Energy, Climate Change, and Green are buzzwords?

Well, maybe too much buzz?

What is the problem?

How did we get here?

What can we do about it?

Global Climate Change Michael Dunn, USEPA

Overview and Perspectives March 26, 2009

Industrial Revolution

Reduce emissions

Energy-use in buildings, transportation, & industry

Perspectives on Climate Change

• What is the science and data behind our concern with Climate Change

• What might the impacts be of a warmer atmosphere?• Where are the emissions sources?• Here are some EPA programs designed to reduce emissions (+Biz

case)

– Energy Star

– Climate Leaders– State and Local Programs– Sustainable Partnership Program; customized guidance

• Assess, plan, implement, and measure• Pathway to an integrated environmental strategy.

Overview

What do we know about Climate Change

Consensus & Challenges

Scientific Consensus:

Climate change is a serious and urgent issue

Human activities have a powerful role in climate change and its associated risks and impacts

Climate change results from GHGs associated with economic activities including energy, industry, transport, and land use

Challenges:

Now and later

Requires action now for future risk

Here and there

Global risk, local impact, local action, environmental justice

Us and them

Trade-offs

GHG Emissions Scenarios

Charts and Graphs

GHG emissions are increasing

3 Areas of Concern: Mitigation (reduce GHG emissions & future impacts)

Adaptation (accommodate likely impacts)

Science and Research

Total overall GHG reductions needed from 1990 Base to contain CC:

~ 10 - 20% by 2020 ~ 60 - 80% by 2050

Climate Change Impacts

EPA Projections

Climate Leaders

Climate Change Impacts

Example: Summertime Heat

GHG Emissions Reduction - Cap & TradeRegional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

Cap and Trade program for electricity sector

States involved: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont

Observer: Pennsylvania

The program will apply to fossil fuel-fired electric generators 25 megawatts (MW) and larger

The first compliance period began on January 1, 2009.

Regional emissions would be capped at 121.3 million short tons of CO2 through 2014, and reduced to 10% below this level in 2018.

The initial cap is approximately equivalent to 1990 emissions.

States Release Results of Auction 3

2009 Allowances

Clear at $3.51

2012 Allowances Clear at $3.05

• Will these pricing policies be:– Strong enough…?– Wide enough…? – Fast enough…?

• At what price would a gas tax spur desired changes in consumption levels?

• Did the recent increase in oil prices affected the price of products made with petroleum (i.e., plastics)?

• Will all important sectors be covered?• Exploring all possible cost-effective reductions?• How long for legislative and regulatory action?

…to adequately address climate change?

GHG Emissions Reductions

Questions for Cap & Trade

Energy Policy is key, but should be complemented by targeted programs to address gaps– Bottom-up approach complements top-down

approach of proposed policies

– Fills proposed policies’ gaps related to their strength, breadth, and speed

– Sector-specific regulations?

Encourage development and use voluntary programs and offsets

– Reduce GHG emissions using creative, low-cost approaches

– Increase business efficiency

– Reduce use of materials, energy, water

– Minimize waste, transportation

GHG Emissions Reductions

Filling the gap

Conventional Sector-based View of U.S. GHG Emissions By Source

2005 U.S. Emissions: 7,260 MMTCO2E

Conventional View

• Electricity production• Automobiles and

transportation• Energy/electricity

consumption

U.S. Mobile Source GHG Emissions

By Sector (2006) U.S. Greenhouse Gases and Sinks

54%

18%

11%

8%

5%3% 1%

Cars/Light Trucks

Heavy-duty Trucks

Aviation

Nonroad

Marine

Rail

Pipelines

Systems-based View of U.S. GHG Emissions By Type and Category

View of U.S. GHG Emissions

First step to reducing emissions

Efficiency is a “cheap” and effective place to start.

Another step to reducing emissions

Indirect Lifecycle Emissions

EPA Waste/GhG Calculators

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/calculators/

WARM calculates and totals GHG emissions of baseline and alternative waste management practices—source reduction, recycling, combustion, composting, and landfilling.

RECON estimates life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy impacts from purchasing and/or manufacturing materials with varying degrees of post-consumer recycled content.

EPA Waste/GhG Calculatorshttp://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/calculators/

WARM calculates and totals GHG emissions of baseline and alternative waste management practices—source reduction, recycling, combustion, composting, and landfilling.

RECON estimates life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy impacts from purchasing and/or manufacturing materials with varying degrees of post-consumer recycled content.

EPA Tools and Resources

• Assess your current condition• Develop a Plan for improvements• Implement changes & upgrades• Measure and track• Continue Improvement

Highlighted EPA Program

Fuel Efficiency

MPG

Is 60 MPG high or low for an automobile?

Statement of Energy Performance

EPA Rating

Is 80 kBtu/SF/YR high or low for a building?

Rating systems for Buildings

Highlighted EPA Program

EPA Climate Leaders

• Largest corporate greenhouse gas goal-sett ing program, with over 8% of U.S. GHG emissions

• Total annual U.S. revenue of the partnership represents 10% of the U.S. Gross Domest ic Product

• Goals pledged in program reduce annual emissions equivalent to 9 million cars

• Over 200 Partners of all sizes in many sectors, with operations in all 50 states

• Climate Leaders started in 2002 with 11 charter partners• Related EPA programs for small businesses:

Energy Star: www.energystar.gov Green Power Partnership: www.epa.gov/greenpower Business Guide to EPA Climate Partnerships

EPA Programs

Climate Leaders for Low Emitters

• Growing interest by small businesses wishing to take action on climate prompted us to create simpler, non-technical tools specially designed for your needs

• Low emitters are defined as off ice-based organizations, suppliers to Climate Leaders Partners, and public institut ions such as government agencies and universities

• Low emitters typically have total corporate-wide emissions equal to less than 10,000 metric tons of CO2-equiavalent

• Tools are divided into four steps that you can tackle or delegate at your convenience:

– Get started– Calculate GHG Emissions– Create an Inventory Management Plan– Set a Reduction Goal & Track Progress

• Technical help is provided

EPA Programs

EPA’s Climate and Energy State and Local Program assists state and local governments in their clean energy efforts by providing technical assistance, analytical tools, and outreach support.

Specific assistance includes:Identifying and documenting cost-effective policies and initiatives that promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and related clean technologies.

Measuring and evaluating the environmental, economic, and public health benefits of clean energy initiatives.

Fostering peer exchange opportunities for state and local officials to share information on best practices and innovative policies.

Offering a suite of national voluntary programs that provide partners with assistance and recognition for their clean energy actions.

www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/state-and-local/

EPA Programs

Mid-Atlantic SustainablePartnerships

New EPA bundled programs that will guide partners and encourage:

• Energy savings and green power use

• Recycling : Solid Waste, Building Materials, and Electronics

• Green Buildings

• Water savings, pounds of pollutants reduced, costs reduced

• Hazardous and toxic chemicals reduced

One-stop-shop for EPA programs

Global Climate Change Michael Dunn, USEPA

Overview and EPA Perspectives March 26, 2009

Thank you.

Michael DunnDunn.michael@epa.gov

215.814.2712

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4040

3636

3232

2828

2424

2020

1616

1212

88

44

00

Cents/Cents/kWhkWh

Residential Electricity Prices:Residential Electricity Prices:Scenario with Electric TransportationScenario with Electric Transportation

Benefits of Local Climate Protection

● Improve air quality

● Reduce municipal operating costs

● Save money

● Reduce traffic congestion

● Create local jobs

● Protect public health

● Improve the quality of life

● Creates legacy of leadership