Regulatory and Partnership Approaches to Climate Change Mitigation an EPA Perspective

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Regulatory and Partnership Approaches to Climate
Change Mitigation an EPA Perspective

• Moral Heat Ethical Dimensions of Environmental
  Regulation and Economics in the 21st Century
• Fordham University
• New York, NY
• April 20, 2010

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Overview

• Climate Change Background
• Regulatory Overview
• EPA Partnership Programs
• Climate Controversy

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Atmospheric concentrations of CO2 far exceed the
natural range over the last 650,000 years.
Source IPCC WGI AR4, 2007.
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GHG Warming Potential (plus black carbon)
Gas Atmospheric Lifetime (years) GWPa
Carbon dioxide (CO2) 50 - 200 1
Methane (CH4)b 12 3 21
Nitrous oxide (N2O) 120 310
HFCs 1.5 - 264 140 - 11,700
PCFs 3,200 20,000 7,000 23,000
SF6 3200 23,900
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Expected Impacts
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) conclusions

• GHG are increasing in the atmosphere and the
  climate is warming.
• Most of the warming is very likely due to
  emissions from human activities.
• We can do something about it, including much with
  current technologies.

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GHG Emission Sources
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Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U.S.
We all can play a role in the solution
Source Inventory of U.S. GHG Emissions and
Sinks, 2007
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EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson's Top Priorities
- 1/12/10

• Taking Action on Climate Change
• Historic progress with a range of GHG
  initiatives.
• Support the President Congress on enacting
  clean energy and climate
• Use Clean Air Act for mobile source rules
• Build on the success of ENERGY STAR
• Common-sense solutions to reduce GHG emissions
  from large sources
• Recognize that climate change will affect other
  parts of EPA core mission
• Improving Air Quality
• Assuring the Safety of Chemicals
• Cleaning Up Our Communities
• Protecting Americas Waters.
• Expanding Conversation on Environmentalism and
  Working for EJ
• Building Strong State and Tribal Partnerships

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U.S. Climate Policy and Actions

• Current and Near-Term Greenhouse Gas Reduction
  Initiatives
• Climate Change Technology Program
• Climate Change Science Program
• International Cooperation

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Looking Forward

• A wide range of policies will be needed to
  address climate change
• Across all sectors of the economy
• Regulatory, financial and voluntary policy
  mechanisms
• Mitigation and adaptation
• Government, industry and local action

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Cap and Trade Bill(s)

• Would cap power plant and major industrial
  facility emissions
• Would allow for sale or trading of emissions from
  plants that are below their cap encouraging
  cleaner plants
• Other mitigation approaches
• Northeast states already have a carbon trading
  market (RGGI)
• Nationally still under debate

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EPA Regulatory Initiatives

• Waste Energy Recovery Registry
• California Greenhouse Gas Waiver Request
• Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule
• Renewable Fuel Standard
• Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide
• Air Permit Tailoring Rule
• National Fuel Economy Policy
• Endangerment Finding

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LDV Standards Corporate Average Fuel Economy
Standards

• On April 1, 2010, EPA and DOTs NHTSA announced a
  joint final rule
• Affects Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas
  Emissions Standards and Corporate Average Fuel
  Economy Standards
• Covers 2012 to 2016 and later model years
• 250 grams per mile CO2 (35.5 mpg equivalent)
• Single light duty fleet would satisfy US and CA

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CAA Endangerment Finding

• Effective January 14, 2010
• Mix of 6 GHGs threaten the public health and
  welfare of current and future generations (CO2,
  CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, SF6)
• Combination of 4 GHGs from motor vehicles and
  engines contribute to atmospheric concentrations
  (4 of global and 23 of US GHG)

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Climate Change is More than AirWe must also
address water use and waste/land aspects.

• A lot of energy is used to pump, treat and heat
  water.
• Saving water saves energy and reduces greenhouse
  gas emissions
• Recycling and reducing waste also decreases
  greenhouse gas emissions.
• Using recycled or re-used materials reduces the
  amount of energy needed to extract raw materials
  and manufacture goods
• Decreasing waste reduces methane emissions from
  landfills

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EPA National Water Program Strategy Response to
Climate Change Goals

• Water program mitigation of GHG
• Water Program Adaptation to Climate Change
• Research
• Educate professions and stakeholders
• Establish management capabilities

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EPA Programs Supporting GHG Reductions
www.epa.gov/partners
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Northeast Diesel Collaborative

• Nationally EPA has taken critical steps to ensure
  new diesels are clean
• 11 million older vehicles/engines in operation
  nationwide
• Diesels last a long time
• New York, New Jersey New England participate in
  voluntary collaborative
• Municipal, transit, ports, construction, trucks
  and locomotives

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Green BuildingsConstructing or Retrofitting
Buildings to Improve Energy/Water Efficiency and
Use of Recycled Materials

• The impacts of building are significant
• Nearly 40 of energy use and carbon dioxide
  emissions
• About 68 of total electricity consumption
• Nearly 60 of total non-industrial solid waste
• Over 12 of total water consumed
• EPA is advancing green building practices by
• Addressing market factors
• Implementing demonstration projects on green
  building performance and benefits
• Working with communities to update codes and
  ordinances
• Region 2 Green Construction and Operations

www.epa.gov/greenbuilding
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Green InfrastructureManaging Wet Weather and
Reusing Stormwater

• Using technologies to infiltrate, capture and
  reuse stormwater such as
• Building green roofs
• Promoting rain barrels
• Planting trees and other vegetation
• Communities can support this effort by
• Planning and implementing demonstration projects
  on public sites
• Involving all city departments
• Updating codes and ordinances to create
  incentives

www.epa.gov/greeninfrastructure
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Sustainable InfrastructureImproving Efficiency
for Water and Wastewater Treatment

• Energy represents 25 to 30 of a water or
  wastewater plants total OM cost
• Programs goals include
• Reducing the need to treat water
• Promoting the ability to save/capture energy
• Variety of programs available
• WaterSense
• Green Infrastructure
• ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
• Combined Heat and Power
• Energy management guidebook for wastewater and
  water utilities available on line.

www.epa.gov/waterinfrastructure/bettermanagement_e
nergy.html
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Urban Heat Island Cooling Communities

• EPAs UHI Program promotes methods to cool
  communities and
• Save energy
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Improve air quality
• Strategies for heat island mitigation include
• Trees and Vegetation
• Green Roofs
• Cool Roofs / White Roofs
• Cool Pavements

www.epa.gov/heatislands
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Climate Controversy

• Is climate change real or not?
• Anthropogenic or naturally occurring?
• Was that polar bear really drowning?
• If India and China dont do anything whats the
  point?
• East Anglia University hackers
• Russian temperature data
• How fast are the Himalayan glaciers melting?
• Were the Copenhagen meetings a flop?
• What about the cost?

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Potential Benefits of Climate Action

• Clean and green energy
• Energy independence
• New technologies
• Green jobs
• More livable cities
• Safer coastlines
• Preserve rain forests and coral reefs
• Less health risk from pollution
• International cooperation

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Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas
(ECPA)

• 4/15/10 Sec. of State Announcement
• Sustainable energy in the Caribbean
• Energy security in Central America
• Sustainable biomass
• Peace Corps initiative
• Natural gas development
• Better urban planning / Brazilian initiative
• www.ECPAmericas.org

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In Summary

• Climate change is a documented phenomena human
  activity is a major contributor
• Climate change debate continues
• EPA is pursuing a regulatory and program actions
• EPA encourages partnership initiatives and
  offers support

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Thank you!

• EPAs Climate Change Web site www.epa.gov/climat
  echange
• John Filippelli, 212-637-3754
• filippelli.john _at_epa.gov