via Visual.ly
Here is a nice infographic that tries to answer one simple question reg. fossil fuels and their emissions..
What if we burned all the fossil fuels we have? infographic by OpenCanada.
This awesome interactive data visualization by Guardian, UK show how much the emissions profile has changed and shifted over the past few decades.. One shocking statistic I learned from this graph below is that the total CO2 emissions of Equitorial Guinea, small country in Western Africa, have increased by a whopping 3,390% Yep. !!!! Check out:
Prepared by the Office of Planning, Environment and Realty
Federal Highway Administration
FHWA Publishes Transportation Planning for Sustainability Guidebook. Individual states and metropolitan areas have begun to develop policies, programs, and methodologies for improving transportation system sustainability. This FHWA sponsored guidebook examines how sustainability considerations could be better incorporated into transportation planning through case studies identified from a review of sustainability planning practices at state DOTs and from a literature review of US and international practices. HTML version or PDF version (18Mb)
EIA Releases Annual Report on US GHG Emissions. The U.S Energy Information publication, Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the U.S., reports a 5.8 percent decline in U.S. GHG emissions between 2008 and 2009, the largest yearly decline since the report was first published 18 years ago. Transportation sector CO2 emissions declined for the second year in a row.
Texas A&M Report Examines Integration of Climate Change Adaptation into Transportation Planning. Transportation Planning, Policy and Climate Change: Making the Long-Term Connection reviews research on adapting transportation to climate change, and it discusses Houston-Galveston, Texas as a case study example of trying to incorporate climate change adaptation into transportation planning and decision making. The document is the final report of a research project by TTI’s University Transportation Center for Mobility, funded by a grant from USDOT.
Pew Climate Center Releases Pair of White Papers in Anticipation of Transportation Legislation. As the title suggests, Primer on Federal Surface Transportation Authorization and the Highway Trust Fundgives an overview of federal surface transportation funding. In Saving Oil and Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions through U.S. Federal Transportation Policy the authors propose GHG reduction and fuel saving strategies that could be incorporated into new legislation. They highlight implementation options and strategies for overcoming obstacles to inclusion in legislation. The authors also discuss fuel saving and GHG reduction strategies that could be undertaken or expanded under current law. The documents were jointly written by Cindy Burbank of PB and Nick Nigro of the Pew Center.
UK Engineering Academy Reports on Climate Change Adaptation for Infrastructure. Infrastructure, Engineering and Climate Change Adaptation – Ensuring Services in an Uncertain Future, published by the Royal Academy of Engineering, examines vulnerabilities of four infrastructure sectors (including transportation) to the effects of climate change in the U.K. and the modifications that would be needed to increase resilience. It includes an examination of vulnerabilities that arise as a result of interdependencies between different sectors and have the potential to cause cascading failures (for instance, a power failure shutting down rail transport). The study also considers the impact on infrastructure of climate change mitigation efforts and climate induced changes in behavior and demographics.
Transportation Research Record Focuses on Energy and Climate Change. TRB’s TRR Journal number 2191 includes 22 papers on transportation energy and climate change issues. All articles are downloadable for free on TRB’s website.
MTC Releases Vision Scenario Integrating Regional Land Use, Housing, and Transportation Investments to Achieve GHG Reduction Goals. Plan Bay Area – Initial Vision Scenario, was prepared in response to California S.B. 375, which requires regional transportation plans to include a Sustainable Communities Strategy that integrates land use and transportation planning with the goal of reducing GHG emissions. The Initial Vision Scenario identifies a land use development pattern to meet those targets. Using this as a starting point, over the next two years regional agencies will engage local agencies and the public to help identify and assess several detailed Sustainable Communities Strategy scenarios that demonstrate ways that land-use strategies, transportation investments, pricing and other strategies could achieve adopted goals and targets. The scenarios will also address how the Bay Area’s land use plans can assist adaptation to climate change. The final Sustainable Communities Strategy will be incorporated into the area’s 2013 Regional Transportation Plan.
Maryland Releases Phase II of State Adaptation Plan.
Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Maryland’s Vulnerability to Climate Change Phase II: Building societal, economic, and ecological resilience, includes sector-based adaptation strategies to reduce impacts of climate change. A chapter on population growth and infrastructure identifies potential impacts to the State’s transportation system and identifies strategies for resilience (such as leading by example in development decisions in climate sensitive areas, and strengthening building and infrastructure design standards). It also includes strategies to institutionalize consideration of climate change (such as integrating climate vulnerability data into spatial planning frameworks), and it identifies tools, research and education needed to better inform decisions.
NYSDOT and NYSERDA Select 13 Projects to Promote Reductions in Transportation GHG Emissions. New York State DOT and the private New York State Energy Research and Development Authority joined to provide $1.5 million in funding to 13 organizations and municipalities to advance projects that could lead to GHG emissions reduction in the transportation sector. Projects involve traffic flow improvement/ITS, transportation demand management, electric vehicle fleets, efforts to reduce truck idling, and other efforts.
FHWA Seeks Participants for GIS Applications in Climate Change Peer Exchange. This peer exchange is intended for practitioners seeking to share and learn about effective practices, methodologies, and lessons learned in applying GIS to support climate change analysis in transportation. Date and location of the peer exchange have not yet been determined. FHWA is currently seeking potential participants. Practitioners interested in participating in the peer exchange should contact Gina Filosa at 617-494-3452 or by e-mail at Gina.Filosa@dot.gov as soon as possible.
AASHTO Seeks Environmental Research Ideas. AASHTO is soliciting submissions to their Transportation and Environmental Research Ideas database. They will consider input received by April 22nd in their recommendations for research projects to be undertaken by the NCHRP. Last year, AASHTO used the TERI database to put forward eighteen research ideas for funding through NCHRP, including thirteen ideas for the quick turnaround, environmentally-focused NCHRP “25-25” program (research that can be completed in less than one year and under $100,000) and five ideas for funding as full-scale NCHRP projects, which typically range from $200,000 to $750,000 and take two to three years to complete. Four of the full-scale NCHRP projects and eight of the 25-25 studies were selected for funding. You can submit your research ideas directly though the TERI database. On the webpage you will find a template for submitting research ideas, please be sure to include a clear title, a detailed scope and information about the approximate timeframe and budget.
FHWA Webinar to Highlight Sustainable Pavements. On Earth Day, April 22, from 11:00-12:00 Eastern, FHWA is hosting a free webinar on in-place recycling of highway pavements, “Sustainable Environment – Putting EARTH DAY Into Practice on Our Nation’s Roads and Highways”. Registration is free and open to everyone.
FHWA Holding Series of Webinars on Congestion Pricing. The FHWA Offices of Operations and Innovative Program Delivery have launched a new webinar series, entitled “Overcoming the Challenges of Congestion Pricing.” These webinars are aimed at state and local agencies that are currently in the process of implementing or would like to implement congestion pricing; decision-makers/political leaders who want to better understand the benefits of congestion pricing; MPOs that may be interested in incorporating pricing into their planning activities; and others who just want to learn more about congestion pricing strategies. Congestion pricing strategies can often have a co-benefit of reducing GHG emissions. Registration is free and open to everyone who is interested.
2011 Transportation Planning, Land Use, and Air Quality Conference, May 9-10. TRB is cosponsoring the 2011 Transportation Planning, Land Use, and Air Quality Conference on May 10-11, 2011, in San Antonio, Texas. The conference will explore the latest research on integrating transportation planning, land use decisions, and improving air quality. The spotlight theme for the conference will be Integrating Transportation, Land Use, and Air Quality to Meet Sustainability and Livability Objectives. For more information see: http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/tpluaq/home.html
If you have any suggestions for inclusion in future issues of Transportation and Climate Change News, or if someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like to receive it directly in the future, please send your suggestions or request to Becky Lupes at Rebecca.Lupes@dot.gov.
(Source: Marlerhaley via Killer Infographics & Autoblog Green)
Image Courtesy: Marler Haley, UK
On a related note, it might be worth noting that there is a already a lot of controversy surrounding the official numbers posted by the automakers versus the results from real life driving conditions in Europe. Here is a peek at the ongoing debate:
Jos Dings, director of Brussels-based Transport & Environment, told Automotive News (sub. req.) that official CO2 emissions results posted by automakers are “less and less a reflection of what we are seeing on the road.” Dings says that the amount of CO2 emitted under controlled test conditions can be up to 50 percent lower than in real-world driving, telling AN that, “We don’t want cuts on paper. We want them in reality.”
Image Courtesy: via Autoblog — CO2 emissions chart
FHWA Selects Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Pilot Locations. FHWA has selected five applicants to pilot a draft conceptual model for conducting climate change vulnerability and risk assessment of transportation infrastructure. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (San Francisco Bay), New Jersey DOT/North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (Coastal and Central New Jersey), Virginia DOT (Hampton Roads), Washington State DOT (State of Washington), and Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (Island of Oahu) were selected to conduct the pilots over the next year. Based on the feedback received through the pilots, FHWA will revise and finalize the model for national application.
FHWA Launches Beta Version of Sustainability Tool. The Sustainable Highways Self-Evaluation Tool can help transportation agencies make highway projects and programs more sustainable. The tool is modeled after similar evaluation systems, such as GreenRoads, GreenLites, and I-Last for roads, and LEEDs for buildings. It provides a practical tool for integrating sustainability best practices into transportation projects and programs. Climate change considerations (GHG emissions and climate effects) are incorporated as elements of the tool. This is a beta version of the tool, and the site is still under development, so it will evolve as additional components are added or updated. We encourage you to try out the website, and we welcome any feedback.
FHWA Summary of Climate Language in Transportation Plans posted. Climate Change – Model Language in Transportation Plans provides excerpts from various MPO and DOT transportation plans that illustrate how climate change considerations have been integrated into the documents. Agencies that are looking for ideas about how to incorporate climate change into their transportation plans could find the model language very useful.
Report Provides Estimates of GHG Emissions in Transportation Construction, Maintenance, and Operations Activities. This NCHRP 25-25 Task 58 “Quick-Turnaround” research includes a spreadsheet tool to provide estimates of GHG emissions from transportation agencies’ construction, maintenance, and operations activities. The research also includes a synthesis of current research on the topic and identifies research gaps. A TRB webinar presentation with the principal investigator of the project is scheduled for November 10 (see below).
DOT and EPA Propose GHG Standards for Truck and Buses. On October 25, NHTSA and EPA proposed the first-ever fuel economy and GHG emissions standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. The new heavy-duty national program (or HD National Program) for model years 2014-2018 would potentially reduce GHG emissions by nearly 250 million metric tons over the life of the vehicles. The HD National Program was developed in response to President Obama’s memo to agency heads at DOT, DOE, EPA, and NHTSA on improving energy security issued in May. Much information on the proposal, including the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, a fact sheet, a draft EIS, a draft regulatory impact analysis and more is available on the NHTSA’s Fuel Economy Website.
DOT and EPA Publish NOI on 2017-2025 CAFE and GHG Emissions Standards. In an October 13 Federal Register Notice, NHTSA and EPA published a joint Notice of Intent and to develop fuel economy standards for 2017-2025 model year vehicles and an accompanying technical assessment report. The NOI does not propose specific standards but is the first step in the longer rulemaking process and discusses key elements of the program. A final rule is expected by July 31, 2012. As with the rulemaking for model years 2010-2016, EPA and NHTSA have committed to work closely with the California Air Resources Board to coordinate requirements and allow for a single, nationwide fleet. The accompanying technical report includes an initial assessment of the expected technology costs, effectiveness, and lead time to implementation. It also includes assessments on electric vehicle and hydrogen infrastructure and impacts on the economy and auto manufacturing jobs. For more information, see NHTSA’s Fuel Economy Website.
USDOT Releases Sustainability Plan and Progress Report.USDOT has released its Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan, a required report on the agency’s progress implementing E.O. 13514. The plan establishes a goal of 12.3 percent reduction in GHG emissions by 2020. DOT identified three program areas to achieve sustainability goals listed in the plan: sustainable facilities and fleet, sustainable acquisition, and sustainable technology. Sustainability performance plans from other agencies are also available on the CEQ website.
Columbia Law School Creates Databases of Climate Change in EISs. Columbia Law School has compiled and posted two databases of recent environmental studies that include consideration of climate change impacts. The first includes EISs submitted under NEPA. The second includes EISs submitted under CEQA, California’s environmental act. The databases are searchable by project type, lead agency, and State.
EPA, DOT, and HUD Release Partnership Progress Report. This document reports on the first year of the HUD/DOT/EPA Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities. The agencies are coordinating investments and aligning policies with the goal to help create more livable communities. For example, DOT used EPA and HUD’s expertise in the review of applications for Recovery Act TIGER grants. Twenty-two of the projects were selected because they would increase transportation choice, promoting livability principles. DOT and HUD also teamed up for a joint TIGER II-Community Challenge Grant Program that will award up to $75 million to support local planning activities that integrate transportation, housing, and economic development. And FTA and HUD developed a Mixed-Income Transit Oriented Development Action Guide to assist local governments foster diverse housing choices near transit stations available to a mix of incomes. These efforts and more are detailed in the report.
Federal Climate Change Adaptation Task Force Releases Progress Report. On October 5, CEQ released the report: Progress Report of the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force: Recommended Actions in Support of a National Adaptation Strategy. The report discusses the role of the federal government in adapting to climate change, federal policy goals, and next steps. To implement a goal to encourage and mainstream adaptation planning across the federal government, the Task Force recommends federal agencies employ a flexible framework for agency adaptation planning:
USDOT and FHWA are active in the Task Force. While FHWA has incorporated many elements of the flexible framework to its own activities, the Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Pilots discussed at the top of this newsletter are serving as FHWA’s pilot of the flexible framework. Read about all of the Task Force’s policy goals and recommended implementation strategies in the report.
CAPCOA Releases Resource on Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Measures. The California Air Pollution Control Officers Association released this Resource for Local Government to Assess Emissions Reductions from Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Measures. It includes calculation methodologies for 50 transportation measures. Information includes a range of effectiveness, detailed description, applicability (urban, suburban, rural), calculation method, inputs, assumptions, examples, and literature references for the measures.
Seeking Pilot Projects for Sustainable Transportation Design Tool. The Sustainable Transportation Access Rating System (STARS) is a life-cycle, performance-based design and rating system helping transportation projects to improve access, reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions and improve cost-effectiveness. STARS is seeking pilot projects to testVersion 1.0.STARS was developed by a partnership between the North American Sustainable Transportation Council, Portland (OR) Bureau of Transportation and the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission. For more information on STARS please contact Peter Hurley, Portland Bureau of Transportation Project Manager, at 503.823.5007 or peter.t.hurley@portlandoregon.gov.
AASHTO/FHWA Webinar: “How can state DOTs communicate climate change and energy challenges to the public?” Thursday, December 2 at 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET. Edward Maibach of the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University will give a presentation on “Global Warming’s Six Americas,” a market segmentation analysis of different groups of Americans and their views on climate change: Alarmed; Concerned; Cautious; Disengaged: Doubtful; and Dismissive. Based on an awareness of different views about climate change, the webinar will focus on ways that state DOTs and other transportation organizations can communicate with the public about climate change and energy issues. The webinar will also include discussion of the state DOT role in communicating about climate change with other state and Federal agencies. Registration is free and open to all.
If you have any suggestions for inclusion in future issues of Transportation and Climate Change News, or if someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like to receive it directly in the future, please send your suggestions or request to Becky Lupes at Rebecca.Lupes@dot.gov
Prepared by the Office of Planning, Environment and Realty Federal Highway Administration: www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/climate/
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Report Highlights Roadway Corridor Energy Efficiency Strategies. Environmental Corridor Management was prepared as part of the NCHRP 25-25 “quick turnaround” research. The chapter “the Energy Efficient Highway: How Efficient Are Our Corridors?” includes a lengthy and informative discussion of Oregon’s experiences implementing their Oregon Solar Highway program. Among numerous other sustainability strategies, the document also reports on experiences with:
EPA Announces 2009 Clean Air Excellence Award Winners. Several of the 2009 winners have demonstrated or are working toward transportation greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The District Department of Transportation was recognized for launching the SmartBikeDC bike sharing program, and Car2Go and the city of Austin were recognized for their car sharing program. Sunline Transit Agency in CA was honored as the first agency to own and operate a hydrogen generating and dispensing station. They have upgraded the facility so that it can serve commercial customers as well as the transit agency’s own busses. More details on these and other award winning initiatives are available on EPA’s Clean Air Excellence Awards website.
FHWA/AASHTO Climate Change Adaptation Peer Exchange Report Released. FHWA with the support of AASHTO convened a peer exchange on current climate change adaptation activities and strategic needs in Schaumburg, Illinois, on December 8, 2009. This workshop included senior officials of state departments of transportation, FHWA headquarters and division offices and AASHTO. This report summarizes the results of the exchange, and is one of series of FHWA reports documenting the results of national peer exchanges on integrating climate change considerations into the transportation planning process.
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States Launch Transportation and Climate Initiative. On June 16, 11 Northeast states and the District of Columbia launched a Transportation and Climate Change Initiative “to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize our transportation system’s reliance on high-carbon fuels, promote sustainable growth, address the challenges of vehicle-miles traveled and help build the clean energy economy.” More information and a copy of the signed declaration of intent are available on the Georgetown Climate Center website.
MassDOT Announces Comprehensive Sustainable Transportation Initiative. On June 2, MassDOT launched GreenDOT, an effort to incorporate sustainability into all of the DOT’s activities. The initiative has a goal of reducing GHG emissions by over 2 million tons by 2020. The DOT aims to combat climate change by measures such as balancing highway expansion projects with projects that promote biking, walking, public transit, and smart growth. The DOT will also make investments in a green fleet and renewable power. The policy directive includes an illustrative list of the initiatives that MassDOT is implementing to achieve the GreenDOT goals. For more information, see the MassDOT Policy Directive or the press release.
New York City Panel on Climate Change Releases Adaptation Resources. The NPCC has released Climate Change Adaptation in New York City: Building a Risk Management Response, to provide a “foundation” for climate change adaptation in New York City and tools to start formulating an adaptation response. The document includes a brief analysis of NYC’s transit system vulnerabilities. NPCC’s eight step Adaptation Assessment Guidebook is included as Appendix B. And a workbook on “Incorporating Climate Change into Design and Performance Standards” is Appendix C.
California Air Resources Board Releases Draft Regional GHG Reduction Targets. CARB has released the draft GHG emission reduction targets for passenger vehicles for the state’s 18 MPOs as part of the implementation of SB 375. The 2020 and 2035 targets are expressed in per capita ghg emissions range compared to 2005 levels. The targets were informed by scenario planning analyses. As most of the infrastructure decisions affecting the 2020 network have already been made, the nearer term targets are based largely on operational improvements. Many MPOs also adjusted their 2020 forecasts to take the economic downturn into account. The four largest MPOs have a draft 2020 reduction target of 5-10 percent.
FHWA Seeks Pilot Locations For Climate Vulnerability/Risk Assessment. FHWA is soliciting interested DOTs and MPOs to partner with us in piloting approaches to conduct climate change vulnerability and risk assessments of transportation infrastructure. The purpose of the pilots is twofold; 1) to assist State DOTs and MPOs more quickly advance existing adaptation assessment activities and 2) to assist FHWA in “test-driving” the model. Based on the feedback received through the pilots, FHWA will revise and finalize the model for national application. It is anticipated that 3-4 awards will be made at approximately $200,000 to $300,000 each. By Federal statute, a 50% non-Federal match is required for these funds to be awarded to the pilot areas. In-kind contributions such as staffing can be counted towards the match requirement. Applications are due to the relevant FHWA Division Office by July 30. For more information, see the solicitation announcement and the conceptual model which will soon be available on the FHWA Climate Change Activities Webpage.
FTA Seeks Applicants for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction Projects. FTA has $75 million in FY10 funds available in its Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) Program for grants to public agencies. The grants are for capital projects that reduce GHG emissions or energy use from public transit systems. Projects must request between $1,000,000 and $25,000,000. Applications for projects less than $1,000,000 may be applied for if they are part of a consolidated proposal submitted by the State DOT that, in total, meets or exceeds the $1,000,000 threshold. Applications are due August 11. For more information, see the announcement on the grants.gov website.
Northern Transportation and Air Quality Summit to be Held Aug 24-26 in Cambridge, MA. Registration is now open for NTAQS, the biennial Air Quality conference sponsored by FHWA and EPA Regions 1, 2, and 3. Several presentations on climate change are planned. The Boston MPO and NESCAUM are co-sponsors of this years’ event.
EPA Seeks 2010 Clean Air Excellence Award Nominations. In a June 21 Federal Register Notice, EPA issued a call for nominees to recognize efforts toward achieving cleaner air. These recognition awards are open to both the public and private sector. Applications must be postmarked by August 13.
If you have any suggestions for inclusion in future issues of Transportation and Climate Change News, or if someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like to receive it directly in the future, please send your suggestions or request to Becky Lupes at Rebecca.Lupes@dot.gov.
FHWA HQ Contacts in the Office of Planning, Environment & Realty:
Office of Natural and Human Environment, Sustainable Transport & Climate Change Team
Diane Turchetta, Acting Team Leader Diane.Turchetta@dot.gov
Kathy Daniel, Kathy.Daniel@dot.gov
John Davies, JohnG.Davies@dot.gov
Connie Hill Galloway, Connie.Hill@dot.gov
Robert Kafalenos, Robert.Kafalenos@dot.gov
Faiz Khan, Faiz.Khan@dot.gov
Becky Lupes, Rebecca.Lupes@dot.gov
Office of Planning
Robin Smith, Robin.Smith@dot.gov
Office of Project Development & Environmental Review
Shari Schaftlein, Shari.Schaftlein@dot.gov
Source: Prepared by the Office of Planning, Environment and Realty – Federal Highway Administration (www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/climate)
Recent Events
Obama Administration Officials Release Progress Report on Work of Climate Change Adaptation Task Force. On March 16, the CEQ, NOAA, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy released an interim progress report of the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force. The report recommends key components to include in a national strategy on climate change adaptation. It calls for a national adaptation strategy that has a “flexible, forward thinking approach” shifting away from using past conditions to predict the future. It also calls for adaptation responses to be included in current U.S. government plans, processes and approaches, so that adaptation and resilience approaches become part of existing activities. Comments on the report are being accepted through May 15. For full text of the report and to submit a comment, see the Interagency Adaptation Task Force website.
FHWA Posts Study of State Climate Action Plans. This study, completed last summer, reviews progress on state climate action plans in all 50 states. The report provides a basic summary and analysis of the data gathered on transportation emission reduction strategies. It also assesses the level of certainty in estimates of strategies’ impacts on GHG emissions. The report, accompanying data spreadsheet, and summary PowerPoint presentation are available on the research page FHWA’s Climate Change Website.
NCHRP Publishes Study on Mechanisms for Integrating Transportation-Related Greenhouse Gas Reductions into Transportation Decision Making. This study provides a factual basis for State DOTs and MPOs to weigh alternatives for managing GHG emissions from transportation. The report covers five dimensions of GHG management policy: geographic level of implementation, target metric, sources covered, reduction target base, and regulatory nature of target (voluntary or mandatory). The web-only study is available here.
Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis. The “social cost of carbon” (SCC) is an estimate of the monetized damages associated with an incremental increase in carbon emissions in a given year. It is intended to include (but is not limited to) changes in net agricultural productivity, human health, property damages from increased flood risk, and the value of ecosystem services. The estimates presented in the report are meant to allow agencies to incorporate the social benefits of reducing CO2 emissions into cost-benefit analyses of regulatory actions that have small, or “marginal,” impacts on cumulative global emissions. The report assists agencies in complying with Executive Order 12866, which requires a cost-benefit analysis of intended regulation. DOT Participated in the interagency process that produced this document. The report is available here.
State and Local News
Oregon Legislation Calls for a Statewide Transportation Strategy to Achieve Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Goals. On March 18, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed Senate Bill 1059 which calls for the Oregon Transportation Commission in consultation with MPOs, other state agencies, local governments, and other stakeholders to adopt a statewide transportation strategy to reduce GHG emissions. It also calls for the DOT and the Department of Land Conservation and Development to establish guidelines for alternative land use and transportation scenarios that may reduce GHGs. The legislation also calls for the Department of Land Conservation to establish a light-duty vehicle GHG reduction target in each MPO Region. Local governments within MPO areas will be required to consider how regional transportation plans could be altered to reduce GHG emission. Full details of the bill are providedhere.
North Carolina Holds Climate Change Adaptation Workshop. On March 2-3, the North Carolina Interagency Leadership Team hosted this workshop on how the state can increase its resilience to projected climate threats. The workshop was sponsored in part by FHWA and NCDOT. Presentations and additional information are available here.
Midwest Transportation and Air Quality Summit Conference Proceedings Posted. On October 27-29, 2009, the Illinois Department of Transportation hosted this summit which included several presentations on climate change. The proceedings are available here.
Announcements
2010 TRB Energy and Environment Conference, June 6-9 in Raleigh. This conference serves as a platform to develop better transportation solutions through the integration of diverse environmental and transportation perspectives. Many conference sessions relating to climate change are planned:
An early registration rate is available until April 30. Registration, an agenda, and additional conference information is available here.
Reminders
CEQ Draft NEPA Guidance on Considerations of Effects of Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Comments due May 24. The guidance covers when and how Federal agencies should analyze the environmental impacts of GHG emissions and climate change when they describe the environmental impacts of a proposed action under NEPA. Text of the draft guidance and a comment submittal form are available here on the CEQ website.
Note: If you have any suggestions for inclusion in future issues of Transportation and Climate Change News, or if someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like to receive it directly in the future, please send your suggestions or request to Becky Lupes at Rebecca.Lupes@dot.gov.
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Recent Events
Two New Reports on Climate Change Science are published. The Climate Change Science Compendium 2009 and The Copenhagen Diagnosis, 2009: Updating the World on the Latest Climate Science present research results released since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report was published in 2007 (the Fifth Assessment Report is due in 2013). The reports present scientific findings, interpretations, ideas, and conclusions from about 400 major scientific contributions released through peer-reviewed literature or from research institutions. They present findings from the International Polar Year, a collaborative, international effort researching the Polar Regions; data made possible due to new technologies; and evidence of unexpected rates of change in the extent of Arctic sea ice, ocean acidification, and species loss.
TRB Revamps its Climate Change Website. The redesigned website provides an easy way to find all of TRB’s climate-change-related TRB E-Newsletter items, meetings sponsored or cosponsored by TRB, TRB standing committees and task forces, TRB research projects, TRB policy studies and reports, papers from TRB’s journal, the Transportation Research Record, and products from other arms of the National Academies, such as the National Research Council. In addition, the site links to climate-change-related items in two of TRB’s databases: Research in Progress and Research Needs Statements.
The Psychology of Climate Change Communication: A Guide for Scientists, Journalists, Educators, Political Aides, and the Interested Public is published. Columbia University’s Center for Research on Environmental Decisions developed the guide, which covers:
2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) data is published. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been collecting national data on travel behavior of the American public for 40 years. The NHTS dataset allows analysis of daily travel by all modes, all times of day, and for all purposes, including characteristics of the people traveling, their household, and their vehicles. The 2009 NHTS has data on the travel of 150,000 households – 1 million trips. The report includes data from new or updated questions on hybrid/alternative-fuel vehicle use, alternate mode use, flexibility in work arrival time, telecommuting, mobility and disabilities, travel to school, internet deliveries to households, interstate use and tolling. The NHTS website is a good source of information to help you with your program, planning, and policy work. The site includes policy briefs on topics such as “The ‘Carbon Footprint’ of Daily Travel,” “Travel to School: The Distance Factor,” and “Working at Home—The Quiet Revolution.” For more information, contact FHWA’s Office of Policy and Information.
Local Governments Plan for Development of Land Vulnerable to Rising Sea Level. It is almost impossible to plan for sea level rise unless one knows whether a parcel of land will be given up to the sea, elevated with the rising sea, or protected – with a dike, for example. Through a multi-year $2 million study, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency worked with local land use planners in 131 jurisdictions along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Florida to map which areas are likely to be protected from rising sea level based on available planning data and existing government policies. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission in Philadelphia, the Coastal Regional Commission of Georgia, and four Florida regional planning commissions created sea level rise planning maps that divide coastal land into four categories: developed (shore protection almost certain), intermediate (shore protection likely), undeveloped (shore protection unlikely), and conservation (no shore protection), to help start the dialogue for communities interested in deciding what they should do. An article in the scientific journal Environmental Research Letters summarizes the study. State-specific summaries and GIS data are also available.
Analysis of Macroeconomic Effects of Michigan’s Climate Action Plan is Released. The analysis indicates that implementation of Michigan’s Plan would expand the state’s economy and cut household energy prices. The Plan recommends 54 multi-sector climate policy strategies. Transportation-related strategies include Anti-Idling Technologies and Practices, Vehicle Purchase Incentives such as rebates, Mode Shift from Truck to Rail, Renewable Fuel Standard (biofuels goals), Transit, and Smart Growth/Land Use. The analysis indicates that anti-idling technologies and practices will result in greater GHG emission reductions between 2009 and 2025 than transit or smart growth/land use strategies.
California Air Resources Board (CARB) Approves Climate Change Proposed Scoping Plan: A framework for change. The plan outlines strategies to reduce the State’s GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. It includes several measures related to transportation (see Emissions Reduction Measures, Regional Transportation-Related GHG Targets, pp. 47-51) and notes that the state has allocated resources for MPOs to initiate or augment comprehensive scenario planning, or Blueprint, efforts that engage a broad set of stakeholders at the local level on the impacts of land use and transportation choices (see the following article). The plan notes co-benefits of reducing GHGs, such as air-quality-related public health benefits and local economic benefits.
California Releases Final 2009 Climate Adaptation Strategy. Multiple state agencies were involved in developing this multi-sector strategy to guide California in adapting to climate change impacts. The strategy summarizes the science on climate change impacts in seven sectors, including Transportation and Energy Infrastructure, and provides recommendations on how to manage against those threats. The strategy is in response to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Executive Order S-13-08 requiring state agencies to identify how they can respond to rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, sea level rise, and extreme natural events. The state’s adaptation strategy will be updated as new data become available.
A Guide to Transportation Decisionmaking is published. The FHWA and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) created the guide to help the public understand how transportation decisions are made at the local, State, and national levels, and to encourage them to contribute their ideas. It updates the process through SAFETEA-LU and replaces the older A Citizen’s Guide to Transportation Decisionmaking. To receive a hard copy, contact Brenda Kragh at Brenda.Kragh@dot.gov.
AASHTO/FHWA/FTA Announce Webinars on Climate Change
With assistance from FHWA and FTA, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) are sponsoring a series of six webinars on climate change, February-June 2010. The webinars are designed for state DOTs–CEOs; chief engineers; and planning, communications, environment, engineering, and government affairs staff–and anyone else who is interested in the topics (e.g., MPOs or other local and regional agencies).
The webinar recording and slides from the first webinar, Climate Change 101: An Overview of Climate Change for State DOTs, are posted on AASHTO’s Center for Environmental Excellence webpage, under the Products and Programs tab on the left hand column. This link will take you directly to where the information from Climate 101 and future webinars will be posted: http://environment.transportation.org/center/products_programs/. The topics, dates, and times for the next two webinars are:
What’s the hubbub about public opinion polls on climate change all about, and why should we care?
Considering the views of the public and of other transportation stakeholders is an integral part of our Federal-aid highway program. Recent polls have shown a sharp decline in the percentage of Americans who say there is solid evidence that global temperatures are rising (57% in October 2009 vs. 71% in April 2008 according to the Pew Research Center or who see global warming as a very serious problem (35% in October 2009 vs. 44% in April 2008). Yale University and George Mason University (GMU) polling results indicate that “public concern about global warming, and public trust in a range of information sources, has dropped sharply over the past year” (see Climate Change in the American Mind: Americans’ global warming beliefs and attitudes in January 2010).
However, the relationship between public concern about or belief in climate change doesn’t seem to be reflected in whether or not they think action should be taken to reduce GHG emissions. In the Pew survey, 50% favored setting limits and making companies pay for their “carbon” emissions even if this may lead to higher energy prices, while only 35% said they thought climate change was a very serious problem.
To get a clearer assessment of public opinion about climate change, it’s valuable to consider trends over the long term. The longest running public opinion poll on the environment is the Gallup Environment poll, which has been conducted nationwide for more than 20 years. Over that time public concern about the greenhouse effect/global warming has stayed fairly consistent, with 63% in 1988 who worried a great deal or a fair amount and, in 2009, 60% who worried a great deal or a fair amount. When asked if they favored imposing mandatory controls on CO2 emissions and other GHGs, in the 2003, 2006, and 2007 polls 75-79% of Americans said yes. Even in the 2009 poll 70% said yes. Similar to the recent Pew survey, 8-16% more Americans favored controlling GHG emissions than the percentage who worried a great deal or a fair amount about global warming. For the first time in the Gallup poll’s history, however, in 2009 the public favored economic growth vs. environmental protection by 51% to 42% (Gallup attributed this to the recession). The Yale/GMU January 2010 poll showed this sentiment had rebounded to 63% favoring protecting the environment, even if it reduces economic growth, vs. 37% who favored economic growth, even if it leads to environmental problems (see Q244 in Climate Change in the American Mind: Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies in January 2010). More information will be posted on FHWA’s climate change website after Gallup’s March 2010 poll results are released.
Next month: We hear that EPA is about to officially release the MOVES model. What is it and can it help transportation agencies to develop their GHG emissions’ baselines and inventories?
Errata: Based on input about our November/December newsletter, we have updated two of the articles. The lead article on COP-15 now includes detail on DOT’s participation in Copenhagen. Based on feedback from EPA, we have updated the FYI piece on cap-and-trade.
If you have any suggestions for inclusion in future issues of Transportation and Climate Change News, or if someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like to receive it directly, please send your suggestions or request to Kathy Daniel at Kathy.Daniel@dot.gov.
FHWA HQ Contacts in the Office of Planning, Environment and Realty
Office of Natural and Human Environment, Sustainable Transport & Climate Change Team
Office of Planning
Robin Smith, Robin.Smith@dot.gov
Office of Project Development and Environmental Review
Shari Schaftlein, Shari.Schaftlein@dot.gov
FHWA Highways and Climate Change website : www.climate.dot.gov/
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(Source: The Pew Center on Global Climate Change)
Click the image to access a summery of the report
I came across this excellent report, Aviation and Marine Transportation: GHG Mitigation Potential and Challenges, via an article on Washington Post and felt compelled to share with you all. This report published by The Pew Center on Global Climate Change examines growth projections for emissions from both aviation and marine transportation and options to reduce those emissions. Aviation and marine transportation combined are responsible for approximately 5 percent of total GHG emissions in the United States and 3 percent globally and are among the fastest growing modes in the transportation sector. Under business-as-usual forecasts, CO2 emissions from global aviation are estimated to grow 3.1 percent per year over the next 40 years, resulting in a 300 percent increase in emissions by 2050.International marine transportation emissions are estimated to grow by 1 to 2 percent per year, increasing by at least 50 percent over 2007 levels by 2050. Controlling the growth in aviation and marine transportation GHG emissions will be an important part of reducing emissions from the transportation sector.
According to the press release, the report explores a range of near-, medium- and long-term mitigation options that are available to slow the growth of energy consumption and GHG emissions from aviation and marine shipping. These options include improvements in operational efficiency, improvements in the energy efficiency of engines and the design of air and marine vessels, and transitioning to less carbon-intensive fuels and transportation modes. Implementation of these options could result in reductions of more than 50 percent below BAU levels by 2050 from global aviation and more than 60 percent for global marine shipping. For these reductions to be realized, however, international and domestic policy intervention is required. Developing an effective path forward that facilitates the adoption of meaningful policies remains both a challenge and an opportunity.
“Aviation and marine shipping are two of the fastest growing modes of transportation,” said Eileen Claussen, President of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. “Their greenhouse gas emissions are growing rapidly as well. To protect the climate, we need to reduce emissions across the entire economy. Aviation and marine shipping are part of the climate problem, and this report shows that they can be part of the solution.”
Aviation and Marine Transportation: GHG Mitigation Potential and Challenges also examines policy options for achieving reductions in GHG emissions from these transportation modes. The paper, authored by David McCollum and Gregory Gould of the University of California at Davis and David Greene from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, explains the challenges, examines policy efforts to date, and explores both domestic and international policy options for addressing emissions from aviation and marine transportation.
Key sections of the paper include:
Click here to access the Pew Center’s website or click here to download the entire PDF report.
(Source: Office of Planning, Environment and Realty – Federal Highway Administration)
U.S. DOE and U.S. EPA announce the 2010 Fuel Economy Guide for model year 2010 vehicles. Each vehicle listing gives an estimated annual fuel cost, based on the vehicle’s MPG rating and national estimates for annual mileage and fuel prices. The online version of the guide allows consumers to input their local gasoline prices and typical driving habits to receive a personalized fuel cost estimate. Fuel efficiency is important for reducing CO2 and other GHGs. The top ten fuel economy leaders for 2010 include nine hybrid vehicles, from compact cars to SUVs.
World Resources Institute issues provisional GHG emissions reporting standard for public sector. The standard was developed in consultation with agencies from all levels of government and is supported by the Federal Energy Management Program within U.S. DOE and U.S. EPA. The standard includes guidance on how to apply GHG accounting principles to government operations at the federal, state and local level. The standard is compatible with the Local Government Operations Protocol recently adopted by The Climate Registry, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and California Climate Action Registry (CCAR). For questions or to submit comments on the standard, please email Stephen Russell or Mary Sotos at pspcomments@wri.org.
EESI publishes State Actions on Climate Change: A Focus on How Our Communities Grow, to encourage State, regional, and local governments to focus on land use reform as a key strategy for reducing GHG emissions. The publication is the result of collaboration with the American Planning Association to develop tools to assist planners. The study examined State and regional climate action plans for their inclusion of transportation, green building, and land use or “smart growth” practices and found that the plans cover a broad range of strategies, because each area has unique geographic and socioeconomic conditions. Of the three, transportation practices were the dominant feature, along with, to a lesser degree, green building policies. Some common transportation policies include adopting California’s vehicle emissions standard (the country’s most aggressive standard), creating more mass transit options, and providing incentives to lower VMT. Specific smart growth practices appeared to be the least likely component of the plans. A table at the end of the document shows some aspects of urban planning that are incorporated. Any GHG reduction targets adopted or regional climate action plans to which a state belongs are provided.
Simple Measures Can Yield Big GHG Cuts, Scientists Say in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Thomas Dietz, Michigan State University assistant vice president for environmental research, and his colleagues find that simple, voluntary activities such as routine vehicle maintenance, carpooling and trip chaining, eco-driving, and use of low-rolling-resistance tires can result in significant reductions in GHG emissions and, therefore, “deserve increased policy attention.” They examined 17 household action types in five behavioral categories. Adoption of these actions typically is the result of several policy tools and strong social marketing, the authors state. They estimate that if the behaviors became the norm across the nation it could save 123 million metric tons of carbon per year, equal to 7.4% of U.S. national emissions, within ten years with little or no reduction in household well-being. Their estimates are based on “how many families could reasonably be expected to take such measures if they were provided information, offered financial assistance and could interact with others doing so.”
Managing Our Coastal Zone in a Changing Climate: The Time to Act is Now Issued by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia Provides Insights Relevant to U.S. The fact that many Australian coastal communities have single-access roads is an issue of grave concern to the Commonwealth. The report noted that evacuation routes were a significant factor in the extent of a July 2009 bushfire tragedy (“Black Saturday”). Dr. John Church, from [the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia’s national science agency] pointed out that “sea-level-rise planning benchmarks need to be part of a risk management framework,” stating “We really have to move into a risk assessment framework…where we talk more about probabilities and the risks that we are prepared to take….One problem that we have is that planners tend to come to us and say, “How much do we need to allow for sea level rise?’ The retort I always give is, ‘What kind of risks do you want to take?’ I think this is a very important change in process that we need: to put the onus of the risk back onto the planners and the policymakers, not leave it to the scientists.’
Draft Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan released for comment. The plan contains 52 climate policy actions, which are estimated to reduce the Commonwealth’s GHG emissions by 95.6 million metric tons (a 36 percent reduction below year 2000 business-as-usual levels, 42% if recent state and federal actions are included) and to provide a net gain of $5.13 billion and 54,000 new jobs by 2020. The Plan does not address climate change adaptation. The GHG emissions inventory and projections, which cover 1990 to 2020, use “standardized methodology prescribed by the [EPA] and in accordance with international standards.” Transportation is the third largest source of GHG emissions in Pennsylvania (24% in 2000, of which gasoline-powered on-road vehicles accounted for about 64% and on-road diesel vehicles for 15%). Of all the sectors analyzed, GHG mitigation actions from transit and ground passenger transportation are projected to produce the second largest financial gain for the Commonwealth. The Land Use and Transportation work plan recommendations are listed in the following table.
| Work Plan No. | Work Plan Name | Annual Results (2020) | Cumulative Results (2009-2020) | CCAC Voting Results (yes/No / Abstained)1 | |||||
| GHG Reductions (MMtCO2e | Costs (Million $) | Cost Effectiveness ($/tCO2e) | GHG Reductions (MMtCO2e | Costs (NPV, Million $) | Cost Effectiveness ($/tCO2e) | ||||
| 3 | Low-Rolling-Resistance Tires | .68 | -$212 | -$310 | 4.1 | -$1,244 | -$300 | 16/5/0 | |
| 5 | Eco-Driving | PAYD | .43 | -$277 | -$651 | 1.76 | -$1,065 | -$605 | 13/8/0 |
| Feebates | .41 | -$133 | -$320 | 2.74 | -$810 | -$296 | 13/8/0 | ||
| Driver Training | .62 | -$129 | -$206 | 4.53 | -$605 | -$134 | 13/8/0 | ||
| Tire Inflation | .09 | -$27 | -$282 | 0.58 | -$137 | -$238 | 13/8/0 | ||
| Speed Reduction | 1.96 | $185 | $94 | 23.0 | $4,153 | $181 | 13/8/0 | ||
| 6 | Utilizing Existing Public Transportation Systems | .05 | $300 | $6.000 | 0.55 | $3,000 | $5,454 | 13/8/0 | |
| 7 | Increasing Participation in Efficient Passneger Transit | .12 | <$0 | <$0 | 2.02 | <$0 | <$0 | 21/0/0 | |
| 8 | Cutting Emissions From Freight Transportation | .99 | -$293 | -$295 | 6.67 | -$1,495 | -$224 | 15/6/0 | |
| 9 | Increasing Federal Support for Efficient Transit and Freight Trasport in PA | 1.17 | $92 | $78 | 12.87 | $1.0082 | $78 | 20/1/0 | |
| 10 | Enhanced Support for Existing Smart Growth/Trasportation and Land-Use Policies | .76-1.84 | <$0 | <$0 | 3.79-9.18 | <$0 | <$0 | 13/8/0 | |
| 11 | Trasit-Oriented Design, Smart Growth Communities, & Land-Use Solutions | Included in T-10 | <$0 | <$0 | Included in T-10 | <$0 | <$0 | 13/8/0 | |
| Sector Total After Adjusting for Overlaps | 6.6 | -$494 | -$75 | 60.1 | $2,805 | $47 | |||
| Reductions From Recent State and Federal Actions | 15.7 | -$1093 | -$313 | 72.0 | -$3803 | -$253 | |||
| 1 | Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles (PCV) Progarm | 0.095 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.27 | 0.0 | 0.0 | NA | |
| Federal Vehicle GHG Emissions and CAFE Standards | 12.2 | NQ | NQ | 57.3 | NQ | NQ | NA | ||
| 2 | Bofuel Developemnt and In-State Production Incentive Act | 3.47 | -$89 | -$26 | 14.8 | -$203 | -$14 | NA | |
| 4 | Diesel Anti-Idling Program | 0.07 | -$20 | -$273 | 0.7 | -$177 | -$238 | NA | |
| Sector Total Plus Recent Actions | 22.3 | -$603 | -$27 | 132 | $2,425 | $18 | |||
1NA in this column means “not applicable.” Work plan numbers 1,2, and 4 are recent state actions that are being implemented by the state; and the federal government will be implementing national vehicle GHG emissions and corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards starting in 2012.
2Because T-9 uses federal dollars exclusively, it should be noted that the cost figures for T-9 are calculations of how many federal dollars – not state dollars – would be required to implement the work plan.
3This cost per ton value excludes the emission reductions associated with the “Federal Vehicle GHG Emissions and CAFE Standards” since costs (savings) were not quantified for this recent federal action.
GHG = greenhouse gas; MMtCO2e = million metrice tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; $/tCO2e = dollars per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent; NPV = net present value; NQ = not quantified; PA = Pennsylvania; PAYD = Pay-As-You-Drive; CAFE = Corporate Average Fuel Economy.
Climate Change and Transportation in Maine published by MaineDOT. This white paper prepares MaineDOT to respond to the Governor’s call to evaluate climate change adaptation options and positions the agency to work with transportation stakeholders to evaluate short-term and long-term approaches to preparing for and adapting to climate change. Judy Gates, Director of MaineDOT’s Environmental Office said “…uncertainty [about long-range impacts due to climate change] can create paralysis in an agency charged with making and justifying long-term, fiscally-responsible decisions around the safety and efficiency of public travel. But the long life-cycles of most transportation infrastructure demand early preparation to protect significant tax payer investments…” The white paper includes a table showing how Maine’s current and proposed adaptation strategies compare to seven other States whose Climate Action Plans address adaptation (see below). The paper references the part of TRB’s Special Report 290: Potential Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Transportation that discusses the Caltrans process of evaluating bridges for seismic retrofitting, in which TRB suggests that a similar approach could be used to screen and identify critical infrastructure that is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. MaineDOT has already included climate change as a factor to be considered in future planning with an eye towards conducting technical, risk-based assessments such as California’s.
| RECOMMENDED STRATEGY | AK | CA | FL | MD | OR | VT | WA | ME |
| Monitor the changing environment | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Assess infrastructure’s resiliency to climate change impacts | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Cost/benefit or risk based analysis of retrofitting/replacing vulnerable infrastructure | X | X | X | |||||
| Incorporate climate change into current and future planning | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Reduce stress on threatened and endangered species | X | X | X | |||||
| Design/build infrastructure to withstand climate change impacts | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Maintain/restore habitat connectivity and/or natural barriers to sea level rise | X | X | X | X |
Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference in DC, November 16-18, has webcast option. The webcast costs $150 for one day or $300 for all three days, versus $320 and $600, respectively, for on-site attendance. The webcast option is limited to 200 people who register by November 12.The conference is sponsored by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Stanford University’s Precourt Energy Efficiency Center, and the California Institute for Energy and Environment.
TRB announces webinar: A Transportation Research Program for Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change and Conserving Energy. This web briefing on December 2, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST will explore the findings of TRB’s Special Report 299: A Transportation Research Program for Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change and Conserving Energy.Participants must register at least 24 hours in advance, space is limited, and there is a fee for non-TRB-Sponsor employees. To learn more about current and planned FHWA research on climate change mitigation and adaptation, visithttp://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/climate/index.htm.
What is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention? The Convention is an international treaty adopted in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro and ratified by almost all of the countries of the world, in which they agreed to undertake policies and measures to return their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000. In 1997, all but two of the Convention signatories (the U.S. and Turkey) adopted an addition to the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, which has specific binding GHG emission targets to be achieved in the 2008 – 2012 time period (which would have been 7% for the U.S.) The U.S. has not ratified the Protocol primarily because China and India are exempt from a numerical cap on their emissions. Below are data from the UNFCCC on trends in GHG emissions in industrialized countries (called Annex I Parties) that committed to voluntary GHG reductions under the Convention
Related news. Indian Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh and Chinese Minister for National Development and Reforms Xie Zhenhua signed a 5-year commitment for their countries to collaborate on GHG emission reduction programs, projects, technology development, and demonstration. The Ministers agreed to work together to protect and promote the interests of developing countries like China and India.
Next month:What is “cap and trade” GHG emissions trading, which is in the media so much lately?
