PROTECTING ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

RTKnet: Climate Change

EPA Proposes Trade Secrets Protections for GHG Reports (EPA)

The EPA is seeking public comment on their  national greenhouse gas reporting program  to determine which industry-related greenhouse gas information should be made public and which non-emission data should be entitled to confidential treatment. The agency is now requiring underground coal mines, industrial water treatment systems, industrial waste landfills, and magnesium production facilities to report their emissions. The EPA is planning to provide data to the public by March 2011.

(09 Jul 2010)

Long-Delayed Senate Climate Bill Considers Need for Transparency (OMB Watch)

The new Senate climate and energy bill includes several provisions calling for transparent and participatory policies, especially relating to measures that would create new financial markets for buying and selling the right to pollute. How well such transparency would be implemented is a major question.

(18 May 2010)

EPA Issues Report on Indicators of Climate Change (U.S. EPA)

A new EPA report, "Climate Change Indicators in the United States," looks at 24 key indicators that show how climate change impacts the health and environment of the nation’s citizens. The information included in this report will help inform future policy decisions and will help evaluate the success of climate change efforts.

(27 Apr 2010)

Panel Clears Researchers in 'Climategate' Controversy (LA Times)

An independent panel found "no evidence of any deliberate scientific malpractice" by the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit, which was accused of misrepresenting global warming data. The panel concluded the scientists instead were "slightly disorganised." The panel did criticize the UK government for charging for access to government data sets.

(16 Apr 2010)

GHG Emissions Down in 2008 (U.S. EPA)

The EPA has released the U.S. greenhouse gas inventory report, which shows a drop in overall emissions of 2.9 percent from 2007 to 2008. The downward trend is attributed to fewer emissions associated with fuel and electricity consumption. Emissions are still 13.5 percent higher than they were in 1990.

(15 Apr 2010)

EPA Moves to Expand Greenhouse Gas Registry (OMB Watch)

The EPA has proposed several changes to its greenhouse gas (GHG) registry, a new mandatory program requiring thousands of facilities economy-wide to monitor and report their emissions of global warming gases. EPA is proposing to add oil and natural gas facilities and facilities that inject carbon dioxide (CO2) underground for storage, along with other facilities.

(25 Mar 2010)

EPA Seeks Public Comment on Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory (U.S. EPA)

EPA is accepting comments on its most recent inventory of US GHG emissions. The draft report shows overall GHG emissions decreased by 2.9 percent from 2007 to 2008. Total emissions from GHGs were about 6,946 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent. However, emissions have grown by 13.6 percent from 1990 to 2008.

(09 Mar 2010)

New SEC Guidance Requires Corporate Disclosure of Climate Change Risks (Investor Network on Climate Risk)

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued new guidance for companies to disclose to investors the "material" risks they face from climate change, such as impacts to the company from new climate legislation, rising ocean levels, extreme weather, and new business opportunities, as well.

(28 Jan 2010)

EPA Moves on GHG Reporting Rule for Oil and Gas Operations

The EPA has developed a proposed rule to require oil and gas production facilities to monitor and report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

(17 Dec 2009)

Data Gaps Create Uncertainty on Biofuel Impacts on Water (Government Accountability Office)

Many uncertainties remain about national and regional effects of increased biofuel production on water resources, according to a GAO report.

(01 Dec 2009)