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Climate Science, Messaging and Partnerships
June 2015 FEB Meeting
Josh Tapp and Chris Taylor
Today’s Conversation Topics
• EPA’s basic message on climate change• Climate change science overview• EPA’s role in climate change
• Partnership Example
• Executive Order 13693• Resources• Questions
EPA’s Basic Message
1. Climate change is happening2. Humans are largely responsible for
recent climate change3. Climate change affects everyone4. We can make a difference
http://epa.gov/climatechange/basics/
Basic Climate Change Terms
What is Climate Change?Climate change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate (weather patterns) observed over decades, typically 30 years or longer.
What is Global Warming?Global warming is the observed increase in average temperature near the Earth’s surface. It is a type of climate change that can also lead to other changes in climate conditions. 4
Greenhouse Gases
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Carbon Dioxide Conc. Over Time
What are the Indicators of Climate Change?
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How much will the climate change?
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• The severity of climate change impacts depends on how much society reduces greenhouse gas emission.
• These models show a variety of outcomes based on our ability to take action
Climate Change Indicators Report
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Communicates the causes and effects of climate change using a key set of indicators in a sound, transparent, and easy to understand way
http://epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators/index.html
Midwest/Great Plains Indicators
U.S. GHG Emissions
Global GHG Emissions
Atmospheric Concentrations of GHGs
Climate (radiative) Forcing
Heating and Cooling Degree Days - NEW
Heat-Related Deaths
Lyme Disease - NEW
Length of Growing Season
Ragweed Pollen Season
Ocean Heat ContentSea Surface Temperature Sea Level
Wildfires - NEW
Streamflow
Water Levels and Water Temperatures in the Great Lakes - NEW
Bird Wintering Ranges
Leaf and Bloom Dates
U.S. and Global Temperature
U.S. and Global Precipitation
High and Low Temperatures
Drought
Heavy Precipitation
Tropical Cyclone Activity
Arctic Sea IceGlaciersLake Ice SnowfallSnow Cover Snowpack
Greenhouse Gases
Weather and Climate
OceansHealth and Society
Snow and Ice Ecosystems
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Snow and Ice
Arctic Sea Ice Extent, 1979-2012
U.S. Benchmark Glaciers, 1958-2012
Weather and ClimateU.S. Temperature Anomalies,
1901-2013
Health and Society
April Snowpack, 1955-2013
Oceans
Ocean Acidity,1983-2012
U.S. Bird Wintering Range, 1966-2013
Tropical Cyclone Intensity, 1949-2013
Greenhouse Gases
U.S. Heavy Precipitation, 1910-2013
Relative Sea Level, 1960-2013 Global Sea Level, 1880-2013Global Temperature Anomalies, 1901-2013
Example: Reported Lyme Disease Cases in 1996 and 2012
U.S. GHG Emissions and Sinks, 1990-2012
Global Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations
Global GHG Emissions by Gas, 1990-2010
Snow Cover in North America, 1972-2013
Data Sources*
U.S. First Leaf and Bloom Dates, 1900-2013
* See EPA’s report, Climate Change Indicators in the United States, for a complete list citations and associated references.
Rate of Temperature, 1901-2012
Snow to Precipitation Ratio,1949-2014
Global Sea Surface Temperature, 1880-2013
Ragweed Pollen Season,1995-2013
Wildfire Burned Area by State, 1984-2012
Climate Forcing, 1979-2013
Hot Summer Temperatures, 1910-2012
Record Temperatures, 1949-2009
U.S. Growing Season, 1895-2013
Lake Ice Thaw Dates, 1905-2012
Ecosystems
U.S. Heating and Cooling Degree Days, 1895-2013
Global Atmospheric Concentrations of Halogenated Gases, 1978-2012 Ocean Heat Content, 1955-2013
Great Lakes Water Levels and Temperatures
Sea Surface Temperature, 1901-2013
Rate of Precipitation, 1901-2012 U.S. Precipitation Anomalies,
1901-2012
Global Atmospheric CH4 Concentrations
Change in First Leaf Date, 1951-60 and 2004-2013
Wildfire Area by State, 1984-2012
Reference Glaciers Worldwide, 1945-2012
Changes in Streamflow, 1940-2012U.S. Heat-Related Deaths, 1979-2010
Seven Day Low Streamflow Three-Day High Streamflow Timing of Winter-Spring Runoff
Average Drought Conditions, 1895-2013 U.S. Lands Under Drought Conditions, 2000-2013
U.S. Lyme Disease Incidence, 1991-2012
EPA’s Role in Climate Change
EPA’s Broad RoleNationally EPA, along with other federal agencies, is taking a number of steps to address the challenge of climate change:
• Getting reductions through regulations
• Collecting emissions data
• Planning for resilience (helping communities adapt)
• Building partnerships (states, locals, tribes, private sector, internationally)
• Understanding the economic impacts and effectiveness of proposed climate policies
• Advancing the science
http://epa.gov/climatechange/EPAactivities.html
R7Climate Action Team Focus Areas
Coordinating Climate Information
Integrating Climate into Existing Regulatory Framework and Programs
Expanding our Climate Partnerships
Action Teams
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Adaptation in Clean Up Programs
SUPRLiz Hagenmaier
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GREEN REMEDIATION
• Total Energy Use and Renewable Energy Use
• Air Pollutants and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Water Use and Impacts to Water Resources
• Materials Management and WasteReduction
• Land Management and EcosystemsProtection
http://www.epa.gov/oswer/greenercleanups/
Executive Order 13693Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade
EO 13693 – Introduction• Signed by the President on March 19, 2015• Revokes and supersedes EO 13423 and EO 13514 which had
consolidated and extended several prior environmentally-related EOs• Major Provisions:
• GHG Emission Reductions – Extended the 28% by FY20 goal to 40% by FY25 (FY08 baseline)
• Energy Intensity Reductions – Continues 2.5% per year through FY25• Renewable Energy Target – 30% by FY25 (RECs and on-site, agency-funded
projects)• Water Intensity Reductions – Continues 2% per year through FY25• Fleet GHG Emission Reductions – 30% by FY25 (FY14 baseline)
• Zero Emission/Plug-in Hybrids – 50% by FY25• Waste Management – Divert at least 50% from landfills including food and
compostable materials
New Requirements for FEBs• Sec. 10. Regional Coordination. Within 180 days of the date of this order, each EPA and GSA
Regional office shall in coordination with Federal Executive Boards established by the Presidential Memorandum of November 10, 1961 (The Need for Greater Coordination of Regional and Field Activities of the Government), DOD and other agencies as appropriate, convene regional interagency workgroups to identify and address:
• (a) sustainable operations of Federal fleet vehicles, including identification and implementation of opportunities to use and share fueling infrastructure and logistical resources to support the adoption and use of alternative fuel vehicles, including E-85 compatible vehicles, zero emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and compressed natural gas powered vehicles;
• (b) water resource management and drought response opportunities;
• (c) climate change preparedness and resilience planning in coordination with State, local, and tribal communities; and
• (d) opportunities for collective procurement of clean energy to satisfy energy demand for multiple agency buildings.
Next Steps
• White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released implementing instructions on June 10
• Not much direction other than fleet infrastructure• EPA has had preliminary discussions with GSA; further
Agency guidance may be issued “soon”• We will begin discussing more earnestly and reaching out to other
agencies • More to come…..
Resources and Information
Climate Science Resources• Main EPA HQ website, http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
• National Climate Assessment: Climate Change Indicators, http://epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators/index.html
• National Climate Assessment: Climate Change Impacts, http://epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), http://www.ipcc.ch/index.htm
Questions?
What is Causing Climate Change?
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Climate Change Impacts in the U.S.
What are the observed and projected changes in the U.S.?
• Increasing temperatures• Changing precipitation patterns• Increases in extreme weather events• Rising sea level• Changes in ocean chemistry
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