Link Roundup: June 11, 2009
I’m going to use “Roundups” to post summaries of the many articles and blogs that cross my screen throughout the day. No one should have to read this many articles, so just read my excerpts and commentary and read the full article if you think it would be worthwhile!
I’ve been behind on my ACES reading, so not all of these are from today. I’ve broken them into categories
Bill Status
Waxman: Climate Bill Hits the House Floor in 2 Weeks [Solve Climate]
A look at where the bill is at and where it’s heading.
Waxman and Markey are calling for full support, though.
If the House doesn’t pass the bill, they said, the Senate won’t act. The stars don’t align like this very often, with a Democratic majority in the House and Senate, an international treaty six months away, and a president who supports climate action. The nation can’t count on the window of opportunity remaining open for long, they said.
The Climate Post: Waxman-Markey, Bonn, and carbon counting [Grist]
In preparation, negotiators this week and next descend on Bonn, Germany, where nations have their first opportunity to react to the United Nations’ negotiating text, released last month. Diplomacy efforts continue to step up, in Bonn and elsewhere, with U.S. special envoy on climate change Todd Stern visiting Beijing next week.
GOP American Energy Act: Impact Of Global Warming ‘Shall Not Be Considered For Any Purpose’ [The Wonk Room]
The Republican alternative energy bill strips EPA of any authority to regulate climate change and doesn’t consider greenhouse gas emissions as a factor for the bill. Thankfully, it will never see the light of day.
Bill analysis
14 Things I Love–and 6 I Hate–About Waxman-Markey [Sightline]
Wonderful article on some of the more in-depth pros and cons to the bill.
7. I love that, starting in 2026, federal authorities will auction all unallocated permits and distribute the proceeds in equal payments to all legal US residents. By 2030, that’s 55 percent of permits, worth tens of billions of dollars. It’s almost Cap and Dividend, and it will probably make climate policy a pocket-book winner for every families below the median income.
CBO: Cap And Trade Bill Will Reduce Deficit By $24 Billion [Business Insider]
International
Halfway to Copenhagen, no way to 2 °C [Nature]
Comprehensive look at the policies implemented by developed and developing nations. Makes estimates
In the longer term, Annex-I industrial emissions would fall to 57–63 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050 — if current positions were faithfully implemented. Global industrial emissions, however, would be approximately 102–111 per cent above 1990 levels by 2050.
China says no to binding greenhouse gas cuts after talks with US [AFP via Grist]
China-US negotiations before Copenhagen have taken a turn for the worst. China said it won’t agree to an international cap.
“China is still a developing country and the present task confronting China is to develop its economy and alleviate poverty, as well as raise the living standard of its people,” foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters.
“Given that, it is natural for China to have some increase in its emissions, so it is not possible for China in that context to accept a binding or compulsory target.”
Canadian government to establish carbon trading market [Vancouver Sun]
In a speech to the Economic Club of Canada, he [Environment Minister Jim Prentice] did not say when the government hopes to see the market operating but he released proposed draft rules, allowing a 60-day public comment period and a plan to publish final rules in the fall.
[http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=1493 Japan reduction target leaves UN climate chief speechless] [COP15]
Japan pledges to reduce emissions by 12% from 2005 levels by 2025. This low pledge is another bad sign for the upcoming Copenhagen climate negotiations.
Environmentalists attending U.N. climate negotiations in Bonn said the reduction amounted only to 8 or 9 percent cut compared with the more widely accepted base line of 1990.
Agriculture
Carbon: America’s New Crop [Solve Climate]
There is huge potential to incentivize a shift to organic farming practices in the bill. Such practices sequester more carbon in the soil, thus farmers could actually be paid for such a shift if carbon is monetized.
Will Big Ag plow under Waxman-Markey [Grist]
A great look by Tom Philpott at how the Hour Agriculture Committee might influence ACES in the coming weeks—by giving allowances (aka cash) to farmers for “chemical no-till agriculture” which hasn’t been proven to sequester carbon. He argues that organic farmer does save carbon, but probably won’t get any attention. Read more from Grist about how organic farming should be included in the bill.
Peterson has vowed to line up 35 to 40 Democratic representatives from ag-heavy states to vote against the bill on the House floor if his agenda isn’t accepted—giving him something close to de facto veto power. In the AgriTalk segment, Peterson says, “I don’t think it [Waxman-Markey] has the votes” to prevail on the House floor. Translation: If I don’t get what I want, I’m squashing it.
Public Hearings – Day 1 [House Agriculture Committee]
“Many Members of the House Agriculture Committee have serious concerns about how climate change legislation being considered in Congress will affect the people living in their districts,” Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson said. “This hearing has helped us better understand what is being proposed and what can be done to improve the legislation.”
Eight Reasons for Farmers to Support Global Warming Action [Center for American Progress]
