Brad Kivlan, Author at Dynatemp International

Pope Francis may nudge negotiators if Paris climate talks bog down

If Paris climate talks bog down, Pope Francis may make a gentle statement to nudge negotiators as stated in an article written by the Associated Press

Vatican Pope Holy Year

Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace who helped draft the pope’s June encyclical on global warming, said the pontiff has “deep trust” that negotiators in Paris will get the job done. But just in case they don’t, the pope might possibly send a gentle message, he said.

“If it gets to a stalemate or whatever, he may utter a statement or make a comment or whatever, but he will refrain from exercising any coercive power on the things over here, because that would not belong to his style,” Turkson told The Associated Press after a press conference by Vatican officials Tuesday at the Paris climate talks – (Read Full Article)

Washington Post Coverage of CCAC at COP21

Update: the Washington Post covered the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) event at COP21 in Paris. The event explored how action on short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), which include HFCs, can support the goals of the climate summit.

As stated in the article;

“As world leaders grapple with how to cut global emissions of carbon dioxide, diplomats in Paris are recording progress in combating other pollutants that scientists believe are contributing powerfully to rising temperatures.

A coalition of governments and private businesses has agreed to take up a series of initiatives to limit so-called “short-lived climate pollutants,” ranging from industrial chemicals used in refrigerators to soot particles given off by diesel engines. While emissions of these pollutants are small compared to carbon dioxide, some are vastly more powerful, pound for pound, in trapping heat in the Earth’s lower atmosphere.” – Click here to read the full article

It’s official – The US EPA’s Proposed Rule To Extend

EPA

Yes, It is official… As printed in the Federal Register, the US EPA proposed rule to extend the refrigerant management provisions of Sec. 608 of the Clean Air Act to HFCs. Publication of the rule initiates a public comment period which lasts until January 8, 2016.

Major elements of the proposal include:

Extending requirements of the National Recycling and Emission Reduction Program to non-exempt substitutes and to clarify that the actions required to qualify for the de minimis venting exemption for non-exempt substitute refrigerants are the same as those for ODS refrigerants
Strengthening leak repair requirements
Extending the sales restriction to substitute refrigerants, with an exception for small cans of MVAC refrigerant
Establishing recordkeeping for appliances containing five to 50 pounds of ODS and substitute refrigerant
Updating the technician certification program
Improving readability and compliance and restructuring the requirements

You can download and read the signed proposed rule and the version published in the Federal Register below.

Signed Proposed Rule

Federal Register

White House Roundtable On HFC’s

Those that were in attendance at the White House Roundtable on HFCs included such participants such as; The President’s senior advisor, Brian Deese, and Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Dan Utech facilitated the event. Notable government attendees included Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and State Department Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern.

In addition, 22 companies and organizations participated in the event, each speaking approximately 1.5 minutes, followed by a brief discussion among all participants.

As stated in The White House Fact Sheet;

“Today’s commitments and progress demonstrate that U.S. companies are at the cutting edge when it comes to developing the next generation of safe and cost-effective alternatives to HFCs and also incorporating these alternatives into American cars, air conditioners, refrigerators, foams, and other products. These announcements come from a diverse set of companies – including producers of the chemicals, manufacturers of equipment that use HFCs, and end-users”

One particularly significant announcement came from Administrator McCarthy who indicated that earlier that very morning (again, Oct. 15) she signed a proposed rule to extend the provisions of Sec. 608 of the Clean Air Act to HFCs.

In The Media: USA Today /// The Hill /// ACHR News

Download a White House fact sheet on the event.