Sept. 6, 2012: United Nations Talks Resulted in "Progress" Regarding Climate Change:
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 2/10/2013
As of Sept. 6, 2012, United Nations' climate talks that took place in Bangkok were "intended to prepare the way for major climate change meeting Nov. 26-Dec. 7, in Doha, Qatar." Among the Bangkok meeting topics were amendments to the 1997 greenhouse-gas limiting Kyoto Protocol and discussing a new legally binding climate treaty (to be agreed upon by 2015, and to go into effect by 2020). While many felt that progress was made at the Bangkok meeting, others expressed skepticism and concern that the "talks produced few concrete results" and that no "fresh commitment[s were made] regarding emissions."
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U.S. Study: Precipitation & River Discharges Increase Climate Change:
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 2/10/2013
Daily News & Analysis reports: a U.S. study attributes potential speeding up of climate change due to increased precipitation and river discharge in the Arctic Ocean. When the "fresh" water mixes with the salt water in the ocean, it dilutes the salt water. This causes a decrease in the salt water's ability to retain heat, and thus results in warmer ocean surface temperatures. University of Alaska Fairbanks International Arctic Research Centre scientist Xiangdong Zhang explains, "As the Earth's climate continues to change, the high-latitude North is becoming even wetter than before." Zhang further explains, in the Nature Climate Change journal, that extra moisture leads to stronger water cycles, which in turn may contribute greatly to "intensify climate system interactions and further advance climate change."
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Aerosols Could Have "Huge Implications For Climate Science":
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 2/10/2013
MIT's Technology Review has published an article that summarizes the importance of how studying aerosols (tiny particles immersed in air) can affect climate change. A specific example of this idea occurred in the Philippines in 1991, when Mount Pinatubo erupted, releasing 20 million tons of sulphur dioxide into the upper atmosphere. These particles' interaction with other substances in the air resulted in, two years after the eruption, the global temperature dropping by half a degree. While this example resulted in cooling the Earth, "some aerosols, such as soot, tend to absorb [rather than reflect] sunlight and so heat up the atmosphere." The article goes on to describe recent reserach in this area and highlights its importance on understanding climate change.
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"Extreme Weather, Climate Events Timeline Maps Wildfires, Floods and Droughts (INFOGRAPHIC)”
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 11/8/2012
The Huffington Post reports a timeline, developed by the World Resources Institute (“WRI”), that serves as a compilation of “some of the extreme weather and climate events that have hit the world so far in 2012.” While WRI has not officially linked such events to climate change, it points out that “many of these occurrences are in line with what scientists have predicted in a warmer world.” (The WRI Timeline and more on this story are available at http://tinyurl.com/8rtqz94).
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California Launches a "Climate College" Geared Toward Addressing Climate Change
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 11/8/2012
The California Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Climate Science program has announced it will launch a 10-month training course to increase participants’ climate change literacy. The course is open to all DFG employees, and not just to scientific staff. This initiative is designed to “support staff efforts to integrate climate change into their professional responsibilities—the very work that safeguards our natural resources,” according to DFG Climate Change Advisor Amber Pairis. The “DFG is [also] working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center to coordinate training activities and materials between the National Climate Academy and the California-focused DFG Climate College.” (More on this story at http://tinyurl.com/8f2o8ck).
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"EPA Proposes Major Clean Air Updates To Three Aging Arizona Coal Power Plants to Protect Health And Parks”
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 9/25/2012
In response to a lawsuit brought after Arizona and the EPA missed important legal deadlines related to limiting haze-causing pollution from power plants and factories in Arizona, the EPA proposed a plan to upgrade pollution control equipment in three aging coal-fired plants. Rejecting the state’s proposals as inadequate under the Clean Air Act’s requirements, the EPA’s plan includes retrofitting all three plants’ coal boilers with selective catalytic reduction controls. This technology is widely used in the US, and is capable of cutting nitrogen oxide pollution by 90 percent.
(More on this story at http://tinyurl.com/6stcupv).
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Production Tax Credit Extension Uncertainties Leave Coloradans Fearing Wind Power Has Reached Its Peak
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 9/25/2012
Colorado currently generates the third highest percentage of power from wind of any state, with still high projected growth potential. However, many fear jobs, and hopes for continued growth, are at risk with the Production Tax Credit’s (PTC’s) impending expiration at the end of 2012. The State is working with Congress to extend the PTC, but a director of energy & environment at IHS, Inc. forecasts strength for the Colorado wind industry, regardless of the PTC extension. This is because “Colorado boasts a competitive Renewable Portfolio Standard that requires investor-owned utilities and cooperatives to provide 30 percent of their 2020 electricity through renewable and/or recycle[d] energy.” Nevertheless, companies are developing flexible plans to adjust their workforce to meet business needs and market demands.
(More at http://tinyurl.com/7qb3mza).
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"Pilot Accreditation Program for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Certificate Programs Underway"
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 9/25/2012
MarketWatch reports four organizations are entering the final stages of a pilot accreditation process, the results of which are expected in August 2012 (the program is expected to reopen for general accreditation applications in late 2012). The “IREC Standard 14732: 2012,” which the certificate programs are being evaluated against, describes requirements for certificate programs involved in training the workforce in energy efficiency/weatherization and renewable energy fields. The program is designed to “enhance the credentialing of personnel and [foster] a more robust and qualified American workforce” in energy efficiency.
(More on this story at http://tinyurl.com/7xo8r7o).
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In Michigan (MI), Groups Debate a State Constitutional Amendment to Raise Renewable Energy Standards:
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 9/12/2012
The Detroit Free Press reports environmentalist-backed bipartisan group “Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs” is pushing for an amendment to MI’s Constitution that requires production of 25% of utilities from renewables by 2025. Opponents of the proposed amendment argue “legislation, not the state Constitution, is the proper route for changing the standard, the same method used for the current 10% standard.” A spokesperson for Michigan Energy says the amendment approach was taken because there was “little appetite among legislators to take on the initiative.” Others propose the state should wait until 2015, which marks the deadline for MI’s current 10% requirement, to assess MI’s renewable energy needs.
(More on this story at http://tinyurl.com/89yqqm2).
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Poll Indicates FL Voters’ Interests on Renewable Portfolio Standards are Opposite of State’s Legislative Policies
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 8/16/2012
In an effort to highlight public interest in renewable energy to the legislature, the Florida Renewable Energy Association (FREA) conducted a poll of registered voters. Results showed 69% of surveyed voters support Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)—a policy that has been adopted by 37 states. Further, despite the harder economic times, 57% of those surveyed stated they “were willing to pay at least 50 cents more per month on their electric bill to help fund renewable energy development.” The strongest voter support went to the bills that would allow consumers and businesses to buy electricity directly from private renewable energy companies. Both of these bills, however, were presented in FL’s 2012 legislative session but died in committees.
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Washington State & Regional Air-Quality Regulators Appeal Court Order Compelling Enforcement of Rules That Limit Greenhouse Gas Emissions At Oil Refineries
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 7/25/2012
In December 2011, a U.S. District Court ruled that Washington’s air-quality regulators must develop technologies that control greenhouse emissions, and these technologies will be installed at refineries, all within 26 months. The agencies argue state laws covering air pollutants do not apply to greenhouse gases, and point out that meeting such standards is harder than it sounds. The District Court, however, felt that all air contaminants are covered by a federal air-quality standard, citing a 2009 executive order declaring that air contaminants include greenhouse gases. An appeal to the District Court’s decision was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in April 2012. (More on this at http://tinyurl.com/727fj5n).
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New Jersey Sued Over Greenhouse Gas Initiative Pull-Out
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 7/12/2012
Bloomberg reports that two environmental groups, Environment New Jersey and The Natural Resources Defense Council, have filed a lawsuit over the State’s decision to withdraw from a 10-state greenhouse gas-reduction agreement. The groups claim the State failed to follow administrative rules regarding putting the public on notice before making the decision to pull out. The State, however, claims it has done nothing illegal with this move. The case has been filed in a New Jersey appellate court. (More at http://tinyurl.com/brllnsb).
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Mexico Becomes First Among Developing Nations To Enact Climate Change Laws
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 6/24/2012
The International Business Times reports that Mexico, currently ranking 12th among the world’s top carbon-emitting countries (according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration), has enacted legislation to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions fifty percent by 2050. The United Kingdom is currently the only developed nation to have enacted similar legislation, which was back in 2008. (More on this story at http://tinyurl.com/88xzgq2).
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Climate Change Affects Global Health—Spurring U.N. Into Action
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 6/15/2012
Experts say that climate change could affect public health. Among the effects we may see in the coming years are food availability, altered physical activity patterns, and changes in disease distribution due to the slight temperature increases. For this reason, the United Nations has been playing a larger role in climate change matters than in the past. Negotiations are already underway for the world’s largest carbon producers to enter into legally binding agreements to reduce carbon footprints. (More on this story at http://tinyurl.com/c7drb9v).
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USDA Organizes Seminar on Climate Change
Created By: Pervin Rusi Taleyarkhan
Published: 6/10/2012
The USDA’s Climate Change Program Office organized seminar on climate change, which took place on June 7 in Washington, D.C. Among the speakers was Dr. Eugene Takle, Iowa State University professor and director of the university’s Climate Change Program. Dr. Takle’s main message will be that farmers in Iowa are adapting their crop production practices in response to the climate change effects they are witnessing. Videos of the seminar will be available on June 13 from the USDA’s main webpage. (More on this at http://tinyurl.com/6sq6pb8).
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The Clean Technology and Climate Change Committee (CTC3) raises awareness to law, policy, science, and technology issues related to climate change; strengthens the capacity for effective legal, technical and market-based responses to mitigate greenhouse gases, ease adaptation, drive innovation, assure compliance, and preserve environmental integrity; and, as appropriate, assists with the development and implementation of domestic and international laws. CTC3 draws upon the expertise of public and private sector members from a wide range of practice areas and coordinates with other committees within the ABA Section on Science and Technology Law and in other Sections.
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Previous Educational Programs
February, 23, 2012
Is Natural Gas A Better Choice
This program discusses the combustion of carbon-based fuels, efficiency of different processes and why efficiency matters, and the tradeoffs, from a scientific perspective, between energy generated from natural gas and from coal. The goal is to enable you to make informed decisions about energy and CO2 emissions.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Green Marketing: Avoiding Common Legal Pitfals
Click here to view recording
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 ~ 9:30 am PST / 12:30 pm EST
Emerging Challenges in Global CleanTech Trade
Panelists: Bernd Janzen, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Click here to download
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 ~ 9:30 am PST / 12:30 pm EST
Cleantech IP Protection in the US and Canada
Panelists: Ivan Lewis Gold, Senior Counsel, Perkins Coie LLP;John M. Wechkin, Partner, Perkins Coie LLP; Susan Betcher, Of Counsel, Perkins Coie LLP; Doran Ingalls, Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP; David Turner, Executive Vice President, Lignol Energy Corporation
Click here to download presentation
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 ~ 9:30 am PST / 12:30 pm EST
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Reforms in the Context of a Greater Protocol: Berkeley Law Students' Perspective from Copenhagen
Panelists: Ian Fein; Jeslyn Miller; Heather M. Matsumoto; Tyler McNish
Click here to download presentation
Thursday, June 25, 2009 ~ 9:30 am PST / 12:30 pm EST
Corporate Engagement in Climate Change
Moderator: Jean M. Brittingham, North American Director, Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership
Panelists: David Heppe, Managing Director, Environmental Capital Group;Tony Juniper, Special Adviser, The Prince of Wales' Rainforest Project and Senior Associate, Cambridge University Program for Industry
Click here to download presentation
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 ~ 9:30 am PST / 12:30 pm EST
How to Translate Carbon Reducing Technology Into Tradable Emissions Credits
Panelists: Keith Casto, Shook, Hardy & Bacon; Alex Rau, Climate Wedge Ltd; Jon Elliott, Touchstone Environmental; Patricia Sharkey, McGuire Woods LLP
Click here to download presentation. (Due to technical issues, the first portion of the program is not available.)
Thursday, May 28, 2009 ~ 9:30 am PST / 12:30 pm EST
How to Maximize Your Carbon Value in Transactions
Panelists: Tessa Schwartz, Morrison & Foerster; Bill Sloan, Morrison & Foerster; Chris Hunter, Climate Change Capital
Click here to download the mp3 file.
Policy Roundtable Schedule
Federal Policy Roundtable November 5, 2009
Download MP3 recording here|
Speakers:
Lisa Jacobson President, Business Council for Sustainable Energy
Jon D. Sohn Of Counsel, McKenna Long & Aldridge
Kenneth J. Markowitz Consultant, Akin, Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP
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| | Section Events |
May 30, 2013
Location: N/A
Format: Webinar/Teleconference
June 4, 2013
Location: N/A
Format: Webinar/Teleconference
June 13, 2013
Location: N/A
Format: Webinar/Teleconference |
| February 16, 2012 |
| January 25, 2012 |
| December 24, 2011 |
| November 29, 2011 |
| November 13, 2011 |
| October 2, 2011 |
| September 26, 2011 |
| September 12, 2011 |
| August 13, 2011 |
| August 3, 2011 |
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