Advanced search Help
Searching for terms: ALL (Climate AND Change) in: title or summary
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
'Quad': Security Cooperation Among the United States, Japan, India, and Australia [Updated May 16, 2022]
From the Document: "The Biden Administration has boosted the profile of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, aka 'the Quad,' as a centerpiece of its Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at strengthening the United States' position in and commitment to the region. The four-country coalition, comprised of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia, claims a common platform of protecting freedom of navigation and promoting democratic values in the region. The first leader-level summit, held virtually in March 2021, produced the first-ever joint leaders' statement. In September 2021, the four leaders met in person and released an expanded statement that outlined four broad areas of cooperation: vaccine production and distribution; climate change mitigation efforts and clean energy development; the promotion of transparency and high-standard governance in the field of critical and emerging technologies; and the development of a regional infrastructure partnership. Working groups in these areas are pushing forward with efforts to flesh out these priorities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Kronstadt, K. Alan; Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-
2022-05-16
-
America's Strategy to Secure the Supply Chain for a Robust Clean Energy Transition [Summary]
From the Summary: "Demand for clean energy technologies such as wind turbines and batteries for electric vehicles has increased significantly as technology costs have plummeted over the last decade and countries seek to diversify their energy systems with more reliable clean energy sources to lower costs for businesses and consumers. The global clean energy market is expected to grow exponentially -- reaching $23 trillion at a minimum by 2030. Without new domestic raw materials production and manufacturing capacity, the U.S. will continue to rely on clean energy imports, exposing the nation to supply chain vulnerabilities while simultaneously losing out on the enormous job opportunities associated with the energy transition. Yet, in many cases, the United States has untapped potential to support greater domestic production. 'America's Strategy to Secure the Supply Chain for a Robust Clean Energy Transition' is the first comprehensive plan to build the U.S. Energy Sector Industrial Base (ESIB) that will be required to support the rapidly accelerating transition to clean energy. The report is part of a whole of government approach to chart a course for revitalizing the U.S. economy and domestic manufacturing by securing the country's most critical supply chains. This strategy will lead to stronger, more resilient, and diverse energy supply chains that will help the nation meet our climate change goals, establish the United States as a global leader in clean energy innovation and manufacturing, and create millions of family-sustaining jobs for American workers." The full report can be found here: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=864503].
United States. Department of Energy
2022-02-24
-
Budget Hearing-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, One Hundred and Fourteenth Congress, March 18, 2015
This March 18, 2015 hearing titled, "Budget Hearing-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration" was held before the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, and Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. The following is taken from the opening statement of Kathryn Sullivan: "The environmental intelligence and the services NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] provides are in higher demand today than ever before. The increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events means that NOAA must forecast and respond to these events with improved skill and accuracy. But the greater demand for our services goes beyond just extreme weather. Our marine transportation system must be more efficient to accommodate growing volume of commerce at our ports. NOAA provides the positioning data, tide and currents information, and nautical charts that ensure safe navigation and keeps commerce flowing. Furthermore, changes in marine ecosystems due to climate and other stressors are increasing the need for a greater number of advanced scientific assessments to sustain and promote economically viable commercial and recreational fisheries, and to ensure that threatened and endangered species are protected. NOAA's integrated response to extreme events such as droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, and heat waves demonstrates how our agency leverages its diverse capabilities to support the nation from preparedness to response to recovery: data collected from a spectrum of platforms enables the development of environmental intelligence from science-based models to support a suite of products to provide decision support to individuals, communities, and governments. I thank you for recognizing NOAA as a key agency supporting the preparedness, response, and recovery efforts surrounding extreme events." Statements, letters, and other materials submitted for the record can be found from the following: Kathryn Sullivan.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations
2015-03-18
-
American Energy Initiative, Part 20: A Focus on EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulations, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, June 19, 2012
This is the June 19, 2012 hearing "American Energy Initiative, Part 20" held before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power. From the opening statement of Ed Whitfield: "I might say that today is the 20th day of our American Energy Initiative, and this morning, as I said, we will focus on the Environmental Protection Agency's [EPA] greenhouse gas regulations. Now, there are so many regulations coming out of EPA that it is very easy to trivialize the impact of these regulations. EPA's greenhouse gas regulations range from rule-setting new emission standards for cars and trucks to complex permitting requirements for donut factories, farmers, to rules affecting power plants. These greenhouse gas rules are a regulatory overreach in my view and serve as a backdoor cap and tax policy that Congress rejected in the last Congress. Any action regarding climate change should rest with Congress and not unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats at the Environmental Protection Agency." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ed Whitfield, Bobby L. Rush, Fred Upton, Joe Barton, Henry A. Waxman, John D. Dingell, Robb McKie, Carl Shaffer, Charles Smith, Daniel J. Weiss, William L. Chameides, Louis Anthony Cox, Jr., Gerry Sweeney, David A. Wright, David D. Doniger, Steven E. Winberg, and Barbara Walz.
United States. Government Printing Office
2013
-
Review of Fiscal Year 2022 Budget for the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Programs, Remote Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, July 21, 2021
This is the July 21, 2021 hearing on the "Review of Fiscal Year 2022 Budget for the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Programs," held before the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. From the opening statement of Salud O. Carbajal: "Good morning, and welcome to today's hearing on the review of the fiscal year 2022 budget request for the Coast Guard and maritime transportation programs. Today, we will hear directly from the Commandant and the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, and the Acting Administrator of the Maritime Administration [MARAD] on the President's budget request and agency priorities. [...] On marine transportation, I look forward to MARAD's plan to revitalize every facet of the U.S. maritime industry, from our ports to the continually declining U.S.-flag fleet and the associated American merchant mariners. I would like to hear more about how the Port Infrastructure Development Program can help address and prepare for climate change. [...] I am disappointed that the administration's national maritime strategy remains incomplete. While mandated by legislation in 2014, MARAD has yet to develop an implementation plan or report on regulations that impact the competitiveness of the industry." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Karl L. Schultz, Daniel B. Maffei, Jason M. Vanderhaden, and Lucinda Lessley.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022
-
Wildland Urban Interface: A Look at Issues and Resolutions: A Report of Recommendations for Elected Officials, Policymakers and All Levels of Government, Tribal and Response Agencies
From the Executive Summary: "'Wildland Urban Interface: A Look at Issues and Resolutions' [was developed] to stimulate action by raising awareness of the crisis that our nation faces related to wildfire in the WUI [wildland urban interface] and lay out a unified, strategic approach to risk reduction at the national, state, regional and local levels. In developing this report, a cross-functional group of stakeholders and subject matter experts (SMEs) from across the nation convened to identify 33 challenges within 13 key WUI issues and develop recommendations to address each challenge. In total, 112 recommendations are presented. These recommendations address challenges in firefighter health and safety, public health and safety, evacuations, forest and rangeland health and resiliency, climate change, community planning and resiliency, infrastructure and utilities, communication strategy and engagement operations, socioeconomic impacts, recovery, emerging technology, data use and modeling, and risk management in wildland fire. The recommendations should be pursued together, forming a system of strategies that require urgent, sustained and actionable implementations. These recommendations are not quick fixes, but solutions for the long term. Leadership on and commitment to the implementation of these recommendations results in a safer America."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States Fire Administration
Karels, Jim
2022-06
-
Statement by the President on the Economy and the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico [April 30, 2010]
In addition to discussing economic growth in this April 30, 2010 statement, President Obama also comments on the British Petroleum (BP) Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He explains that he has dispatched secretaries or administrators from the Department of Interior, Department of Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as his Assistant for Energy and Climate Change Policy, to the Gulf Coast. "As I said yesterday, BP is ultimately responsible under the law for paying the costs of response and cleanup operations, but we are fully prepared to meet our responsibilities to any and all affected communities. And that's why we've been working closely with state and local authorities since the day of the explosion. There are now five staging areas to protect sensitive shorelines; approximately 1,900 federal response personnel are in the area; and more than 300 response vessels and aircraft on the scene 24/7. We've also laid approximately 217,000 feet of protective boom, and there are more on the way."
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
2010-04-30
-
Sustainability and Efficiency Task Force Recommendations, February 2010
"America's security is closely intertwined with its energy use. A wisely planned sustainability policy that addresses issues of economy, conservation, and future viability will allow the United States to move toward a safer and more secure future by reducing its dependence on foreign energy sources, increasing its dependence on renewable and low-carbon energy sources, and increasing its resilience in the face of disaster. This report by the Sustainability and Efficiency Task Force (SETF) - an independent advisory board comprised of sustainability experts from around the nation - outlines a strategy through which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can adopt sustainable practices, decrease reliance on foreign oil, limit contribution to climate change, and address fiscal concerns in a way that strengthens the DHS mission and enhances the overall security of the nation. To achieve these objectives, the Task Force recommends a number of immediate measures DHS should pursue as first steps on the road to sustainability. There is no federal agency better positioned to demonstrate the inseparability of sustainability and national security. Equally important, as this report will show, DHS is in a unique position to set the national paradigm for a sustainable, secure, and resilient future."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2010-02
-
Supreme Court Addresses Major Questions Doctrine and EPA's Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions [July 12, 2022]
From the Document: "On June 30, 2022, the Supreme Court decided 'West Virginia v. EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency],' a case with significant implications for U.S. environmental policy and, more broadly, for Congress's ability to delegate authority over significant policy decisions to executive agencies. The Court held that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exceeded its authority under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) in its 2015 emission guidelines for existing fossil fuel-fired power plants, which were based in part on 'generation shifting,' or shifting electricity generation from higher-emitting sources to lower-emitting ones. Under that decision, EPA retains the ability to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from power plants and other sources, but it now faces more constraints in how it regulates those emissions. Additionally, the Court's articulation and application of the 'major questions doctrine' could present further hurdles for EPA or other agencies that wish to implement novel regulatory programs to address climate change or other significant policy issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bowers, Kate R.
2022-07-12
-
President Bush Participates in Joint Press Availability with United Kingdom Prime Minister Blair [May 17, 2007]
President Bush and United Kingdom Prime Minister Blair participate in a joint press availability where issues discussed include U.S.-UK relations, the situation in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, climate change, and terrorism.
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946-; Blair, Tony, 1953-
2007-05-17
-
FEMA's Natural Disaster Preparedness and Response Efforts During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Environment of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, July 24, 2020
This is the July 24, 2020 hearing on "FEMA's Natural Disaster Preparedness and Response Efforts During the Coronavirus Pandemic," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Environment of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. From the opening statement of Harley Rouda: "I am con [sic] seeing today's subcommittee hearing to examine preparations by FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] for responding to and helping our Nation recover from natural disasters, which this year will overlap with the Nation's ongoing efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. FEMA is the lead Federal agency responsible for coordinating preparation, prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts for all domestic disasters, including the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In event years, FEMA has struggled to anticipate the severity of multiple disasters due, in part, to climate change, secure advanced contracts for supplies, and retain and deploy key personnel. As the United States continues to respond to the coronavirus pandemic in a recent surge in cases across the country, it is clear that this unprecedented moment has left all of us, including FEMA, in unchartered territory." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Peter T. Gaynor.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2020
-
'Quad': Security Cooperation Among the United States, Japan, India, and Australia [Updated July 25, 2022]
From the Document: "The Biden Administration has boosted the profile of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, aka 'the Quad,' as a centerpiece of its Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at strengthening the United States' position in and commitment to the region. The four-country coalition, comprised of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia, claims a common platform of protecting freedom of navigation and promoting democratic values in the region. The first leader-level summit, held virtually in March 2021, produced the first-ever joint leaders' statement. A September 2021 Quad Leaders' Summit produced an expanded statement outlining four broad areas of cooperation: vaccine production and distribution; climate change mitigation efforts and clean energy development; the promotion of transparency and high-standard governance in the field of critical and emerging technologies; and the development of a regional infrastructure partnership. Working groups in these areas are pushing forward with efforts to flesh out these priorities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Kronstadt, K. Alan; Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-
2022-07-25
-
Presidential Proclamation - Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, 2013
From the Document: "Over the last few decades, our Nation has grown increasingly dependent on critical infrastructure, the backbone of our national and economic security. America's critical infrastructure is complex and diverse, combining systems in both cyberspace and the physical world -- from power plants, bridges, and interstates to Federal buildings and the massive electrical grids that power our Nation. During Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, we resolve to remain vigilant against foreign and domestic threats, and work together to further secure our vital assets, systems, and networks. As President, I have made protecting critical infrastructure a top priority. Earlier this year, I signed a Presidential Policy Directive to shore up our defenses against physical and cyber incidents. In tandem with my Executive Order on cybersecurity, this directive strengthens information sharing within my Administration and between the Federal Government and its many critical infrastructure partners, while also ensuring strong privacy protections. Because of the interconnected nature of our critical infrastructure, my Administration will continue to work with businesses and industry leaders and build on all the great work done to date. With these partners, and in cooperation with all levels of government, we will further enhance the security and resilience of our critical infrastructure. We must continue to strengthen our resilience to threats from all hazards including terrorism and natural disasters, as well as cyber attacks. We must ensure that the Federal Government works with all critical infrastructure partners, including owners and operators, to share information effectively while jointly collaborating before, during, and after an incident. This includes working with infrastructure sectors to harden their assets against extreme weather and other impacts of climate change."
United States. White House Office
Obama, Barack
2013-10-31
-
21st Century Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for America's National Security
From the Document: "Leadership in science and technology has been the foundation of American national security since World War II. This leadership--coupled with America's capacity for innovation and the ability to translate new ideas into deployable weapons, systems, and concepts of operation--has long ensured the Nation's military advantage. […] A new generation of threats and opportunities has emerged, moreover, which will continue to evolve in unprecedented ways. The United States must continue to lead in developing science and technology solutions to effectively address global problems, such as infectious disease and climate change, which will ultimately affect U.S. national security. The U.S. national security ST&I [Science, Technology, and Innovation] enterprise must continue to evolve to meet these emerging threats and challenges. America's national security research and development system is structured to respond to the military threats and economic opportunities of the last century. Recognizing the crucial role of technology in the Second World War, postwar America created an extensive infrastructure for national security science and technology that provided the foundation for the nuclear triad, the intelligence gathering infrastructure, and an array of other military capabilities and advanced tools to meet the threats of the Cold War era. This enterprise nurtured transformative technologies, including stealth technology, integrated command and control, and precision-guided munitions, all designed to counter peer adversaries in large-scale military conflicts. […] This document […] lays out the needs, opportunities, and challenges facing America's national security ST&I enterprise and sets forth a vision for its health and sufficiency enterprise in four critical areas: (1) workforce; (2) facilities and infrastructure; (3) governance roles and responsibilities; and (4) innovative capacity to transform ideas into working technology."
United States. White House Office
2016-05
-
Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated July 13, 2022]
From the Overview: "As of summer 2022, Egypt, like many World Bank-classified lower middle income countries, is feeling financial strain as a result of a confluence of crises. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, rising interest rates in the United States and Europe, and continued global supply chain strains resulting from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have all contributed to budgetary and inflationary pressures, forcing the Egyptian government to reevaluate long-standing policies while turning to foreign creditors for additional support. As Egypt experiences these external shocks, it is attempting to modernize its economy and reassert itself diplomatically on the regional stage. Led by President Abdel Fattah al Sisi (hereinafter referred to as President Sisi), a former military officer who took power in a 2013 takeover that many observers termed a coup, Egypt has embarked on a number of rebuilding projects, exemplified by the construction of the $58 billion New Administrative Capital (NAC[...]). In November 2022, Egypt will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el Sheikh. Military modernization also is ongoing, as Egypt has become the world's third-largest importer of weapons, acquiring fighter planes and warships from Russian and European suppliers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sharp, Jeremy Maxwell
2022-07-13
-
Future of Nuclear Power, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, September 14, 2016
This is the September 14, 2016 hearing titled "Future of Nuclear Power" before the Senate Committee on Appropriations. From the opening statement of Lamar Alexander: "Today, we'll discuss the importance of nuclear power, the biggest challenges facing it, the status of the Department of Energy's nuclear research and development--and we certainly welcome Secretary Moniz here to help us do that--and things Congress can do to support nuclear power. [...] By 2038--that's 20 years from now--48 reactors will be 60 years old, representing 40 percent of the nuclear generating capacity in the United States. The U.S. could lose half of our reactors if existing licenses can't be extended from 60 to 80 years when those reactors close. There are nine reactors, three in the Northeast at seven sites, which are scheduled to shut down by 2025. The Energy Information Administration estimates that shutting down these nine reactors will result in a 2-percent increase in total carbon emissions from the U.S. electricity sector. There are four new reactors being built, all in the Southeast. [...] In a time when 20 of the world's leading science academies and many Americans say climate change is a threat and that humans are a significant cause of that threat, nuclear power produces about 60 percent of our country's carbon-free electricity. Power plants produce about 40 percent of the carbon produced in our country." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ernest J. Moniz, Judd Gregg, Jay Faison, John Deutch, Alan S. Icenhour, and Matthew McKinzie.
United States. Government Printing Office
2016-09-14
-
Wildfire Damages to Homes and Resources: Understanding Causes and Reducing Losses [March 12, 2012]
"Wildfires are getting more severe, with more acres and houses burned and more people at risk. This results from excess biomass in the forests, due to past logging and grazing and a century of fire suppression, combined with an expanding wildland-urban interface--more people and houses in and near the forests--and climate change, exacerbating drought and insect and disease problems. Some assert that current efforts to protect houses and to reduce biomass (through fuel treatments, such as thinning) are inadequate, and that public objections to some of these activities on federal lands raise costs and delay action. Others counter that proposals for federal lands allow timber harvesting with substantial environmental damage and little fire protection. Congress is addressing these issues through various legislative proposals and through funding for protection programs. Wildfires are inevitable--biomass, dry conditions, and lightning create fires. […] Homes can be ignited by direct contact with fire, by radiative heating, and by 'firebrands' (burning materials lifted by the wind or the fire's own convection column). Protection of homes must address all three. […] Wildland and resource damages from fire vary widely, depending on the nature of the ecosystem as well as on site-specific conditions. […] Prescribed burning (intentional fires) and mechanical treatments (cutting and removing some trees) can reduce resource damages caused by wildfires in some ecosystems. However, prescribed fires are risky, mechanical treatments can cause other ecological damages, and both are expensive. Proponents of more treatment advocate expedited processes for environmental and public review of projects to hasten action and cut costs, but others caution that inadequate review can allow unintended damages with few fire protection benefits."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bracmort, Kelsi
2012-03-12
-
Wildfire Fuels and Fuel Reduction [December 17, 2013]
"Severe wildfires have been burning more acres and more structures in recent years. Some assert that climate change is at least partly to blame; others claim that the increasing number of homes in and near the forest (the 'wildland-urban interface') is a major cause. However, most observers agree that wildfire suppression and historic land management practices have led to unnaturally high accumulations of biomass in many forests, particularly in the intermountain West. While high-intensity conflagrations (wildfires that burn the forest canopy) occur naturally in some ecosystems (called crown-fire or stand-replacement fire ecosystems), abnormally high biomass levels can lead to conflagrations in ecosystems when such crown fires were rare (called frequentsurface- fire ecosystems). Thus, many propose activities to reduce forest biomass fuels. The characteristics of forest biomass fuels affect the nature, spread, and intensity of the fire. Fuel moisture content is critical, but is generally a function of weather patterns over hours, days, and weeks. Fuel size is also important--fine and small fuels (e.g., needles, grasses, leaves, small twigs) are key to fire spread, while larger fuels (e.g., twigs larger than pencil-diameter, branches, and logs) contribute primarily to fire intensity; both are important to minimizing fire damages. Fuel distribution can also affect damages. Relatively continuous fuels improve burning, and vertically continuous fuels--fuel ladders--can lead a surface fire into the canopy, causing a conflagration. Total fuel accumulations (fuel loads) also contribute to fire intensity and damage. Thus, activities that alter biomass fuels--reducing total loads, reducing small fuels, reducing large fuels, and eliminating fuel ladders--can help reduce wildfire severity and damages."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bracmort, Kelsi
2013-12-17
-
Wildfire Damages to Homes and Resources: Understanding Causes and Reducing Losses [May 23, 2013]
"Wildfires are getting more severe, with more acres and houses burned and more people at risk. This results from excess biomass in the forests, due to past logging and grazing and a century of fire suppression, combined with an expanding wildland-urban interface--more people and houses in and near the forests--and climate change, exacerbating drought and insect and disease problems. Some assert that current efforts to protect houses and to reduce biomass (through fuel treatments, such as thinning) are inadequate, and that public objections to some of these activities on federal lands raise costs and delay action. Others counter that proposals for federal lands allow timber harvesting with substantial environmental damage and little fire protection. Congress is addressing these issues through various legislative proposals and through funding for protection programs. Wildfires are inevitable--biomass, dry conditions, and lightning create fires. […] Homes can be ignited by direct contact with fire, by radiative heating, and by 'firebrands' (burning materials lifted by the wind or the fire's own convection column). Protection of homes must address all three. […] Wildland and resource damages from fire vary widely, depending on the nature of the ecosystem as well as on site-specific conditions. […] Prescribed burning (intentional fires) and mechanical treatments (cutting and removing some trees) can reduce resource damages caused by wildfires in some ecosystems. However, prescribed fires are risky, mechanical treatments can cause other ecological damages, and both are expensive. Proponents of more treatment advocate expedited processes for environmental and public review of projects to hasten action and cut costs, but others caution that inadequate review can allow unintended damages with few fire protection benefits."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bracmort, Kelsi
2013-05-23
-
Wildfire Fuels and Fuel Reduction [May 13, 2013]
"Recent fire seasons have been getting more severe, with more acres burned and more damage to property and resources. More acres burned in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2012 than in any other years since record-keeping began in 1960. Many assert that the threat of severe wildfires and the cost of suppressing fires have grown because many forests have unnaturally high amounts of biomass to fuel the fires, as well as because of climate change and the increasing numbers of homes in and near forests (the 'wildland-urban interface'). Further, many believe that federal efforts to reduce biomass accumulations to historically natural levels have been hindered by public concerns about the impacts; others contend that some proposed activities will lead to commercial timber harvests with little or no fire protection benefits. Congress is considering proposals to authorize and/or fund various activities to reduce biomass fuels and to alter the public review processes for some of those actions (e.g., H.R. 1345). This report examines wildfire biomass fuels. It begins with a discussion of fuel characteristics and their relation to wildfire intensity and spread. This is followed with a description of actions proposed to reduce biomass fuel levels, their effectiveness for protecting property and resources from wildfires, and their impacts on other resource values. It concludes with an examination of the federal authorities for fuel reduction activities on federal and nonfederal lands, together with data on the funding provided under each of these authorities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bracmort, Kelsi
2013-05-13
-
Wildfire Fuels and Fuel Reduction [September 4, 2012]
"Severe wildfires have been burning more acres and more houses in recent years. Some assert that climate change is at least partly to blame; others claim that the increasing number of homes in and near the forest (the 'wildland-urban interface') is a major cause. However, most observers agree that wildfire suppression and historic land management practices have led to unnaturally high accumulations of biomass in many forests, particularly in the intermountain West. While high-intensity conflagrations (wildfires that burn the forest canopy) occur naturally in some ecosystems (called crown-fire or stand-replacement fire ecosystems), abnormally high biomass levels can lead to conflagrations in ecosystems when such crown fires were rare (called frequent-surface- fire ecosystems). Thus, many propose activities to reduce forest biomass fuels."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bracmort, Kelsi
2012-09-04
-
California's Future [2021]
From the Webpage: "The past year highlighted and heightened California's key challenges. Millions of Californians lost jobs and income during the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] crisis; low-income families, communities of color, and women were hit hardest. As schools and universities shifted rapidly to remote learning, educators and parents scrambled to provide all students with high-quality instruction, technology, and support. In addition, California endured a terrible wildfire season, widespread protests pushed the state and the nation to address racial inequities, and historic numbers of Californians voted in the highly consequential November election. As California emerges from the pandemic, can policymakers pave the way for an equitable recovery? And how can California--the most diverse state in the nation--expand opportunity across all of its communities and regions? PPIC [Public Policy Institute of California] examines these questions in rigorous and innovative ways. Our nonpartisan, independent, fact-based research explores effective, efficient, and equitable public policies that improve the well-being of our state's people, communities, and environment. This multi-topic publication addresses the state's most pressing policy challenges in several key areas: [1] criminal justice; [2] economy; [3] education; [4] safety net; [5] water and a changing climate."
Public Policy Institute of California
Bohn, Sarah; Cha, Paulette; Chappelle, Caitrin . . .
2021-01
-
U.S.-China Cooperation: Bilateral Clean Energy Programs Show Some Results but Should Enhance Their Performance Monitoring, Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives
From the Highlights: "The United States and China lead the world in energy consumption, and both are investing in renewable resources and efforts to increase the efficiency of traditional fossil fuel sources in part to address climate change. In 2014, a congressional commission raised questions about bilateral cooperation between the United States and China on clean energy, including potential internet protocol (IP) risks to U.S. participants involved in collaborative research projects. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review government-led U.S.-China collaborative initiatives on clean energy. This report examines (1) how much funding U.S. agencies obligated for clean energy cooperation with China, (2) what is known about the results of key programs and the extent to which they follow leading practices in performance monitoring, and (3) the extent to which Department of Energy (DOE) managed risks that Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) participants may face. GAO analyzed funding data, reviewed documents and compiled reported results, interviewed agency officials and participants of key programs, and conducted site visits. GAO is making four recommendations to enhance performance monitoring, including that DOE, U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), and State each develop targets for program-level performance and track progress against them for the key programs GAO reviewed. The agencies agreed with GAO's recommendations and plan to take actions to address them."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2016-07-05
-
Federal Involvement in Ocean-Based Research and Development [Updated August 1, 2022]
From the Introduction: "This report provides an overview of the U.S. federal government's efforts to collect ocean-based data through observations and monitoring and to conduct and support federal and U.S-based extramural ocean-based scientific research. It also discusses selected federal grant making efforts for these purposes. The report further explores the how ocean-based data may illuminate the impacts of climate change (e.g., data collected through NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]'s Argo Program) and how interagency collaboration and research on the seafloor and its environments may inform federal policy on deep-sea geohazards and natural resources."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Keating-Bitonti, Caitlin
2022-08-01
-
Science and Technology Issues in the 117th Congress [May 5, 2021]
From the Summary: "The federal government supports scientific and technological advancement directly by funding and performing research and development, and indirectly by creating and maintaining policies that encourage private sector efforts. Additionally, the federal government regulates many aspects of S&T [science and technology] activities. This report briefly outlines a key set of science and technology policy issues that may come before the 117th Congress. Many of these issues carry over from previous Congresses, and represent areas of continuing Member interest. [...] S&T-related issues that may come before the 117th Congress are grouped into 10 categories. [1] Overarching S&T Policy Issues, [2] Agriculture, [3] Biotechnology and Biomedical Research and Development, [4] Climate Change and Water, [5] Defense, [6] Energy, [7] Homeland Security, [8] Information Technology, [9] Physical and Material Sciences, and [10] Space. Each of these categories includes concise analysis of multiple policy issues. The material presented in this report should be viewed as illustrative rather than comprehensive. Each section identifies CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports, when available, and the appropriate CRS experts to contact for further information and analysis."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gottron, Frank; Humphreys, Brian E.; Bodie, Agata . . .
2021-05-05
-
Environmental Effects of Battery Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles [June 16, 2020]
From the Introduction: "Increased deployment of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and other alternative-fueled vehicles in the United States could have a variety of effects on energy security, the economy, and the environment. In an effort to address certain environmental concerns, including climate change, some Members of Congress and some stakeholder interest groups have expressed interest in the promotion of these technologies--specifically BEV technologies. Much of this interest has focused on the electrification of passenger vehicles. This focus reflects the fact that, historically, passenger vehicles have dominated emissions (of both greenhouse gases and other air pollutants) in the transportation sector and that passenger vehicles have shorter development and in-use times than other modes of transportation (e.g., aircraft, trains, and ships), and thus can be more readily and systematically addressed. [...] This report discusses and synthesizes analyses of the environmental effects of BEVs as compared to the internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) and is part of a suite of CRS [Congressional Research Service] products on electric vehicles and related technology."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lattanzio, Richard K.; Clark, Corrie E.
2020-06-16
-
Greenhouse Gas Reductions: California Action and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative [April 13, 2007]
From the Summary: "In the absence of a federal program requiring greenhouse gas reductions, a growing group of U.S. states are taking action in this arena. Significant actions have been undertaken in California and by a coalition of states from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. California has undertaken several initiatives that seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In 2004, the state issued regulations to reduce greenhouse gases from motor vehicles. Eleven other states have formally adopted California's new vehicle requirements. In 2006, California passed two climate change statutes. The first would establish a statewide cap on greenhouse gases. The second would effectively limit the use of coal-generated electricity in California. The state has also taken action to reduce the carbon intensity in its transportation fuels. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a partnership of eight Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, would set up a cap-and-trade system aimed at limiting carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The cap is scheduled to take effect in January 2009 and cap carbon dioxide emissions at 121 million metric tons through the end of 2014. In 2015, the cap would begin to decrease, so that by 2018, emissions would be capped at 10% below the initial level. Because some observers see RGGI as a possible model for a federal cap-and-trade program, several of RGGI's design elements are generating interest and debate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ramseur, Jonathan L.
2007-04-13
-
Voluntary Carbon Offsets: Overview and Assessment [November 7, 2007]
From the Summary: "Businesses and individuals are buying carbon offsets to reduce their 'carbon footprint' or to categorize an activity as 'carbon neutral.' A carbon offset is a measurable avoidance, reduction, or sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) or other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Offsets generally fall within the following four categories: biological sequestration, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reduction of non-CO2 emissions. In terms of the carbon concentration in the atmosphere, an emission reduction, avoidance, or sequestration is beneficial regardless of where or how it occurs. A credible offset equates to an emission reduction from a direct emission source, such as a smokestack or exhaust pipe. The core issue for carbon offset projects is: do they actually 'offset' emissions generated elsewhere? If the credibility of the voluntary offsets is uncertain, claims of carbon neutrality may be challenged. […] The viability of the voluntary offset market may influence future policy decisions regarding climate change mitigation. For example, credible offsets could play an important role, particularly in terms of cost-effectiveness, in an emissions control regime. There is some concern that the range in the quality of voluntary market offsets may damage the overall credibility of carbon offsets. If this occurs, it may affect policy decisions concerning whether or not to include offsets as an option in a mandatory reduction program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ramseur, Jonathan L.
2007-11-07
-
U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions Trends and Projections: Role of the Clean Power Plan and Other Factors [May 31, 2017]
"In December 2015, delegations from 195 nations, including the United States, adopted an agreement in Paris that creates an international structure for nations to pledge to abate their GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions, adapt to climate change, and cooperate to achieve these ends, including financial and other support. Pursuant to that agreement, the United States pledged (in 2015) to reduce GHG emissions by 26-28% by 2025 compared to 2005 levels. At the date of this report, U.S. involvement in the Paris Agreement remains uncertain. However, some recent reports indicate that President Trump is expected to withdraw from the agreement [...] Multiple factors generally impact CO2 emission levels from the electric power sector. Some factors are listed below in no particular order: [1] Economic growth/recession, [2] Relative prices of energy sources for electricity--particularly natural gas and renewable energy sources, [3] Electricity generation portfolio (i.e., the ratio of electricity generation from coal, natural gas, and renewable energy sources), [4] National and/or state policy developments (e.g., CPP [Clean Power Plan] implementation), and [5] Demand-side efficiency improvements (e.g., commercial and residential electricity use) [...] Accurately forecasting future CO2 emission levels is a complex and challenging endeavor. A comparison of actual CO2 emissions (from energy use) between 1990 and 2017 with selected emission projections illustrates this difficulty. In general, actual emissions have remained well below projections. As the future of the CPP is uncertain, some have questioned whether existing policies and trends in electricity generation would continue to lower CO2 emissions. Modeling results indicate that CO2 emissions in the electricity sector are expected to continue declining. However, modeling results indicate that the declines would be substantially greater if the CPP were implemented."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ramseur, Jonathan L.
2017-05-31
-
Oil Sands and the Keystone XL Pipeline: Background and Selected Environmental Issues [April 14, 2014]
"If constructed, the Keystone XL pipeline would transport crude oil (e.g., synthetic crude oil or diluted bitumen) derived from oil sands in Alberta, Canada to destinations in the United States. Because the pipeline crosses an international border, it requires a Presidential Permit that is issued by the Department of State (DOS). The permit decision rests on a 'national interest' determination, a term not defined in the authorizing Executive Orders. DOS states that it has 'significant discretion' in the factors it examines in this determination. [...] Although some groups have opposed previous oil pipeline permits, opposition to the Keystone XL proposal has generated substantially more interest among environmental stakeholders. Pipeline opponents are not a monolithic group: some raise concerns about potential local impacts, such as oil spills or extraction impacts in Canada; some argue the pipeline would have national energy and climate change policy implications."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ramseur, Jonathan L.; Lattanzio, Richard K.; Luther, Linda G. . . .
2014-04-14
