Impact of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Policies on Natural Gas Demand
The Natural Gas Council will hold a news conference to discuss a new study that projects the impact of proposed greenhouse gas reduction policies on future natural gas demand and energy markets.
Contact: Jeff Eshelman at 202-857-4722
1201 15th St. N.W., Suite 5000
Coverage of Bush Climate Change Event
Coverage of the Bush administration’s Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change from around the Web, the event keynoted by the president, who was pointedly absent at the UN’s similar event.
DeSmogBlog, U.S. hosts climate-change conference and promptly digs in its heels:Curiously, or perhaps not, Rice’s remarks echoed those of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper two days earlier, when he told delegates at UN Headquarters that Canada favors an approach that balances global-warming mitigation with economic growth. Harper’s remarks were so in-keeping with the U.S. position they could have been framed by the White House.ED’s Climate 411, Our Message to the White House Major Emitters Meeting:
A big challenge like global warming requires action and leadership from the United States. And everyone in this room knows what few have been willing to say aloud: No caps, no real progress. The world cannot sufficiently address the climate challenge until the U.S. embraces binding short- and long-range declining caps – determined by what the scientists say is necessary.Reuters, FACTBOX-Bush’s evolving policy on global warming:
March 28, 2001 – Stating his opposition to the 1997 Kyoto treaty on global warming, Bush says it is against U.S. economic interests and unfair as big developing countries like China and India escape binding emissions pledges.June 11, 2001 – Shortly before his Europe tour, Bush says it remains uncertain how much of global warming is caused by humans and pledges to use science and diplomacy to fight it….
July 6, 2005 – Bush for the first time says he recognizes that “an increase in greenhouse gases caused by humans is contributing to the problem” of global warming, during a visit to Denmark on his way to the Group of Eight (G8) summit in Scotland….
Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change 1
The United States is committed to collaborating with other major economies to agree on a detailed contribution for a new global framework by the end of 2008, which would contribute to a global agreement under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change by 2009.
To this end, President Bush asked Secretary Rice to host a meeting of major economies in Washington, D.C., on September 27 – 28, 2007. Bush intends to address the conference. At this meeting, we would seek agreement on the process by which the major economies would, by the end of 2008, agree upon a post-2012 framework that could include a long-term global goal, nationally defined mid-term goals and strategies, and sector-based approaches for improving energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, we expect to place special emphasis on how major economies can, in close cooperation with the private sector, accelerate the development and deployment of clean technologies, a critical component of an effective global approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. James L. Connaughton, Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, will serve as Bush’s personal representative.
- United States (host)
- European Union (Current EU President and European Commission) Plus
- France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom
- Japan
- China
- Canada
- India
- Brazil
- South Korea
- Mexico
- Russia
- Australia
- Indonesia
- South Africa
- United Nations
CGI Annual Meeting
At the center of CGI is our Annual Meeting, held in New York each September coinciding with the U.N. General Assembly. This is a working session designed to provide insights into global problems for the purpose of enabling productive action in CGI’s four areas of focus: education, energy and climate change, global health and poverty alleviation.
- David Sandalow, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, The Brookings Institution
- Francis Beinecke, President, Natural Resources Defense Council
- Carol Browner, Principal, The Albright Group, LLC
- Eileen Claussen, President, Pew Center on Global Climate Change
- Debbie Dingell, Trustee, The General Motors Foundation (John Dingell’s wife)
- Dr. Mohamed El-Ashry, Senior Fellow, United Nations Foundation
- Yoriko Kawaguchi, Member of the House of Councillors, Japan
- Vinod Khosla, Partner, Khosla Ventures
- Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense
- Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General, World Conservation Union
- Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chief Executive, The Energy and Resources Institute
- William Reilly, Founding Partner, Aqua International Partners
- Jim Rogers, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Duke Energy Corporation
WORKING SESSION 1: Redefining Business As Usual Wednesday, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
“Redefining Business As Usual” will address how climate change is causing companies large and small to rethink not only their interactions with employees, customers and the public—but increasingly their very business models. This panel will explore some of the most innovative and profitable strategies being adopted by leading businesses and their potential for widespread adoption.
Panelists:- Daniel Esty, Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy, Yale University
- Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO, Masdar, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company
- Mindy Lubber, President, Ceres
- Jim Rogers, Chairman, President, & CEO, Duke Energy Corporation
- Ted Turner, Chairman, Turner Enterprises, Inc.
WORKING SESSION 2: Protecting Tropical Forests Wednesday, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
“Protecting Tropical Forests” will explore the crucial role tropical forests play in stabilizing the climate and how best to protect them. More than 20% of carbon dioxide emissions are caused by deforestation and land use change. This panel will discuss creative programs to protect tropical forests for the benefit of the global climate, biodiversity and local livelihoods.
Panelists:- Rosina Bierbaum, Dean and Professor, University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources and Environment
- Stuart E. Eizenstat, Partner, Covington & Burling LLP
- Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute
- Franz Tattenbach, Executive Director, FUNDECOR
WORKING SESSION 3: Stabilizing the Climate: Pathways to Success Thursday, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
“Stabilizing the Climate: Pathways to Success” will discuss the bold action needed to avert catastrophic climate change. The race to stabilize the climate will require a significant shift in how the world generates and consumes energy. This panel will explore critical levers and decision points that could determine success in meeting these ambitious goals.
Panelists:- John P. Holdren, Director, Woods Hole Research Center; Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy, Harvard University
- Ogunlade R. Davidson, Professor, University of Sierra Leone
- David Hawkins, Director, Climate Center, Natural Resources Defense Council
- Anne Lauvergeon, Chairman of the Executive Board & CEO, AREVA
- J. Craig Venter, Chairman & President, J. Craig Venter Institute
WORKING SESSION 4: Expanding Clean Energy Around the World Thursday, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
“Expanding Clean Energy Around the World” will focus on options for dramatically increasing access to clean energy around the world. The panel will discuss practical models for accelerating progress and delivering more win-win results, with special attention to the needs of the 2 billion people who currently lack access to modern energy services.
Panelists:- Vijay Vaitheeswaran, Correspondent, The Economist
- Lorraine Bolsinger, Vice President, Ecomagination, General Electric Company
- Ólafur Regnar Grimsson, President, The Republic of Iceland
- H, Harish Hande, Managing Director, SELCO Solar Light (P) Ltd.
- Christine Loh, OBE, Chief Executive Officer, Civic Exchange Limited
WORKING SESSION 5: Accelerating Green Building Friday, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
“Accelerating Green Building” will explore opportunities for fighting climate change through buildings, which are responsible for more heat-trapping gases than vehicles. This session will demonstrate how investments in energy-saving and other climate-friendly building technologies can save money and contribute to solving the climate challenge.
Panelists:- William McDonough, Principal, William McDonough & Partners
- Maria Atkinson, Global Head of Sustainability, Lend Lease
- Carlton Brown, Principal & Chief Operating Officer, Full Spectrum of NY, LLC
- Karan Grover, Founder, Karan Grover & Associates
- Stephen Lane, Global Director, Capital Projects, Citi Realty Services, Citi
S.1543, to establish a national geothermal initiative to encourage increased production of energy from geothermal resources
- Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, president of Iceland
- Alexander Karsner, assistant secretary of Energy for energy efficiency and renewable energy
- Mark Myers, director, U.S. Geological Survey
- Susan Petty – AltaRock Energy
- Lisa Shevenell – Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, University of Nevada
- David R. Wunsch – New Hampshire Geological Survey
- Kenneth H. Williamson – geothermal consultant
A Discussion on International Climate Change and Clean Energy Policy
Please join the House Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Caucus, Renewable Energy and International Law (REIL) , Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute on September 25th for a roundtable discussion led by national and international policymakers, business representatives, and key stakeholders on issues of global climate and clean energy policy. The discussion will be set in the context of international and business perspectives on the energy and climate bills before the Congress and what can be expected on the global policy front in the coming months.
Panel- James Cameron, Founder, Climate Change Capital (Moderator)
- Bob Simon, Chief of Staff, Senate Energy Committee
- Suedeen Kelly, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- Paul Dawson, Head of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs, Global Commodities, Citi
- Additional business and government leaders
The event is free and open to the public. No RSVP required.
For more information, contact Fred Beck, [email protected] or 202-662-1892.
Green jobs created by global warming initiatives 2
- Sigmar Gabriel, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany
- Congressman Richard K. Armey PhD, Chairman, FreedomWorks
- Jerome Ringo, President, Apollo Alliance
- Dr. Wayne Winegarden, Partner, Arduin, Laffer & Moore Econometrics
- Carol L. Berrigan, Director, Industry Infrastructure, Nuclear Energy Institute
- Vinod Khosla, Founder, Khosla Ventures
- Daniel Kammen, Director of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley
- Dr. Kenneth Green, Visiting Fellow, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
- David Blittersdorf, Founder, NRG Systems, Inc.
- Mark Culpepper, Vice President of Strategic Marketing, SunEdison
- Donald Gilligan, President, National Association of Energy Service Companies
- Paul Renfrow, Vice President, OGE Energy Corp.
- Dorothy Rothrock, V.P. Government Relations, California Manufacturers & Technology Association
2:22 PM Armey Environmental regulations would probably create shift from the private sector where freedom reigns to the public sector where command and control reigns. Whatever we do with concerns for the environment relates to energy, electricity, fossil fuel energy. These are among the highest linkage factors in the economy. There will be reduced output and reduced job opportunities. I found myself going back to Armey’s Axiom Number One: the free market is rational, the government is dumb. The market has a history that leads people to best utilize and effectively conserves resources. Government policy generally leads you in exactly the opposite direction. Look at how dramatically obscene agriculture policy is.
2:28 PM Boxer One of my most famous constituents is here. Dick talked about the private sector and capitalism, a perfect introduction to Vinod Khosla. Tell us what you think we should be doing with global warming.
Khosla I come before you not to make an environmental case but an economic one. I believe climate change legislation is good for our economy and our national security. I believe in free markets in a level playing field. We need to start mitigating our risks. We spend over $300 billion on oil imports. Should we spend more money lining the pockets of Hugo Chavez and those who fund terrorism? The uncertainty around climate change legislation is hurting the US economy. Delayed investment, job creation reduce our competitiveness. Solar CIP creates 20 times as many jobs as a coal-fired plant.
2:35 PM Ringo I’d like to suggest seven investment priorities. 1) Clean R&D, such as power storage. Solar PV were invented in the US but commercialized and built abroad. 2) Early commercialization of new technologies. 3) Congress needs to provide market certainty to renewable energy producers. 4) Incentives for clean energy components. 5) Green building retrofitting. 6) Carbon-cap policy must level the playing field to apply to importers. 7) Education and training initiatives. From Iraq to New Orleans, the tragic consequences of our excessive dependence on fossil fuels is driven home every day.
2:41 Winegarden I examined the impact of cap-and-trade on the US economy. Cap-and-trade legislation creates a few green jobs but destroys more jobs. Fossil fuels currently account for 86% of our energy consumption. In the short term, limiting greenhouse emissions only by limiting energy supplies. Energy supply shocks caused a 2% reduction in the US economy. Regardless of one’s position on the climate change consensus, cap-and-trade is an inferior price instrument. Price volatility decreases economic efficiency. Failure to achieve universality greatly reduces its environmental impact but the economic impact will remain the same. Dow Chemical and the aluminum industry have been moving industry out of countries with higher energy costs. The costs of reducing carbon emissions are by no means trivial. Cap-and-trade is wrong. However, if appropriately constructed, a policy with a carbon tax and a reduction in marginal income tax rates would be good.
2:46 Berrigan Any credible program to reduce greenhouse gases must include nuclear energy.
2:52 Sanders My impression is that you’re creating many small-business capitalists by allowing people to sell solar power back into the grid.
Gabriel Thousands of new jobs are being created in East Germany by companies including American companies creating solar wafers. You have the right to put the energy you produce back into the German grid. You get money for your energy production.
Sanders How many homes have this arrangement?
Gabriel Some hundred thousand. It’s a growing number. Some use geothermal, some use photovoltaic, some use wind.
2:58 Inhofe Dick, Dingell has proposed a gas tax. I’m not in favor of it. I think it’s a more honest way of doing it, not a cap-and-trade system.
Armey The early research in economic externalities was really part of the government’s failure to establish the proprietorship of the environment. I like about the Dingell proposal is that it sets a price. Cape Wind is clearly a governmental NIMBY problem. Same with nuclear. It is because of government regulation we’ve never developed the low-sulfur coal, in fact putting them into parks. The market encourages the genius of the private sector. The problem with cap and trade is where do you make the initial allocation? I say give them to Medicare. Let Medicare peddle them to the private sector. My guess is politicians will decide who are our best friends, for a politically defined redistribution of the wealth.
Inhofe Isn’t a carbon tax more honest than cap and trade?
Winegarden Absolutely. Taxes are a negative incentive. They need to be balanced out by a positive incentive by cutting marginal tax rates.
Lobbying by the U.S. Department of Transportation Against State Actions to Address Climate Change (cancelled)
Internal e-mails show that Transportation Secretary Mary Peters personally directed a behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign approved by the White House to oppose EPA approval of California’s landmark standards reducing greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.
Carbon Disclosure Project Launches Fifth Annual Report
The Carbon Disclosure Project, a non-profit that advocates corporate climate change disclosure on behalf of a large pool of institutional investors (funded by WWF, government environmental agencies, and various foundations), released its fifth annual report with great fanfare yesterday. In proceedings moderated by Harold E. Ford Jr. (DLC, Merrill Lynch) and keynoted by Bill Clinton (with a video message from Rupert Murdoch), the CDP’s Paul Dickinson announced the results from their questionnaire, sent to 2400 companies around the world. 1300 responded, including 77% of the Financial Times 500, compared to 72% in CDP4, 71% in CDP3, 59% in CDP2, and 47% in CDP1. 76% of responding FT500 companies reported implementing a GHG emissions reduction initiative compared to 48% in CDP4. Europe-based firms had the highest response rate with 83%. However, North America-based firms demonstrated significant improvement with a CDP5 response rate of 74%, compared to 66% in CDP4. South America-based firms also increased their response rate to 60% in CDP5 from 50% in CDP4. The website allows users to search responses by company name (some responses are not publicly available). The executive report is also available.
It’s interesting, for example, to contrast BP with ExxonMobil, both of whom offer detailed disclosures. BP has active wind, solar, biofuels, and CCS divisions, and is concerned by melting permafrost; ExxonMobil sees climate change as an opportunity for growth in the natural gas sector and is looking to reduce flaring in its natural gas wells in Nigeria.
In coverage, the New York Times notes that Gas Emissions Rarely Figure in Investor Decisions and the Washington Post and Business Week cover the Wal-Mart press release about setting up a program to measure its supply chain footprint. Agence-France Presse emphasizes the finding that World companies show big interest in climate, US firms lag, whereas Reuters sees the positive message that Climate change spurs industry restructuring. Forbes discusses Sun Microsystems’ launch of OpenEco, a corporate social-networking website for tracking GHG emissions.