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Greenhouse Gas Inventory: 1990 and 1993
The following information is taken primarily from the States Guidance Document, Policy Planning to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions published by the EPA.
Background
In October, 1993 President Clinton announced the Climate Change Action Plan. This plan presents the nations strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. The Action Plan describes federal policies and initiatives derived from more than $2.7 billion in research on global climate change conducted since 1990. Included in this research are a variety of multinational scientific projects. According to the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), the consensus of most scientists worldwide is that increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases will lead to significant climate warming, shifts in precipitation patterns, and rising sea levels, although the magnitude, timing, and regional patterns of these changes cannot be accurately predicted at this time. (See background on global climate change.) In order to better understand this phenomenon the United States has taken a variety of actions to address climate change. These include scientific and economic research, policy analysis, and program development.
The Role of the States
One can legitimately question what role individual states have to play in a problem that has global dimensions. In this regard the United States has recognized that only concrete actions will enable the world community to effectively address climate change. In addition, these measures need to be rooted in specific national circumstances and include a comprehensive set of options which address all sectors, sources and sinks of greenhouse gases. The Presidents Climate Change Action Plan focuses federal efforts on actually reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and toward this end individual states have a role to play.
On both a total and per capita basis many states emit carbon dioxide amounts comparable to some of the highest emitting countries in the world. Although problems such as global warming need to be addressed through cooperative national and international agreements, many of the critical responses can be initiated locally. States have the power to significantly alter greenhouse gas emission patterns due to their influence and authority over utilities, land use, transportation, taxation, environmental programs, and other relevant policy areas. For instance, state governments hold direct regulatory authority over electric and gas utilities which, according to the States Guidance Document, are responsible for more than half of the current carbon dioxide emissions.
It is possible for states to enact "low risk" policies to address climate change. States can implement many climate change mitigation measures that have immediate, non-climate related benefits. This opportunity enables states to supplement existing policy goals with climate change policies. For example, in addition to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, investments in energy efficiency will lower energy bills of state residents and reduce a range of air pollutants. This type of policy approach has been referred to as a "no regrets" option as opposed to a "wait and see" approach. These policies present a low risk approach because these measures provide states with economic benefits regardless of any future changes in climate.
Utah's Greenhouse Gas Inventory
The Division of Air Quality, in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Energy have undertaken an emissions inventory for the state of Utah of the important sources of greenhouse gases. The Division of Air Quality is uniquely suited to this task because of our experience with the annual criteria pollutant inventory. The basic inventory of greenhouse gas sources, by county has been completed by the Division of Air Quality. The Office of Energy is now in the process of completing the final report. This inventory is the first step in what is envisioned to be a multi-phase program, which will be dependent upon EPA funding to develop a state action plan. The second step will use this baseline inventory to assist in the development and analysis of policy options, with the final step being the formulation of a state action plan.
Contact: pbarickm@utah.gov
