Uupcoming Environmental DefenseTeleconference Call

Tuesday, October 30
1:00 pm Eastern

There is movement on Capitol Hill on a comprehensive climate bill. The recently introduced Climate Security Act changes the dynamics of the worldwide global warming negotiations. The National Climate Campaign Director for Environmental Defense, Steve Cochran will fill us in on the breaking news on the bill, the half dozen Senators who are supporting mandatory reductions for the first time and the impending committee action. The bill, introduced by Senators Lieberman (ID-CT) and Warner (R-VA), is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions nationwide by 18% by 2020, using the cap-and-trade market mechanisms we have been advocating.

Fred Krupp will lead the discussion on how these latest developments in Washington fit into Environmental Defense plans for the upcoming Bali meeting on the next international global warming agreement (post-2012 when the Kyoto Protocol expires). International Counsel Annie Petsonk and International Program Co-Director Steve Schwartzman will share those strategies with you on next Tuesday’s call, and will be available to respond to your questions and ideas.

RSVP: Emily Chuk 800-505-0703 xt.1225 for the toll free dial-in number.

New Mailing List for early action measures

The Air Resources Board has created a new mailing list to alert users to new developments in early action measures for AB-32:

During the Air Resources Board Hearing on Thursday, October 25,
2007, the Board approved the additions of 7 Climate Change Early
Action measures to the existing list of 37 Early Action measures
that had been approved by the Board at its June 21, 2007
Hearing. The additions triple the previous list of 3 Discrete
Early Action measures. For future information about the Early
Action measures, please register into the newly established list
serves for the measures by going to:

http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php

and choosing “Climate Change” as the Group of Lists, then click
“Display Email Lists & Archives” and select the list serves for
the Early Action measures.

US Green Building Council webinar series in Carbon Reduction

Check out this learning seminar from the US Green Building Council

USGBC is partnering with climate change experts from Pew Center on Global Climate Change, World Resources Institute, and CTG Energetics, Inc., and media partner Stamats Commercial Buildings Group, to bring you its newest educational webinar series.

the Carbon Reduction Webinar Series will help you establish realistic goals and strategies to reach them. National climate change experts will provide you with the information and hands-on tools to:
• Understand how buildings and organizations impact carbon emissions
• Establish a carbon baseline/inventory
• Identify carbon reduction targets specific to your building project or organization
• Develop and implement strategies to accomplish your targets
• Assess and evaluate the costs and returns of your efforts

Learn more here

Updated Macroeconomic Analysis of the Climate Strategies Presented in the March 2006 Climate Action Team Report

The Climate Action Team is continuing its development and analysis of policies and strategies
to achieve California’s climate protection goals.

This report updates the macroeconomic analysis presented in the March 2006 Climate Action Team Report to Governor Schwarzenegger and the Legislature (2006 CAT Report) with:

• updates of the climate strategies presented in the 2006 CAT Report; and
• refined methodologies for analyzing the strategies and estimating macroeconomic impacts.

Each of the Climate Action Team agencies provided revised estimates of costs, savings, and
emission reductions for the climate strategies. These data continue to be updated and refined
for use in the Air Resources Board’s Scoping Plan required under the Global Warming Solutions
Act of 2006 (AB 32).

the report can be downloaded here

Combatting Climate Change

Making a real difference with forests

State needs to encourage forest owners to participate

Steve Mader (CH2M Hill)

Thursday, October 18, 2007

California is reviewing its initial greenhouse gas-measuring protocols, which were established by the California Climate Action Registry and were intended to encourage businesses to take steps toward the state's overall reduction of greenhouse gases.

The initial protocols, unfortunately, are not providing the incentives for landowners who manage forestland sustainably - which includes harvesting trees to provide essential wood products and replanting to regenerate forests while conserving water quality and a wide range of forest resources - to participate in the state's voluntary registry. Instead, the protocols reward owners of unmanaged forestland and encourage owners to forgo beneficial forest management now and in the future. Consequently, private forestland owners are not lining up to participate in the state's voluntary registry.

more here

Combatting Climate Change

Making a real difference with forests

New rules would bolster California's carbon market

Laurie Wayburn

Thursday, October 18, 2007

The California Air Resources Board is set to further California's position as a climate leader on Oct. 25, when the board will vote on recommendations to endorse the California Climate Action Registry's forest protocols. The board's endorsement of these rules would create a foundation for the state to use forest conservation and restoration as one of the tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in keeping with California's landmark climate law, AB32.

The forest protocols were developed over four years through a public process and expert review. They are a remarkable accomplishment in two ways. First, they've established the first comprehensive set of scientifically rigorous standards to reduce forest emissions and increase net storage (sequestration) of carbon dioxide consistent with the global norms established under the Kyoto Protocol. Second, their establishment has created a "first place" positioning for California's forests in the growing global carbon market, a market that is estimated to exceed $40 billion in revenue this year.

The protocols explicitly include sustainable forestry as a key tool to restore and maintain forest carbon stocks. The first project registered - now being certified - is a forest management project. The end result of this project will be not only greatly increased carbon stores, but also a long-term supply of sustainably harvested wood products. Managing this forest for its long-term climate benefits also ensures jobs producing wood products as well as in forest restoration.

More here