Climate Science, Messaging and Partnerships June 2015 FEB Meeting Josh Tapp and Chris Taylor

Today’s Conversation Topics EPA’s basic message on climate change Climate change science overview EPA’s role in climate change Partnership Example Executive Order Resources Questions

EPA’s Basic Message 1.Climate change is happening 2.Humans are largely responsible for recent climate change 3.Climate change affects everyone 4.We can make a difference

Basic Climate Change Terms What is Climate Change? Climate change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate (weather patterns) observed over decades, typically 30 years or longer. What is Global Warming? Global warming is the observed increase in average temperature near the Earth’s surface. It is a type of climate change that can also lead to other changes in climate conditions. 4

Greenhouse Gases 5

Carbon Dioxide Conc. Over Time

What are the Indicators of Climate Change? 7

How much will the climate change? 8 The severity of climate change impacts depends on how much society reduces greenhouse gas emission. These models show a variety of outcomes based on our ability to take action

Climate Change Indicators Report 9 Communicates the causes and effects of climate change using a key set of indicators in a sound, transparent, and easy to understand way

Midwest/Great Plains Indicators U.S. GHG Emissions Global GHG Emissions Atmospheric Concentrations of GHGs Climate (radiative) Forcing Heating and Cooling Degree Days - NEW Heat-Related Deaths Lyme Disease - NEW Length of Growing Season Ragweed Pollen Season Ocean Heat Content Sea Surface Temperature Sea Level 10 Wildfires - NEW Streamflow Water Levels and Water Temperatures in the Great Lakes - NEW Bird Wintering Ranges Leaf and Bloom Dates * = chapter features U.S. and Global Temperature U.S. and Global Precipitation High and Low Temperatures Drought Heavy Precipitation Tropical Cyclone Activity Arctic Sea Ice Glaciers Lake Ice Snowfall Snow Cover Snowpack Greenhouse Gases Weather and Climate Oceans Health and Society Snow and Ice Ecosystems

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EPA’s Role in Climate Change

EPA’s Broad Role Nationally EPA, along with other federal agencies, is taking a number of steps to address the challenge of climate change: Getting reductions through regulations Collecting emissions data Planning for resilience (helping communities adapt) Building partnerships (states, locals, tribes, private sector, internationally) Understanding the economic impacts and effectiveness of proposed climate policies Advancing the science

R7 Climate Action Team Focus Areas Coordinating Climate Information Integrating Climate into Existing Regulatory Framework and Programs Expanding our Climate Partnerships

Action Teams 15 Adaptation in Clean Up Programs SUPR Liz Hagenmaier Green Remediation AWMD Mary Grisolano Community Resiliency PLMG/WWPD Amy Shields Grants/ Contracts PLMG Christine Schmaltz/ Melissa Witcher Food Recovery AWMD Jim Callier Green Power Partnership AWMD Tegan Vaughn Communications AWMD Amy Bhesania

37 GREEN REMEDIATION Total Energy Use and Renewable Energy Use Air Pollutants and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Water Use and Impacts to Water Resources Materials Management and Waste Reduction Land Management and Ecosystems Protection nercleanups/

Executive Order Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade

EO – Introduction Signed by the President on March 19, 2015 Revokes and supersedes EO and EO which had consolidated and extended several prior environmentally-related EOs Major Provisions: GHG Emission Reductions – Extended the 28% by FY20 goal to 40% by FY25 (FY08 baseline) Energy Intensity Reductions – Continues 2.5% per year through FY25 Renewable Energy Target – 30% by FY25 (RECs and on-site, agency-funded projects) Water Intensity Reductions – Continues 2% per year through FY25 Fleet GHG Emission Reductions – 30% by FY25 (FY14 baseline) Zero Emission/Plug-in Hybrids – 50% by FY25 Waste Management – Divert at least 50% from landfills including food and compostable materials

New Requirements for FEBs Sec. 10. Regional Coordination. Within 180 days of the date of this order, each EPA and GSA Regional office shall in coordination with Federal Executive Boards established by the Presidential Memorandum of November 10, 1961 (The Need for Greater Coordination of Regional and Field Activities of the Government), DOD and other agencies as appropriate, convene regional interagency workgroups to identify and address: (a) sustainable operations of Federal fleet vehicles, including identification and implementation of opportunities to use and share fueling infrastructure and logistical resources to support the adoption and use of alternative fuel vehicles, including E-85 compatible vehicles, zero emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and compressed natural gas powered vehicles; (b) water resource management and drought response opportunities; (c) climate change preparedness and resilience planning in coordination with State, local, and tribal communities; and (d) opportunities for collective procurement of clean energy to satisfy energy demand for multiple agency buildings.

Next Steps White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released implementing instructions on June 10 Not much direction other than fleet infrastructure EPA has had preliminary discussions with GSA; further Agency guidance may be issued “soon” We will begin discussing more earnestly and reaching out to other agencies More to come…..

Resources and Information

Climate Science Resources Main EPA HQ website, National Climate Assessment: Climate Change Indicators, National Climate Assessment: Climate Change Impacts, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),

Questions?

What is Causing Climate Change? 26

Climate Change Impacts in the U.S. What are the observed and projected changes in the U.S.? Increasing temperatures Changing precipitation patterns Increases in extreme weather events Rising sea level Changes in ocean chemistry 27