EPA: Few volunteering to cut greenhouse gases (AP)
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Inspector General’s Office said industry’s unwillingness to participate and unreliable data that casts doubt on claimed reductions are hindering efforts to control some of the greatest in number potent greenhouse gases from aluminum smelters, landfills, coal mines and large farms.
At best, the 11 different programs, wholly but single of which were launched for the period of the Clinton administration, would accomplish a 19 percent reduction in methane, sulfur hexafluoride and other non-carbon dioxide conservatory gases projected to make acquisition to from those industries in 2010, the EPA IG’s office said in a report Thursday.
The give out does not cover efforts to address the most plentiful greenhouse gas — carbon sub-oxide — or the biggest sources of it, transportation and electric power plants.
“If EPA wishes to reduce greenhouse aeriform fluid emissions out of the grasp of this point, it needs to mark additional policy options,” the report uttered. Persuading companies to spend money on optional activities “presents a significant defy to using voluntary programs in the same proportion that the current solution to reducing greenhouse gases.”
The Bush administration has been relying largely on the willing programs to bring to poverty carbon intensity — the ratio of greenhouse gas emissions to economic output — by 18 percent by the agency of 2012. That goal would slow the growth of greenhouse gases, but not actually reduce them.
The White House has rejected using existing law to regulate greenhouse gases from motor vehicles and smokestacks despite a Supreme Court decision last year saying it could do in like manner.
President Bush and other world leaders at last month’s G-8 summit in Toyako, Japan, made a commitment to a voluntary 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gases worldwide by 2050 but offered in no degree specifics on for what cause to do it.
“We will not solve the global warming problem without an across-the-board mandatory program that every polluting company has to participate in,” said David Doniger, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Climate Center.
The White House said Thursday that the nation is “well on track to meet, if not exceed” the 18 percent reduction in carbon intensity. It said mandatory measures such as higher fuel economy requirements for new cars, SUVs and light trucks will help.
Paul Gunning, who heads EPA’s voluntary programs for reducing global warming gases other than carbon dioxide, said a 19 percent reduction is a testament to the programs’ fortunate hit.
“It is important to recognize that the design of these partnership programs is largely focusing on what is cost effective to do,” Gunning said. “To the extent that someone wants to go beyond that, you will have to look at other mechanisms.”
Some industries the report criticized for not participating in the voluntary programs said they were abeyance for Congress to pass legislation.
“We are not on the side of the disbelievers or on the side of those that say do illiberal,” reported Luke Popovich, a spokesman because of the National Mining Association. “Let’s get a solution that works.”
EPA Office of Inspector General:
From: EPA: Few volunteering to cut greenhouse gases (AP)
