Environmental Law

Federal Government Calls Polar Bear Threatened but Limits Impact

Posted on May 14, 2008
U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, under pressure from the federal courts and environmentalists, Wednesday declared the polar bear threatened because of loss of its sea ice habitat. But he also acted to make sure the move wouldn't trigger broader efforts to aimed at tackling global warming...

In Other News (May 14)

Posted on May 14, 2008
The U.S. House of Representatives passes a new five-year farm bill, including provisions relating to renewable fuels tax credits, by enough votes to overcome a presidential veto, reports Bloomberg. A committee of Nigeria's Senate is set to open debate on a bill to establish a National Climate Commission that would have responsibility for the strategic planning and co-ordination of national policies in the field of climate, according to Lagos' This Day...

DOE Report Finds Big Future for Wind, Cites Challenges

Posted on May 13, 2008
A new U.S. Department of Energy report finds that wind power could supply up to one-fifth of the nation's electricity by 2030 but not without overcoming challenges such as improving the nation's transmission system.The news media found lots to note in the report...

In Other News (May 13)

Posted on May 13, 2008
Kennecott Utah Copper and Kennecott Land Co. have donated $210,000 to help The Nature Conservancy establish a research center as part of the group's cliimate change efforts, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. The global credit crunch actually could help in the effort to contain the climate crisis, as investors look for sure returns, or so reports Reuters in a story carried by the UK's Guardian newspaper...

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State Officials Contemplate Big Changes in California Livin'

Posted on May 12, 2008
California, where automobiles go to be worshiped, might have to change its ways in a big way to accommodate the state's plans to reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases.That was demonstrated by the recent issuance of a set of recommendations to regulators who are trying to figure out how to get California on track to meet the goals of its innovative AB 32...

In Other News (May 12)

Posted on May 12, 2008
Sen. John McCain sought to distance himself from President Bush on Monday as he called for a mandatory limit on greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, the New York Times reports. Progress Energy  today released its second report on global climate change, detailing the company's actions to confront the challenges of supplying reliable power to growing communities while addressing climate change Austalian agricultural production could double by 2050 despite the threat of climate change...

Farm Bill Confrontation Looms as President Balks at Legislation

Posted on May 09, 2008
Prospects for a new farm bill that, among other arguably more controversial provisions, trims the federal subsidies for some forms of ethanol, remained uncertain at week's end because of continued criticism from President Bush.That was despite support from a variety of leading lawmakers and interest groups ranging from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the American Farm Bureau Federation...

California: Our Standards are Better Than the Feds'

Posted on May 09, 2008
California's approaches to cleaning up automobile greenhouse gas emissions are better than those recently proposed by the federal government -- according to California.The California Air Resources Board this week released a new study that it said "conclusively demonstrates" that the state's mandate for cutting tailpipe emissions believed to contribute to global warming achieved more than 40 percent greater reductions than new federal mileage standards announced last month (see press statement here; full report here)...

In Other News (May 9)

Posted on May 09, 2008
What is arguably the world's cutest animal, the koala, faces threats to its existence from climate change, according to Australia's Science Daily. California Lt. Gov. John Garamendi warns that global warming could push water levels high enough to inundate the Central Valley town of Stockton, the Stockton Record reports...

Wind Installations Up, Industry Group Says Subsidies Needed to Sustain Progress

Posted on May 08, 2008
Wind power developers in the United States built new installations at a fast rate during the first quarter of 2008, according to an industry group. But the American Wind Energy Association, which issued the report, also warned that the boom could go bust if Congress doesn't move to renew tax credits...

In Other News (May 8)

Posted on May 08, 2008
Businesses in the United Kingdom will not back the case for high levels of environmental taxation, such as those placed on emissions auctions, if the money goes towards meeting other public spending commitments, argues Independent business columnist Jeremy Warner...

Energy Department Pours Money into Carbon Sequestration, 'Clean Coal'

Posted on May 07, 2008
Coal may be a fossil but apparently it isn't dead.The U.S. Department of Energy looks to be backing carbon sequestration projects and clean coal in a big way, despite some setbacks for the fuel in recent months (see Climate Law Update stories here and here)...

In Other News (May 7)

Posted on May 07, 2008
Who finds it easy -- or good business -- being green? The San Francisco Chronicle, citing a report from a New Hampshire nonprofit group, gives an accounting of climate-friendly companies. It's mercury, not climate issues, driving the opposition, but the Sierra Club is threatening to sue to block a number of coal-fired power plants, according to Reuters...

New Lawsuit Challenges Arctic Seismic Oil Exploration

Posted on May 06, 2008
A new lawsuit filed by environmentalists challenges Arctic oil and gas exploration efforts the groups contend threaten marine mammals such as whales.Plaintiffs include organizations that have already sought to force new federal protections for polar bears and other animals because of alleged threats from climate change, a move that could also have implications for oil development in the region...

In Other News (May 6)

Posted on May 06, 2008
European and Japanese investors have bought slightly over half of London-based Climate Change Capital, which invests in projects to cut carbon emissions in the developing world among other enterprises, Reuters reports. Efforts to address the transportation industry's carbon footprint, particularly that from air travel, are examined in a recent article in the New York Times...

Ohio Governor Signs 'Alternative' Portfolio Bill

Posted on May 05, 2008
Gov. Ted Strickland of coal-heavy Ohio has signed a bill pushing his state's electric distribution utilities to make sure that 25 percent of the power they sell comes from "alternative" resources by 2025.Under Senate Bill 221, that would include juice coming from such renewable sources as wind and solar, to other forms of generation, including "clean" coal, fuel cells and advanced nuclear, according to a statement by Strickland (see statement here; bill text here) and a report in the Toledo Blade (see story here)...

In Other News (May 5)

Posted on May 05, 2008
The Asian Development Bank's head announces a new fund to combat damage caused by climate change, writes The Economic Times of India.  Scientists suggest species living in the tropics may be in more serious danger than those living near the Arctic, reports the CBC...

Winners, Losers in Cap-and-Trade Scenarios Seen in New Report

Posted on May 02, 2008
This saving the planet stuff just isn't complicated enough, it seems.Underscoring the importance of the finer points involved in establishing a market-based approach to controlling greenhouse gas emissions, a new report (accessible here) sponsored by a fascinating collection of interests shows how huge sums are at stake depending on how such a program is structured...

In Other News (May 2)

Posted on May 02, 2008
The Arctic and the Antarctic experience similar greenhouse gas levels and solar radiation but are responding in dramatically different ways, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which reported on a new study soon to be published in EOS, a publication of the American Geophysical Union...

Maryland Governor Signs Energy Bills, Including New Portfolio Standards

Posted on May 01, 2008
Maryland's Gov. Martin O'Malley has signed a package of energy bills to among other things beef up renewable portfolio standards in that state, set goals for reducing energy consumption and funnel proceeds from the sale of greenhouse gas credits to clean energy projects...

In Other News (May 1)

Posted on May 01, 2008
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company and the Environmental Defense Fund are entering a partnership in which the advocacy group will help improve the environmental performance of the buyout firm's companies, including areas of greenhouse gas emissions, reports the New York Times...

New Economic Impact Report on Lieberman-Warner Fails to Settle Debate

Posted on April 30, 2008
A new federal economic analysis of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act shows that the measure wouldn't impede strong growth in the United States; whereas a new federal study of the bill forecasts a gloomy future of  higher energy prices and problems for industry...

In Other News (April 30)

Posted on April 30, 2008
Methane coming from a landfill near San Francisco could soon fuel the garbage trucks serving the site, under a plan to be announced by Waste Management, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.   European leaders on climate change say they do not expect much from President Bush on the issue but they have hopes a new administration will be different, writes Reuters...

Judge Orders Feds to Act on Polar Bear Protections

Posted on April 29, 2008
A federal judge in California late Monday gave the federal government barely two weeks to make a final decision on protecting the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act, a move that could have significant implications for regulatory efforts to combat climate change...

Farm Bill Faces Uncertainty, Would Cut Ethanol Subsidies

Posted on April 29, 2008
A compromise farm bill that reportedly includes some sharp reductions in subsidies for some forms of ethanol underwent heavy criticism Tuesday from President Bush. At a news conference, he called the overall multi-billion-dollar measure a “massive, bloated” bill that would do little to solve the problem of rising food prices (see White House transcript here)...

Polar Bear Ruling Sparks Reaction

Posted on April 29, 2008
The U.S. Department of Interior had only a muted reaction to Monday's federal court ruling demanding a quick decision on whether to protect the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act because of global warming. But that didn't keep the department's critics from weighing in...

In Other News (April 29)

Posted on April 29, 2008
The X Prize Foundation, which has previously handed out millions of dollars to stimulate developments in such fields as space travel, has announced it will distribute $100 million in awards for innovations in alternatives to fossil fuels, Business Week reports...

China May Be Planning Big Boost For Wind Power, As Greenhouse Gases Build

Posted on April 28, 2008
Chinese government officials may have produced a startling new goal for wind power in the giant country -- 100,000 megawatts by 2020. That represents a big step beyond more near-term figures the country floated just earlier this year (see Climate Law Update story here)...

In Other News (April 28)

Posted on April 28, 2008
Descendants of John D. Rockefeller will call for a shakeup at the top of ExxonMobil, the successor to the Standard Oil giant Rockefeller founded, amid concerns the company has been slow to acknowledge climate change, The Times of London reported...

California Views on US Fuel Efficiency Plan Sour

Posted on April 25, 2008
California officials have quickly soured on the Bush administration's new rules to boost motor vehicle fuel economy standards. They see it as an attack on efforts in the state and elsewhere to limit tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases...

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