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Transportation and Climate Change Clearinghouse [website]
"The Transportation and Climate Change Clearinghouse is designed as a one-stop source of information on transportation and climate change issues. It includes information on greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories, analytic methods and tools, GHG reduction strategies, potential impacts of climate change on transportation infrastructure, and approaches for integrating climate change considerations into transportation decision making."
United States. Department of Transportation
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Compliance Followup Audit of Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Administration and Oversight of Funds Dedicated to Address Global Climate Change
"The Government Accountability Office (GAO) identified climate change as a high-risk
area within the Federal Government in February 2013. In fact, GAO determined that climate change was a complex, crosscutting issue, where many Federal entities manage related programs and activities. The majority, $75 million, of the Department of State's (Department) FY 2013 foreign assistance request for $120.5 million3 for global climate change is administered through the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES). [...] Because of GAO's emphasis on climate change and the Department's important role, OIG [Office of Inspector General] performed a compliance followup audit (CFA) to evaluate the corrective actions taken by OES and A/OPE [Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive] in response to OIG's report. The objectives of this CFA were to assess the Department's actions with respect to selected open recommendations (Nos. 1, 12, 13, 17, and 18) from the prior report and determine whether they should be closed or reissued and to review one closed recommendation (No. 15) to determine whether original deficiencies were fully addressed. Following initial discussions with OES and A/OPE officials on the status of the open recommendations from AUD/CG-12-40, OIG expanded its original scope to include an assessment of the Department's actions on all open recommendations from the report."
United States. Department of State. Office of the Inspector General; United States. Broadcasting Board of Governors
2013-12
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Climate Change Legislation Design White Paper: Competitiveness Concerns/Engaging Developing Countries
"The first White Paper identified the economic sectors and activities that are directly emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs) and how those emissions could be included in a cap-and-trade program. This White Paper discusses potential domestic legislative provisions that could encourage developing countries to curb their emissions of greenhouse gases. The Committee on Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality are issuing a series of Climate Change Legislation Design White Papers as the next step toward enactment of a mandatory, economy-wide climate change program. While the hearings earlier in this Congress were designed to give the Committee an understanding of the status and projected path of climate change and potential ways to address it, these White Papers and the hearings on them will focus on the construction of mandatory, economy-wide climate change legislation. The White Papers will describe the basic design and key principles of a regulatory program and also identify issues about which further information and discussion is desirable."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Education and Labor
2008-01
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Climate Change and Social Vulnerability in the United States: A Focus on Six Impacts
From the Executive Summary: "Climate change affects all Americans--regardless of socioeconomic status--and many impacts are projected to worsen as temperatures and sea levels continue to rise, snow and rainfall patterns shift, and some extreme weather events become more common. A growing body of literature focuses on the disproportionate and unequal risks that climate change is projected to have on communities that are least able to anticipate, cope with, and recover from adverse impacts. Many studies have discussed climate change impacts on socially vulnerable populations, but few have quantified disproportionate risks to socially vulnerable groups across multiple impacts and levels of global warming. This report contributes to a better understanding of the degree to which four socially vulnerable populations--defined based on income, educational attainment, race and ethnicity, and age--may be more exposed to the highest impacts of climate change in six categories: Air Quality and Health; Extreme Temperature and Health; Extreme Temperature and Labor; Coastal Flooding and Traffic; Coastal Flooding and Property; and Inland Flooding and Property." This document includes charts, tables, and graphs to illustrate the text.
United States. Environmental Protection Agency
United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Atmospheric Programs
2021-09
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Deeper Look at Climate Change and National Security
"Climate change is a long-term process that will trigger a range of multi-dimensional demographic, economic, geopolitical, and national security issues with many unknowns and significant uncertainties. At first glance, climate-change-related national security dimensions seem far removed from today's major national security threats. Yet climate change has already set in motion forces that will require U.S. attention and preparedness. The extent and uncertainty associated with these situations necessitate a move away from conventional security practices, toward a small but flexible portfolio of assets to maintain U.S. interests. Thoughtful action is required now if we are to acquire the capabilities, tools, systems, and institutions needed to meet U.S. national security requirements as they evolve with the emerging stresses and shifts of climate change."
Sandia National Laboratories
Baker, Arnold B.; Backus, George A.; Romig, Alton D.
2010-03
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Fire Management Today: Climate Change: The Future is Here (Volume 74 No.3, 2015)
This issue of Fire Management Today features an article encouraging citizens to be active in the wildfire community titled "The Citizen of Fire" by Tom Harbour. Other articles include "High-Tech Is Useful But Costly: Modeling and Simulation Can Help With Tough Resourcing Decisions" by David Peterson, Ericson Davis, Jeremy Eckhause, Michael Pouy, Stephanie Sigalas-Markham, and Vitali Volovoi; "Smartphone Applications for Data Collection, Dynamic Modeling, and Visualization in the Wildland Fire Environment" by Zachary Holden, Jim Riddering, W. Matt Jolly, and Allen Warren; "Fire Management in a Changing Climate" by Elizabeth Reinhardt; "Forest Service Coordinated Tribal Climate Change Research Project" by Linda E. Kruger and Kathy Lynn; "Potential Climate Change Impacts on Fire Weather in the United States" by Warren E. Heilman, Ying Tang, Lifeng Luo, Shiyuan Zhong, Julie Winkler, and Xindi Bian; "Studying the Effects of a Changing Climate on Wildfires and the Impacts to the United State's Air Quality" by Maria Val Martin, Jeffrey Pierce, and Colette Heald; "Smokey Bear and 70 Years of Vigilance" by Fred Hernandez; "The Structural, Geographic, and Financial Impacts of Wildfire in the United States" by Thomas Jeffery; "Funny River Fire" by Diana Campbell; "Utah's Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy" by Nathan Barrons; and "The Quadrennial Fire Review--A Tool for the Future" by Sandra Burnett and Russell Johnson.
United States. Department of Agriculture; United States. Forest Service
2015-07
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Climate Change Mitigation: Can the U.S. Intelligence Community Help?
From the thesis abstract: "The administration has declared climate change to be a threat to national security. Thus far, the national security establishment has focused its attention on adaptation to the effects of climate change rather than mitigation of the human cause, though evidence of the need to reduce global CO2 [Carbon Dioxide] emissions continues to mount. This thesis asks whether the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) might be enlisted in the battle against climate change (global warming), by supporting the international monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) of a global greenhouse gas limitation treaty. This covert monitoring is already contemplated by the CIA, though the question remains open, Congress has conducted no public discussion of whether using the IC's unique covert sources and methods would in fact aid in climate change mitigation. This thesis compares various cases involving the IC's monitoring of weapons nonproliferation--and in particular the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)--with a hypothetical international CO2 emissions limitation agreement (ICELA) successor to the Kyoto Protocol. Using these case study findings, an analysis of four policy options for structuring an IC CO2 emissions limitation monitoring entity (ICCME) is conducted. By adopting the most promising of these options, Congress might ensure that the ICCME would support, rather than undermine, a future ICELA."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Bruhnke, Louis
2013-06
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Climate Change: Federal Laws and Policies Related to Greenhouse Gas Reductions [December 8, 2008]
"Climate change is viewed as a global issue, but proposed responses generally require action at the national level. In 1992, the United States ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which called on industrialized countries to take the lead in reducing greenhouse gases. Over the past 16 years, a variety of voluntary and regulatory actions have been proposed or undertaken in the United States, including monitoring of electric utility carbon dioxide emissions, improved appliance efficiency, and incentives for developing renewable energy sources. This report provides background on the evolution of U.S. climate change policy, from ratification of the UNFCCC to the George W. Bush Administration's 2001 rejection of the Kyoto Protocol to the present. Recent federal court decisions--most notably the Supreme Court's 2007 decision in Massachusetts v. EPA that the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act--have raised the issue of whether EPA should directly regulate greenhouse gases. This report focuses on major regulatory programs that monitor or reduce greenhouse gas emissions, along with their estimated effect on emissions levels. [...]While some provisions in energy laws enacted over the past 16 years have led to lower greenhouse gas emissions or addressed climate change directly, other provisions in those same laws have almost certainly resulted in higher emissions. To date, no energy law has had reducing greenhouse gas emissions as the main organizing principle. Energy-related activities are responsible for about 86% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions, and 98% of its carbon dioxide emissions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Parker, Larry, 1954-; Yacobucci, Brent D.
2008-12-08
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Climate Change: Current Issues and Policy Tools [May 21, 2008]
"For decision-makers considering actions to address climate change, an assortment of policy instruments is available; studies suggest that a combination could be most effective in achieving various climate policy objectives. Current domestic policy attention has focused on "cap and trade" strategies to reduce GHG emissions, with additional policy tools aimed at promoting the technology development considered necessary to slow climate change significantly. In parallel, growing attention is being given to characterizing and supporting adaptations to expected future changes, as well as to strategies to gain effective international engagement in reducing GHG. One significant obstacle to consensus is concern about the potential costs of abating GHG emissions, since deep reductions would require extraordinary changes in energy use and technologies. Recent studies suggest that efficiently designed GHG programs could moderate the costs of reducing U.S. GHG emissions; technically and politically, though, an "efficiently designed" program may not be realistic. Policy options can ease the adjustments required and modify the distribution of costs -- or potential wealth embodied in distribution of emission allowances -- across specific sectors or populations. A core challenge of policy design, then, is balancing the climate effectiveness of a policy, the economic costs, and its distributional effects."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Leggett, Jane A.
2008-05-21
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Greenhouse Gas Pledges by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [July 1, 2015]
"International negotiations are underway toward an agreement, due in December 2015, under the 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change' (UNFCCC) regarding commitments and actions to address human-related, global climate change from 2020 on. This report briefly summarizes the existing commitments and pledges of selected national and regional governments to limit their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as contributions to the global effort. The negotiations cover additional topics, including adaptation to the impacts of climate change and financing to assist the efforts of low-income countries. However, parties to the UNFCCC have not agreed that intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) of parties must or should include those other topics. Consequently, this report focuses only on the GHG mitigation pledges. More extensive information on the climate change negotiations is available in several additional CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports. Following background on the UNFCCC, this report describes the role of INDCs in the current negotiations. It then summarizes selected parties' existing GHG mitigation commitments and pledges in a table that covers both the period to 2020 and from 2020 on. Information on additional parties' INDCs is available through the website of the UNFCCC."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Leggett, Jane A.
2015-07-01
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Greenhouse Gas Pledges by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [June 29, 2015]
"International negotiations are underway toward an agreement, due in December 2015, under the 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change' (UNFCCC) regarding commitments and actions to address human-related, global climate change from 2020 on. This report briefly summarizes the existing commitments and pledges of selected national and regional governments to limit their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as contributions to the global effort. The negotiations cover additional topics, including adaptation to the impacts of climate change and financing to assist the efforts of low-income countries. However, parties to the UNFCCC have not agreed that 'intended nationally determined contributions' (INDCs) of parties must or should include those other topics. Consequently, this report focuses only on the GHG mitigation pledges. More extensive information on the climate change negotiations is available in several additional CRS reports. Following background on the UNFCCC, this report describes the role of INDCs in the current negotiations. It then summarizes selected parties' existing GHG mitigation commitments and pledges in a table that covers both the period to 2020 and from 2020 on. Information on additional parties' INDCs is available through the website of the UNFCCC."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Leggett, Jane A.
2015-06-29
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SEC Climate Change Disclosure Guidance: An Overview and Congressional Concerns [May 24, 2012]
From the Summary: "Publicly traded companies are required to transparently disclose material business risks to investors through regular filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On January 27, 2010, the SEC voted to publish 'Commission Guidance Regarding Disclosure Related to Climate Change,' which clarifies how publicly traded corporations should apply existing SEC disclosure rules to certain mandatory financial filings with the SEC regarding the risk that climate change developments may have on their businesses. The Guidance has been controversial and has prompted legislation in the 112th Congress to repeal it. [...] Since the Guidance went into effect on February 8, 2010, there have been several attempts to gauge its impact. A 2011 report from Ceres, a nonprofit coalition of institutional investors, environmental organizations, and other public interest groups, concluded that most corporate filers needed more experience at communicating the risks associated with climate change. Although it found that large public companies had improved their climate-change risk disclosures in recent years, the report concluded that there was more work to be done in this area."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shorter, Gary W.
2012-05-24
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Clean Air Issues in the 110th Congress: Climate Change, Air Quality Standards, and Oversight [Updated October 19, 2007]
"Attention to environmental issues in the 110th Congress focused early and heavily on climate change -- the state of the science, and whether (and, if so, how) to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Ten bills had been introduced to establish GHG emission caps as of late September, and hearings on climate change have been held by at least seven committees. Legislation has yet to be marked up, however, in either House or Senate committees. Seven of the ten greenhouse gas bills introduced as of this writing would amend the Clean Air Act, generally establishing a new Title VII to address the issue. Whether or not legislation would amend the Clean Air Act, climate change hearings and markup are among the highest expressed priorities in the coming months for the committees that have jurisdiction over air issues (principally the Senate Environment and Public Works and House Energy and Commerce Committees). Other clean air issues are less likely to be the main focus of attention, but they may be addressed, especially through oversight of Administration actions. […] On April 2, the Supreme Court decided two cases that have broad implications for EPA and state authority to control greenhouse gases and to regulate power plants. In the more sweeping of the two cases, Massachusetts v. EPA, the Court found that EPA has authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles. Other cases involving climate change, clean air standards, and the regulation of power plants are pending at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and in a number of federal and state courts. Decisions in these cases may prompt hearings or legislation. […]"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, James E.
2007-10-19
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U.S. Global Climate Change Policy: Evolving Views on Cost, Competitiveness, and Comprehensiveness [Updated January 29, 2007]
From the Summary: "U.S. policy toward global climate change evolved from a 'study only' to a more 'study and action' orientation in 1992 with ratification of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Convention committed developed countries to aim at returning their greenhouse gas emissions to their 1990 levels by the year 2000. The U.S. decision to ratify the UNFCCC reflected both the nonbinding nature of the accord and analyses that suggested that the United States could achieve the necessary reduction at little or no cost. Under the UNFCCC, developed countries were to adopt national plans and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The United States submitted such plans in 1992, 1994, 1997, and 2002. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) has been the principal U.S. statutory response to the UNFCCC. Primarily an energy policy response to the Iraqi takeover of Kuwait and the U.S.-led reaction, EPACT's energy conservation, renewable energy, and other titles were also seen as having a beneficial effect on global climate change concerns. In addition, the George H.W. Bush and Clinton Administrations encouraged voluntary reductions by industry through administrative initiatives, such as EPA's various 'green' programs. This largely voluntary approach to complying with UNFCCC allowed the two Administrations to implement a climate change policy without having to ask Congress for new authorities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Parker, Larry B.; Blodgett, John E.
2007-01-29
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Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI): Budget Authority and Request, FY2008-FY2012 [June 1, 2011]
"The United States supports international financial assistance for global climate change initiatives in developing countries. Under the Obama Administration, this assistance has been articulated primarily as the Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI), a major strategic platform within the President's 2010 Policy Directive on Global Development. The GCCI aims to integrate climate change considerations into relevant foreign assistance through a full range of bilateral, multilateral, and private sector mechanisms to foster low-carbon growth, promote sustainable and resilient societies, and reduce emissions from deforestation and land degradation. The GCCI is implemented through programs at the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and is funded through the Administration's Executive Budget, Function 150 account, for State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. […] As Congress considers potential authorizations and/or appropriations for initiatives administered through the GCCI, it may have questions concerning U.S. agency initiatives and current bilateral and multilateral programs that address global climate change. Some potential concerns may include cost, purpose, direction, efficiency, and effectiveness, as well as the GCCI's relationship to industry, investment, humanitarian efforts, national security, and international leadership. This report serves as a brief overview of the GCCI, its structure, intents, and funding history."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lattanzio, Richard K.
2011-06-01
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Status of the Copenhagen Climate Change Negotiations [November 5, 2009]
"The United States and almost 200 other countries are negotiating under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to address climate change cooperatively1 beyond the year 2012. Parties agreed to complete those negotiations by the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15) scheduled for December 7-18, 2009, in Copenhagen. […] Negotiations had lagged through 2008. In December 2008, the then-incoming Obama Administration stated its policy to reduce U.S. emissions to 14% below 2005 levels by 2020. Optimism among many grew that the U.S. Congress would pass GHG [greenhouse gas] control legislation before the Copenhagen meeting, providing guidance to the executive branch negotiators regarding the elements of a treaty that the Senate would ultimately consent to ratify. The Obama position and passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of H.R. 2454 (the American Clean Energy and Security Act, ACES, or the 'Waxman-Markey' bill) have led to reinvigorated hopes of some people that consensus among countries could be found by December 2009 on a comprehensive Copenhagen agreement with quantified commitments. As the weeks remaining until December wane, with neither a U.S. GHG target nor U.S. financial offers, it becomes less likely that China and major non-Annex I country emitters would agree to GHG reduction commitments--which they have been strongly resisting. Smaller countries, concerned about the impacts of climate change on their welfare and economies, and looking to the United States and other large, wealthy countries for leadership on climate change, have become increasingly frustrated. Lack of strong political agreements has led to recent demonstrations in as many as 4,500 locations in 170 countries. More are planned during the Copenhagen meeting."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Leggett, Jane A.; Lattanzio, Richard K.
2009-11-05
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Federal Climate Change Funding from FY2008 to FY 2014 [September 13, 2013]
"Direct federal funding to address global climate change totaled approximately $77 billion from FY2008 [Fiscal Year] through FY2013. The large majority--more than 75%--has funded technology development and deployment, primarily through the Department of Energy (DOE). More than one-third of the identified funding was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5). The President's request for FY2014 contains $11.6 billion for federal expenditures on programs. In the request, 23% would be for science, 68% for energy technology development and deployment, 8% for international assistance, and 1% for adapting to climate change. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) also reports that energy tax provisions that may reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would reduce tax revenues by $9.8 billion. […] This report summarizes direct federal funding identified as climate change-related from FY2008 enacted funding through FY2013 and the FY2014 request (as well as a less consistent series beginning with FY2001). It reports the Administration's estimates of tax revenues not received due to energy tax provisions that may reduce GHG emissions. The report briefly identifies the programs and funding levels, as well as some qualifications and observations on reporting of federal funding. It further offers some issues that Members may wish to consider in deliberating on U.S. climate change strategies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Leggett, Jane A.; Lattanzio, Richard K.; Bruner, Emily
2013-09-13
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Discussion Draft of H.R. ____, 'Insular Area Climate Change Act', Legislative Hearing Before the Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, March 4, 2021
This is the March 4, 2021 legislative hearing on "Discussion Draft of H.R. ____, 'Insular Area Climate Change Act'," held before the House Committee on Natural Resources. From the opening statement of Raul M. Grijalva: "The Committee is meeting today to receive testimony on legislation authored to address issues related to our planet's changing climate and the impact it is having on our insular areas. [...] U.S. territories and Freely Associated States, also known as U.S.- affiliated insular areas, are on the front lines of the climate change crisis. In recent years, some territories have experienced major natural disasters stemming from climate change, including Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria in 2017, and Typhoon Yutu in 2018. Insular areas face sea-level rise, coastal erosion, temperature increases, and droughts like other jurisdictions. Nevertheless, insular areas experience additional vulnerabilities, such as an unequal access to Federal programs, an over-reliance on petroleum, and an existing infrastructure that fails to meet new hazard-mitigation codes." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Zena Grecni, Rafael A. Machargo Maldonado, Ada Monzon, Jean-Pierre L. Oriol, Austin Shelton, and Gerald M. Zackios.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
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Supreme Court's Climate Change Decision: 'Massachusetts v. EPA' [May 18, 2007]
"On April 2, 2007, the Supreme Court handed down 'Massachusetts v. EPA' [Environmental Protection Agency], its first pronouncement on climate change. By 5-4, the Court held that (1) Massachusetts had standing to sue, (2) Section 202 of the Clean Air Act authorizes EPA to regulate emissions from new motor vehicles on the basis of their possible climate change impacts, and (3) Section 202 does not authorize EPA to inject policy considerations into its decision whether to so regulate. The Court's decision leaves EPA with three options under the section: find that motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions may 'endanger public health or welfare' and issue emission standards, find that they do not satisfy that prerequisite, or decide that climate change science is so uncertain as to preclude making a finding either way. The decision also has implications for other climate-change- related litigation, particularly a pending suit seeking to compel EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources of emissions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meltz, Robert
2007-05-18
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Status of the Copenhagen Climate Change Negotiations [December 9, 2009]
From the Overview: "The United States and almost 200 other countries are negotiating under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to address climate change cooperatively beyond the year 2012. Parties agreed to complete those negotiations by the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15) scheduled for December 7-18, 2009, in Copenhagen. […] Negotiations had lagged through 2008. In December 2008, the then-incoming Obama Administration stated its policy to reduce U.S. emissions to 14% below 2005 levels by 2020. Optimism among many grew that the U.S. Congress would pass GHG [greenhouse gas] control legislation before the Copenhagen meeting, providing guidance to the executive branch negotiators regarding the elements of a treaty that the Senate would ultimately consent to ratify. The Obama position and passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of H.R. 2454 (the American Clean Energy and Security Act, ACES, or the 'Waxman-Markey' bill) have led to reinvigorated hopes of some people that consensus among countries could be found by December 2009 on a comprehensive Copenhagen agreement with quantified commitments. As the weeks remaining until December wane, with neither a U.S. GHG target nor U.S. financial offers, it becomes less likely that China and major non-Annex I country emitters would agree to GHG reduction commitments--which they have been strongly resisting. Smaller countries, concerned about the impacts of climate change on their welfare and economies, and looking to the United States and other large, wealthy countries for leadership on climate change, have become increasingly frustrated. Lack of strong political agreements has led to recent demonstrations in as many as 4,500 locations in 170 countries. More are planned during the Copenhagen meeting."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lattanzio, Richard K.; Leggett, Jane A.
2009-12-09
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Development of Flood Regressions and Climate Change Scenarios To Explore Estimates of Future Peak Flows
From the Abstract: "A new Web-based application, titled 'Application of Flood Regressions and Climate Change
Scenarios To Explore Estimates of Future Peak Flows,' has been developed by the U.S. Geological
Survey, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Transportation, that allows a user to
apply a set of regression equations to estimate the magnitude of future floods for any stream or river in
New York State (exclusive of Long Island) and the Lake Champlain Basin in Vermont. [...] These regression equations include several fixed
landscape metrics that quantify aspects of watershed geomorphology, basin size, and land cover as well
as a climate variable-either annual precipitation or annual runoff.
The application uses predictions of future annual precipitation from five climate models and two
future greenhouse gas emissions scenarios and provides results that are averaged over three future
periods-2025 to 2049, 2050 to 2074, and 2075 to 2099. Results are presented in ensemble form as the
mean, median, maximum, and minimum values among the five climate models for each greenhouse gas
emissions scenario and period. These predictions of future annual precipitation are substituted into
either the precipitation variable or a water balance equation for runoff to calculate potential future peak
flows. This application is intended to be used only as an exploratory tool because (1) the regression
equations on which the application is based have not been adequately tested outside the range of the
current climate and (2) forecasting future precipitation with climate models and downscaling these
results to a fine spatial resolution have a high degree of uncertainty. This report includes a discussion of
the assumptions, uncertainties, and appropriate use of this exploratory application."
United States. Department of the Interior; Geological Survey (U.S.)
Burns, Douglas A., 1956-; Smith, Martyn J.; Freehafer, Douglas A.
2015
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U.S. Energy Sector Vulnerabilities to Climate Change and Extreme Weather
"Since the start of the 20th century, average annual temperatures across the contiguous United States have increased approximately 1.5°F (0.8°C) [...]. Recent weather conditions are no exception to this trend. July 2012 was the hottest month in the United States since record keeping began in 1895, and 2012 was the warmest year overall, marked by historic high temperatures and droughts, above average wildfires, multiple intense storms that disrupted power to millions, and multiple extreme heat waves [...]. More than 60% of the country experienced drought during the summer of 2012, including some areas of exceptional drought [...]. These trends, which are expected to continue [...], could restrict the supply of secure, sustainable, and affordable energy critical to the nation's economic growth. At least three major climate trends are relevant to the energy sector: [1] Increasing air and water temperatures [2] Decreasing water availability in some regions and seasons [3] Increasing intensity and frequency of storm events, flooding, and sea level rise[.] This report--part of the Administration's efforts to support national climate change adaptation planning through the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force and Strategic Sustainability Planning process established under Executive Order 13514 and to advance the U.S. Department of Energy's goal of promoting energy security--examines current and potential future impacts of these climate trends on the U.S. energy sector. It identifies activities underway to address these challenges and discusses potential opportunities to enhance energy technologies that are more climate-resilient, as well as information, stakeholder engagement, and policies and strategies to further enable their deployment."
United States. Department of Energy
Newmark, Robin; Steinberg, Daniel; Macknick, Jordan . . .
2013-07
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Long-Term Community Resilience Exercise Resource Guide: Designing Whole Community Exercises to Prepare for the Effects of a Changing Climate
From the Introduction: "This Guide offers reliable methodologies, strategies, information and resources for designing and conducting discussion-based exercises focused on climate adaptation and resilience planning. Exercises offer communities a low-risk and cost-effective way to increase preparedness for all threats and hazards, including the potential long-term impacts of climate change. Specifically, exercises offer a structured approach to: [1] Identify resource requirements, capability gaps, strengths, areas for improvement and potential best practices; [2] Provide a common framework of understanding; and [3] Provide a good starting point for developing or making major changes to existing plans, policies or procedures. To give a community everything it needs to prepare for and execute an exercise, this Guide provides three categories of information: 1. 'Guidance and basic principles' to inform community exercises, including climate adaptation, hazard mitigation planning and building community resilience as they relate to current threats, hazards, future conditions and risks. 2. 'Tools and templates' for building exercises that include climate considerations and hazard mitigation practices. 3. 'Resources' identifying climate-related programs, funding and training across all levels of government, nonprofit organizations, private sector entities and the academic community."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2021-11
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Climate Change Risk Mitigation by U.S. Foreign Assistance Agencies [Updated January 5, 2021]
From the Introduction: "This report focuses on agencies' planning to reduce the risk of climate change for operations and programs; it does not include analysis of programming aimed at addressing developing countries' own climate risk. Specifically, this report discusses how the foreign assistance agencies--the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Peace Corps, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and the Development Finance Corporation--are addressing climate change in their respective internal operations and overseas work planning. The report also discusses key issues that may be of interest to Congress as it considers future funding for and oversight of these activities. These issues include options for congressional input, the relationship of climate risk to other priorities such as environmental degradation, and responsibilities for climate risk management within and among U.S. foreign assistance agencies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Brown, Nick M.; Morgenstern, Emily M.
2021-01-05
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Climate Change and Adaptation: Department of Defense [July 12, 2022]
From the Document: "Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has stated that 'to keep the nation secure, [the Department of Defense (DOD)], must tackle the existential threat of climate change.' DOD has released a number of documents outlining how it plans to adapt to and address climate change, including the 2021 'DOD Climate Risk Analysis' and the 'DOD Climate Adaptation Plan'. Congress may conduct oversight of the implementation of these plans. Congress could also consider examining possible climate risks and assessing possible implications for global security, military readiness and infrastructure, and DOD force structure when considering authorization, appropriations, and other legislation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kaileh, Hibbah; Sayler, Kelley M.
2022-07-12
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Climate Change: Selected Federal Economic Development Tools and Policy Considerations [April 22, 2021]
From the Document: "Social, economic, and ecological risks associated with climate change, such as those documented in the U.S. Fourth National Climate Assessment and by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, have significant economic development implications. These include increased demand for federal economic development interventions, such as for infrastructure resiliency, and support for labor and economic dislocations resulting from energy transition. This In Focus considers potential federal economic development tools to help address climate change, as well as policy considerations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cecire, Michael; Leggett, Jane A.
2021-04-22
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Brief Comparison of Two Climate Change Mitigation Approaches: Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Tax (Or Fee) [February 12, 2019]
From the Document: "Almost all climate scientists agree that greenhouse gas (GHG) emission increases have contributed to observed climate change and that continued increases in GHG emissions will contribute to future climate change. Although a variety of efforts seeking to reduce GHG emissions are currently underway on the international level and in individual states or regional partnerships, federal policymakers and stakeholders have different viewpoints over what to do--if anything--about GHG emissions, future climate change, and related impacts. For policymakers considering actions to reduce GHG emissions, various policy instruments are available. Over the last 15 years, many legislative proposals have involved market-based approaches, such as a GHG emissions cap-and-trade system or a carbon tax. These particular approaches may be considered in the 116th Congress and are discussed below. The information below provides an overview of two approaches while briefly addressing their similarities and differences."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ramseur, Jonathan L.
2019-02-12
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A Brief Comparison of Two Climate Change Mitigation Approaches: Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Tax (or Fee) [Updated January 12, 2021]
From the document: "Almost all climate scientists agree that greenhouse gas (GHG) emission increases have contributed to observed climate change and that continued increases in GHG emissions will contribute to future climate change. Although a variety of efforts seeking to reduce GHG emissions are currently underway on the international level and in individual states or regional partnerships, federal policymakers and stakeholders have different viewpoints over what to do--if anything--about GHG emissions, future climate change, and related impacts."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ramseur, Jonathan L.
2021-01-12
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Climate Change Legislation in the 113th Congress [March 12, 2014]
"In the 113th Congress, Members have introduced multiple bills that include provisions that would directly or indirectly address climate change-related issues. In some cases, it is difficult to distinguish between direct and indirect climate change bills, because a specific bill or action may seek to achieve multiple objectives. The bills listed in this report include provisions that 'directly' address climate change, as opposed to those that primarily address other issues (e.g., energy efficiency) but could have ancillary impacts on climate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ramseur, Jonathan L.
2014-03-12
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Climate Change Legislation in the 113th Congress [September 16, 2013]
"In the 113th Congress, Members have introduced multiple bills that include provisions that would directly or indirectly address climate change-related issues. In some cases, it is difficult to distinguish between direct and indirect climate change bills, because a specific bill or action may seek to achieve multiple objectives. The bills listed in this report include provisions that 'directly' address climate change, as opposed to those that primarily address other issues (e.g., energy efficiency) but could have ancillary impacts on climate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ramseur, Jonathan L.
2013-09-16
