Denvers Climate Plan In-Depth: Voluntary Travel Offsets
| Denvers Climate Plan In-Depth: Voluntary Travel Offsets Here on the Greenprint blog, we’re taking a closer look at each of the 10 recommended strategies from Denver’s recently-released draft climate action plan. Today: an overview of Item 3, which suggests promoting programs for voluntary purchases of certified carbon offsets:“Provide the opportunity to pay a small voluntary fee, at the time of air ticket [.] |
| Press Release: CARB Economic Models Limited in Ability to Capture AB 32 Economic Benefits (Sacramento, CA - December 5, 2008)— A new study released today concludes that state-of-the-science economic models, including those used for CARB’s economic analyses of California’s Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), are not capable of simulating the fundamental changes in California’s economy that AB 32 measures are likely to cause. While critics of ARB claim that costs might be underestimated, this new study shows that many benefits also are not represented by models and more modeling isn’t as useful as consideration of lessons from prior policies and economics literature. The study is timely because the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will vote on the Proposed Scoping Plan to implement the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) on December 11, less than a week away.
The study, Understanding the Challenges of Modeling AB 32 Policy, was conducted by Richard J. McCann, the Aspen Environmental Group and M.Cubed, and commissioned by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), which cosponsored AB 32 (see full report and executive summary for policymakers).
In the new study, Dr. McCann reveals that current techniques in economic modeling can predict the general impact of a policy option, but are limited in their ability to compare different policy alternatives and predict technology innovation. Consequently, the report recommends that CARB’s policy choices are better informed by focusing on lessons and principles from other market-based programs, notably cap-and-trade, a significant policy choice in the Proposed Scoping Plan.
“Any critiques of CARB’s economic analyses of AB 32 policies should take into account that even the most sophisticated modeling tools are limited in their ability to capture behaviors and innovations that lead to beneficial outcomes,” said James Fine, Ph.D., an economist and policy scientist for EDF. “This report highlights the advantages of market-based approaches and the difficulty in modeling those advantages.”
This study identifies several advantages with cap and trade policy, such as compliance cost minimization, technological innovation, adaptability and relief of regulatory burdens on agencies.
Key findings of the study include:
“While it is possible to tinker with various assumptions and perform more modeling runs to try and estimate the statewide impacts of various policy scenarios, it is not likely to add valuable or reliable information to the discussion,” added Fine. “Instead, this report recommends policymakers consider knowledge and experience about the basic systems of incentives for innovation and flexibility for compliance cost reduction that have been proven by other market-based policies.”
“It is critical to look beyond economic analyses,” concluded Fine. “It also is important to recognize our past experiences, the economic principles and existing regulatory portfolio in California that led to the development of the measures in the Scoping Plan. Rather than continuing with an esoteric tit-for-tat debate about the quality of modeling analyses, the broader lessons and logic provide clear rationale to move forward with the directionally sound Scoping Plan. Comprehensive, intelligent and speedy action in California can help mitigate the costs of climate change, provide an economic stimulus, improve air quality and reduce our dependence on imported energy.”
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| High-energy jumbo squid at risk with warming. Squid now appear to be joining the list of marine creatures at risk from rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and ocean. |
| Press Release: Statement in Support of Ken Salazar FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Dan Grossman, EDF, dgrossman@edf.org or (303) 887-8206 (cell) "Ken Salazar has been a strong leader in protecting Colorado’s people, land, water and wildlife in his distinguished public service as a United States Senator, as Colorado’s Attorney General, and as head of Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources. In Colorado, we have long depended on Ken Salazar’s tested leadership and his steadfast commitment to unite rather than divide. Ken Salazar will bring the nation together in forging stewardship of our public lands, water and wildlife through integrity and through his abiding dedication to this cherished American legacy."
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| EPA drops plans to change power plant rules LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Bush administration has dropped controversial plans that would have allowed some existing power plants to expand without having to install new pollution controls.Environmentalists declared victory on Wednesday while a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Agency said there was not enough time left in its term for the administration to finalize the rules changes it had sought. |
| Barack Obama on Renewable Energy Barack Obama has been elected as the 44th President of the USA and with his election, Solar Integrated Technologies rose by 30% yesterday after increases of 22% by Renewable Energy Corporation and 16% by the wind turbine maker Vestas. Barack Obama promised to spend $150 billion over the next 10 years developing alternative [.] |
| Every Color Of The Rainbow Is An Energy Source We have all enjoyed watching rainbows and at some point wanted to travel to the end of them for those fabled pots of gold. We can make out the distinct seven colors of the rainbows. But what we see as colors are actually different frequencies or energy levels of the sunlight. A solar panel [.] |