House Appropriations Committee
2359 Rayburn
06/25/2008 at 10:00AM
E&E News:
Markey’s Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
and a House Intelligence Subcommittee will hold a joint hearing
Wednesday on the national security threats of climate change.
International experts have sounded alarms recently about the potential
for global political instability caused by rifts over resources,
extreme weather events and tensions caused by waves of mass-migration.
A series of recent international reports have brought attention to the
issue, including an April
report from the Royal
United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies.
The report noted that climate change has already spurred some
conflicts: Rising sea levels and melting Arctic ice caps have led to
territory disputes among major powers; and global warming has
exacerbated conflicts in unstable regions – especially Africa – where
drought, famine, flood, migration and extreme weather events have
overwhelmed fragile political systems.
Nick Mabey, author of the report, also offered a grim outlook of other
potential effects: Collapsing fisheries stocks could destroy the
livelihoods of millions; the potential for armed conflict could
increase as tensions rise over water rights; and global resentment
could rise against the industrialized nations that failed to
drastically reduce their emissions or adequately help the victims of
global warming.
“Despite these threats, current responses to climate change are slow
and inadequate,” Mabey wrote. He added that “a failure to acknowledge
and prepare for the worst-case scenario is as dangerous in the case of
climate change as it is for managing the risks of terrorism or nuclear
weapons proliferation.”
House Energy Independence and Global Warming Committee
House Intelligence Committee
210 Cannon
06/25/2008 at 09:30AM
The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the challenges to
meeting future energy needs and to developing the technologies for
meeting increased global energy demand in the context of the need to
address global climate change.
Witnesses
Panel 1
- Dr. Neil Hirst, Director for Energy Technology and R&D, International
Energy Agency
- Dr. Raymond Orbach, Director, Office of Science, U.S. Department of
Energy
Panel 2
- Dr. Thomas Wilson, Senior Program Manager, Electric Power Research
Institute
- Dr. Raymond Kopp, Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future
- Karan Bhatia, Vice President & Senior Counsel, General Electric
Company
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
366 Dirksen
06/25/2008 at 09:30AM
The hearing will examine climate change research, mitigation, and
adaptation efforts in the transportation sector, including both surface
transportation and aviation. Witnesses will focus on the projected
increases in freight and passenger traffic in each mode of
transportation, the contributions of the transportation sector to
address climate change, and the potential impacts of climate change on
the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
In addition, the witnesses are expected to address the status of ongoing
research initiatives, challenges to further development of public and
private climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, and the
role of technology in such research initiatives and mitigation and
adaptation strategies.
Witnesses
Panel 1
- Thomas J. Barrett, Deputy Secretary, Department of Transportation
- Dr. James M. Turner, Acting Director, National Institute of Standards
and Technology
- Dr. Thomas C. Peterson, Senior Scientist, National Climatic Data
Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Panel 2
- John D. Porcari, Chair, American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials, Climate Change Technical Assistance Program,
Secretary of Transportation of Maryland
- Dr. G. Edward Dickey, Affiliate Professor of Economics, Loyola College
in Maryland, on behalf of the National Research Council
- David Friedman, Research Director, Clean Vehicles Program, Union of
Concerned Scientists
- Edward Hamberger, President and CEO,
Association of American Railroads
- John M. Meenan, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Air
Transport Association
- Mead Treadwell, Chairman, Arctic Research Commission
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
253 Russell
06/24/2008 at 10:30AM
The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Fisheries,
Wildlife and Oceans, led by Del. Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU), will hold
an oversight and legislative hearing on the following:
- Planning for a Changing Climate and its Impacts on Wildlife and
Oceans: State and Federal Efforts and Needs; and
- H.R. 4455 (Don Young): To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
provide international wildlife management and conservation programs
through the Wildlife Without Borders Program in the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service, and for other purposes. (Wildlife Without
Borders Authorization Act)
House Natural Resources Committee
Water, Oceans and Wildlife Subcommittee
1324 Longworth
06/24/2008 at 10:00AM
The House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Water and Power,
led by Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), will hold an oversight hearing
on “The Silent Invasion: Finding Solutions to Minimize the Impacts of
Invasive Quagga Mussels on Water Rates, Water Infrastructure and the
Environment.”
Witnesses
- Karl Wirkus, Deputy Commissioner for Operations, Bureau of Reclamation
- Dr. Charles R. O’Neill, Jr., Sr. Extension Specialist, Director,
National Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse, Cornell University/NY
Sea Grant
- Ric De Leon, Ph.D, Water System Operations Manager, Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California
- Ronald E. Zegers, Director, Southern Nevada Water Authority, Boulder
City, NV Jim Klark, Southern California Marine Association
- Denise Mayer, Research Scientist, New York State Museum
House Natural Resources Committee
Water and Power Subcommittee
1334 Longworth
06/24/2008 at 10:00AM