IRC Newsletter

AGENDA FOR CLIMATE ACTION
Pew Center on Global Climate Change. February 2006

In its report, the Pew Center develops and articulates a course of action for addressing climate change - which it terms “one of the most complex issues that the world will face in this century.” It takes a comprehensive look at a suite of climate, energy, and technology policies that could provide meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions throughout the economy. The Center recommends fifteen actions it believes the U.S. must take in the following areas: Science and technology research, Market-based emissions management, Emissions reductions in key sectors, Energy production and use, Adaptation, and International engagement.

[Note: Contains copyrighted material]
http://www.pewclimate.org/docUploads/PCC%5FAgenda%5F2%2E08%2Epdf [pdf format, 24 pages]

STATES AND PARTNERS WORK TOWARD CLEAN WATER FOR ALL: NEW GUIDANCE PROVIDED ON CLEAN WATER PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
Charlene Porter, Washington File Staff Writer, March 20, 2006

Washington – The United States, the World Health Organization and other international partners are launching a new initiative to help countries deliver safe drinking water to their citizens. Announcement of the campaign came March 20 from the Fourth World Water Forum under way in Mexico City. The event, March 16-22, coincides with World Water Day March 22. The campaign focuses on an Internet resource, the WS Portal, which offers access to health-based risk assessments that identify problems in a water system and offer corrective actions to address those problems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Poor water quality causes diseases in more than 3 billion people worldwide each year, with children under age 5 the most severely affected group. E. coli, salmonella and cholera are among the diseases that can be transmitted through water. “March 22 is World Water Day, and I am pleased that the U.S. can now announce a new tool for countries to address a very serious global problem,” said Judith E. Ayres, the EPA’s assistant administrator for the Office of International Affairs.

http://italy.usembassy.gov/viewer/article.asp?article=/file2006_03/alia/a6032005.htm

U.S. COMMITTED TO ASIA-PACIFIC CLIMATE PARTNERSHIP, SECRETARY RICE SAYS

The newly established Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate is an essential part of the U.S. commitment to promoting economic development while preserving the environment, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The initiative employs partnerships between public and private sectors of the six partner countries to enhance energy security, promote economic growth and reduce greenhouse gases. "Through our partnership we seek to move beyond divisive politics and to advance common purposes," Rice said. "Everyone has something to contribute. Everyone stands to gain. And together we represent a powerful force for positive change."

http://www.uspolicy.be/Article.asp?ID=F1825D04-C1AF-491F-911A-4EBCEEDDD2DD

GREENING THE TAX CODE:TAX REFORM AND THE ENVIRONMENT POLICY BRIEF, APRIL 2006
Craig Hanson, Senior Associate, Sustainable Enterprise Program, World Resources Institute David B. Sandalow, Brookings Environment Scholar, Foreign Policy Studies

In recent years several Republican and Democratic governors have imposed new pollution taxes, often winning bipartisan acclaim. A growing number of commentators have supported such measures at the federal level. Analysis indicates that taxes on air and water pollution could generate substantial revenue for the U.S. Treasury while improving environmental quality, stimulating technological innovation and enhancing energy security. Reducing tax expenditures with adverse impacts on natural resources could do the same. As lawmakers explore ways to reduce federal budget deficits and reform the tax code, they should consider measures that shift more of the tax burden onto activities—such as pollution—that make the economy unproductive or reduce quality of life. This policy brief examines fiscal instruments that both raise revenue and help improve environmental quality. The paper analyzes several different types of pollution taxes, considers current tax expenditures with adverse environmental impacts, discusses ways of integrating these instruments into tax reform packages and suggests directions for further research

http://www.brook.edu/views/papers/sandalow200604wri.pdf [pdf format]

NORTH AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP STUDIES "GREEN" BUILDINGS, MARCH 23, 2006
Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Washington -- North Americans would likely save energy, conserve water and reduce use of raw materials if environmentally friendly construction practices were adopted more widely. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is launching a study on how to build "greener" buildings, the organization announced March 23, and expects to produce recommendations to its member governments on how to achieve that goal. Green building refers to the incorporation of environmentally friendly materials and processes into construction activities. These can include increased use of recycled materials, methods that minimize waste and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems

http://italy.usembassy.gov/viewer/article.asp?article=/file2006_03/alia/a6032409.htm

EC-BIOTECH: OVERVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF THE PANEL'S INTERIM REPORT
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), March 2006.

On February 7, 2006, a Dispute Settlement Panel at the World Trade Organization (WTO) issued the interim report in the European Communities – Measures affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products (EC-Biotech) case. Interim reports in the WTO contain all of the elements of a final report, but are released only to the parties to the dispute. As of this writing, the EC-Biotech report is still officially interim and secret, but has been made available to the public by Friends of the Earth Europe, which obtained a leaked report. "EC-Biotech: Overview and Analysis of the Panel's Interim Report" by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) is first in-depth legal analysis of this text.

http://www.ciel.org/Publications/EC_Biotech_Mar06.pdf [pdf format]

NEW SATELLITE SYSTEM WILL USE GPS SIGNALS TO TRACK HURRICANES, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND SPACE WEATHER
National Center for Atmospheric Research, April 12, 2006

BOULDER—A globe-spanning constellation of six satellites expected to improve weather forecasts, monitor climate change, and enhance space weather research will head into orbit on April 14. A Minotaur rocket is scheduled to launch the array at 5:10 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time from Vandenberg Air Force Base. As with any launch, delays are possible. The low-orbiting satellites will be the first to provide atmospheric data daily in real time over thousands of points on Earth for both research and operational weather forecasting by measuring the bending of radio signals from the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) as the signals pass through Earth's atmosphere.

[Note: Contains copyrighted material.]
http://www.ucar.edu/news/releases/2006/cosmic.shtml

NASA SATELLITES HELP RESEARCHERS SEE WHY AUSTRALIAN REEF IS BLEACHING
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, April 2006

Australia's Great Barrier Reef is a massive marine habitat system made up of 2,900 reefs spanning over 600 continental islands. Though coral reefs exist around the globe, researchers actually consider this network of reefs to be the center of the world's marine biodiversity, playing a critical role in human welfare, climate, and economics. Coral reefs are multi-million dollar recreational destinations, and the Great Barrier Reef is an important part of Australia's economy. Image to right: This MODIS image shows the location of coral bleaching at Heron Island within the Capricorn Bunker Group of Great Barrier Reef. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NASA

[Note: Contains copyrighted material.]
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/coral_bleach.html

NOAA BEGINS LOUISIANA COASTAL WETLANDS RESTORATION PROJECT
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) April 10, 2006

The NOAA Restoration Center and Louisiana Department of Natural Resources have awarded a $17.7 million wetlands restoration contract that will protect and create 1,400 acres of wetlands in Lafourche Parish, La. The project, awarded to Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel Company of Pine Bluff, Ark., is located in an area that protects approximately 3,000 acres of fragile interior marshes between the Little Lake shoreline and Bayou L'Ours Ridge. The Little Lake Shoreline Protection/Dedicated Dredging Project is an area of considerable wetland loss which was caused by shoreline erosion, subsidence and channel construction.

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2608.htm

WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE NATION’S MARINE SANCTUARIES?
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) March 31, 2006.

The newly released 2005 State of the Sanctuaries Report highlights recent efforts by NOAA, partner organizations and local communities to protect, study and educate the public about the National Marine Sanctuary System. Topics covered in the report (i.e., community involvement and partnerships, maritime heritage, education and outreach, resource protection and science and exploration) reflect key themes that have contributed to the success of the program over the last 34 years. “For years, the National Marine Sanctuary Program has protected marine resources, managed marine education programs, encouraged the use of innovative technologies within sanctuary waters, supported research and exploration and fostered long-standing partnerships that support our work in so many ways,” said Daniel Basta, director of the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program.

http://www.magazine.noaa.gov/stories/mag194.htm
Complete Report: http://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/sos05/sosreport2005.pdf [pdf format]

STUDYING THE FATE OF MERCURY IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Dr. Cindy Gilmour SERC Quarterly Newsletter winter 2005/2006, Smithsonian Institute

New U.S. food guidelines suggest we all "choose fish more often for lunch or dinner," while the American Heart Association touts the benefits of eating fish for its heart-healthy Omega3 fatty acids. At the same time, the EPA cautions some people against eating more than a few servings of certain fish and advises consumers to check for local advisories before eating any fish not commercially caught. Even if no advisory exists, "consumers are advised to restrict consumption [of non-commercial fish] to one meal per week." Choosing to eat fish is no longer a simple affair. At issue, the presence of high levels of dangerous toxins found in fish the world over.

http://www.serc.si.edu/inside/06_mecury.jsp

BRINGING DOWN BARRIERS: REGIONAL COOPERATION FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN SECURITY
Johannes Linn, United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Web-posted January 2006

Prepared under the direction of Johannes Linn, Executive Director of the Wolfensohn Initiative at The Brookings Institution, this UNDP report draws together evidence on: * How people in Central Asia are affected by limited regional cooperation and integration; * The benefits from cooperation; and * What is already being done to promote cooperation and the lessons learned. Where possible, the impacts have been quantified, in terms of economic losses and gains, and the number of people involved. The report argues that increased cooperation among the Central Asian republics will produce large gains by reducing trade costs, increasing remittances from migrant workers, and improving water and energy use. The report also maps how closer cooperation could make Central Asia's economy much larger and better off in 10 years. It cautions, however, that opening borders or reducing trade costs is not enough. Much will also depend on the business climate and the quality of financial services in each country. Reforms also require measures to combat corruption, improve the civil service, and enhance the transparency and accountability of governments.

[Note: Contains copyrighted material.]
http://europeandcis.undp.org/?wspc=CAHDR2005%20 [pdf format, 268 pages]

PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES HELPS REDUCE POVERTY
World Wildlife Fund Report, March 2006

New World Wildlife Fund Study Links Protecting Wildlife and Improving Human Welfare WASHINGTON - Saving endangered species like pandas, gorillas and tigers helps reduce poverty and improve the lives of local communities, according to a new World Wildlife Fund report. Now as the eighth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity opens in Curitiba, Brazil, WWF urges the CBD and member governments to integrate species conservation work into efforts to alleviate poverty. "Now's the time to recognize the strong connections between sustainable economic development, a healthy environment, and successful species conservation," said Ginette Hemley, vice president for species conservation, World Wildlife Fund.

http://www.worldwildlife.org/news/displayPR.cfm?prID=268
Read the full version of the report (PDF format) http://www.worldwildlife.org/pubs/wwfmdgreport2006final.pdf

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