Climate Change and the Climate Change and the Case for Northwest Case for Northwest

LeadershipLeadership

Climate Change and the Climate Change and the Case for Northwest Case for Northwest

LeadershipLeadership2008 PERFORMANCE 2008 PERFORMANCE TRACK STATE CONF.TRACK STATE CONF. 010.29.08010.29.08

Ross MacfarlaneRoss MacfarlaneSenior Advisor, Business Senior Advisor, Business

PartnershipsPartnerships

2008 PERFORMANCE 2008 PERFORMANCE TRACK STATE CONF.TRACK STATE CONF. 010.29.08010.29.08

Ross MacfarlaneRoss MacfarlaneSenior Advisor, Business Senior Advisor, Business

PartnershipsPartnerships

“We are addicted to oil”

Symptoms:

Economic hemorrhaging: Over $50 million a day in Washington alone

Fever: 5-8 degrees F. increase likely this century in PNW

“We are addicted to oil”

Symptoms:

Economic hemorrhaging: Over $50 million a day in Washington

Fever: 5-8 degrees F. increase likely

Acute national insecurity: “Right now we're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Middle East to burn oil that's destroying our environment. Every part of that has got to change.”

Treatments for fossil fuel addiction Gas tax holiday: Make the drugs

cheaper Expand exploration and production –

“drill, baby, drill”: Increase the supply of drugs

• Quit: Steadily reduce dependence…..

….by building a clean energy economy….

Not a New Concern…Not a New Concern…

Approaching the Tipping Point:Approaching the Tipping Point:Clean energy transition driversClean energy transition driversApproaching the Tipping Point:Approaching the Tipping Point:Clean energy transition driversClean energy transition drivers

Climate disruption:Climate disruption: Environmental necessity drives Environmental necessity drives economic opportunityeconomic opportunity

Energy independence and securityEnergy independence and security

““The Stone Age didn’t end The Stone Age didn’t end because they ran out of stones”because they ran out of stones”““The Stone Age didn’t end The Stone Age didn’t end because they ran out of stones”because they ran out of stones”

Economics/Technology Fossil fuel prices high, volatile Peak oil? Clean energy coming of age

Climate and National SecurityClimate and National Security"If you're thinking about this as an environmental issue first and foremost, you're missing the point. -- Frank Gaffney, Center for Security Policy

Energy insecurity and climate stresses likely to pose biggest national security threats for this century

““Global” warming is a local, state, Global” warming is a local, state, regional issueregional issue

ImpactsImpacts ImpactsImpacts

CausesCauses CausesCauses

Populations:

•Washington=6.1 million

•Iraq=24.7 million

SolutionsSolutions SolutionsSolutions

““Global” warming is a local, state, Global” warming is a local, state, regional issueregional issue

To Solve a Problem, It helps to To Solve a Problem, It helps to know the causesknow the causes

Gross GHG Emissions by Gross GHG Emissions by SectorSector

No single solution…No single solution…

Stabilization Wedges: Solving the climate problem for the next 50 years with current technologies

205520051955

0

Currently

projected path

Flat path

Historical emissions

2105

“wedges”

R. Socolow and S. Pacala Princeton University

Stabilization

Climate Policy – Federal, State and Regional Efforts

Local, State and Regional efforts have lead the way in the absence of federal leadership

Federal – Game finally on, but awaiting new administration

Response at scale will require coordinated action at all levels

Taking the Kyoto Pledge: From 1 City to More than 880

Washington’s Response to Washington’s Response to Climate ChangeClimate Change• Required all new fossil fuel power Required all new fossil fuel power

plants to reduce greenhouse gas plants to reduce greenhouse gas emissionsemissions

(RCW 80.70) (RCW 80.70)

• Adopted the California Car Adopted the California Car Standards (ON HOLD DUE TO Standards (ON HOLD DUE TO EPA FAILURE TO PROVIDE EPA FAILURE TO PROVIDE WAIVER)WAIVER)

• Reduces CO2 emissions in Reduces CO2 emissions in newer cars and light trucks by newer cars and light trucks by more than 30% and in SUVs more than 30% and in SUVs by 25%by 25%

• Adopted renewable fuels Adopted renewable fuels standards for transportation by standards for transportation by requiring 2% of fuel sold is requiring 2% of fuel sold is biodiesel or ethanolbiodiesel or ethanol

• Instituted high-performance green Instituted high-performance green building standards building standards

Washington’s Response Washington’s Response Cont’dCont’d • Passed a renewable and energy

efficiency Initiative 937- Energy Independence Act

• Reduced energy use by state agencies through EO 05-01

• Adopted appliance efficiency standards

• Have one of the most energy-efficient building codes in the nation

Washington Climate Action

Critical Importance of Energy Productivity as a Climate Solution

Efficiency

Why Efficiency is Wedge Why Efficiency is Wedge #1… and 2 and 3#1… and 2 and 3

1. Get the tons

2. Overwhelmingly positive economics, with negligible environmental impact

3. We can all do it and we can all benefit

“Conservation may be a sign of personal virtue but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy." Vice President Dick Cheney, 2001

Can We Afford a Livable Planet?Can We Afford a Livable Planet? Solutions are affordable; the problem isn’tSolutions are affordable; the problem isn’t

Stern report:Stern report: Cost of action: 1% of GDP Cost of action: 1% of GDP Cost of inaction: 20% of GDPCost of inaction: 20% of GDP

EPA draft -- $2 trillion economic benefit EPA draft -- $2 trillion economic benefit from reductionsfrom reductions

Studies consistently underestimate Studies consistently underestimate effect of innovation and waste effect of innovation and waste avoidance in reducing costs avoidance in reducing costs

Solutions are affordable – 2007 McKinsey ReportSolutions are affordable – 2007 McKinsey Report

Source: McKinsey

“What we have before us

are some breathtaking

opportunities disguised

as insoluble problems.”

John W. Gardner

Carbon-Free Prosperity 2025Published By:

and

Download the report at:

www.cleanedge.com

or

www.climatesolutions.org

The Big 5 Opportunities

1. Solar PV Manufacturing

2. Green Building Design Services

3. Wind Power Development

4. Sustainable Bioenergy

5. Smart Grid Technologies

These industries have the potential to create more than 63,000 direct new jobs in the Pacific Northwest by 2025

Change a bulb. Change the world.

Scale and hope: Scale and hope: Small steps help us engage, and we need to Small steps help us engage, and we need to be part of something bigbe part of something big

Scale and hope: Scale and hope: Small steps help us engage, and we need to Small steps help us engage, and we need to be part of something bigbe part of something big

What can you do now?What can you do now?1. 1. Get it: Get it: Be aware and engagedBe aware and engaged

2. 2. Do it: Do it: Be the solution Be the solution Clean, efficient energyClean, efficient energy Transportation choicesTransportation choices Seattle CAN, Climate Seattle CAN, Climate

PartnershipPartnership

3. 3. Change it: Change it: CitizenshipCitizenship Business Leaders for Climate ProtectionBusiness Leaders for Climate Protection Climate Action and Green JobsClimate Action and Green Jobs

2 Final thoughts……

Climate Change and the Climate Change and the Case for Northwest Case for Northwest

LeadershipLeadership

Climate Change and the Climate Change and the Case for Northwest Case for Northwest

LeadershipLeadership2008 PERFORMANCE 2008 PERFORMANCE TRACK STATE CONF.TRACK STATE CONF. 010.29.08010.29.08

Ross MacfarlaneRoss MacfarlaneSenior Advisor, Business Senior Advisor, Business

PartnershipsPartnerships

2008 PERFORMANCE 2008 PERFORMANCE TRACK STATE CONF.TRACK STATE CONF. 010.29.08010.29.08

Ross MacfarlaneRoss MacfarlaneSenior Advisor, Business Senior Advisor, Business

PartnershipsPartnerships