Federal Policy-Making Neglects Climate Benefits
New report recommends federal agencies correct failure to account for benefits of reducing global warming pollution
Posted: 28-Oct-2008; Updated: 07-Nov-2008
Cost-effective opportunities lost. Federal agencies issue a variety of important policies that affect greenhouse gas emissions, from clean energy codes to motor vehicle fuel efficiency standards.
When significant new rules are developed, government-wide policy administered by the White House calls for federal agencies to assess the benefits and costs of the new rules (to the extent such economic considerations are consistent with the law). The results of these economic analyses can determine the design of the final rule.
But all too often federal policy-making neglects the important benefit of reducing global warming pollution. Such rules are hard-wired to fail in accounting for a major societal benefit. Federal agencies can correct this failure by ensuring that 'carbon counts' in developing significant federal rules, and conducting economic analysis that is rigorous and transparent in accounting for the benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon counts. Environmental Defense Fund just released a report, Carbon Counts [PDF], calling on federal agencies to account for the societal benefit of reducing global warming pollution in their economic assessments of significant regulations.
Clean energy solutions can be an engine of economic growth
Staving off climate change will protect our nation’s human health and well-being. Recent economic analyses from Florida and California demonstrate that policies addressing global warming can also yield tangible economic benefits and job growth.
These reports demonstrate that climate solutions can be a major engine of economic revitalization in these difficult economic times.
Agencies looking at new rules that affect climate change
The Department of Transportation is expected to shortly finalize vehicle fuel economy standards. The agency continues to neglect the important benefits of global warming pollution in evaluating its standards, despite having earlier standards overturned in court because of this deficiency.
The Department of Transportation conducts an analysis of benefits and costs to determine the appropriate fuel efficiency standard. If the agency fundamentally discounts the value of greenhouse gas reductions in its analysis, it will again fail to secure the full societal benefits of stronger fuel efficiency standards for energy security and climate security.
Report reviews assessments of DOT, DOE and EPA
The report reviews the economic assessments performed for:
- Department of Transportation's fuel economy standards
- Department of Energy's furnace efficiency standard
- Environmental Protection Agency's small engine emission standards
The selection among the different regulatory options considered for these rules has significant implications for global warming pollution. Yet across the board, these standards neglected the value of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, missing cost-effective opportunities to cut pollution.
The federal government should maximize the societal benefits of new regulations. Directing federal agencies to accurately value the benefit of reduced global warming pollution is a common sense opportunity for the next Administration to identify and carry out cost-effective emission reductions.
- Send to friend
- +
- Rate: Avg: --, 0 votes
Most Popular Pages
- Major Strides Made at Climate Talks in Buenos Aires Newsletter article about successes in implementing the Kyoto Protocol
- Americans Want Clean Energy: Poll after Poll Proves It
- In California, Passage of Water Bills Signals New Era EDF helps sparring groups come together to transform water policy
- Fred Krupp's Remarks to the Point Carbon Conference
- Victory Against Factory-Style Hog Farms in Colorado Newsletter article about new amendment in Colorado that makes hog farms responsible for pollution and other problems
Blogs Linking To This Page
Here are some of the blogs who've linked to this article:
To appear in this list, link to this url in your posts.
