In Big Buyout, Utility to Limit New Coal Plants - New York Times

In Big Buyout, Utility to Limit New Coal Plants - New York Times Under a proposed $45 billion buyout by a team of private equity firms, the TXU Corporation, a Texas utility that has long been the bane of environmental groups, will abandon plans to build 8 of 11 coal plants and commit to a broad menu of environmental measures, according to people involved in the negotiations. Read more.

AAAS - AAAS News Release

AAAS - AAAS News Release AAAS Board Releases New Statement on Climate Change The retreating Qori Kalis glacier in the Andes of Peru in 2000Photograph courtesy of Lonnie Thompson, Ohio State University The following statement on global climate change was released today during the AAAS Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The statement was approved by the board on 9 December 2006. [bold italics inserted for emphasis] The scientific evidence is clear: global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a growing threat to society. Accumulating data from across the globe reveal a wide array of effects: rapidly melting glaciers, destabilization of major ice sheets, increases in extreme weather, rising sea level, shifts in species ranges, and more. The pace of change and the evidence of harm have increased markedly over the last five years. The time to control greenhouse gas emissions is now. The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, a critical greenhouse gas, is higher than it has been for at least 650,000 years. The average temperature of the Earth is heading for levels not experienced for millions of years. Scientific predictions of the impacts of increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels and deforestation match observed changes. As expected, intensification of droughts, heat waves, floods, wildfires, and severe storms is occurring, with a mounting toll on vulnerable ecosystems and societies. These events are early warning signs of even more devastating damage to come, some of which will be irreversible. Delaying action to address climate change will increase the environmental and societal consequences as well as the costs. The longer we wait to tackle climate change, the harder and more expensive the task will be. History provides many examples of society confronting grave threats by mobilizing knowledge and promoting innovation. We need an aggressive research, development and deployment effort to transform the existing and future energy systems of the world away from technologies that emit greenhouse gases. Developing clean energy technologies will provide economic opportunities and ensure future energy supplies. In addition to rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it is essential that we develop strategies to adapt to ongoing changes and make communities more resilient to future changes. The growing torrent of information presents a clear message: we are already experiencing global climate change. It is time to muster the political will for concerted action. Stronger leadership at all levels is needed. The time is now. We must rise to the challenge. We owe this to future generations. The conclusions in this statement reflect the scientific consensus represented by, for example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the joint National Academies' statement. For more information, see the AAAS Global Climate-Change Resources page. 18 February 2007

MiamiHerald.com | 02/02/2007 | Broward mayors sign global warming pact

MiamiHerald.com 02/02/2007 Broward mayors sign global warming pact Posted on Fri, Feb. 02, 2007 ENVIRONMENTBroward mayors sign global warming pactMore than 20 South Florida cities have signed an agreement to combat global warming, but it won't reverse the sprawl.BY AMY SHERMANasherman@MiamiHerald.com Mayors in most of Broward's major cities have joined a national effort to fight global warming. ''Broward's mayors are setting a strong example for the nation by demonstrating that they are concerned about global warming,'' said Barry Heimlich, vice president of the Broward County Audubon Society. The organization is leading the effort to get local mayors to sign an agreement supporting the Kyoto treaty, an international accord which took effect in 2005 to reduce emissions. While others are embracing the effort, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle has refused to sign the agreement because he says it's ''anti-American'' and would send jobs overseas. ''Most mayors, if they really studied Kyoto and learned about it, would ask for their signatures back,'' Naugle said. ``It would call for the U.S. to meet certain pollution standards that would cost billions of dollars, but doesn't ask the same thing of China and India.'' Fort Lauderdale already has taken such environmental steps as reducing the size of city vehicles and using solar energy to run meters, he said, adding that he got the Broward League of Mayors to adopt a document covering environmental concerns -- such as conserving energy and water. Heimlich rejects Naugle's arguments and says that the U.S. must get involved to encourage other countries to do their fair share. The Kyoto agreement was adopted by more than 30 countries that agreed to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other global warming gases to below 1990 levels by 2012. President Bush objected to Kyoto, saying it would slow the country's economic growth. A GRASSROOTS REVOLT But the mayor of Seattle sparked a grassroots movement for cities around the country to embrace its goals to save the environment. So far, more than 375 mayors nationwide -- including some 20 in South Florida -- have signed the accord, called the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Mayors in Davie, Hollywood, Miramar and Pembroke Pines in Broward and Coral Gables, Miami and Key Biscayne in Miami-Dade are included in the South Florida group. By signing the agreement, mayors have agreed to reduce pollution and lobby federal and state governments to support the agreement. Mayors say their cities can help by using energy-efficient light bulbs at city halls, buying fuel efficient cars for city fleets and writing laws encouraging developers to build ''green'' buildings. The agreement seeks to have cities reduce sprawl and promote public transportation -- two issues that will be difficult to achieve in Broward, where it is almost built out and public support for mass transit has been weak. Last November, Broward voters rejected an increase in the sales tax for public transportation projects. ''Without some sort of mass transportation system, it's going to be tough for the county to reduce its carbon footprint in any substantial way,'' said George Cavros, conservation chair of the Broward Sierra Club. Davie Mayor Tom Truex said he initially had reservations about the agreement, but finally signed it. `EVERYONE'S PROBLEM' The agreement is '' basically saying the problems we have with the environment is everyone's problem,'' Truex said. For its part, Davie is allowing higher density along the 441 corridor to encourage the use of mass transit, he said. In Coral Gables, Mayor Don Slesnick said his city's trolley system is used by 4,000 people a day and reduces the number of cars on the road. But Gables won't force developers to adopt green building standards. ''It's not our style to usually require developers,'' Slesnick said. ``It's our style to encourage developers. We would be looking for incentives to do green.'' Weston Mayor Eric Hersh will present the agreement to his City Commission on Monday. Weston could take steps toward improving the environment, but expanding bus service in his city is not realistic since gated communities don't want buses inside, he said. ''It would be a pipe dream to think we could create a public transportation system in Weston,'' Hersh said. Miami Herald reporter Matthew I. Pinzur and researchers Monika Leal and Scott Hutchinson contributed to this article. © 2007 MiamiHerald.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.http://www.miami.com

28 South Florida mayors sign pact to reduce greenhouse gases, energy use

28 South Florida mayors sign pact to reduce greenhouse gases, energy use By David FleshlerSouth Florida Sun-SentinelFebruary 2, 2007 As world climate experts in Paris worked on a long-awaited report on global warming, South Florida cities were joining a growing national movement to fight climate change at the local level.Twenty-eight South Florida mayors have signed an agreement to take steps to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in their cities, such as buying low-pollution vehicles and requiring new buildings to be energy efficient. Frustrated with what they regard as inaction by the Bush administration, many city officials said they will use their budgetary and lawmaking powers to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, methane and other heat-trapping gases emitted within city limits."With thousands of cities across America, you can have an immediate impact," Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti said. "We are enormous businesses. We shape the building patterns in the country through our approvals and building codes."Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle, who refused to sign the agreement, said he supports many of its ideas for cutting air pollution and reducing dependence on foreign oil but doubted that human actions caused climate change."I think the planet heats up and it cools down," he said. "Human beings have very little influence on that."Nearly 400 mayors nationwide have signed, including the mayors of Miami, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Pompano Beach and Pembroke Pines.The initiative came from Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels after President Bush refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, which required signatories to reduce greenhouse gases about 5 percent below 1990 levels.Nickels announced that his city would meet the Kyoto limits and called on other mayors to make similar pledges. Working through the U.S. Conference of Mayors, he circulated the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which called for reducing sprawl, promoting urban forests, encouraging environmentally friendly construction, commonly known as green building, and promoting the use of clean energy.Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank Ortis signed the agreement, and the city has begun drafting an ordinance mandating green building standards. "I have indicated urgency," Ortis said. "It's important to me for our sake and the sakes of our children and grandchildren."Hollywood has set up a Green Team of citizens and experts to recommend steps to take to fight climate change. One step is likely to be an ordinance mandating or providing incentives for green buildings."We haven't drafted anything yet, but I'm hoping we won't drag our feet," Giulianti said.Barry Heimlich, vice president of the Broward County Audubon Society, who has been active in publicizing the global warming problem, approached Broward mayors to sign the agreement. Heimlich said only Naugle refused.Naugle said he disagrees with certain aspects of the Conference of Mayors statement, which he called "hate-America stuff that the environmental wackos want in." As an example, he pointed to a statement that the United States, with less than 5 percent of the world's population, produces about 25 percent of its greenhouse gases.According to a 2006 report by the Department of Energy, the United States produced about 23 percent of the world's heat-trapping gases. Although the amount emitted was projected to rise, it was expected to shrink as a percentage of the world total because of growth in other countries.Joshua Fowler, executive vice president of the Gold Coast Builders Association, which represents southeast Florida homebuilders, said many green-building measures are quite practical, such as special locations for recyclables, energy-efficient appliances and the use of recycled water for sprinklers. But he said certain other techniques would be too expensive or could conflict with Florida's strict hurricane code. "What I'm hoping they don't do is mandate these things without getting the builders' input," he said.While local governments have no direct authority over such issues as emissions from power plants and increased auto-mileage standards, Heimlich, of Broward Audubon, said they have power to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases."I think it's more than symbolic," Heimlich said. "This is a global problem that needs a local solution everywhere."David Fleshler can be reached at dfleshler@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4535.

Twenty-Three Broward Mayors Join Fight on Global Warming

Twenty-Three Broward Mayors Join Fight on Global Warming

by Barry N. Heimlich, Vice President,

Broward County Audubon Society

http://www.browardaudubon.org

February 8, 2007, Hollywood, Florida – The mayors of 23 of Broward County’s 31 municipalities have joined a nationwide initiative to fight global warming in response to Broward County Audubon Society’s Global Warming Initiative. These mayors represent 78% of the county’s 1.8 million population. To date, the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement has been signed by over 393 mayors from all 50 states representing a total population of over 56.4 million (19%). More Broward County mayors have joined this program than any other county in the United States.

Broward Audubon presented 31 South Florida mayors with its Protector of the Climate award at the opening reception of the VisionBROWARD Leadership Forum on the Environment and the Economy on February 8, 2007 at the Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale. Mayor Manny Diaz of Miami, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, was keynote speaker.

Two of the major consequences of global warming are rising sea levels and more frequent major hurricanes. These are of special concern in low-lying South Florida so it’s appropriate for South Florida to take the lead. The goal of Broward Audubon’s Climate Protection Initiative is to persuade mayors throughout Florida to undertake energy conservation and climate protection programs under the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Broward’s mayors have set a strong example for the nation by demonstrating their concern about global warming and by undertaking green initiatives in their communities. Audubon chapters across Florida and the nation are urged to reach out to the mayors of their area to do the same.

U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement Under the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, a program of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, participating mayors strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities through such actions as energy conservation programs, green building ordinances, antisprawl land-use policies, urban forest restoration projects, public information campaigns, etc.; urge state and federal governments to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol, i.e. 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012; and urge the U.S. Congress to pass bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation, setting emission reduction goals and establishing a national emission trading system. Broward County Audubon Society’s Global Warming Initiative Since October 2005, Broward County Audubon Society under the leadership of its vice president Barry Heimlich has undertaken a global warming initiative comprised of educating residents, businesses and government officials through newsletter articles, a global warming website, expert speakers at its meetings, speaking to civic organizations, and organizing special events. The primary thrust of Broward Audubon’s global warming initiative for 2006-2007 has been to persuade a majority of Broward County’s 31 mayors to sign onto the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. It is also helping the county and municipal governments set up Green Team programs to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Its program was recognized by Audubon of Florida as a model to be followed by other Audubon chapters throughout Florida and the nation. http://www.audubonofflorida.org/PDFs/Naturalist_Summer2006.pdf

IPCC Policymaker Summary - Click here to download

INTRODUCTION The Working Group I contribution to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report describes progress in understanding of the human and natural drivers of climate change1, observed climate change, climate processes and attribution, and estimates of projected future climate change. It builds upon past IPCC assessments and incorporates new findings from the past six years of research. Scientific progress since the TAR is based upon large amounts of new and more comprehensive data, more sophisticated analyses of data, improvements in understanding of processes and their simulation in models, and more extensive exploration of uncertainty ranges.