Global Warming News from Alaska
April 30, 2007
Reporting from The Front Line

Dear Friends,

As evidence of global warming continues to mount, there have been many significant climate change developments this month. Most notably, the IPCC issued its alarming Impacts Report; the U.S. Supreme Court ruled favorably regarding greenhouse gases and the Clean Air Act; the public demonstrated an outpouring of support for listing the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act; and ConocoPhillips joined other large companies in supporting immediate, rigorous Congressional action to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the most recent polls, the public is expressing more concern about global warming than ever; and in Congress, there continues to be important activity. Definitive action is becoming increasingly imperative as the arctic ice cap experienced its second smallest winter extent, and as other consequences of climate change are becoming more painfully apparent.

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

Alaska's Largest Oil Company - ConocoPhillips - Urges Congress to Pass Legislation to Reduce Significantly Greenhouse Gases

ConocoPhillips, the nation's third largest oil and gas company, joined the U.S. Climate Action Partnership. By doing so, it is supporting Congressional legislation that will reduce greenhouse gas levels 60 to 80% below current levels (Associated Press 4/11/07) (See U.S Climate Action Partnership Consensus Statement).

• According to ConocoPhillips' President and CEO, "We recognize that human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels, is contributing to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that can lead to adverse changes in global climate."
• Members of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership agree that "Congress needs to enact legislation as quickly as possible;" that "Congress should specify an emission target zone aimed at reducing emissions by 60% to 80% from current levels by 2050;" and that "in our view, the climate change challenge, like other challenges our country has confronted in the past, will create more economic opportunities than risks for the U.S. economy." Other business members include British Petroleum, GE, Dow, and Alcoa.
• ConocoPhillips will spend $150 million this year on the research and development of new energy sources and technologies - a 50 percent increase in spending from 2006. The company also announced a partnership with Tyson Food to create biodiesel out of animal fat waste (International Herald Tribune 4/17/07). Production is expected to reach 175 million gallons, a year by 2009, about 3 percent of the diesel produced by ConocoPhillips in the United States.

Winter Size of Arctic Sea Ice Second Smallest on Record

According to scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSID), the maximum winter extent of the Arctic Ice cap in 2007 was the second lowest on record. It was only 0.1 million square miles larger than the record low recorded in 2006 (University Colorado Boulder News Release 4/4/07).

• "This year's wintertime low extent is another milestone in a strong downward trend," said Dr. Meier, researcher with the National Snow and Ice Data Center, "We're still seeing near-record lows (in sea ice) and higher-than-normal temperatures. "
• "This long-term trend, which seems to be accelerating, is really an indication of a warming, and the only way you get the warming is with greenhouse gases," noted Dr. Meier (Reuters 4/4/07).
• The NSID research utilized satellite data from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as data from Canadian satellites and weather observatories.

Alaska Climate Impact Assessment Hearings Address Substantial Global Warming Evidence and Concerns

On April 13 and 14, the Alaska Climate Impact Assessment Commission held hearings in Anchorage. The Commission heard substantial evidence about the adverse consequences of global warming both from the public and from invited witnesses.

• Mothers from throughout Alaska, including Barrow, Ft. Yukon, Kotzebue, Fairbanks, and Selawik, testified about the dramatic, adverse changes they were seeing in their communities (Anchorage Daily News 4/14/07); (See also, an OpEd from one of the mothers Anchorage Daily News 4/13/07).
• The public, including a strong youth voice, called for meaningful action to reduce emissions (Fairbanks Daily New Miner 4/14/07).
• Representatives from the Department of Natural Resources reviewed how global warming has decreased the number of days that oil companies can explore for oil and gas on the tundra (Fairbanks Daily News Miner 4/13/07) (Reuter 4/12/07).
• Dr. James Partain from NOAA discussed the increased dangers to pilots and others from climate change, including more severe weather and coastal community damage (Anchorage Daily News 4/13/07).
• Dr. Orson Smith described why global warming and melting permafrost will cost the state billions of dollars in infrastructure costs. Other scientists discussed the current and projected adverse impacts of global warming on caribou, muskoxen, waterfowl, crab, fur seals, and rural construction.
• For additional press coverage of the hearings see: KTUU 4/12/07; KTUU 4/11/07.
• To review the actual PowerPoints that were presented at the hearing, click here.

Governor Palin Establishes Climate Change Sub-cabinet in Alaska

Governor Palin has established a sub-cabinet on climate change, which is chaired by Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, Larry Hartig (Anchorage Daily News 4/12/07).

• Other members include the Department of Fish and Game, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Commerce, in addition to John Katz, who is the state's Washington, D.C. office chief, and a representative of the University of Alaska.
• The sub-cabinet will explore ways to reduce emissions and other issues. As Commissioner Hartig noted, Alaska should be doing its fair share on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

State Rejects Rulemaking Petition But Agrees Leadership Needed

• On behalf of numerous Alaska Native and conservation organizations (including Alaska Conservation Solutions), Trustees for Alaska filed a rulemaking petition with the State of Alaska, asking the state to require the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from major sources. (To see a copy of the excellent petition, click here).
• Unfortunately, the state rejected the petition on April 27, asserting that it was too early to determine if this was the best approach, and stating, "although we intend to proceed with all due speed, it will take some time to chart a course."
• However, in rejecting the petition, the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation used remarkable language including: "We agree that… Alaska is experiencing a warming trend and that the potential effects…are alarming. We agree that there is a need for government leadership in areas such as informing the public; in predicting, mitigating and adapting to change; and in addressing the causes."

State Legislation Update

The Alaska Legislature is rushing towards adjournment. The most important climate change related bill (HB 152), which creates a Renewable Energy Fund, passed the House unanimously on April19. It is now in the Senate. For the latest information on this bill, and to make your voice be heard, click here.

Alaska and the Arctic in the News

Among the many April news stories about Alaska and the Arctic that were not referenced above, we especially recommend the following:

• An analysis of the IPCC's assessment of the impacts of global warming on the Arctic was compiled by Reuters (click here).
• Will Steger is leading an expedition across the Canadian Arctic to highlight the impacts of global warming occurring in the north. The trip is generating press (Associated Press 4/15/07), see also the web site for the expedition. "All of these villages have lost people on the ice," Steger said. "When you have a small village of 300 or 400 people, losing three or four of their senior hunters, it's a big loss. A lot of the elders will no longer go out on the sea ice because their knowledge will not work anymore. What they've learned and passed on for 5,000 years is no longer functional."
• For an excellent Ottawa Sun article about the impacts of global warming on the Inuit click here. The article notes that, "Thinning ice has claimed Inuit lives, with ATVs falling through what were once indisputably safe passages", and "previously, hunters used to be able to identify snow patterns and rely on packing snow to build igloos. But it's become increasingly unpredictable, leaving many stranded on land."

Key National News

Military Document Outlines US Security Risks from Global Warming

A new US military report, commissioned by the government-financed Center for Naval Analyses, concludes that climate change poses a serious threat to America's national security (Financial Times 4/17/07) (Click here for the report). Entitled "National Security and the Threat of Climate Change", the report presents strong support for a link between climate change and terrorism and finds that:

• Climate change acts as a threat multiplier for instability in some of the most volatile regions of the world.
• Because of global warming, the US might be drawn more frequently into unstable situations abroad, while at home the US could experience "mounting pressure to accept large numbers of immigrant and refugee populations."
• Climate change also offers a challenge much more complex than conventional security threats because of its potential to create "multiple chronic conditions, occurring globally within the same time frame."
• The report recommends that the U.S. should commit to a stronger national and international role to help stabilize climate change at levels that will avoid disruption to global security and stability.

Recent Congressional Developments

There were several legislative developments this month.

• Energy Efficiency Promotion Act. A bi-partisan group of senators, including Senators Murkowski, Dorgan, Bingaman and Lugar, co-sponsored the Energy Efficiency Promotion Act (S. 1115). Under the bill, the Energy Department would have to come up with a plan to: 1) reduce gasoline consumption by 20 percent by 2017, 35 percent by 2025 and 45 percent by 2030; 2) require the federal government to increase its purchases of renewable electricity to 10 percent of total supply by 2010 and 15 percent by 2015; 3) reduce energy consumption in existing federal buildings by 30 percent by 2015; 4) create appliance energy efficiency standards for dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators and dehumidifiers, saving consumers US$12 billion annually in energy costs; and 5) add US$750 million in government funds to help weatherize low-income family homes with insulation and storm windows (see, Senator Bingaman Web site).
• Speaker Pelosi has committed to having the House be carbon neutral by the end of 2008 or early 2009, through the acquisition of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. "The environmental challenges we face are as local as our neighborhoods and as global as our planet," Pelosi noted; "The House must lead by example and it is time for Congress to act on its own carbon footprint" (ENS 4/19/07).
• In a bi-partisan expression of concern, Senators Durbin and Hagel introduced legislation entitled the Global Climate Change Security Oversight Act. This legislation requires the CIA, the National Security Agency, the Pentagon and the FBI to prepare a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) regarding the national security threat posed by global warming (To view press release, click here).
• How much is enough? An upcoming scientific paper to be published in the journal Climatic Change will conclude that emissions must be reduced by 80%. "If we are to have a 50 percent chance of meeting a 2° Celsius target we would have to cut global emissions by 80 percent by 2050," stated Nathan Rive of the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo. "Any delay in implementing emissions reductions will make a 2 degree target practically unreachable" (Reuters 4/19/07).

U.S. Supreme Court Rules that EPA has the Authority to Regulate Greenhouse Gases Under the Clean Air Act

At the beginning of the month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that greenhouse gases are encompassed within the definition of air pollutants under the Clean Air Act (For a copy of the actual decision, click here)(See also, LA Times 4/3/07).

• Notably, the Supreme Court also determined that the State of Massachusetts had standing to bring the lawsuit because EPA's refusal to regulate greenhouse gas emissions presents a risk of harm to Massachusetts that is both actual and imminent.
• The Court found that the harms of climate change are serious and well recognized, including sea level rise, increase in diseases, decrease in snow pack with associated economic consequences, more ferocious weather events, and severe changes in ecosystems.
• The automobile industry reacted to the decision by calling for a national, federal, economy-wide response to regulating greenhouse gas emissions (Associated Press 4/2/07).

Other Significant Judicial Action

There were many other important judicial decisions this month:

• US-International Global Warming Actions. Several years ago, a group of cities and environmental groups filed a lawsuit to require the federal government to assess the impacts on the environment of US-agency-backed international projects that increase global warming emissions. The lawsuit targeted the Overseas Private Investment Corp. and the Export-Import Bank of the United States, which supported projects involving a coal-fired power plant in China; a pipeline from Chad to Cameroon; and oil and natural gas projects in Russia, Mexico, Venezuela and Indonesia. The federal government alleged that the "impacts of global climate change are too remote and speculative" to require the application of the National Environmental Policy Act. The U.S. District Court disagreed and allowed the lawsuit to proceed (Associated Press 4/1/07).
• Power Plants. In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that coal emissions could be regulated on an annual basis instead of an hourly basis, thus supporting annual reduction requirements and the need for the industry to retrofit older plants to reduce pollution (Associated Press 4/3/07). Unfortunately, several weeks after the Supreme Court ruling, EPA proposed a new regulation that, according to many observers, explicitly "thumbs its nose at the court" (Associated Press 4/25/07).

In Brief – Other National News of Note

US Automakers Produce More Polluting Cars and Lose Market Share – Toyota Surpasses GM in Sales for First Time. For the first time in history, Toyota became the leading manufacturer of cars in the world - surpassing General Motors (Associated Press 4/26/07). Ignoring the need for more fuel efficient cars has not served the US auto industry, or the US economy, well. Coincidentally, the Union of Concerned Scientists issued a report comparing the emission rates of the major car manufacturers, demonstrating the difference between American and Japanese cars. Honda and Toyota led the rankings, while GM came in 7 th out of 8 manufacturers studied (Union of Concerned Scientists 4/07).

Wind Energy Continues to Grow and Manufacturing Plants Expand in US. States are competing to attract wind turbine manufacturing plants, since these plants create so many jobs, and the demand for wind energy is growing sharply. In both 2005 and 2006, wind was the second largest generator of new power sources in the US. Iowa, Minnesota and Pennsylvania have all recently opened wind turbine manufacturing plants and a new $60 million windmill blade factory will soon be opened in Colorado (Arkansas News Bureau 4/1/07).

Step It Up Day a Success. Citizens from Alaska to Florida and from California to Maine participated in over 1,400 Step it up events nationwide, calling for significant emission reductions (For an excellent summary by Bill McKibben, click here).

Increasing Drought Predicted in Southwest US. In a startling study published in the journal Science, 19 different climate modeling groups all firmly predict that Southwest US will become much drier due to the human emission of greenhouse gases. "The arid lands of southwestern North America will imminently become even more arid as a result of human-induced climate change just at the time that population growth is increasing demand for water, most of which is still used by agriculture," said Dr. Richard Seager, one of the lead authors of the study. The researchers compared the coming drought to the Dustbowl of the 1930s (Environment News Service 4/5/07).

Global Warming Impacts on North Dakota and Other Areas in the Mid-West. According to Dr. Kirilenko, a University of North Dakota professor and an IPCC author, North Dakota could suffer from increase in droughts; the introduction of new, invasive species that could harm crop yields; and a reduction in insect species that are integral to the ecosystem. With respect to the Prairie Pothole region, a network of wetlands that stretches from central Iowa to northwest Alberta, and that produce half of the ducks in North America, Dr. Carter Johnson believes that a rise in temperatures over the next century will shift the most favorable climate conditions several hundreds of miles east, a part of the Prairie Pothole region where many wetlands have been drained. "I would expect large declines in duck numbers if that would come to pass" (Associated Press 4/10/07). For an Alaska perspective on global warming in North Dakota, written by Alaska Conservation Solutions in association with a speaking tour there, see Grand Forks Herald 4/24/07).

Spring Allergies Intensified Because of Global Warming. Longer seasons and higher concentrations of carbon dioxide create increasing problems for allergy sufferers. According to Dr. Paul Epstein of Harvard Medical School, "I think it's very fair to assume that CO 2 is disproportionately affecting some plants, and particularly the noxious ones, and we're seeing high pollen counts." Other studies and analyses are coming up with similar conclusions (CanWest News Service 4/10/07).

Global Warming Now Leading Environmental Concern in US. According to a recent ABC News/Washington Post/Stanford University poll, 33% of Americans now believe that global warming is the world's leading environmental problem. Surprisingly, however, 56 % of Americans still think there's substantial scientific disagreement on global warming and only four in 10 are "extremely" or "very" sure global warming is happening. 52 % say global warming is important to them personally, while 70% responded that the federal government should do more to address it (ABC News 4/20/07); (See also, Washington Post 4/20/07 – which also quotes from someone who became concerned about global warming after visiting Alaska).

In a different poll, 84% of Americans believe human activity is at least contributing to global warming; 92% support having higher fuel efficiency standards for cars; and 75% said that weather has been stranger than usual and of those 43% attributed it to global warming (New York Times 4/26/07).

Key International News

World-wide Reactions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report on Impacts

On April 6, the IPCC issued its ground breaking report, which described pervasive experienced and projected impacts from global warming. Alaska Conservation Solutions sent out a summary of the report on the 6th (to see the summary click here). (For immediate access to the summary for policy makers report, click here.)

• The report is being carefully examined and discussed throughout the world. Some of the projected regional impacts include:
• Australia and New Zealand - less water; reduced snow, more pests, more cyclones, adverse impacts on the Great Barrier Reef, inundation; extinctions; and more drought and heat waves (Daily Telegraph 4/6/07)(Sunday Times 4/9/07);
• Korea - inundation, loss of forests, decreased rice yields, increased typhoons, more heat waves, and more seafood diseases (Associated Press 4/6/07);
• The American West - less snow, more drought, more fires, more insect infestations (Denver Post 4/8/07);
• Europe - frequent heat waves, dying animals and plants, less snow in the Alps, more water based diseases, drought (Associated Press 4/12/07);
• The Arctic where, among other impacts -"Dramatic changes to the lives and livelihoods of Arctic-living communities are being forecast unless urgent action is taken to reduce greenhouse gases," according to the U.N. Environment Programme (Reuters 4/11/07).
• Many criticized the fact that the Summary for Policy Makers was "watered down" from the original drafts, due to pressure from the US, China and Saudi Arabia (LA Times 4/7/07). Alaska's Dr John Walsh, who was one of the authors of the polar regions portion of the report, stated: "The science got hijacked by the political bureaucrats at the late stage of the game."
• In a separate dire government assessment for Uganda, global warming has brought, and will continue to bring, increased diseases (especially malaria, tick diseases and respiratory problems), decreased snow caps, more serious droughts, lower water tables, and more intense storms. "Climate change is a serious risk to poverty reduction and threatens to undo decades of development efforts through destruction of infrastructure, property and lives," warns former State Minister for Environment Lt. Gen. Odongo Jeje in the introduction. Global warming is also threatening the mountain gorilla (New Vision 4/6/07).

Diseases Spreading Because of Global Warming

More and more studies show that global warming is fueling the spread of diseases throughout the world.

• Because of warming in Russia this winter, hantaviruses have spread and claimed over 3,000 victims. These viruses can cause the sometimes deadly disease known as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. "Global warming has tipped a balance," said Dr. Gavrilovskaya. "Because of the lack of snow cover on Russian fields, the country has had an explosion in numbers of virus-carrying mice." Other strains of hantaviruses have increased in many other places throughout the world because of warming, including New Mexico. According to David Blockstein, senior scientist at the National Council for Science and the Environment, "Climate change is turning environmental issues into public health issues" (Washington Post 4/2/07).
• In China, "a warming trend is likely to be one of the reasons contributing to the epidemic increase of schistosomiasis during recent years," notes Yu Shanxian of Zhejiang Meteorological Institute (Sci.Dev Not 4/11/07).

In Brief – Other International News of Note

Next Installment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report to Be Issued May 4 with Focus on Solutions. The IPCC Working Group 3 report will be issued on May 4, and it will focus on critical ways to reduce emissions. Draft reports have been leaked, but many believe that major changes will be negotiated (Guardian 4/29/07) (AFP 4/28/07). As with the other installments, I will send the report out shortly after it is published. Also, the complete Working Group I report is now online (click here).

Vatican Becomes More Concerned about Global Warming. At a Vatican conference on climate change, Pope Benedict XVI urged bishops, scientists and politicians to "respect creation." Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, head of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, said: "For environment... read Creation. The mastery of man over Creation must not be despotic or senseless. Man must cultivate and safeguard God's Creation" (Guardian 4/28/07).

China Announces Plan to Shut Down Less Efficient Power Plants. China will shut down over 500 smaller plants and replace them with more energy efficient versions. According to the National Development and Reform Commission (NRDC), it is China's aim to "develop natural gas, hydro power, renewable energy, new energy and other forms of clean energy" and "reduce the share of coal in energy consumption, greatly develop clean coal and thermal power central heating technology" (Spero 4/9/07). For an excellent summary of China's recent emission reduction actions and statements, click here.

Ireland's Peat Bog in Jeopardy. According to Dr John Sweeney, a top Irish climate expert, Ireland's peat bogs are in danger of disappearing in the next 2 to 3 decades because of climate change (Sunday Business Post 4/8/07).

Officials Call for Action in Southeast Asia. A high-level government official from Bangladesh has called for action on global warming, especially in response to rising sea levels and salt water intrusion into the region's rivers (Radio Australia 4/3/07).

Canadian Emission Reduction Developments. The Canadian government has called for 20% reductions by 2020, for the elimination of incandescent light bulbs by 2012, and for other specific emission reduction actions (Reuters 4/25/07) ( Reuters 4/27/07). Many have said that this is insufficient. In a separate development, British Columbia announced that it will join California's emission trading market pact (the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative), together with five western states. British Columbia plans to cut its emissions by 33% by 2020 (Reuters 4/25/07).

Upcoming Events and Other Announcements

May 3

• What: The Sitka Global Warming Group
• Where: Harrigan Centennial Hall, 330 Harbor Drive, Sitka AK
• When: 7:00 - 8:30 pm
• More Info: soundsofalaska@yahoo.com

May 5

• What: Household Electronic Recycling 
• Where: Eagle River High School parking lot, 8701 Yosemite Drive, off Eagle River Loop Road across from Hiland Road.
• When: 10am to 6pm
• More Info: www.greenstarinc.org

May 8 

• What: Citizens Against Global Warming
• Where: ACE office
• When: 6 to 8pm

May 16  

• What: Bike to Work Day
• More Info: http://www.ci.anchorage.ak.us/healthchp/biketoworkday.cfm

May 19

• What: Introduction To Renewable Energy Systems For Your Home or Business
• When: 9am-5pm (with 1 hour break for lunch)
• Where: Anchorage Unitarian Fellowship, 3201 Turnagain
• More Info: http://www.yourcleanenergy.us

June 14 

• What: 10th Anniversary Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Expo
• Where: House Cannon Caucus Room 345, Washington DC
• More Info: (202) 347-2774

July 7

• What: Al Gore hosts a 24-hour concert on all seven continents to highlight the dangers of global warming.
• Where: Sydney, Australia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Shanghai, China; London, England; Kyoto, Japan; Johannesburg, South Africa; and a U.S. city that has yet to be determined.
• More Info: Click Here

The evidence - and the calls for action - continue to mount. The time for action at every level is now. Thank you for being part of the solution.

With hope and determination,

Deborah