Climate Policy Watch

This page is designed to keep you updated on the latest national policies to reduce greenhouse gases, drawing from all the Inside EPA family of publications and allowing you access to all this coverage regardless of your site-license restrictions.

Topic Subtitle
This page is designed to keep you updated on the latest national policies to reduce greenhouse gases, drawing from all the Inside EPA family of publications and allowing you access to all this coverage regardless of your site-license restrictions.

EPA To Include Climate Change In Next State-Of-Environment Report

EPA is planning to address global climate change in its next report on the state of the environment, a key agency official says. EPA's top science official, Paul Gilman, told reporters June 2 that the agency had omitted climate change from its report last year because it did not have time to review relevant comments from the White House and other parties, but that "this time we'll have an opportunity to focus" on global environmental issues and review comments about...

NORTHEAST STATES EYE POTENTIAL U.S.-EUROPE EMISSIONS TRADING

Several Northeast states and European Union (EU) environment officials are discussing harmonizing mandatory greenhouse gas cap-and-trade systems in Europe with a regional initiative being developed in the Northeast, aiming for potential cross-Atlantic trades in the future, sources say. The unusual effort is winning praise from environmentalists who say that successful trading with Europe would be a strong argument for a mandatory, nationwide, climate change program. And utilities in the Northeast are cautiously embracing the idea as another way to comply...

CLIMATE CHANGE POSES POLITICAL CHALLENGE FOR NORTHEAST GOP

As efforts to address climate change gain bipartisan steam in the Northeast, Republican state administrations are increasingly trying to take the lead on the controversial environmental issue without alienating the White House and conservatives who oppose mandatory greenhouse gas controls. In recent weeks, officials in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts -- three states with Republican governors -- have passed legislation to reduce greenhouse gases and implemented executive climate change programs. However, some supporters of action on climate change allege that...

GROUPS CITE CLIMATE MOVIE TO PUSH SENATE GREENHOUSE GAS BILL

With support from former Vice President Al Gore, environmental groups are hoping to increase public pressure for passage of the McCain-Lieberman greenhouse gas bill in concert with the upcoming premiere of a climate change disaster movie, "The Day After Tomorrow." The effort -- which involves major environmental organizations and the liberal group MoveOn.org, as well as Gore and other celebrities -- suggests activists have decided to seize the public relations opportunity the blockbuster-type movie presents while attempting to downplay what...

BUSH CAMPAIGN DOCUMENT SEEN AS CRITICIZING EPA MERCURY PLAN

A yet-to-be-released Bush campaign document, obtained by Inside Washington Publishers , appears to side with lawmakers from Eastern and Midwestern states in their criticism of EPA's cap-and-trade mercury control plan for utilities. The document also criticizes Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), the likely Democratic presidential nominee, for supporting strict clean air mandates for reducing mercury emissions that the document claims will harm Eastern and Midwestern coal producers. Relevant documents are available on InsideEPA.com. While it is unclear from the document whether...

CONSERVATIVES FORM COALITION TO COUNTER ENVIRONMENTALISTS

Free-market advocates have formed a new coalition to counter environmentalists and their Democratic allies in the election campaign. The move suggests that Republicans worried about the proliferation of anti-Bush campaign groups are developing parallel efforts to support the president, especially as federal election officials have declined to financially restrict these groups. "It certainly reflects the acknowledgment and even the concern that these well-funded, pro-Democrat groups are going to have a big impact, and that their actions need to be answered...

Northeast States, European Union Consider Cross-Atlantic Emissions Trading

Several Northeast states and European Union (EU) environment officials are discussing ways to harmonize mandatory greenhouse gas cap-and-trade systems in Europe with a regional initiative being developed in the Northeast, aiming for possible cross-Atlantic trades in the future, sources say. The unusual effort is winning praise from environmentalists who say that successful trading with Europe would be a strong argument for a mandatory, nationwide, climate change program. And utilities in the Northeast are cautiously embracing the idea as another way...

Environmentalists, Industry Heighten Calls For Coal Gasification At Power Plants

Environmentalists and industry officials are intensifying their push to boost the use of advanced coal gasification at new coal-fired power plants, with environmentalists citing a new legal analysis that says permitting authorities must consider the technology to curb global warming, and industry increasingly touting the technology's benefits. However, the new pressure come as significant questions remain about the extent to which EPA will weigh in on states' authority to require or consider the technology during permitting, but as sources say...

NEW FREE-MARKET BLOC RESPONDS TO ENVIRONMENTALISTS' 2004 CAMPAIGN

Free-market advocates have formed a new coalition to counter environmentalists and their Democratic allies, suggesting some Republicans are worried that the proliferation of anti-Bush special interest groups may be affecting the presidential election. "It certainly reflects the acknowledgment and even the concern that these well-funded, pro-Democrat groups are going to have a big impact, and that their actions need to be answered by the Right," says a source with the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP), a non-partisan group that tracks...

Environmentalists Cite Climate Disaster Movie To Push Senate Greenhouse Gas Bill

With support from former Vice President Al Gore, environmental groups are hoping to increase public pressure for passage of the McCain-Lieberman greenhouse gas bill in concert with the upcoming premiere of a climate change disaster movie, "The Day After Tomorrow." The effort -- which involves major environmental organizations, the liberal group MoveOn.org, as well as Gore and other celebrities -- suggests activists have decided to seize the public relations opportunity the blockbuster-type movie presents while attempting to downplay what they...

GROUPS CAUTIOUSLY AWAIT SOUTHERN CO.'S CLIMATE CHANGE STUDY

Southern Company's new agreement to conduct an "honest assessment" of its risks from climate change and other environmental issues could mark a major turning point if the assessment leads to action at one of the nation's largest electric utilities, investor groups and environmentalists say. However, Southern Company says its agreement is more in line with its corporate governance practices than a belief that it needs to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The Southern Company agreement is worth noting, however, because...

CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS BACK GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION DECALS FOR CARS

California Assembly lawmakers last week advanced a bill requiring auto companies beginning in 2009 to provide information on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their vehicles through a redesign of the smog index decals affixed to current models. The regulation, unopposed thus far by automakers, would dovetail with forthcoming California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations requiring automakers to begin reducing GHG emissions from vehicles in 2009. The bill, AB 2906, was approved April 19 by a 9-3 vote of the Assembly...

LAWMAKERS BACK GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION DECALS FOR CARS

Assembly lawmakers this week advanced a bill requiring auto companies beginning in 2009 to provide information on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their vehicles through a redesign of current smog index decals affixed to current models. The regulation, unopposed thus far by automakers, would dovetail with forthcoming Air Resources Board regulations requiring automakers to begin reducing GHG emissions from vehicles in 2009. The bill, AB 2906 (Assemblyman Joe Nation, D-San Rafael), was approved April 19 by a 9-3 vote by...

Pages

Not a subscriber? Request 30 days free access to exclusive environmental policy reporting.