Global Warming News from Alaska
February 29, 2008
Reporting from The Front Line

Dear Friends,

The imperiled Alaska community of Kivalina has just filed an important global warming lawsuit seeking damages from some of the nation's largest emitters of greenhouse gases. They want accountability.

There is much to be done and no time to lose. While the oceans continue to acidify and hibernators weaken, British Columbia is imposing a carbon tax; the State of Alaska is launching a mitigation and adaptation process; and Congress is considering extending renewable energy production tax credits. Action is necessary at every level and in every branch of government. There are new tools and opportunities introduced every day, but we must act quickly and decisively to implement them.

Alaska and Arctic Global Warming News - The Latest Evidence and Developments

Kivalina Files Global Warming Lawsuit

The City of Kivalina and the Native Village of Kivalina (a federally recognized tribe) have filed a global warming lawsuit in a federal district court against nine oil companies, fourteen electric power companies and one coal company (Anchorage Daily News 2/26/08; Environment News Service 2/27/08).

• The complaint states: "This is a suit to recover damages from global warming caused by defendants' actions."
• Noting that the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Government Accountability Office have both concluded that Kivalina must be relocated due to global warming, and that the estimated cost for relocation alone is $95 to $400 million, the lawsuit seeks damages on the basis of four claims for relief. The claims are: public nuisance under federal law; private and public nuisance under state law; civil conspiracy; and concert of action. Among other allegations, the lawsuit states that there was a conspiracy to mislead the public regarding the causes and consequences of global warming.
• This is the first global warming lawsuit that has a "discrete identifiable victim" (CNN 2/27/08).

Petition Submitted to List Walruses as Threatened

The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a petition with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to list walruses as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (AP 2/7/08).

• "The Pacific walrus is an early victim of our failure to address global warming," notes the petition's lead author. "As the sea ice recedes, so does the future of the Pacific walrus."
• During last summer approximately 6,000 walruses abandoned the disappearing ice and populated Alaska's coast, while in Russia the numbers were even greater. Russians estimated that 3,000 to 4,000 walruses died in stampedes.
• The Fish and Wildlife Service has 90 days to conduct an initial review of the petition.

Diminished Arctic Ice Cap Anticipated in Summer 2008

At the Alaska Forum on the Environment, University of Washington climatologist Dr. Rigor predicted that unless there is a change in atmospheric circulatory patterns, Arctic Cap ice loss in 2008 will be equal to or greater than in 2007, the lowest year on record (Anchorage Daily News 2/12/08; KTUU 2/11/08).

• Dr. Rigor noted that in 1989, 80% of the ice covering the Arctic Ocean was at least 10 years old; now only 3% of the ice is that old.
• "All these changes are very consistent with a climate system trying to cool itself off from greenhouse gases," notes Dr. Rigor.

New Alaska Carbon Calculator and Alaska Carbon Reducer

Alaska Conservation Solutions has unveiled an expanded Alaska Carbon Calculator and Alaska Carbon Reducer (to view the Carbon Calculator, click here; to view the Carbon Reducer, click here). We hope you will enjoy using these informative, useful, cost-saving, and fun tools.

• The Alaska Carbon Calculator is now translated into Yupik (click here). Una aturluku cuqesgu elpet ilagautellren, qaillun amllertalriamek carbon-aamek atularcit ellarpamta puqlangellranun.
• The expanded Carbon Reducer highlights community-based activities, in addition to scores of win-win, easy to implement strategies to reduce Alaskans' carbon footprint and save money.
• The Alaska Carbon Calculator and Carbon Reducer are designed especially for Alaskans, and reflect our lifestyles, community differences, and local opportunities.

State Launches Public Mitigation and Adaptation Process

The Governor's Subcabinet on Climate Change has announced it intention to proceed with developing a statewide mitigation plan and a state-wide adaptation plan (to see the Sub-cabinet's Work Plan, click here). There are many opportunities for public engagement in this important process.

• The Subcabinet is creating an Adaptation Advisory Work Group that "will assess options to help communities, businesses and citizens take action to prevent foreseeable impacts caused by changing climate; or if impacts are not preventable, propose actions to best adapt to those impacts." There will be four technical work groups. The Sub-cabinet is seeking nominations to the Advisory Work group now. To read more about this, and to link to a contact address, click here (see the bottom right portion of the page).
• The Subcabinet is also creating a Mitigation (carbon reduction) Advisory Group, with five technical work groups. The Sub-cabinet is seeking nominations to the Mitigation Work group now. Again, to read more about this, and to link to a contact address, click here (see the bottom right portion of the page).
• All meetings will be open to the public.
• We urge Alaskans from throughout the state to become involved.

Other Alaska, Arctic and Antarctic Developments and Items of Note

• US Coast Guard Concerned About Increased Shipping in Arctic Ocean. Alaska's highest ranking Coast Guard official has expressed concern about the federal government's current lack of resources and information to respond to increased shipping and other maritime activities in the Arctic Ocean and Northern Bering Sea (Anchorage Daily News 2/12/08). Because of climate change, there is now more activity, such as fishing in disputed areas, and cruise ships off Alaska's northern coast. The Rear Admiral called the Bering Strait "the new Strait of Malacca." The Coast Guard will be conducting a ship activity study this summer.
• Senator Murkowski Calls for Renewable Energy Production Tax Extensions. In a strong speech at the Alaska Forum on the Environment, Senator Murkowski stated that "we need…to pass legislation to extend and enlarge the tax incentives proposed to help promote renewable energy (to see the entire speech, click here). The Senator also stated: "Alaskans are environmentalists. We all share a deep love and respect for the outdoors. It's part of our DNA, just like our being ornery."
• City of Craig Employs Wood Fire Heater. Craig is becoming the first town in Alaska to use waste wood in a wood fired boiler to heat buildings, saving an estimated $85,000 per year (Associated Press 2/11/08).
• US May Have Basis for a Larger Arctic Ocean Seabed Claim. Because of the ice retreat in 2007, the Commerce Department and the University of New Hampshire were able to conduct extensive sonar surveys of the sea floor off the Alaskan coast. As Andrew Revkin notes, "The survey disclosed clusters of ridges and lumps protruding from the deep sea floor well beyond a well-charted extension of the continental shelf called the Chukchi Cap (Revkin 2/12/08)." This could serve as a basis for a larger seabed claim amounting to thousands of additional square miles under the Law of the Sea treaty, which the US has not yet ratified.
• Antarctic Sea Life At Risk. Scientists are predicting dramatic losses of biodiversity in the marine ecosystems adjacent to Antarctica if global warming continues (BBC 2/27/08). With warming waters, unique marine life, like giant sea spiders and floppy ribbon worms will be at risk from an influx of sharks, crabs and other predators. Some species have evolved in a predator-free environment for tens of millions of years. In a separate study, French scientists concluded that the king penguin could become extinct because of climate change (AFP 2/11/08).

Alaska in the News

Among numerous January news stories and commentaries about Alaska and the Arctic not referenced above, we especially recommend the following:

• Alaska Villages, Erosion and Relocation. The Anchorage Daily News published an article on the latest developments regarding village erosion problems and relocation actions (Anchorage Daily News 2/22/08). There are many needs. The Governor's Subcabinet on Climate Change has formed an Immediate Action Workgroup, which has been very active. Their report is due April 1.
• New Wintering Birds in Anchorage. This year, the Great Backyard Bird Count revealed several new wintering species in Anchorage, in addition to larger numbers of other recent winter denizens due to global warming (Anchorage Daily News 2/20/08). For the first time, there were a pair of short-eared owls observed as well as varied thrush. And, there were more robins and nuthatches (85 this year versus 26 last year). The Executive Director of Alaska Audubon pointed to warmer temperatures, and for nuthatches, more bark-beetle killed trees.
• Strong Concern Expressed About Global Warming and Animal Diseases in Alaska. At the Alaska Forum on the Environment, Dr. Eric Hoberg, with the US Department of Agriculture, discussed why global warming presents significant risks to animals from expanded diseases (KTUU 2/13/08). "We think that parasites, pathogens, these disease-causing organisms have the potential to have a very dramatic affect on things like caribou, sheep, wild sheep, moose, musk oxen." Warmer temperatures increase range and development rates for vectors and diseases, and "the general feeling in the broader community is that this is outside of the capacity for populations to be resilient or those species to be able to adapt effectively."

Key National News

Renewable Energy Tax Credits

Unless Congress acts, needed renewable energy tax credits will expire at the end of the year. Congress failed to include these extensions in both the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 that passed last December and the Tax Stimulus Package that passed several weeks ago.

• House Acts. On February 27, by a vote of 236 to 182, the House approved legislation that would extend renewable energy tax credits and provide other incentives to produce renewable energy and promote energy conservation (Washington Post 2/28/08). To fund the more than $17 billion needed for these efforts, the legislation reduces certain tax credits and tax breaks to oil companies and closes the "Hummer Tax Loophole."
• Senate Action Forthcoming. It is anticipated that the Senate will vote on renewable tax credit extension legislation in the next several weeks (Seattle Post Intelligencer 2/25/08). We will send out an action alert when such legislation is introduced. Last time the legislation failed to proceed in the Senate by only one vote.

Americans Want Energy/Climate Solutions – View Political Leaders as Weak

In a poll conducted for the nonpartisan Civil Society Institute, Americans expressed their desire for energy/climate solutions, and their concern that current leadership is inadequate (Poll results 2/28/08).

• The poll shows strong support for national leadership on clean energy, US international leadership on curbing global warming, a new industrial revolution based on renewable energy, and prompt action.
• 86% of Americans agree with the following statement: "A national energy strategy based on a ‘phasing in' of new technologies and a phasing out of carbon based energy sources would require specific actions. America should commit to a five-year moratorium on new coal-fired plants and, instead, focus on aggressive expansion of wind, solar and other renewable energy sources. Tax and other incentives should be provided for all new construction to help reduce energy consumption. Homeowners should get incentives to make their homes more energy efficient to help reduce energy demands."
• Approximately 72% of Americans ranked as weak the ability of our current political leaders to provide "practical, problem solving solutions" on energy/climate, compared to 57% of Americans who felt that way in 2003.

Energy Developments: Deepening Concerns about Carbon Emissions, More Support for Renewable Energy

There were several important energy developments this month.

• Wall Street to Provide Sharper Scrutiny. Three major investment banks – CitiGroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley -- announced that they would consider potential future costs of carbon emissions when determining an energy project's financial viability (Citigroup press release 2/4/08; New York Times 2/5/08). Entitled The Carbon Principles, "the signatory financial institutions will encourage clients to invest in cost-effective demand reduction", and "cost-effective renewables and distributed technologies", "taking into consideration the value of avoided CO₂ emissions." The Principles also note that "Due to evolving climate policy, investing in CO₂ -emitting fossil fuel generation entails uncertain financial, regulatory and certain environmental liability risks."
• Energy Department Abandons FutureGen Coal Project. Due to substantial cost overruns, the US Department of Energy announced that it would stop supporting the FutureGen project which was to be the first "clean coal" project using hydrogen technology (MarketWatch 2/28/08). The Bush Administration launched this project in 2003 and invested over $1 billion in it.
• More Oil Drilling Questioned. The former most senior risk manager at BP is seriously questioning the investment prudence of new oil exploration (Reuters 2/13/08). After calculating the potential carbon emissions from proven oil, gas and coal reserves at around 700 billion tons, and comparing that number with the maximum 500 billion tons which can be emitted this century without triggering catastrophic climate changes, he noted, "It prompts the question where does more exploration fit…I don't know whether they thought their strategy through." "The only reason you'd have to explore for more (oil) is if CCS (carbon capture and sequestration) works…As an investor I'd ask how comfortable are you that CCS will work. I haven't seen oil companies answer that directly." In a separate article, Shell stated that carbon had to reach a price of about $100 per ton to motivate companies to invest in CCS (Guardian 2/15/08).
• Wind and GE. GE anticipates that revenue from its wind turbine business will approach $6 billion (Reuters 2/13/08). "The wind business continues to exceed our expectations," noted a GE vice chairman.

Important Local Government Actions

There were several important local government actions launched this month.

• Carbon Fee Considered. The San Francisco Bay Area Air Quality Management District is considering a proposal to charge a fee of 4.2 cents per metric ton of carbon dioxide emitted (Mercury News 2/9/08). Under this proposal, the fee for a Shell oil refinery, the largest producer of carbon dioxide in the district, would be about $186,000 per year. All 10,000 non-moving business sources of greenhouse gases in the district could be subject to the fee. This may be the first such fee proposed in the US. The monies raised would be used to pay "for the air district's global-warming-reduction programs." The vote on this proposal could occur in May.
• New York Requires Town Cars to Go Hybrid. As part of his commitment to reduce New York City's carbon emissions by 30% by 2030, Mayor Bloomberg is requiring town cars to adopt hybrid technology within five years (Reuters 2/27/08). Last year the city required taxi cabs to become hybrids by 2012.

More Global Warming Impacts Measured and Predicted

The impacts from global warming continue to mount, and predictions become more dire:

• Global Warming Threatens Hibernators. In an article entitled, "Warming Creating Extinction Risks for Hibernators," National Geographic News explores the impact of global warming on hibernators (National Geographic News 2/1/08). "One alarming fact gleaned from the research…is how much animals have altered their behavior in response to a small change in temperature…. Marmots shortened their hibernations by weeks based on a change in temperature of just over a degree." Shortening hibernation periods places animals at risk of starvation and more predation, and as a Stanford University scientist noted, "I do think what we will be facing is the extinction of many species." (In a related international article, numerous hedgehogs in England are now failing to hibernate and suffering from malnutrition (BBC 2/6/08).
• Marine Dead Zones from Global Warming. Since 2002, extensive low-oxygen zones have killed marine life off the Northwest coast annually. Scientists now point to global warming, and resulting stronger and longer land-based winds, as the cause (San Francisco Chronicle 2/20/08). As the land warms, winds become prolonged, causing too much upwelling of oceanic nutrients. This over-fertilizes the system. As a result, there is an overproduction of phytoplankton which die and rot, creating dead zones.

In Brief – Other National News of Note

Utilities to Examine Water Concerns. Eight very large American water utilities have formed a coalition called the Water Utility Climate Alliance to study the risks and impacts of climate change on their infrastructure and operations (Reuter 2/26/08). "Our systems are facing risk due to diminishing snowpack, bigger storms, more frequent drought and rising sea levels. We need to be organized to respond to these risks," notes one of the members. On a related note, according to scientists, Lake Mead could run dry within 13 years (New York Times 2/13/08).

Bush Administration Proposed Budget. The President's proposed Fiscal Year 2009 budget eliminates the Weatherization Assistance Grants program, the Renewable Energy Production Incentive program, and EPA's greenhouse gas reporting registry. The submitted budget also reduces funding for other efforts like the solar energy program, EPA's overall climate protection programs (like Energy Star), Tribal Energy Programs (designed to help tribes with renewable energy and energy efficiency), and mass transit. Some programs like geothermal technology, nuclear energy, carbon sequestration, and earth-monitoring satellites received increases. For more details, see Center for American Progress 2/8/08; Christian Science Monitor 2/6/08.

Military vs. Climate Expenditures. In a study entitled "Military vs. Climate Security," the Institute for Policy Studies has determined that the federal government is expending $88 on the military for every $1 it spent on global warming related efforts (ipsnews 3/1/08). Last year an analysis by numerous retired generals and admirals concluded that "Climate change acts as a threat multiplier for instability in the most volatile regions of the world."

Key International News

Evidence and Concerns Increase about Global Warming's Impacts on Oceans, Including Acidification

Scientists have revealed new evidence and increasing concerns about the acidification of the ocean due to carbon dioxide emissions absorbed in marine waters (Economist 2/21/08).

• Coral. Calcification rates of a common coral species in the Great Barrier Reef have slowed by 21% during the past 16 years (Times 2/23/08). When waters become more acidic, less calcium carbonate is available for coral and other species to make shells. While this study notes that further evidence is needed to make an unambiguous link, another Australian scientist observes that the results are consistent with increased ocean acidification and temperatures.
• Sea Urchins. When sea urchins are exposed to more acidic ocean water, they grow "short and stumpy" skeletons. According to a researcher, "The (sea urchin) larvae is desperately trying to make its body." More significantly, when scientists combined warm water and a more acidic environment, there was much greater mortality in sea urchin larval (ScienceNOW 2/18/08).
• Fish. According to a scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, "newly emerging evidence suggest that larval and juvenile fish may also be susceptible to changes in ocean pH levels…Ocean acidification is rapidly becoming a real problem" (ScienceDaily 2/24/08)

In a must read study, the UN Environment Program (UNEP) has issued a report entitled "In Dead Water." The report underscores that climate change has emerged as the latest threat to the world's marine life, due to ocean acidification, coral bleaching, changes in oceanic currents, and other problems. Global warming compounds the threats of over-fishing and pollution (Reuters 2/22/08). "You overlap all of this and you see you're potentially putting a death nail in the coffin of the world fisheries," noted the head of UNPEP.

British Columbia Enacts Carbon Tax

British Columbia has become the first government in North America to enact a consumer based tax on carbon emissions (Christian Science Monitor 2/28/08). The tax applies to almost all fossil fuels, such as coal, gasoline, diesel, natural gas, and home heating fuel. In July the tax starts at $10/ton of carbon emissions, increasing to $30/ton by 2012. The gasoline tax starts at 2.4 cents/liter (equivalent to 9 cents per gallon), increasing to 7.2 cents/ liter by 2012. In return, personal and corporate income tax rates will drop, and low-income families get a tax credit of $100/adult and $30/child each year.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency News

The renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors are growing significantly worldwide.

• Mexico Announces 25% Renewable Energy Goal. By 2012, Mexico wants to generate 25% of its electricity from renewables, according to Mexico's Energy Secretary (UPI 2/25/08).
• World's Largest Solar Power Station Announced. A partnership of Australian and Hong Kong power companies announced their intent to build a 154 megawatt solar project in northern Victoria, Australia (Reuters 2/26/08).
• Energy Efficiency is Profitable and Effective. A McKinsey study has concluded that "investment in energy efficiency of about $170 billion a year worldwide would yield a profit of about 17 per cent, or $29 billion…that (it) could be done quickly…and would also cut carbon dioxide emissions by about half the amount needed to stabilize the gas at about 550 parts per million" (Financial Times 2/14/08).

In Brief – Other International News of Note

Sea Surface Temperature Increases Atlantic Hurricane Activity. In an important study published in Nature, scientist have concluded that "the sensitivity of tropical Atlantic hurricane activity to August-September sea surface temperature over the period we consider is such that a 0.5 °C increase in sea surface temperature is associated with an (approximately) 40% increase in hurricane frequency and activity. The results also indicate that local sea surface warming was responsible for (approximately) 40% of the increase in hurricane activity relative to the 1950 average between 1996 and 2005" (Nature 1/31/08).

More Serious Concerns about Biofuels. Unfortunately, according to two studies, when you factor in land use changes, "most of the biofuel that people are using or planning to use would probably increase greenhouse gasses substantially" (New York Times 2/8/08).

Climate Tipping Points. More than 50 international scientists have issued a report observing that global warming could cause a series of nine major shifts in the earth's climate systems (BBC 2/4/08). "The greatest threats are tipping of the Arctic sea-ice and the Greenland ice sheet." Others include dieback of the boreal forest (about 50 years), collapse of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation (about 100 years), and collapse of the Indian summer monsoon (about 1 year).

South American Mines Using Sea Water. Some large mines located in the Andes Mountains are beginning to use desalinized ocean water for their operations in part "because of chronic water shortages exacerbated by climate change" (Reuters 2/22/08). The Cerro Lindo mine runs solely on former sea water.

Carbon Diet for Lent. Several church leaders, including two from the Church of England, are calling on a carbon diet for Lent (Washington Post 2/24/07). Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light is doing the same.

Compost Potential. Two scientists have determined that composting not only restores soil quality, but also sequesters carbon in soils (Times of India 2/25/08). In soils where manure was added, the soil organic carbon levels were 1.34% higher than untreated soils.

Carbon Credits for Rainforest Protection. An agreement to protect 1.9 million acres in Indonesia from logging will reduce carbon emissions by 100 million tons over 30 years and provide $26 million in carbon credits (Mongabay 2/7/08). The project was approved by the Rainforest Alliance's Climate Community & Biodiversity Standards, and was supported by the local government, Fauna & Flora International and Carbon Conservation. This is the first project independently certified by REDD.

Upcoming Events and Other Announcements

March 4

• What: Sitka Global Warming Group monthly meeting
• Where: Harrigan Centennial Hall
• When: 7pm
• More Info: Please visit the Sitka Global Warming website or email soundsofalaska@yahoo.com.

March 11

• What: Travels through a Troubled Arctic (presented by Brad Meiklejohn)
• Where: Alaska Wild Berry Theater, 5225 Juneau Street, Anchorage
• When: 7pm
• More Info: Brad discusses the immediate impacts of climate change on Alaska's central Arctic, as witnessed on his 300-mile traverse of the land. To RSVP, contact Melissa Blair at 907-277 -6722 ext.205 or mblair@npca.org.

March 13

• What: Governer's Sub-Cabinet on Climate Change public meeting.
• Where: Atwood Building, Room 240
• When: Noon until 5pm
• More Info: Public comments will start at 2:15. To sign up in
  advance, contact Kolena Momberger at 907-269-7634 or email kolena.momberger@alaska.gov. For the agenda and further information, go to http://www.climatechange.alaska.gov/.

March 27

• What: FREE Global Warming Training by Deborah Williams, Alaska Conservation Solutions
• Where: tba
• When: 11:30am - 1:30pm (on-line) and 5:30-7:30pm (live in Anchorage)
• More Info: Learn to inform others about climate change with ACS's Powerpoint presentation, Global Warming in Alaska. Light dinner included at evening session. For more information contact Margaret Manousoff at 907-929-9370 or margaret@alaskaconservationsolutions.com.

As this monthly report illustrates, it is time to act.

With hope and determination,
Deborah

Deborah L. Williams
Alaska Conservation Solutions
dlwilliams@gci.net
http://www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com/
907-929-9370

---

Your Subscription

[SUBSCRIPTIONS]