Environmental Stories to Watch: 2010 Jonathan Lash World Resources Institute March 2010 Global Vision for a Sustainable Earth Practical Solutions for People.

Environmental Stories to Watch:

2010

Jonathan Lash

World Resources InstituteMarch 2010

Global Vision for a Sustainable Earth

Practical Solutions for People

Rep. John F. Lacey

Lacey Act Enforcement

The Forest Legality Alliance

Water risks

Reputation

Regulatory (+ litigation)

Physical

Product useProduction processSupply chainPoint of impact:

Type of risk:

Commodity price spikes Disruption in water supply Scarcity limiting sales

Water quality standards constraining power generation

Court settlement to scale back operations

Insecure water rights

Multinationals’ suppliers singled out for violations

Competition with social uses Profligate water use

2 Copenhagen Meetings

by Kuznetsov_Sergey

2 years ago in Bali“We ask for your leadership. We seek your leadership. But if for some reason you are not willing to lead…please get out

of the way”

Yvo de Boer (left), Chairman of the talks, overcome with emotion at the prospect of failure

The United States team

2 years ago in Bali

“Developed countries want developing countries to have a commitment. I don’t think it’s

possible”-African Delegate

“Developing Countries so far have successfully resisted …

pressures…and threats which we have faced to undertake

commitments.”- G77 Chair

Unexpected Commitments:• Brazil – 36-39% below BAU, 15-18%

below 2005 by 2020• Mexico – 50% reduction by 2050

using cap and trade• Indonesia – 26% below BAU by 2020• South Africa – Emissions peak and

start down by 2020• China – reduce intensity of CO2

emissions per unit of GDP in 2020 by 40 – 45% below 2005 level

• India – reduce carbon intensity 24% by 2020 and by 2030 reduce carbon emissions by 37% from 2005 levels

Mads Nissen/EPA

Failed Negotiations

27 world leaders negotiate in the Bella centre in Copenhagen

Photograph: Christian Als/EPA

Copenhagen OutcomeTARGET:

COMMITMENTS:VERIFICATION:REDD, ADAPTATION, TECNOLOGY:FUNDING:

LEGAL ACCORD:

<2°, NO-50%

All Major Economies Not Enough for <2°All Major Economies Report & Respond

Good Progress, But no Decision

No Deadline

$30 Billion $100 Billion Commission

The Old G8

Telegraph.co.uk

The New C5

http://www.chinadaily.com.cnPhoto: Bloomberg

Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

World Economic ForumCenter for American Progress

(Bonn, 01 February 2010) – The UNFCCC has received submissions of national pledges to cut and limit greenhouse gases by 2020 from 55 countries, accounting for 78 per cent of global emissions from energy use.

Bretton Woods Mount Washington Resort

Old Arrangements Are Changing

The Trio

LCV Score: 90%

LCV Score: 87%

LCV Score: 10%

*Lifetime Score from League of Conservation Voters’ National Environmental Scorecard 2008

“Gang of 16” Democrats

Carl Levin & Debbie Stabenow (MI)

Robert Byrd & John D. Rockefeller IV (WV)

Blanche Lincoln & Mark Pryor (AR)

Jim Webb & Mark Warner (VA)

Evan Bayh (IN)

Claire McCaskill (MO)

Sherrod Brown (OH)

Benjamin Nelson (NE)

Jeff Bingaman (NM)

Kent Conrad & Byron Dorgan (ND)Tim Johnson (SD)

C

C CCC C

CC C

CCC

CC

CC

C

CC

C

CC

Coal data from Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT) http://cait.wri.org/

& states where coal is 60% or more of electricity fuel mix

http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/coal12.jpg

State Actions Underway and Likely• Northeast States - Low Carbon Fuel Standard

• California - stricter vehicle emissions standards for model year 2017 and beyond.    

• Three regional cap-and-trade programs collaborate.  • States likely to assert authority under the Clean Air Act.  

Actions Done or Underway

Planned or Likely in 2010

Mobile Sources § 202 Endangerment Finding (Expected 3/2010)

Joint EPA-DOT Vehicle Emissions & Efficiency Standards (Expected 3/2010)

Stationary Sources GHG Reporting Rule (Completed)

New Source Performance Standards for Cement Kilns

Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) pre-construction permitting (BACT) (Expected 3/2010)

New Source Performance Standards for Electric Generating Units;Possibly Other Categories

Title V operating permit requirements for major sources

NSPS at State Level for Existing Sources—cap-and-trade or traditional performance standards?

EPA Actions Underway and Likely

Shiho Fukada for The New York Times

As China takes the lead on wind turbines, above, and solar panels, President Obama is calling for American industry to step up.