extent of these effects.
     
  • Pew Center Report: Reducing GHG Emissions from US Transportation (May 30, 2003) -- According to this report from the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, the technology exists today to reduce carbon emissions from the U.S. transportation sector 20 percent below business as usual levels by 2015 and almost 50 percent below business as usual levels by 2030. Reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector will require a combination of meaningful policies and technological progress. A successful policy portfolio will involve all modes of transportation and will include a variety of measures, from fuel economy and fiscal policies to infrastructure investments.
     
  • Acting Locally: In Curbing GHG Emissions, States Go It Alone (May 23, 2003) -- This article appears in the June 2003 edition of Scientific American.
     
  • Designing a Mandatory GHG Reduction Program for the U.S. (May 16, 2003) -- This report from the Pew Center on Global Climate Change identifies issues that must be addressed in the design of a mandatory, domestic GHG reduction program. Three options are specifically evaluated: 1) cap-and-trade programs, 2) GHG taxes, and 3) a �sectoral hybrid� program that combines efficiency standards for automobiles and consumer products with a cap-and-trade program applicable to large GHG emission sources. The paper�s analysis would argue against an economy-wide downstream cap-and-trade program (as unadministrable), a stand-alone large-source cap-and-trade program (as incomplete), and a GHG tax program (as unviable politically, unless coupled with structured tax reform). The paper�s analysis indicates that at least two options appear to be feasible: 1) an economy-wide upstream cap-and-trade program, or 2) a sectoral hybrid program under which product efficiency standards complement a large-source downstream cap-and-trade program.
     
  • New York GHG Task Force Recommendations (May 9, 2003) � The New York Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Task Force submitted this report to New York Governor Pataki, which has 27 recommendations for reducing GHG emissions. The recommendations include 1) establishing a state GHG emission reduction target of five percent below 1990 levels by 2010 and ten percent below 1990 levels by 2020; 2) creating a program to limit emissions from electricity generation to levels 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2010, and making this cap part of a regionally coordinated policy with each state adopting its own cap; 3) redirecting state transportation funds to transit, walking and bicycling; 4) adopting California�s GHG motor vehicle emission standards for model year 2009; 5) establishing a comprehensive GHG inventory, with mandatory reporting by major industries and sectors and a voluntary emission reductions registry; and 6) negotiating voluntary reduction agreements with industry. New York has already begun to implement some of the Task Force recommendations � for example, Governor Pataki announced in January that New York would adopt California�s GHG motor vehicle emission standard and a Renewable Portfolio Standard so that 25 percent of electricity purchased in New York would come from renewable sources. In June, the New York State Energy Planning Board adopted the Task Force recommendations for a GHG emission reduction target and to redirect transportation funding. The Task Force was facilitated by the Center for Clean Air Policy.
     
  • UNEP Report: Environmental effects of ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change (May 9, 2003).
     
  • Clean Air and Climate Protection Software Press Conference (April 29, 2003) -- STAPPA and ALAPCO unveiled an innovative software tool to foster clean air decisions that will reduce not only criteria air pollutants, but greenhouse gases (GHGs), as well. The tool is called the Clean Air and Climate Protection Software (CACPS). CACPS significantly expands the capabilities of states and localities to analyze the benefits of various air pollution control scenarios and select and implement those that not only address criteria pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides and particulate matter, but also GHGs. Click here for a press release on CACPS. Click here for a fact sheet on the software tool. Click here for a Power Point presentation on CACPS. Information about training sessions is available on the Global Warming Committee's Calendar page.
     
  • New York Governor Pataki's Letter to Connecticut Calling for Regional Strategy to Reduce CO2 Emissions (April 25, 2003) -- In this letter, New York Governor George Pataki invites Connecticut Governor John Rowland to work with New York and other northeast states to develop a regional strategy regarding carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants. He sets a goal of developing such an approach within two years. Pataki sent identical letters to the other five New England governors.
     
  • Leading By Example: Connecticut Collaborates to Reduce GHG Emissions (March 12, 2003) -- This report was recently released by Governor Rowland's Steering Committee. Click here for the Governor's letter.

  • Guide to Emissions Trading (February 28, 2003) -- An Emerging Market for the Environment: A Guide to Emissions Trading offers a step-by-step approach to emissions trading to allow readers to build their understanding of both the environmental and economic aspects of the subject. The Guide provides a simple theoretical model of an emissions trading system, covers the various types of emissions trading system designs, and presents examples of existing systems. It was published by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the UNEP Collaborating Centre on Energy and Environment (UCCEE) and the UNCTAD/Earth Council Carbon Market Program.

  • Announcement by Seven States of Intent to Sue EPA For Failing to Regulate Carbon Dioxide (February 26, 2003) � On February, 20, 2003, attorneys general from six Northeastern states and the state of Washington announced that they intend to sue EPA to compel it to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants. Section 111 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) imposes a mandatory duty on EPA to review the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) every 8 years and revise such standards, if appropriate, and the attorneys general argue that the NSPS needs to be revised to contain limitations on CO2 emissions from electric generating units. Section 111 of the CAA states that when the Administrator determines that a category of sources contributes significantly to air pollution that may reasonably anticipated to endanger public health or welfare, she shall include that category on a list of stationary sources and establish NSPS for that category. The attorneys general argue that these criteria are met with respect to CO2 emissions from power plants: CO2 is a pollutant, CO2 emissions from power plants are significant contributors to global warming, and global warming will significantly endanger public health and welfare. The attorneys general argue that the NSPS is also �substantially obsolete and inadequate� because current technologies are available to reduce sulfur dioxide and particulate matter emissions below the current NSPS standard. Attorneys general from the states of New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Washington sent a letter to EPA Administrator providing her with a 60-day notice of their intent to sue. Click here for the states' legal justification for regulating CO2

  • Report by National Research Council on U.S. Climate Change Strategic Plan (February 26, 2003) � A panel convened by the National Academies� National Research Council concluded that the U.S. government�s climate change strategic plan lacks a clear guiding vision and does not sufficiently meet the needs of decision-makers who must deal with the effects of climate change. In particular, the panel criticized the plan for focusing on scientific questions that many experts say have been resolved. For example, the draft plan does not adequately build on prior U.S. and international reports that have provided scientific information to policy-makers. The revised plan should better take into account the lessons learned about climate forecasts and stakeholder involvement found in such reports. The National Academies panel reviewed the draft U.S. climate change strategic plan at the request of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. The panel will review a revised strategic plan later this year.

  • Climate VISION (February 13, 2003) -- On February 12, 2003, the Bush administration launched a voluntary public-private partnership called �Climate VISION� (Voluntary Innovative Sector Initiatives: Opportunities Now) to pursue cost-effective initiatives to reduce the growth in U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said private sector efforts to improve energy efficiency will save companies money and help the government cut GHG intensity 18 percent from 2000 levels by 2012, a goal announced by President Bush a year ago. Participating industry sectors include the energy, manufacturing, transportation and forest sectors. Click here for a fact sheet on sector strategies.

  • Announcement by Three New England States of Intent to Sue Bush Administration to Regulate Carbon Dioxide Emissions (February 4, 2003) -- On January 30, 2003, the attorneys general for the states of Connecticut and Maine, and the commonwealth of Massachusetts, notified EPA administrator Christine Todd Whitman of their intent to file a lawsuit to force EPA to regulate carbon dioxide as a criteria pollutant. "Carbon dioxide emissions will likely cause or contribute to wide-ranging, adverse changes to just about every aspect of the environment, public health and welfare throughout the Northeast," the Attorneys General state in their letter to Whitman.

  • Climate Stewardship Act of 2003 (McCain-Lieberman bill) (January 27, 2003) -- On January 9, 2003, Senators John McCain (R - Arizona) and Joseph Lieberman (D - Connecticut) introduced legislation that would require the electricity, transportation, industrial and commercial sectors to cut their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 2000 levels by 2010 and to 1990 levels by 2016. The bill contains flexibility mechanisms, including a cap and trade program between and within sectors, and provisions allowing a covered entity to satisfy up to 15 percent of its emission reduction requirements by using tradable allowances from another nation's market in GHGs or registering a net increase in carbon sequestration. Click here for a summary of the bill.

  • Electric Vehicle and Hybrid Vehicle GHG Reductions (January 22, 2003) -- DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)'s publication entitled, "Battery-Powered Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicle Projects to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Resource Guide for Project Development." This document was prepared by Science Application International Corporation (SAIC) on behalf of NETL in conjunction with the US DOE Clean Cities program. It is intended as a tool for fleet owners and policy makers and discusses the available technologies, relevant policies and legislation, and methods of accounting for and documenting Greenhouse Gas reductions resulting from electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) projects.

  • Presentations at EPA's Fifth State and Local Climate Change Partners' Conference (January 22, 2003) -- The presentations shown at EPA’s Fifth State and Local Climate Change Partners' Conference, held November 20-22, 2002, in Annapolis, Maryland, are available on the Web. Click on the link above and then click on the link to the presentations in the "see also" box on the right side of the screen.
     
  • Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States - 2001 (December 31, 2002) -- U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) in 2001 amounted to 1,883 million metric tons of carbon equivalent, 1.2 percent less than U.S. GHG emissions in 2000, according to this report by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA attributes the drop to the following factors: a reduction in overall economic growth from 3.8 percent in 2000 to 0.3 percent in 2001; a 4.4 percent reduction in manufacturing output, which lowered industrial emissions; warmer winter weather that decreased demand for heating fuel; and a drop in demand for electricity. This is only the second time that GHG emissions have dropped in the U.S. since 1990 (the only other time was 1991). Despite this drop, U.S. GHG emissions in 2001 were 11.9 percent higher than 1990 emissions.

  • Presentation on Clean Air and Climate Protection Software (November 21, 2002) -- This is STAPPA/ALAPCO Executive Director Bill Becker's Power Point presentation on STAPPA/ALAPCO's new Clean Air and Climate Protection Software (CAPS), which will help states and localities design strategies that optimize reductions of criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHGs). The software allows state and local officials to estimate the amount of reductions of GHGs, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide from policies and measures designed by state and local officials. The presentation was made at EPA's Fifth State and Local Climate Change Partners Conference in Annapolis, Maryland, on November 20, 2002.

  • Greenhouse & Statehouse: The Evolving State Government Role in Climate Change (November 14, 2002) -- This report by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change presents nine case studies of states -- Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin -- that have taken action to mitigate climate change. The report highlights the variety of actions taken by states -- including renewable portfolio standards, registries, bills to promote carbon sequestration, and reduction targets. Motivation for these actions goes beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions and includes energy security and reliability, cost savings, potential income, improving air quality, and congestion mitigation. The report was authored by University of Michigan professor Barry Rabe. Click here for the press release.

  • Daily Reports from COP-8 (November 12, 2002) -- Amy Royden, STAPPA/ALAPCO Secretariat, and Ken Colburn, Global Warming Committee member, attended the Eighth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-8) in New Delhi, India, and provided daily reports on their activities and the proceedings. Click here for their report of October 24. Click here for their report of October 25. Click here for their report ofOctober 29. Click here for their report of October 30. Click here for their report of October 31. Click here for their report of November 1.

  • U.S. Actions to Address Climate Change Domestically (November 6, 2002) -- The U.S. Department of State produced this fact sheet on October 23, 2002, detailing federal government initiatives to reduce GHG emissions. Click here to read a fact sheet on the Bush administration's climate policy.

  • Delhi Ministerial Declaration (November 6, 2002) -- The Delhi Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development was issued at the Eighth Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in New Delhi, India (COP-8). For other decisions reached at the meeting, click here.

  • Report on State and Local Leadership Actions on Climate Policy (October 21, 2002) -- The Center for Clean Air Policy has updated its report on state and local leadership actions on climate policy. The paper begins with a discussion of states and localities that have established greenhouse gas reduction targets. It then summarizes the innovative policies being used by states and localities, organized by sector of the economy. Finally, it ends with a discussion of the systems being developed to track emissions and emissions reductions. Click here for the executive summary.

  • Impact of Land-Use Changes on Climate (October 9, 2002) -- This study, published October 1, 2002 by the Royal Society, the United Kingdom’s national academy of science, finds that land-use changes over the past 300 years are a major factor contributing to climate change. Major landscape alterations, including urban sprawl, deforestation and reforestation, and agricultural practices have caused significant changes in precipitation, and other climatic effects such as variations in regional surface temperatures and larger-scale atmospheric circulation. The study argues that land-use changes may actually have a greater impact on climate than anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.

  • PowerPoint Presentations at the STAPPA/ALAPCO Fall 2002 Membership Meeting (October 8, 2002)
    Reducing Greenhouse Gases and Criteria Pollutants: Harmonized Strategies
    - STAPPA/ALAPCO's Software Tool by Ralph Torrie (Torrie Smith Associates)
    - California's Initiatives to Reduce Motor Vehicle Emissions by Mike Kenny (California)
    - Rhode Island's GHG Action Plan by Steve Bernow (Tellus Associates)
    - Massachussetts's Public Transit Emissions Reduction Project by Nancy Seidman (Massachusetts)

  • Automakers’ Corporate Carbon Burdens: Reframing Public Policy on Automobiles, Oil and Climate (August 1, 2002): This report by Environmental Defense calls for automakers to reduce the “carbon burden” of their products in order to combat global warming and reduce oil consumption “Carbon burden” refers to the amount of annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by a group (model type) of motor vehicles. The report uses government data to assign each major automaker a carbon burden based on its new vehicle sales and examines how the firm’s carbon burden evolved between 1990 and 2000. Click here for the Executive Summary.

  • Letter from Eleven Attorneys General Urging President Bush to Act on Global Warming (July 17, 2002) -- Attorneys General from eleven states sent a letter to President Bush urging the administration to adopt a comprehensive national regulatory strategy to address climate change, saying that they believe a market-based program that would cap greenhouse gases holds great promise. The letter was signed by the Attorneys General for the states of Alaska, California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Click here for a press release about the letter.

  • Summary of Selected Programs Involving GHG Accounting (July 17, 2002) -- This paper describes a range of programs that currently exist for reporting, registering, and trading GHG emissions. It describes common elements and highlights differences regarding each program's guidance on how GHG emissions are accounted for and reported. The paper also mentions a number of initiatives that are still in an early stage of development, and for which no detailed guidance on GHG emissions accounting and reporting exists.

  • U.S. Conference of Mayors GHG resolution (July 10, 2002) -- This resolution, which was adopted at the 2002 U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting June 14-18, 2002, calls on cities and communities to reduce GHG emissions and for states and the federal government to provide new resources and incentives for local governments to implement GHG reduction measures.

  • Recommendations to Improve Voluntary Federal GHG Registry (1605-b) (July 10, 2002) -- The Secretaries of Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and the EPA Administrator, sent a letter to the White House on July 8, 2002, with some recommended improvements to the federal GHG registry. The letter also proposes a process to address the recommendations and solicit additional ideas, culminating in new guidelines by January 2004. The letter was written in response to President's Bush's directive of February 14, 2002, to propose improvements to the voluntary federal GHG registry within 120 days. Click here for a press release about the letter.

  • EPA State and Local Climate Change Program 2001 Progress Report (June 24, 2002)

  • Notes from call to receive input from states on proposed 1605-b improvements (June 11, 2002): These are notes from the June 6, 2002, call hosted by EPA to receive input from states on proposed improvements to the federal voluntary greenhouse gas reduction program (also known as "1605-b"). It includes a list of participants.

  • U.S. Climate Action Report 2002 (June 7, 2002) - This report, the third national communication to the UNFCCC, describes the U.S.’s national circumstances, identifies existing and planned policies and measures, indicates future trends in GHG emissions, outlines expected impacts and adaptation measures, and provides information on financial resources, technology transfer, research and systematic observations.

  • Commentary on Bush Climate Policy (March 1, 2002): Four views on President Bush's recently-announced policy on climate change: Kevin Fay, Executive Director of the International Climate Change Partnership; John Podesta, Senior Fellow with the Natural Resources Defense Council and former White House Chief of Staff for President Bill Clinton; Bill Fang, Deputy General Counsel and Climate Issue Director for the Edison Electric Institute; and Stuart Eizenstat, Frank Loy, and David Sandalow, the Clinton Administration's senior-most negotiators on the Kyoto Protocol

  • The Administration’s Clear Skies and Global Climate Change Initiatives (February 14, 2002) - The following documents contain the administration’s plan to cut power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and mercury (the Clear Skies Initiative) and for tackling climate change (the Global Climate Change Initiative), which were both released on February 14, 2002. Click here to read a transcript of the remarks made by President Bush announcing these initiatives. Click here to read a 2-page summary of the two initiatives. Click here to read an executive summary of the Clear Skies Initiative. Click here for a chart showing the drop in emission levels of SO2, NOx, and mercury under the Clear Skies Initiative. Click here for a description of the Global Climate Change Initiative or here for a 2-page fact sheet.

  • Abrupt Climate Change: Inevitable Surprises (January 9, 2002) - This report by the National Academy of Sciences’ National Research Council says that greenhouse warming and other human alterations of the climate system may increase the possibility of large, abrupt, and unwelcome regional or global climatic events. Researchers do not know enough about such events to accurately predict them, so surprises are inevitable. New evidence shows that periods of gradual change in Earth's past were punctuated by episodes of abrupt change, including temperature changes of about 10 degrees Celsius, or 18 degrees Fahrenheit, in only a decade in some places. Severe floods and droughts also marked periods of abrupt change. The report was released December 11, 2001.

  • Moving the Climate Change Debate From Models to Proposed Legislation (January 2, 2002) -- Lessons From State Experience reviews state actions on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and makes suggestions on how to improve these efforts.

  • Clean Air Transportation Communities (December 12, 2001) -- Briefing providing by EPA OTAQ to the STAPPA/ALAPCO Stratospheric Ozone and Global Warming Committee.

  • EPA's "Climate-Friendly Decisions" Project (November 2001) -- An EPA fact sheet on the project. To view a draft list of 25 climate-friendly decisions, click here.

  • Seattle City Light Climate Change Activities Web Site

  • Daily Reports from COP6 (continued) in Bonn (July, 2001) -- Ken Colburn (NH) and Art Williams (Louisville, KY), the STAPPA and ALAPCO Chairs of the Stratospheric Ozone and Global Warming Committee, are in Bonn to participate at COP6 (continued). To view the report from Day One, click here. To view a special extra report from Day One, click here. To view the report from Day Two, click here. To view the report from Day Three, click here. To view the report from Day Four, click here. To view the report from Day Five, click here.

  • President's National Energy Policy Recommendations Sorted by Committee (June 12, 2001) -- On May 17, 2001, President Bush announced his National Energy Policy. The 170-page document contains over 100 recommendations covering a range of energy-related issues. These recommendations pertain to a number of areas of interest to STAPPA/ALAPCO committees. To ensure that the STAPPA/ALAPCO committees were aware of these recommendations in the event the committees wanted to follow-up on or track any of them, this document provides a summary of selected recommendations organized by STAPPA/ALAPCO committee. Also available is a list of EPA directives in the President's national energy policy,, prepared by EPA.

 

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