Federal Initiatives

Various federal policies and programs have been developed to help address global climate change.

Federal Climate Legislation

Proposals for comprehensive climate legislation have been introduced and/or passed in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate.

H.R. 2454 – The American Clean Energy and Security Act (Waxman-Markey Bill)

House bill passed in June 2009. The bill aims to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, increase energy efficiency and increase the use of clean energy, while also creating clean energy jobs.

House Energy and Commerce Committee:

http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1633:the-american-clean-energy-and-security-act-of-2009-hr-2454&catid=169:legislation&Itemid=55

S.1733 – The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (Kerry-Boxer Bill)

Senate bill introduced in September 2009. The bill aims to reduce pollution and combat global climate change, while enhancing domestic energy production and creating clean energy jobs.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee:
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Majority.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=0c00344c-802a-23ad-4f4d-edb0c9408d2e

Federal Rules

The US EPA and other federal agencies have proposed or finalized several rules relating to greenhouse gases and other contributors to climate change.

EPA Renewable Fuels Standard 2

Revises the current Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The aim is to continue to reduce dependence on foreign oil and increases domestic energy sources. RFS2 will provide reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and increase use of renewable transportation fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, from 11.1 billion gallons in 2009 to 36 billion gallons by 2022.
EPA’s Fuels and Fuel Additives web page (Renewable Fuels Standard Program): www.epa.gov/OMS/renewablefuels

EPA E15 Waiver Request

An application for a waiver to the Clean Air Act’s §211(f), which regulates new fuels. The waiver would allow for the sale of ethanol-gasoline blends of up to 15 percent ethanol (E15). A waiver to §211(f) was granted in 1978 to allow for the sale of ethanol-gasoline containing up to 10 percent ethanol (E10). The deadline for the EPA to grant or deny the E15 request is December 1, 2009.
EPA’s Fuels and Fuel Additives web page (Registration and Health Effects Testing): www.epa.gov/otaq/additive.htm

EPA Endangerment Finding

Two proposed EPA findings:

Six key greenhouse gases in the atmosphere endanger the public health and welfare within the meaning of Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act. The gases include: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.
Motor vehicles are a major contributor to the atmospheric concentrations of four of these gases.

EPA’s Climate Change – Regulatory Initiatives web page (Proposed Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings): www.epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment.html

EPA Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting

This final rule requires large sources to report their 2010 greenhouse gas emissions by March 31, 2011. Suppliers of fossil fuels or industrial greenhouse gases, vehicle manufacturers, and facilities that emit at least 25,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases per year are required to submit an annual report to the EPA.
EPA’s Climate Change – Regulatory Initiatives web page (Final Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule): www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html

EPA CAFE/GHG Tailpipe Standard

Joint proposal from the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for new standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles manufactured in 2012 through 2016. The aim of the proposed standards is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy.
EPA’s Transportation and Climate web page: www.epa.gov/oms/climate/regulations/420f09047.htm

EPA Tailoring Rule NSR/NSPS

The EPA is proposing a temporary, six year greenhouse gas applicability threshold of 25,000 short tons/year for Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Title V review of new sources, or major modification of existing sources. EPA is also seeking comment on a PSD significance level between 10,000 – 25,000 short tons/year for modifications of existing sources under the Clean Air Act.
EPA’s New Source Review (NSR) web page: www.epa.gov/NSR/fs20090930action.html

Federal Research Programs

Below are examples of some of the federal climate change programs and research initiatives currently under way.

U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)

USGCRP is a program designed to coordinate and integrate federal research on global environmental changes and their implications for society. The program is focused on understanding, assessment, predictions, and response to global climate change.
USGCRP web site: www.globalchange.gov

The National Academies

The National Academies provides independent advice on matters of science, technology, and medicine. Climate change-related activities include consensus-reports, workshops and symposiums. The National Academies include: the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council.
Climate Change at the National Academies: http://dels.nas.edu/climatechange

US Climate Change Technology Program

A multi-agency planning and coordination entity aimed at strengthening the Federal research and development portfolio across more than a dozen participating agencies. Its purpose is to accelerate the development and deployment of technologies that can reduce, avoid, or capture and store greenhouse gas emissions.
CCTP web site: www.climatetechnology.gov

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA is engaged in research and activities aimed at helping society understand, plan for, and respond to climate variability and change. This is achieved through the development and delivery of climate information services, the implementation of a global observing system, and focused research and modeling to understand key climate processes.
NOAA web site: www.noaa.gov/climate.html

Return to Special Topics

Last Reviewed: Nov. 2009
Next Review: Nov. 2010
Last Revised: Monday November 23 2009