Category: RT Newswire

USE ME! Essentially, this is a catch all for everything. This is probably the ONLY category where things that are not directly related to Rising Tide affiliates/allies should go. For example if a coal company goes out of business (and we didn’t directly cause it) it should probably only go here.

Alert: Overhaul or Scrap ACESA (Waxman/Markey) Climate Bill

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06/23/2009 by James Handley

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote later this week on the “American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009” (H.R. 2454, “Waxman-Markey” or “ACESA”). We cannot endorse the bill. The hundreds of provisions in ACESA’s 1,000-plus pages do not add up to the steps needed to avert catastrophic climate disruption. Moreover, the bill’s emissions trading provisions create vested interests that would block future reforms.

A growing chorus of environmental and progressive voices is urging Congress to overhaul or scrap the bill. For example, the Progressive Democrats of America and Friends of the Earth are urging their supporters and members of Congress to oppose Waxman-Markey. To see their action alerts, click hereand here.

pigs_at_trough_james_dennettThere is little hope of shifting to a low-carbon economy without a clear, transparent price on carbon emissions. While ACESA’s proponents claim that its cap-and-trade provisions “put a price on carbon,” the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that CO2 allowances would rise to only $26 per ton a decade from now. That equates to a puny 26 cents a gallon of gasoline — in ten years! And ACESA neutralizes increases in the price of coal-generated electricity by giving 35% of the pollution permits to local electricity distribution companies (LDCs) with instructions to pass on that value to consumers. If utilities pass through allowance value to customers, that will suppress the all-important price signal, and if utilities keep the free allowances they’ll reap a windfall. Continue reading

The Final Leadership Cave-in? House Democrats Reach Accord on Climate Bill After Addressing Agriculture Concerns

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By: Vicki Needham         CongressNow Staff
Jun 23, 2009 8:08 PM

House Democrats forged a deal tonight on climate change legislation
after addressing concerns about the measure raised by farm-state
lawmakers. The bill is now expected on the House floor on Friday with
broad Democratic support.

Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Agriculture
Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) negotiated the final details of the
measure early this evening.

Peterson said tonight he would vote for the measure and expected to
have a growing number of rural-state Democrats joining him. Peterson
expects to puts the provisions sought by farm-state Members — and now
backed by Democratic leaders — in an amendment that he’ll send to the
House Rules Committee on Thursday.

Waxman and Peterson this afternoon settled the final problem on the
bill — agreeing to give the Agriculture Department instead of the
Environmental Protection Agency jurisdiction over a carbon offset
program for agricultural activities. Continue reading

Manhattan floods, Chicago heatwaves and withering Californian vines: how scientists see the US in 75 years

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Hard-hitting report describes how America will be affected region by region if no action is taken on climate change

It provides the most detailed picture to date of the impacts on the US in the worst case scenarios, when no action is taken to cut emissions. Examples include: floods in lower Manhattan; a quadrupling of heatwave deaths in Chicago; withering on the vineyards of California; the disappearance of wildflowers from the slopes of the Rockies; the extinction of Alaska’s wild polar bears in the next 75 years.

What lies ahead by region

North-east

The winter snow season could be cut in half in southern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine — maybe as short as a week or two, under the higher emissions scenario. This would destroy winter traditions like skiing and skating and outdoor ponds. Native cranberries and blueberries would disappear; dairy herds, the biggest agricultural industry, would decline under the higher emissions scenario.

South-east

Summer temperatures in Florida could rise by 4.1C (10.5F), with the heat effect multipled by decreased rainfall under the higher emissions scenario. There would be increased hurricane intensity and rising sea levels leads to loss of wetlands and coastal areas. It would lead to a severe decline in quality of life.

Mid-west

Frequent, severe and longer lasting heatwaves in cities – as many as three a year in Chicago under the higher emissions scenario.

Water levels in the Great Lakes could fall by up to two feet by the end of the century under the higher emissions scenario.

South-west

Continued strong warming will threaten flow of Colorado river.

Alaska

Has been warming at twice the rate of the rest of the US over last 50 years.

Temperatures could rise up to a further 5.4C (13F) under the higher emissions scenario. The region should be prepared for drought and increased risk of wildfire.

North-west

Declining snowpack is already threatening agriculture. Many salmon species are already threatened

Costs

Human health: Rise in deaths due to heatwaves, decline in health because of poor air quality and increase in water borne and insect borne diseases.

Agriculture: Although some crops will benefit from the longer growing season, heavy downpours could wreak havoc on others. Farmers will be forced to use more pesticides and weed killers against invasive plants. Poison ivy will bcome more abundant and more toxic. Higher emissions scenario would cause a 10% decline in dairy herd in Appalachia.

Energy: Rising heat index will increase demand on electricity for air conditioning. But water shortages could restrict electricity generation.

Oil infrastructure, along coast of Louisiana and Florida, is also vulnerable to rising sea levels and intensifying hurricanes.

Transport: Storm surges and rising sea levels could block the use of ports and coastal airports, roads and rail lines. Six of the top 10 freight gateways are threatened by rising sea levels. Entire road networks on the Gulf Coast could be at risk.

Ecosystems: Large-scale shifts in species likely to continue. Deserts will become hotter and drier, oceans more acidic. Salmon and trout populations will contract.