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Executive Order - Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes
This order establishes a national policy to ensure the protection, maintenance, and restoration of the health of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems and resources, enhance the sustainability of ocean and coastal economies, preserve maritime heritage, support sustainable uses and access, provide for adaptive management to enhance understanding of and capacity to respond to climate change and ocean acidification, and coordinate with national security and foreign policy interests. This order also provides for the development of coastal and marine spatial plans that build upon and improve existing Federal, State, tribal, local, and regional decision making and planning processes.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
This map shows states using property-assessed clean energy (PACE) programs to finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
Plug-in Electric Vehicles
This map shows states that have laws and regulations that incentivize the use of plug-in electric passenger vehicles. Policies include mandates for states to acquire plug-in electric vehicles for state fleets, access to High Occupancy Vehicle lanes or designated parking for plug-in electric vehicles, and financial incentives to private owners of such vehicles.
Public Benefit Funds
This map shows states with funds dedicated to supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Recovery Through Retrofit
This report describes recommendations for federal action to address barriers to retrofitting home residences for energy efficiency.
Regional Initiatives
This map shows states that participate in regional initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and increase generation of renewable energy.
Renewable Energy Credit Tracking System
This map shows states that belong to regional programs with standards that require a certain percentage of renewable energy production.
Renewable & Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards
This map shows states with standards requiring electric utilities to generate a percentage of electricity from renewable energy sources.
Residential Building Energy Codes
This map shows states with minimum levels of energy efficiency for residential buildings.
State Adaptation Plans
This map shows states with plans for adapting to global climate change.
VMT-Related Policies and Incentives
This map shows states with policies to curb the climb of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by encouraging carpooling, alternative transportation, and compact land development.
The Sustainable Sites Initiative: Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks
This guide describes how to develop a site in a way that does the least damage to the ecosystem, and provides maximum ecological benefits, including improved air quality, storm water treatment, and energy efficiency.
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Policies
This map shows state laws and regulations that affect medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The policies include tax incentives, fines, guidelines, and grants.
Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards
This map shows states that have adopted or are planning to adopt California's vehicle standards.
Green Infrastructure in Arid and Semi-Arid Climates
This brochure describes the benefits of adopting "green infrastructure" design principles to communities in arid and semi-arid regions.
Incorporating biodiversity considerations into environmental impact analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act
This report outlines general concepts that underlie biological diversity analysis and management, and discusses methods for considering biodiversity in current and future NEPA analyses.
Impacts of Comprehensive Climate and Energy Policy Options on the U.S. Economy
This study compiles and updates the findings of 16 comprehensive state climate action plans and extrapolates the results to the nation. The study then takes those results and using a widely accepted econometric model projects the national impact of these policies on employment, incomes, gross domestic product (GDP) and consumer energy prices. Finally, using the bottom-up data developed by the states and aggregated here, the study models the national impact of major features of the Kerry-Lieberman climate bill under consideration in Congress in 2010. These state action plans and supporting assessments were proposed by over 1,500 stakeholders and technical work group experts appointed by 16 governors and state legislatures to address climate, energy and economic needs through comprehensive, fact-based, consensus-driven, climate action planning processes conducted over the past five years with facilitative and technical assistance by the Center for Climate Strategies. Findings show potential national improvements from implementation of a top set of 23 major sector-based policies and measures drawn from state plans.
Convention for the Protection of Plants : message from the President of the United States transmitting the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of December 2, 1961, as revised at Geneva on November 10, 1972, on October 23, 1978, and on March 19, 1991, and signed by the United States on October 25, 1991
This treaty takes action to control the introduction and spread of pests of plants and plant products. The treaty protects natural as well as cultivated plants, so it has implications for agriculture as well as biodiversity. While the IPPC's primary focus is on plants and plant products moving in international trade, the convention also covers research materials, biological control organisms, and anything else that can act as a vector for the spread of plant pests including containers, soil, vehicles, and machinery.
Protocol amending the 1916 Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds : message from the President of the United States transmitting a protocol between the United States and Canada amending the 1916 Convention for the Protection of Migratory birds in Canada and the United States, with related exchange of notes, signed at Washington on December 14, 1995
This treaty is an amendment between the United States and Canada to the statute making it unlawful to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill or sell certain birds. The statute does not discriminate between live or dead birds and also grants full protection to any bird parts including feathers, eggs and nests.
Protocol with Mexico amending Convention for Protection of Migratory Birds and Game Mammals : message from the President of the United States transmitting a protocol between the government of the United States of America and the government of the United Mexican States amending the Convention for Protection of Migratory Birds and Game Mammals, signed at Mexico City on May 5, 1997
This treaty between the United States and Mexico deals with hunting ducks and collecting duck eggs by indigenous people in North America. This treaty amends the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds in Canada and the United States.
South Pacific Regional Environment Programme Agreement : message from the President of the United States transmitting agreement establishing the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, done at Apia on June 16, 1993
The South Pacific Regional Environment Programme is to promote cooperation in the South Pacific islands region and to provide assistance in order to protect and improve the environment and to ensure sustainable development.
Inter-American Convention on Sea Turtles
This treaty provides the legal framework for member countries in the Americas and the Caribbean to take actions for the benefit of sea turtles
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) : message from the President of the United States transmitting International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), adopted at the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations at Rome on November 17, 1997.
This treaty updates a previous international agreement aimed at promoting international cooperation to control and prevent the spread of harmful plant pests.
Agreement with Russian Federation concerning polar bear population : message from the President of the United States transmitting Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Conservation and Management of the Alaska-Chukotka Polar Bear Population, done at Washington on October 16, 2000.
This treaty is an agreement between the United States and Russia to work towards a legal and scientific frame work for the conservation and management of polar bears .
Protocol amending 1949 Convention of Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission : message from the President of the United States transmitting protocol to amend the 1949 Convention on the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, done at Guayaquil, June 11, 1999, and signed by the United States, subject to ratification, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on the same date
This treaty allows organizations that are not governments of states to join the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Convention, and be subject to its conservation and management protocols.
Agreement amending treaty with Canada concerning Pacific Coast albacore tuna vessels and port privileges : message from the President of the United States transmitting agreement amending treaty between the government of the United States of America and the government of Canada on Pacific Coast albacore tuna vessels and port privileges done at Washington, D.C., May 26, 1981 (The "Treaty"), effected by an exchange of diplomatic notes at Washington on July 17, 2002, and August 13, 2002 (The "Agreement")
This document amends a treaty between the United States and Canada to manage tuna fishing.
Amendments to 1987 Treaty on Fisheries with Pacific Island States : message from the President of the United States transmitting amendments to the 1987 Treaty on Fisheries Between the Governments of Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States of America, with annexes and agreed statements, done at Port Moresby, April 2, 1987 (The "Treaty"), done at Koror, Palau, March 30, 1999, and at Kiritimati, Kiribati, March 24, 2002 : also transmitted, related amendments to the treaty annexes, and the memorandum of understanding
This treaty further develops relationships between the United States and Pacific nations in the areas of fisheries management and conservation.
Agreement with Canada on Pacific hake/whiting : message from the President of the United States transmitting agreement between the government of the United States of America and the government of Canada on Pacific hake/whiting (the "agreement"), done at Seattle, November 21, 2003
This treaty establishes agreed percentage shares of the trans-boundary stock of Pacific hake, also known as Pacific whiting. It also creates a process through which U.S. and Canadian scientists and fisheries managers will recommend the total catch of Pacific hake each year.
Convention concerning migratory fish stock in the Pacific Ocean : message from the President of the United States transmitting Convention on the Conservation and Management of the Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, with annexes ("WCPF Convention"), which was adopted at Honolulu on September 5, 2000, by the Multilateral High Level Conference on the Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean
This treaty governs mechanisms designed to ensure long-term conservation and sustainable use of certain species of fish, including tuna, swordfish, and marlin.
1996 protocol to Convention on Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes : message from the President of the United States transmitting 1996 protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (the "London Convention"), done in London on November 7, 1996 ; the protocol was signed by the United States on March 31, 2008 [i.e. 1998], and was entered into force on March 24, 2006
This treaty strengthens protection of marine environments from dumping of waste.
Land-based sources protocol to Cartagena Convention : message from the President of the United States transmitting protocol concerning pollution from land-based sources and activities ("the Protocol") to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, with annexes, done at Oranjestad, Aruba, on October 6, 1999, and signed by the United States on that same date
This treaty sets out general legal obligations to protect the marine environment of the Gulf of Mexico, Straits of Florida, Caribbean Sea, and immediately adjacent areas of the Atlantic Ocean-collectively known as the Wider Caribbean Region.
International Convention on Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 : message from the President of the United States transmitting International Convention on Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (the "Convention")
This treaty deals with technologies for preventing the growth of marine life on ship hulls. The anti-fouling systems improve fuel efficiency, but some of these systems leach biocides into the water. This treaty prevents the use of the biocide in anti-fouling systems.
Agreement on conservation of albatrosses and petrels : message from the President of the United States transmitting Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, with annexes, done at Canberra, June 19, 2001.
This treaty builds on the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals by adding specific protections to albatrosses and petrels.
Annex VI to the Protocol of Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty : message from the President of the United States transmitting Annex VI on liability arising from environmental emergencies to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Annex VI), adopted on June 14, 2005
This amendment to the Antarctic Treaty deals with preventing and managing environmental emergencies in the Antarctica Treaty area.
Climate Change and Ecosystems Summary of Recent Findings
This fact sheet summarizes information from a recent assessment of possible adaptation options to protect climate-sensitive ecosystems in the United States.
Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States
This brochure highlights a report that summarizes the science of climate change, and the impacts of climate change on the United States.
Aligning National Environmental Policy Act processes with environmental management systems: A Guide for NEPA and EMS Practitioners
This guidebook for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Environmental Management System (EMS) practitioners identifies elements of an EMS that can improve NEPA implementation in order to promote conditions under which humans and nature exist in productive harmony.
Appliance Efficiency Standards
This map shows states with energy efficiency standards for electrical appliances.
Mandates and Incentives Promoting Biofuels
This map shows states that incentivize ethanol production and use through.
Climate Action Plans
This map depicts states that have completed plans to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Financial Incentives for CCS
This map shows states that provide financial incentives for deploying carbon capture and storage technology.
Common Ground: Solutions for reducing the human, economic and conservation costs of human wildlife conflict
This report deals with the conflicts between wildlife and human development. Three cases studies are included, in Namibia, Nepal and Indonesia, respectively. Each location has different problems and contexts, but in all three countries, human lives and economic livelihoods are at stake, as well as the loss of habitat of threatened species. The authors advocate a species conservation approach based on land use planning integrated with human needs in order continue sustainable development.
Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group Final Report
Final report of the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group providing information gathered in relation to their charge, which included analysis of existing and proposed actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, review of historic and forecast emissions as a baseline for progress, and an overview of costs and benefits of recommended options.
Financial Sustainability Scorecard for National Systems of Protected Areas
The purpose of this scorecard is to assist governments, donors and NGOs to investigate and record significant aspects of aProtected Area (PA) financing system –its accounts and its underlying structural foundations – to show both its current health and status and to indicate if the system is holistically moving over the long-term towards an improved financial situation. The scorecard is designed for national systems of PAs but could be used by sub-national eg state, regional or municipal or networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
UNDP Briefing Note on Adaptation to Climate Change: Doing Development Differently
The document outlines UNDP's adaptation services and UNDP-GEF's adaptation portfolio that comprises 21 national, regional and global projects taking place in 45 countries.
El Niño and health
El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate event that originates in the Pacific Ocean but has wide-ranging consequences for weather around the world, and is especially associated with droughts and floods. The irregular occurrence of El Niño and La Niña events has implications for public health. On a global scale, the human effect of natural disasters increases during El Niño. The effect of ENSO on cholera risk in Bangladesh, and malaria epidemics in parts of South Asia and South America has been well established. The strongest evidence for an association between ENSO and disease is provided by time-series analysis with data series that include more than one event. Evidence for ENSO's effect on other mosquito-borne and rodent-borne diseases is weaker than that for malaria and cholera. Health planners are used to dealing with spatial risk concepts but have little experience with temporal risk management. ENSO and seasonal climate forecasts might offer the opportunity to target scarce resources for epidemic control and disaster preparedness.
Governor Palin signs Administrative Order creating the Climate Change Sub-Cabinet
This report discusses building the state's knowledge of the actual and foreseeable effects of climate warming in Alaska. Developing appropriate measures and policies to prepare communities in Alaska for the anticipated impacts from climate change. Providing guidance regarding Alaska's participation in regional and national efforts addressing causes and effects of climate change
UNDP Climate Change Country Profiles: Chad
These country-level climate data summaries address the climate change information gap for developing countries by making use of existing climate data to generate a series of 52 country-level studies of climate observations and the multi-model projections
Human Health Impacts from Climate Variability and Climate Change in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya Region
This activity report summarizes the main outcomes of the inter-regional workshop on the Human Health Impacts from Climate Variability and Climate Change in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya Region (India 2005). The objectives of the workshop were: to inform government organizations, nongovernmental organizations and other relevant stakeholders about the impacts of climate change; to Identify specific human health risks linked to climate variability and change in the Himalayan mountain regions; to propose strategies for integrating health with relevant sectors; to achieve consensus on a draft framework for national action in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan mountain region.
UNDP Climate Change Country Profiles: Benin
These country-level climate data summaries address the climate change information gap for developing countries by making use of existing climate data to generate a series of 52 country-level studies of climate observations and the multi-model projections
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