July 2004 E-Newsletter

In This Issue:

• U.S. Climate Policy Conference: Toward a Sensible Center, Archived Webcast and Transcripts
   
• Adapting to Climate Change: New Pew Center Report
   
• Energy Efficiency, Climate Change and Our Nation's Energy Future
   
• New Climate Change Programs in the States

U.S. CLIMATE POLICY: TOWARD A SENSIBLE CENTER

The Pew Center on Global Climate Change and the Brookings Institution co-sponsored a conference bringing together senators, CEOs, federal and state officials, and other prominent leaders to debate the future of U.S. policy on climate change. View archived webcasts or read the transcripts for individual speakers. [1]

ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE: NEW PEW CENTER REPORT

A new Pew Center report, "Coping with Global Climate Change: The Role of Adaptation in the United States [2]," discusses the importance of adapting to climate change, the options available, and the challenges involved.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND OUR NATION'S ENERGY FUTURE

Eileen Claussen recently spoke at the Energy Efficiency Forum in Washington, D.C. Her message was that energy efficiency is a critical component of both a climate-friendly energy policy and an economy-friendly climate policy. Read her speech. [3]

NEW CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAMS IN THE STATES

Many states are taking the lead in reducing GHG emissions and, at the same time, providing valuable lessons for policy-makers at the federal level. For example:

• Rhode Island has enacted a law requiring electricity retailers to provide an increasing percentage of the electricity they sell in the state from renewable energy through 2020. The first milestone is 3 percent by December 31, 2006. (June 2004)
   
• The Western Governors' Association unanimously resolved to examine the feasibility and actions required to reach a goal of 30,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2015 and a 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency by 2020. (June 2004)
   
• The California Air Resources Board released a draft of its staff proposal to cut vehicle GHG emissions 30 percent by 2014. (June 2004)
   
• Hawaii has enacted a law that requires the state's public utilities to provide an increasing percentage of their electricity from renewable sources through 2020. The first milestone is 8 percent by December 31, 2005. (June 2004)
   
• Maryland has adopted a renewable portfolio standard that requires the state's electricity suppliers to generate increasing percentages of their electricity from renewable sources beginning in 2006. (June 2004)

Learn more about these and other steps taken at the state level [4].