Climate Change Publications
2009 Publications
Black to Green: Carbon Debate and Beyond
Published in
HIMAL Southasian , June 2009. Ananth Chikkatur of ICF International and Sunita Dubey of GroundWork USA provide a broad overview of the energy challenges in South Asia in the context of a changing climate due to global warming. They explain that South Asia’s energy consumption will rise in the future, but that an energy-secure future involves not only getting access to energy resources, but also dealing with a whole spectrum of increasingly pressing environmental and ecological issues. Climate change impacts such as alterations in the Himalayan system and increasing severe weather events (floods, droughts, coastal inundation) could be severe and will adversely affect the large population in South Asia. The article concludes by providing a range of policy options and recommendations, and notes that rather than the current piecemeal approach, an integrated energy and environment policy needs to be devised and implemented. By getting the energy policy ‘right,’ the authors expect that the policies in other spheres will also fall into place.
Building Portfolio Performance Improvement - How Did We Miss This After 30 Years of Energy Efficiency?
Webinar Presentation, January 2009, Energy & Environment Intelligence Briefing. In the U.S., we can point to a 30-year history of demand side management, voluntary market transformation programs, and technology research that have made us an apparent leader in building energy efficiency. After hundreds of millions of dollars of investment, there are still few good answers for large building portfolios where sustainability, carbon mitigation, or reduced costs are the end game. ICF corporate sustainability expert Don Anderson takes a look at how we got here and what options are emerging for large organizations.
Carbon Capture and Storage: A Ready Technology for Sustainable Development?
Authored by Ritika Goel of ICF International, the article was published in the January 2009 issue of the CDM investment newsletter, a joint initiative of BEA International and the Climate Business Network (CBNet). Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is possibly the most controversial technology being considered in the context of climate change mitigation. While it offers an enormous scope for global carbon emission reductions, its successful adoption remains plagued by high present costs, low technology maturity, and perceived environmental risks. The article explores the key issues surrounding CCS technology, particularly in developing countries, and suggests ways to overcome underlying challenges. The full newsletter is available through subscription with CBNet.
Carbon Funds Outlook
Carbon funds have become an important player in the carbon markets over the past few years and have experienced considerable growth. However, the amount of capital secured or targeted by funds created over the last two years appears to be slowing down. Indeed, the lack of clarity on the post 2012 climate policy framework at international and domestic levels, increasing competition on the buyers’ side, and the decline in the number of large and low risk Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects create a challenging and uncertain environment for new entrants in the carbon finance community. This situation will likely be exacerbated by the credit crisis, which could reduce the amount of capital available to invest in carbon credit projects and increase the cost of capital available. But current financial difficulties can also create opportunities for some of the existing carbon funds that can benefit from a competitive advantage vis-à-vis other investors. This paper aims to address these issues through detailed analysis of the current market context and the historical evolution of carbon funds.
Clean Cities Supported by ICF International
Published in
Southeastern Fuels Fix , Summer 2009, by Stacy Noblet of ICF International. Working with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, ICF has supported the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities initiative since 1997. This article summarizes ICF's role in providing technical expertise, program support, and research capabilities toward the advancement of alternative fuels, advanced vehicles, and petroleum reduction strategies.
Corporate Sustainability: "Pro Forma" Financial Diagnostic
In this 2009 presentation, ICF International presents its "Pro Forma" Financial Diagnostic, which is designed to help companies quickly "size" the financial opportunities associated with an energy reduction campaign that is part of a corporate sustainability strategy.
Employee Engagement, a Critical Success Factor for Corporate Sustainability
In this 2009 presentation, ICF International discusses how corporate sustainability is becoming increasingly important to a company’s workforce and cites studies from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that show that human behavior can have a greater impact on corporate sustainability initiatives than technology upgrades. ICF also highlights its approach to engaging employees in Corporate Sustainability and introduces
Do Your Part! , ICF’s employee engagement tool.
Employee Engagement: How a Greener Workforce Affects the Triple Bottom Line
April 2009. Today’s companies are finding that Corporate Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to its workforce. Demonstrating that companies share their employees’ values can not only serve as a recruitment tactic for talented and passionate candidates; it can also be a powerful retention tool. Additionally, employees inspired by their company’s example are often great resources of insight and innovation. This paper by ICF International highlights how employees are successfully engaging employees in their Corporate Sustainability efforts and describes tools and programs specifically for this purpose.
Energy Efficiency--The First Fuel in the Race for a Stable Climate
Enery and Environmental Intelligence Webcast, October 2009. Energy efficiency is acknowledged as a key to meeting the climate challenge. But how big a role can it play? How will efficiency play—or not play—in carbon markets? With what policies are state, regional, and federal climate policies tapping efficiency? What are the key analytical issues? This webinar, featuring ICF Vice President Bill Prindle, explores answers to these questions.
Engaging Employees in Corporate Environmental Performance Improvement Programs
Webinar Presentation, April 2009, Energy and Environmental Intelligence Briefing. ICF International's Jeff Gibbons presents specific tactics for engaging employees and building engineering staff in sustainability initiatives, and the importance of having a formalized program to help ensure behavioral and cultural change. Along with best practices in training and change management, ICF demonstrates the benefits of tools such as
Do Your Part! , deployed to expedite program implementation and measurable achievement as part of corporate sustainability programs.
Environmental Sustainability: Interpreting Trends to Build an Informed Strategy
Webinar, April 2009. Gwynne Rogers of the Natural Marketing Institute, a leader in market research and marketing strategy for the "LOHAS" (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) market, discussed current trends in customer attitudes toward corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, as well as the growing awareness of customers to a company's carbon footprint and communications about corporate climate strategies. Senior Manager Rahul Young and Manger Jonathan Jordan, both of ICF, presented approaches on how companies can respond to aligning corporate sustainability programs with customer environmental concerns, including strategies for launching a corporate sustainability program and strategies to determine the full environmental impact of their products (through life-cycle analysis), their supply chain, and their corporate communications.
European Power and Carbon Markets Outlook 2009-2030 Webinar
During this May 2009 webinar, ICF Senior Consultants Etienne Gabel and Diane Simiu discussed ICF’s new European Power and Carbon Markets Outlook 2009-2030 . The study examines the interrelated dynamics of power and emissions markets, in light of the current economic crisis and the EU legislative package demanding a 20-30 percent decrease in CO2 emissions and 20 percent use of renewables in final energy consumption by 2020.
From Main Street to Green Street: LEED Certification for Sustainable Neighborhoods
Published in Main Street News , April 2009, by Therese Dorau of ICF International. One of the U.S. Green Building Council’s newest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programs, LEED for Neighborhoods (ND) combines aspects of green construction practices and community development theories to encourage the creation of mixed-use, livable, environmentally sustainable neighborhoods. This article discusses the LEED-ND certification program and its specific relevance to small businesses and existing “main street” commercial districts. Specific opportunities and challenges of implementing certification are addressed, and the LEED-ND program is seen in action through two case studies.
Green Building Funding and the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act
August 2009. With the enactment of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act in early 2009, the federal government embarked on a massive effort to put jobs back into the struggling economy. This article highlights several provisions in the Recovery Act that present opportunities for green building.
Greenhouse Gas Legislation: Adapting to a Tsunami of Change
This July 2009 paper by ICF International highlights The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, more commonly known as the Waxman-Markey bill, which has been passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is now being taken up in the U.S. Senate. While some provisions may change before it’s signed into law, the basic provisions are likely to remain and there is no doubt that it represents the most sweeping change to hit the power sector - perhaps ever. The paper discusses the challenges posed by the legislation and how a corporate compliance strategy can help companies prepare.
ICF International's Insights on Waxman-Markey and Climate Change Legislation
Webcast, September 2009. The House has passed Waxman-Markey, the Senate will have draft climate legislation squarely on its docket in September, and the December Copenhagen meeting is approaching fast. What could be the impact of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) legislation on your company? As Congress returns from August recess, Joel Bluestein, Steve Fine, and Chris MacCracken of ICF International provided the latest status and developments on federal GHG legislation, and shared ICF’s analysis and commentary on likely impacts and outcomes.
ICF International's Update on U.S. GHG Regulation
Webinar Presentation, March 2009, Energy & Environment Intelligence Briefing. For a time, it seemed that the economic downturn would derail federal action on greenhouse gas (GHG) legislation, but the new administration, state and regional activity, and industry actions all point towards continuing if not accelerating progress on regulation of U.S. GHG emissions. ICF Vice President Joel Bluestein provides an update on regulatory actions at the state, regional, federal, and international levels, including new cap and trade programs, regulations under existing law, potential federal legislation and other related developments. He also discusses ICF’s outlook on the potential implications of these programs on the development of regional, federal, and international emission trading markets.
ICF Overview of Proposed EPA GHG Reporting Rule
July 2009 Webinar, ICF Energy and Environmental Intelligence Briefing. On March 11, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted the signed proposed rule for Monitoring and Reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this webinar, Joel Bluestein of ICF International provided an overview of the proposed requirements, what facilities will be affected, what gases will be included, and what measurement protocols will be required or available.
Maximizing Business Value from Your Climate/Sustainability Strategy
Presented at the ABA Environment, Energy, and Resources Law Summit, September 23-26, 2009, in Baltimore, Maryland. Pending climate change legislation—in particular the Waxman-Markey bill passed by the House and under consideration in the Senate—is set to dramatically change corporate climate strategy, transforming it from a voluntary practice to one that is mandated and regulated. In this white paper, ICF’s Craig Ebert and Molly Janis highlight the key challenges facing companies trying to thrive in a carbon-constrained world and map out strategic steps companies ought to be taking to prepare themselves for a carbon-constrained future.
New Dawn or the Same Old Song?
Published in
Business Standard (India) , March 5, 2009. Bishal Thapa, ICF International, and Mahua Acharya, formerly ArcelorMittal, discuss India’s position in the post-2012 climate negotiations. The authors argue that a strong post-2012 deal could offer India an additional mechanism for fixing the policy deficiencies that have plagued the system.
Overview of the American Clean Energy and Security Act
In an April 2009 webinar available exclusively to members of the American Gas Association (AGA), ICF International Senior Vice President Joel Bluestein provided an overview of the greenhouse gas sections of the American Clean Energy and Security Act, a climate change bill sponsored by Congressmen Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA). AGA Senior Managing Counsel Pam Lacey discussed the energy efficiency sections of the bill, as well as AGA’s position and planned response to the proposed legislation.
Rapid Energy Modeling of Existing Buildings: From Digital Pictures to Comprehensive Energy Footprints
ICF International worked with Autodesk to explore rapid energy modeling, a streamlined process to move quickly, and with only the minimal data necessary, from image capture of existing building exteriors through simplified simulation to energy and carbon reduction analysis. Our study included interviews with leading architecture firms and application of Autodesk's workflow on six diverse facilities on three continents. The workflow produced BIM, DOE-2.2, and EnergyPlus models, and delivered results that were close to utility energy use data. ICF found that Rapid Energy Modeling has the potential to be a shortcut to energy use estimation, a stepping stone between quick benchmarking and detailed audits and can help screen high carbon reduction potential buildings, scale up the results across the organization, and stimulate creation of skilled green jobs. It can empower diverse constituencies, from design teams to building owners to tenants, to measure and forecast energy and carbon footprints of existing buildings and invest in energy efficiency measures, within a smaller budget and shorter time frame.
Sustainable Communications and Green Corporate Strategy: Reducing Your Communications Footprint through Virtual Marketing, Meetings, and Trainings
ICF International’s Rahul Young, Senior Manager in the Climate and Sustainability Strategy practice, and Brainshark’s Greg Flynn, Vice President, Products and Services, describe how leading companies are incorporating sustainable communications as part of their
green business strategy . Not only are these companies reducing their carbon footprint, they are simultaneously improving the effectiveness, and reducing the cost, of their corporate communications. The presentation also outlines the steps that companies can take to get started quickly and gain competitive advantage.
Take Action for the Environment! Facing Global Sustainability Challenges, Can Law Firms Lead the Way?
In the Summer 2009 edition of
The American Trial Lawyer , ICF International’s Micah Brill advocates that law firms become leaders in the movement toward environmental sustainability among professional services firms. Not only can the law firms themselves become more sustainable enterprises, but lawyers can introduce sustainability to their clients, creating a ripple effect of companies working together to lessen their environmental impact.
The Costs of Going Green
Published in the June 2009 issue of
Public Utilities Fortnightly by Steven Fine and Elliot Roseman of ICF International. How will CO
2 legislation affect power generation choices and consumers’ cost of power? As Congress considers sweeping energy legislation, this article addresses these critical questions. ICF divides the market into groups, and shows that carbon prices have to be substantial before changing the dispatch of existing plants. With regard to new plants, the threshold is substantially lower (costs of about $20 per ton change the type of capacity). We must understand these tradeoffs to make optimal plans for generation and hit profitability targets. We also show that the impact on consumers depends on whether the state is traditionally regulated or competitive, and how often gas is on the margin. The consumer impact could range from 10-20 percent of their bills. This is no surprise as a tradeoff for the benefits of reducing greenhouse gases and other emissions, but keeping those costs in balance is key.
U.S. Emission and Fuel Markets Outlook
ICF International’s U.S. Emission and Fuel Market Outlook 2009 provides market analysis and price projections for all of the key emission and fuel market benchmarks, with individual chapters on GHG, SO
2 /NO
x /mercury, gas and coal. All chapters address the impacts of climate policies on the relevant markets. Companies can customize their study by purchasing an individual chapter, multiple chapters, or the entire integrated study. Subscribers receive three bound copies of the report, access to ICF's team of professionals, and a discounted on-site energy market seminar.
Update on U.S. GHG Regulations
Webcast, March 2009. In a webinar to members of the American Gas Association (AGA), ICF International Senior Vice President Joel Bluestein provides an update on regulatory actions at the state, regional, and federal levels, including new cap and trade programs, regulations under existing law, potential federal legislation, and the impact of these and other related developments on local gas distribution companies. He also discusses ICF’s outlook on the potential implications of these programs on the development of regional, federal, and international emission trading markets.
2008 Publications
Building San Francisco's Cleantech Economy: Analysis and Strategy Options
September 2008. A market profile and understanding of relevant workforce is critical to supporting the growth of any industry, particularly one as nescient as the Clean Technology economy. ICF International conducted an analysis to develop a Clean Technology cluster strategy for the San Francisco Bay area. The analysis focused on the potential for clean technology industry and green businesses in the City of San Francisco compared to the broader San Francisco Bay Area by identifying competitive challenges facing different segments of the industry. Specifically, it identified the relative strengths and weaknesses of different geographic centers around the Bay area relative to enabling and sustaining the clean technology industry. The project identified shared challenges and specific actions that would enhance cluster development, particularly in San Francisco, and concluded with initial specifications for a clean technology partnership to implement priority actions.
Cap and Trade: Background and Basics
September 2008. Cap and trade has profound and direct effects on companies directly responsible for emissions. Under cap and trade, companies that need to increase their emissions as part of their production must buy credits from companies who pollute less. Companies, that can cost-effectively reduce emissions, can save money on their production costs and make money by selling emissions credits to companies having a tougher time reducing their emissions. Cap and trade enables all participants to meet the total emissions cap, cost-effectively. In addition, it allows emitters to find the least-cost solutions for total pollution control, innovatively.
Carbon Neutrality: The Journey to Zero Emissions
Recently, companies ranging from HSBC to Google to Swiss Re to NewsCorp have made a commitment to become carbon neutral—effectively ensuring that their overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a company are zero. As companies in various industries begin to address their GHG emissions, many are evaluating the option of becoming carbon neutral. But what does “carbon neutrality” really mean?
Climate Change: Beyond the Low-Hanging Fruit
By Elliot Roseman and Kimberly Richardson, ICF International, and published in
World-Generation , Sept/Oct 2008. The world is waiting to see what the new United States administration will do to secure our energy future and mitigate the negative impacts of fossil fuel emissions on our global environment. Are there existing policies that could provide inspiration for new carbon legislation? Have other countries begun to tackle this complicated issue? Indeed, the United Kingdom has designed a very innovative approach to targeting carbon emissions that would otherwise go unnoticed in the eyes of the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme. The program is called the Carbon Reduction Commitment, and by targeting this emissions gap, the UK has taken a significant step in combating climate change; one the U.S. might consider as the new administration crafts its own initiatives. This article investigates the most salient points of the UK’s Carbon Reduction Commitment and discusses the program’s applicability to the U.S., including necessary modifications, industry compliance issues, and funding implications. With the U.S. administration promising new carbon legislation, why not take a few cues from our friends across the pond?
Evaluating Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change Impacts under NEPA: Ten Steps to Taking a Hard Look
November 2008. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to take a hard look at the environmental consequences of their proposed actions; however, many agencies are preparing NEPA documents with little or no analysis of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) or the impacts of global climate change. As policy makers continue to debate how agencies should address GHG emissions and climate change impacts under NEPA, lead agencies cannot afford to wait for answers. This paper briefly explains why GHG/climate change impacts must be evaluated under NEPA and includes a recommended ten-step approach for minimizing the risk of legal jeopardy.
From Plant to Plate: A Dynamic Program to Reduce Our Carbon Foot-Print by Rating Restaurants' Green-ness
Published in
EnergyPulse , September 2008, by Eliot Roseman of ICF International and Stefanie Tocco, George Washington University student. The greenhouse gases (GHG) produced in growing, transporting and consuming food in restaurants nationwide are enormous...about one-twelfth of these emissions arise just from this one industry in the U.S. The average meal travels 1,500 miles to reach your plate, and restaurant use of energy is notoriously inefficient. Improving the performance of this industry is no longer an option because of the cost of energy to the restaurants and because of their impact on the planet. We need a new "Eat Green" standard by which to evaluate and rank restaurants, and the ranking should be according to how well they meet the criteria for being clean (this article describes six such criteria in detail). This program should be voluntary—with standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and administered by the states—but should also be consistent with whatever GHG legislation passes in Congress in the near future, which will likely provide for mandatory reductions.
Green Financial Products and Services: Current Trends and Future Opportunities in North America
Prepared by ICF International for the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) American Task Force, this report is the most comprehensive study to date on green financial products and services. It examines best practices around the globe and covers a number of financial sectors, including retail, corporate and investment banking, asset management, project finance, and insurance.
Green Quadrant Climate Change Business Consulting UK: ICF International Profile
July 2008. Private companies are quickly realizing that energy conservation and sustainable business practices are critical to increasing—even maintaining—shareholder value. "As a result, demand for climate change business consulting services is growing—especially among firms with annual revenues above £5 billion," reports Verdantix, a UK-based research firm in its recent Green Quadrant™ report. "To assist climate change leaders in their selection of an external adviser this Green Quadrant report compares 16 consulting firms against 74 criteria grouped into three dimensions: service offering, market momentum and global presence." ICF International stands out as the leader in climate change business consulting services. In the independent research report ICF is recommended as a strong choice for firms seeking to hire a consultancy for carbon management strategy and implementation; multi-regional carbon trading and offsetting advice; and climate change opportunity analysis.
Read the press release.
ICF International’s Winter 2007-08 U.S. Emission and Fuel Markets Outlook
Webinar Presentation, February 2008, Energy & Environment Intelligence Briefing. ICF Vice President Steve Fine will unveil ICF’s new Emission and Fuel Markets Outlook. This multiclient study provides the only fully integrated view of U.S. emission and fuel markets available. This year’s study focuses especially on climate change regulation, presenting assessments of the most recent multi-sector regulatory proposals.
ICF International’s Winter 2008-09 U.S. Emission and Fuel Markets Outlook
Webinar Presentation, October 2008, Energy & Environment Intelligence Briefing. ICF Vice President Steve Fine and Senior Manager Chris MacCracken will unveil ICF’s new Emission and Fuel Markets Outlook. This new multi-client study provides the only fully integrated view of U.S. emission and fuel markets available. This year’s study focuses especially on the uncertainty surrounding CAIR as well as how it may or may not fit in with proposed climate change regulation. Forecasts of potential regulatory outcomes and their implications for power, fuel, and emissions markets will be discussed.
ICF International's Canadian Carbon Market Analysis Report
Webinar Presentation, March 2008, Energy & Environment Intelligence Briefing. ICF Vice President Skip Willis will discuss the regulatory framework for greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions in Canada and present the key findings of ICF's new
Canadian Carbon Market Analysis Report . This is the first report of its kind that has been produced in the Canadian market.
ICF International's Update on U.S. GHG Regulations
Webinar Presentation, June 2008, Energy & Environment Intelligence Briefing. ICF Senior Vice President Joel Bluestein will provide an update on U.S. state and federal developments on greenhouse gas (GHG) regulation. He will review the status of development, likely coverage, program structure, and potential implications and interactions of the various programs proposed or currently under development. The discussion will include recent developments on the Lieberman/Warner bill, updates on state and regional activity and a discussion of the relationship between a possible U.S. program and the international carbon offset market.
ICF International's Voluntary Carbon Offsets Market Outlook
Webinar Presentation, April 2008, Energy & Environment Intelligence Briefing. ICF Senior Vice President Craig Ebert and Project Manager Alexandre Marty discuss ICF International's new study of the small but maturing market offers an in-depth analysis of the opportunities, players, trends, and barriers characterizing the voluntary carbon offset market now and to 2012.
ICF's Green Business Brochure
The green business team at ICF helps leading companies develop and implement green strategies that are right for their business. From energy efficiency and environmental sustainability to carbon footprints and credit monetization, ICF’s team has deep expertise in supporting some of the world’s best-known brands as they navigate an increasingly complex array of environmental options and opportunities.
Implications of Proposed Canadian Regulatory Framework for Decreasing GHG
ICF International has examined the implications of the Canadian Government’s proposed regulatory framework for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has developed a tool that will enable companies to better predict the cost to comply. Under the Regulatory Framework for Air Emissions enacted in April 2007, companies are required to reduce their GHG emissions on an intensity basis by 18 percent from a 2006 baseline by 2010 and continue to make intensity improvements of 2 percent each year until 2015. With the government keen to see investment in carbon abatement stay in Canada, future carbon prices in the domestic market are of particular interest to companies with Canadian operations.
Incorporating Energy Efficiency into Affordable Housing Projects
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) continues to prioritize development and rehabilitation projects that incorporate energy efficiency measures. This quarter’s featured resource is a guide developed by ICF for PJs to encourage efficiency in projects funded through the HOME Program. The guide contains general information about energy efficiency measures as well as programs local governments can use to encourage developers to incorporate these measures in the development process. It also offers specific information about energy savings and cost savings associated with efficiency measures in specific climate zones, including: CA Central Valley Climate Zone; CA Bay Area Climate Zone; Mountainous Climate Zone; and Desert Climate Zone.
Issues and Challenges in Developing a U.S. CO2 Storage Infrastructure
Webinar Presentation, December 2008, Energy & Environment Intelligence Briefing. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is widely seen as a critical component of aggressive GHG reduction strategies. The principal technical, economic and regulatory challenges of CCS are related to the capture and storage phase of the process and considerable research into these areas is ongoing. By contrast little analytical work has focused on the pipeline system for transporting CO
2 from capture sites to storage sites. This study provides some initial information and insights on the size, configuration, costs, timing, commercial structure, and regulation of U.S. and Canadian pipeline systems to transport CO
2 for storage.
It's Not That Hard Being Green
This June 2008 Guest Column for the Web site
WFC Resources was written by Margery Leveen Sher of ICF International and discusses the bottom-line benefits of companies becoming green and the importance of this issue to millennial-generation recruits to the workforce.
More Action Than Meets the Eye?
Written by Bishal Thapa and Ritika Goel of ICF International, the opinion piece was published in the September 2008 edition of
Environmental Finance . India's keenly awaited National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was released in June 2008, outlining India's domestic agenda for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and proposed policies and measures to achieve the outlined objectives. The release took on additional significance in the context of international climate change negotiations. While international observers were quick to dismiss the NAPCC, the article takes an in-depth look at how the NAPCC marks a significant change in India's position with a much stronger vision for domestic action, and how this change has the possibility of bringing about an integrated and comprehensive carbon strategy for the Indian economy.
Offsetting 101: An Overview of Options
September 2008. Due to the heightened awareness of climate change, companies and governments are taking an increasingly significant interest in determining their greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts and are undertaking approaches to reduce their carbon footprint. Worldwide, public and private sector entities are designing and implementing energy reduction measures, such as energy efficiency, and investing in renewable energy. Increasingly, many companies and governments are considering and investing in carbon offsets and carbon neutrality efforts as a way to mitigate their GHG impact and positively affect their image in the eyes of employees, as well as customers and shareholders.
OPR Issues Interim Guidance on How to Address Climate Change under CEQA
November 2008. The California Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) has issued a Technical Advisory memorandum providing interim guidance on how lead agencies should address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change impacts in CEQA documents. The advisory, entitled "CEQA and Climate Change: Addressing Climate Change through California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Review" provides OPR’s current perspectives on this important and rapidly evolving topic. The advisory, which is available at OPR's web site, will serve as provisional guidance until the Resources Agency adopts formal amendments to the State CEQA Guidelines in early 2010.
Overview of HCFC Consumption and Available Alternatives For Article 5 Countries
Prepared by ICF International, April 2008, for the European Commission DG-Research and Development. ICF developed a white paper for developing countries that graphically depicts the consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) under the Montreal Protocol phaseout schedules and summarizes the various alternatives in the refrigeration and air conditioning end uses. This white paper is intended to serve as a quick, easy-to-use reference for developing countries in planning and implementing their phaseout of HCFCs.
Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources (SAP 4.4)
Prepared by ICF International for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, June 2008. ICF International provided support to EPA in developing Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.4, one of 21 Synthesis and Assessment Products (SAPs) called for in the strategic plan of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). The report is designed to help reduce the potential impact of climate change on estuaries, forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and other sensitive ecosystems, by identifying strategies to protect the environment as these changes occur. ICF assisted in developing the content and substance of the report, identified and analyzed key climate change impacts and adaptation, developed supporting maps and graphics, and planned and assisted in facilitating six 3-day stakeholder workshops.
Reaffirming Faith in Carbon
Published in
Business Standard (India) , December 28, 2008. Bishal Thapa, ICF International, and Mahua Acharya, ArcelorMittal, review trends in carbon markets in the wake of the economic crisis and assess its implications for India. The authors argue that despite the uncertainties, international carbon markets offer strong opportunities for Indian project developers.
Strategic Communication: Raising the Profile of Corporate Sustainability Efforts
August 2008. Written by Tony Silva, Cody Taylor, and Billy Grayson of ICF International, this white paper discusses green marketing and legitimate green claims. While many companies have built strong reputations as leaders in sustainability, others have been accused of “greenwashing.” Greenwashing refers to communications efforts that misrepresent, overstate, or exclude environmental information. Such claims damage credibility with investors, employees, and prospective employees. The authors examine best practices around effective green marketing and ways to avoid greenwashing.
The Broader Connection between Public Transportation, Energy Conservation and Greenhouse Gas Reduction
This February 2008 study was prepared by ICF International in conjunction with Dr. Pat Mokhtarian for the
American Public Transportation Association (APTA) , with funding from the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). Based on data from the National Household Travel Survey 2001, the study found a significant correlation between public transit availability and reduced automobile travel, independent of travel use. This secondary effect results in lower total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) even when people are not substituting automobile use with transit use. The presence of public transportation results in more efficient land use patterns in community development. This allows areas to support more travel with fewer roadways in less space and saves 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline, reduces CO
2 emissions, and lowers overall energy consumption. A 2007 ICF study assessed the total number of VMT required to replace transit trips and the direct petroleum savings attributable to public transportation.
The Road to Carbon Neutral: ENERGY STAR for Homes and Beyond
Prepared by David Meisegeier and Dean Gamble of ICF International, along with Sam Rashkin, R.A., and Glenn Chinery of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR for Homes, August 2008. This paper, prepared for the 2008 American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, presents an iterative framework for the development of residential energy efficiency specifications, including strategies to promote leading-edge technologies with high energy and carbon savings potentials that are not yet cost-effective or market-ready on a national basis.
Understanding Mercury in CFLs and Lamp Recycling
Published in the January 2008 issue of
Lightrays , a publication of the
American Lighting Association , by Chris Primous of ICF International. Widespread use of compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) in lighting fixtures can save a tremendous amount of our nation’s resources. CFLs use three-quarters less energy than standard incandescent lamps, and if every American replaced just one incandescent lamp with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, it would be roughly the equivalent to preventing greenhouse gas emissions of 800,000 cars. However, by design, all CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury, an environmental hazard that can pose health risks upon exposure. This article examines what consumers should understand about the hazard and what steps can be taken to ensure proper disposal and recycling.
Voluntary Carbon Offsets Market Outlook
February 2008. The market for voluntary carbon offsets is small but maturing rapidly.
ICF International's new study analyzes the market drivers, assesses the impediments affecting growth in the market, and presents scenarios outlining how the market may evolve to 2010. The study also examines the impact of some of the emerging international standards and verification protocols.
2007 Publications
A Tough Puzzle—Parsing Out the Dramatic Challenges of Today’s Integrated Resource Planning
By Elliot Roseman and Basak Uluca of ICF International, and published in Edison Electric Institute's
Electric Perspectives , July/August 2007. Utility Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) and long-term internal planning have been gaining momentum in recent years. IRPs were popular in the 1980s and '90s and fell into disuse in restructured states, as IRPs were generally thought not to be necessary in competitive markets. Today, IRP and longer-term internal utility planning are regaining popularity in both traditional and deregulated states. However, today’s IRPs are more complicated and sophisticated and must take into account a much wider spectrum of issues, including energy efficiency, renewables, transmission planning, regional resources, climate change, and risk. This article discusses the complexities and the differences of today’s IRPs from those in the past, and how utilities can best undertake such necessary planning.
Banks Warm to the Climate Issue
Published in
Environmental Finance , November 2007, by Natalia Gorina of ICF International. This article evaluates the current involvement of banks in the carbon markets. The article presents the drivers for involvement and the most innovative climate-related banking products and services, including products in the retail, commodities, investment banking, and corporate banking areas. Finally the characteristics of successful climate strategies developed by banks are described.
CDM in China and India: Different Challenges Ahead
Published in
Point Carbon CDM & JI Monitor , October 31, 2007, by Natalia Gorina of ICF International. This article compares the development of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in India and China, the two leading countries in the world pipeline of CDM credits. The article highlights the differences in the types of projects, CDM institutional settings, market behavior, and the challenges faced by the two countries in the future.
EPA SmartWay Continues To Drive Success
Written by Buddy Polovick of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Joseph Aamidor of ICF International. This article, published in the September 2007 issue of
Food Logistics , profiles the trucking fleets of Kraft Foods and Perdue and describes steps they have taken to reduce their fuel consumption and reduce their emissions. Both companies participate in EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, a voluntary program designed to help companies in the freight industry save fuel and reduce their emissions.
Forecasting Phase-Two Prices—Looking for Reductions in All the Right Places
Published in Point Carbon’s
Carbon Market Europe , July 2007, by Alexandre Marty and Etienne Gabel of ICF International. This article considers where the fundamental equilibriums between supply and demand for CO
2 emission reductions will lie for the second phase of the European Union (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme, and what can be deduced for EU allocation (EUA) price forecasts over the period 2008-2012. Although views are often shared on the allowances shortfall and on the supply distribution of Kyoto-based credits, there are diverging assessments of the ability for domestic emission reductions, especially from the power sector. ICF analyzes the opportunities for such domestic emission reductions and derive EUA price forecasts using
ICF International’s InCaP tool .
Gourmet Credits: Refining the Swiss Carbon Cheese
Published in
Jahresbericht 2007 IWÖ-SHG , Institut für Wirtschaft und Ökologie, Universität St. Gallen, by ICF's Steffen Brunner. This commentary looks at the quality of corporate carbon offsetting programs in Switzerland. Offsetting can bear considerable reputational risk if not done properly, and credibility remains a major concern of the offsetting business and its clients. Credible standards that quantify and verify emission reductions are therefore essential. Bearing in mind the importance of standards, it is startling how little attention many Swiss credit buyers pay to this issue. In fact, only a few of the firms engaged in offsetting disclose information on the specific standards used. Credibility remains the key issue in this growing market, and the Swiss economy has a lot to lose if half-hearted carbon offsetting damages its reputation as a world leader in quality and trustworthiness.
Guide to Carbon Procurement Vehicles: Investor's Guide 2007
In preparation for the Kyoto commitment period, the past few years have seen a multitude of new carbon purchasing vehicles launched, offering companies another means of participating in the carbon market. ICF has updated its
comprehensive study that enables investors to understand the characteristics of carbon procurement vehicles and make qualified decisions when (a) buying or selling carbon credits to these entities or (b) investing for compliance or voluntary reasons. The study is based on in-depth interviews with carbon funds managers and thorough analysis of publicly available information. Procurement vehicles are analysed in-depth according to evaluation criteria differentiated for investors, buyers, and sellers of carbon credits.
How to Save the World
Published in
Washington SmartCEO , December 2007, by Buzz McClain. This interview with ICF CEO
Sudhakar Kesavan describes ICF's consulting work in energy, climate change, and emergency management, and the firm's mission to tackle global issues with a social conscience. The article describes Kesavan's roots in engineering and his rise through the ranks at ICF, as well as the company's beginning as a venture capital firm and transition to a publicy held, international consulting business.
ICF International's Update on U.S. GHG Regulatory Initiatives
Webinar Presentation, December 2007, Energy & Environment Intelligence Briefing. ICF Senior Vice President Joel Bluestein will provide an update on U.S. state and federal developments on greenhouse gas (GHG) regulation. He will review the status of development, likely coverage, program structure, and potential implications and interactions of the various programs proposed or currently under development. The discussion will include recent developments on the Lieberman/Warner bill, news from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Bali, and possible regulatory responses to court decisions on GHG regulation.
Regional Resource Planning Makes Sense
By Elliot Roseman of ICF International and Sandra Hochstetter, Chair, Arkansas Public Service Commission, and published in
EnergyPulse , February 1, 2007. This article identifies the growing trend in integrated resource planning (IRP) among regulated utilities, but goes one step future. With the advent of regional wholesale markets, large regional baseload and renewable generation resources, climate change and other emissions considerations, and regional transmission planning by regional transmission organizations (RTO), the authors argue that "Regional Resource Planning" (RRP) would be a substantial improvement in optimizing the resource mix. Importantly, RRP would not usurp state regulatory authority—rather, it would be sponsored by existing regional regulatory groups and organizations, and would provide regional resource and cost analysis that state regulators could use to better determine what makes sense for their states and the region as a whole. The authors enumerate the key elements of the RRP concept, as well as how to implement the process. Given the huge need for electric industry investment that the United States is facing nationwide over the next 10-20 years, the time has come for an alternative that would optimize investment, achieve synergies, maximize consumer benefit, and augment regional information sharing. The time has come for RRP.
Technology Drives Methane Emissions Down, Profits Up
Published in
Oil & Gas Journal , August 13, 2007, by Brian Gillis of ICF International and consultants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Heath Consultants, TransCanada, and Occidental Oil & Gas. Operators in all oil and gas industry sectors are finding that greenhouse gas emissions management is a new revenue source in the current market environment. This article reports on a range of projects applicable to a diverse set of sites worldwide that convert methane emissions from an environmental responsibility into a company resource. For each project example, the operator realized positive economic results on the project investment. Marginal abatement cost curves relate these individual projects to the remaining potential for such projects in selected countries.
Transportation Demand Management Programs as an Emissions Reduction Strategy: New Challenges and Opportunities
February 2007. ICF International releases analysis highlighting the potential role of transportation demand management (TDM) strategies in reducing multiple air pollutants. TDM strategies reduce motor vehicle emissions primarily by decreasing vehicle travel and encouraging the use of other transportation modes, such as transit, bicycling, or walking; increasing vehicle occupancy through carpooling or vanpooling; eliminating vehicle trips, through strategies such as telecommuting and compressed work weeks; reducing vehicle trip lengths through better urban design and land use mixing; and linking vehicle trips. In addition, TDM strategies also can encourage shifts from peak periods to less congested periods, thereby reducing travel delay and idling.
2006 Publications
Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Analysis Techniques for Transportation Projects
Prepared for American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) by ICF under NCHRP Project 25-25 Task 17, May 2006. This report identifies a total of 17 tools or methods that can be used to analyze the GHG implications of transportation projects. Existing tools are categorized into three groups: transportation GHG calculation tools, transportation/emissions strategy analysis tools, and energy/economic forecasting tools. These tools are designed to estimate travel and emissions impacts of specific types of transportation strategies, based on inputs about transportation programs or strategies (e.g., type of strategy, other parameters of specific strategies). Most of the analytical strength of these tools is in the estimation of travel impacts; the CO
2 calculation procedures are generally very simple, and often do not account for complex implications of vehicle operating characteristics on emissions. These tools include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Commuter Model and the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Intelligent Transportation Systems Deployment Analysis System (IDAS).
Cooling Down Hot Air
Published in
Environmental Finance , May 2006, by Natalia Gorina of ICF International. This article considers how Russia and Ukraine could monetize their massive surpluses of Kyoto Protocol Assigned Amount Units (AAU). Surplus AAUs are quantified and their impact on the price of carbon is evaluated using
ICF International's InCaP tool . Then, the benefits and current barriers for implementation of Green Investment Schemes in Russia and Ukraine are analyzed, as well as the option of converting some surplus AAUs into Joint Implementation Track 1 Emission Reduction Units.
Fly Ash Use and Greenhouse Gas Benefits
Published in
Coal People Magazine , August 2006, by Victoria Thompson of ICF International, and Henry Ferland and John Sager of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This article examines the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction benefits of using fly ash, a byproduct of coal combustion, as a replacement for Portland cement in concrete production. In particular, it looks at recent innovative U.S. commodity contracts, which discuss the possible future allocation of carbon credits associated with the fly ash being sold. Although no carbon price is currently associated with fly ash use, the contracts recognize that this may become the case in the future and want to settle the issue of ownership of credits.
Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases
Since non-CO
2 greenhouse gases can be relatively inexpensive to reduce compared to carbon dioxide (CO
2 ), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has focused on incorporating international non-CO
2 greenhouse gas mitigation into analysis and policy discussions. ICF prepared a global cost analysis of all non-CO
2 greenhouse gases for EPA (EPA Report 430-R-06-005) using a bottom-up, engineering cost approach. The results of this analysis are marginal abatement curves (MAC) that reflect aggregated break-even prices for implementing mitigation options in a given sector and region. The MACs allow for improved understanding of the mitigation potential for non-CO
2 sources, as well as inclusion of non-CO
2 greenhouse gas mitigation in economic modeling of multigas mitigation strategies.
Including Aviation into the EU ETS: Impact on EU Allowance Prices
ICF International was commissioned by the
UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and UK Department for Transport (DfT) to provide a quantitative assessment of the impacts of including the aviation sector into Phase II of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (2008-2012). The February 2006 report examines the impacts of including aviation within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme commencing in 2008 and the sector's impact on EU Allowances prices for the period 2008-2012. ICF International used its proprietary
International Carbon Pricing Tool (InCaP) to provide this rigorous analysis. The report was used by the government in order to inform policy development and to provide a response to any European Commission proposal on aviation's inclusion within the Scheme.
Solid Waste Management and Greenhouse Gases: A Life-Cycle Assessment of Emissions and Sinks
Prepared by ICF for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Solid Waste, EPA530-R-06-004, September 2006. In the 21st century, management of municipal solid waste continues to be an important environmental challenge. Climate change is also a serious issue, and the United States is embarking on a number of voluntary actions to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases that can intensify climate change. This report examines how municipal solid waste management and climate change are related.
The Kyoto Protocol and Its Market Mechanisms: Evaluating Their Contribution to Cleaner Energy
Published in the
AccountAbility Forum , "Energy & Accountability" (No. 9, 2006), June 2006,
Greenleaf Publishing . AccountAbility is an international organization that works to promote accountability for sustainable development. This article by Abyd Karmali of ICF International explores how well the Kyoto Protocol's market mechanisms have succeeded in stimulating greenhouse gas emission reductions in developing countries through carbon credits and whether the price signal provided by the rapidly maturing carbon market is strong enough to encourage rapid evolution toward lower carbon technologies in the global energy sector.
Trading Around the Caps
Published in
Environmental Finance , November 2006, by Natalia Gorina and Alexandre Marty of ICF International. First appeared in a supplement to the November 2006 issues of
Environmental Finance and
Carbon Finance . This article describes the dynamics between the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and Kyoto credits from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI). It highlights the interactions between demand for Kyoto credits from EU ETS participants, volume of credits actually available to be imported into the EU ETS, and caps set at Member State level on use of such credits. Beyond the apparent complexity of overall caps and the limitations they create, the article points out opportunities and ways for EU ETS participants reaching their "credit limit" to turn around the constraint by "swapping" credits for EU Allowances from less constrained entities. This option will likely trigger significant market activity and provide incentives for market intermediaries to design creative—and rewarding—compliance solutions for EU ETS participants.
2005 Publications
At What Price?
Published in
Carbon Finance , July 2005, by Abyd Karmali of ICF International. With the price of 2005-07 vintage European Union (EU) Allowances for CO
2 emissions trading between Euros 6 and 30, there is considerable speculation about the potential price for allowances during 2008-2012. This article summarizes how scenario analysis can be used to derive analytically-robust forward price estimates for CO
2 .
Best Practices in Carbon Management
Chapter by Abyd Karmali published in
The Finance of Climate Change , July 2005. A growing number of leading international companies have begun to put in place strategies to address the risks and opportunities presented by climate change. This chapter from a new book provides some of the key lessons learned from ICF International's work with around 50 companies among the Global Fortune 500.
Clearer Signals Ahead
Published in
Energy Risk Magazine , April 2005, by Abyd Karmali, Sebastian Foot, and Nazim Osmanick of ICF International. Each year has seen a new stage of maturity in the global markets for carbon emissions. Market analysts now face the analytical challenge of incorporating a price of carbon into their investment appraisals. This article provides perspective on the dynamics of carbon supply and demand during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2008-2012) and suggests implications for what the price of CO
2 might be.
Cost-Effective Methane Emissions Reductions for Small and Midsize Natural Gas Producers
Published in the
Journal of Petroleum Technology , June 2005, by Robin Petrusak and Donald Robinson of ICF International, Roger Fernandez of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Natural Gas STAR Program, and Duane Zavadil of Bill Barrett Corporation. This paper outlines methane emission reduction technologies and techniques that can be applied to various types of domestic gas production. This paper avoids a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Instead this paper offers tested and easy-to-use analytical tools to help small-to medium-sized producers make economic decisions on equipment selection and operating practices that reduce methane emissions and are appropriate for their region.
Curbing Carbon Dioxide with Cutting Edge Supply Chain Partnerships
Published in
Inside Supply Management® , January 2005, Vol. 16, No. 1, by Jan Canterbury of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Anne Choate of ICF International. The article discusses opportunities for companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout the product supply chain. In particular, this article summarizes the outcomes of a workshop held in Detroit, Michigan, where members of 13 top U.S. companies in the automotive, aluminum, and chemical industries met to discuss innovative partnerships that could lead to reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide and other GHGs.
Determination of the Impact of Waste Management Activities on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 2005 Update
Prepared by ICF for Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada. This 2005 report represents the culmination of a series of projects to develop and refine life-cycle GHG emission factors for specific materials commonly occurring in the Canadian residential and industrical, commercial, and institutional (IC&I) waste stream. The original report, “Determination of the Impact of Waste Management Activities on Greenhouse Gas Emissions” (ICF 2001), described the net GHG emissions for selected materials, across a partial life cycle, ending with various waste management fates. This 2005 update presents the efforts of previous work and results of research undertaken more recently. The most recent research has included the addition of several materials that are common in the residential and IC&I waste streams and where the potential of alternative waste management options are of interest to Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): electronics, white goods, copper wire, and tires. In addition, this report reflects efforts to improve the modeling of paper recycling by simulating open-loop recycling, i.e., where the second generation products differ from the product being recycled. The emission factors provided in this report also reflect the use of more recent data to calculate emissions from electricity use.
Emission Reduction Opportunities for Non-CO2 Gases in California
Prepared by ICF for California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research Program, July 2005. The report provides an analysis of mitigation options for sources of non-CO2 greenhouse gases, including natural gas and petroleum systems, landfills, manure management systems, electric power systems, refrigeration and air conditioning systems, and other sources. The purpose of this study is to provide the state with information on the costs and benefits of specific options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from these sources. The results of this study are reflected in the form of marginal abatement cost curves.
Estimating Transportation-Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Use in New York State
Prepared by ICF for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting, March 18, 2005. ICF completed this report in partnership with the New York State Department of Transportation that assessed the transportation-related components of the New York State Energy Plan. The report developed a baseline and projection for energy use and CO2 emissions for the state and by sector, and for each metropolitan planning organization (MPO) in the state by mode. The report also examined MPO experiences and responses to the new energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) analysis contained in the state energy plan and evaluated potential energy savings and GHG reductions from selected transportation strategies.
Methane Emissions and Reduction Opportunities in the Gas Processing Industry
Published in the
Oil & Gas Journal , June 13, 2005, by Donald Robinson and Vineet Aggarwal of ICF International and Roger Fernandez of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The U.S. EPA’s Natural Gas STAR Program was implemented in the early 1990s as part of the U.S. Federal Government’s Climate Change Strategy. Gas STAR is a public-private partnership aimed at voluntary methane emissions reductions. Based on adopted best management practices for cost-effective methane emission reductions, companies who have joined the Gas STAR Program have reported saving over one billion cubic feet of methane emissions in the year 2000. This paper identifies new opportunities for methane emission reductions from the gas processing sector.
OPS3: Progressing Toward Environmental Results
June 2005. ICF completed a study to assess the extent to which the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) has achieved, or is on its way toward achieving its main objectives, with a focus on program/project outcomes, the sustainability and replicability of those outcomes, and progress toward impacts. More specifically, through a review of existing GEF literature and data, as well as on-the-ground interviews and data collection in approximately 15 countries, the study (a) provided an overall assessment of the impacts and other results achieved since the GEF restructuring in 1994 until June 2004; (b) assessed the effectiveness of GEF policies, strategies, and programs; (c) examined the main factors influencing the achievement of GEF objectives and considered possible shortcomings to the achievement of objectives; and (d) developed key lessons and provided clear and actionable recommendations to the GEF Council on how to render GEF support more effective in contributing to global environmental benefits.
The Impacts of Clean Coal and Gasification Incentives
As a result of the incentives in the Act, the first few clean-coal and gasification projects will be in a strong position to come to fruition, and those pursuing such projects should accelerate their development efforts. The Act provides substantial amounts in direct grants, loan guarantees and accelerated depreciation, divided among different technologies and types of fuel, to make this option a reality. By encouraging reductions in the level of emissions, these incentives (and the target emission reductions in the Act) will provide part of the response the U.S. can give to critics of its position on global warming.
The Price of Carbon in 2008-2012: Scenarios for Investment Appraisal
ICF International has developed a comprehensive report based on a fundamental analysis to forecast CO
2 prices under several scenarios. Grounded in leading-edge analysis, the study was developed using sector- and country-specific marginal abatement cost curves for all gases and our proprietary tool, the
Integrated Planning Model (IPM®) , a dynamic, linear, integrated model of the power sector that has supported more than 100 Gigawatts (GW) of power market investments in the last four years alone.
The U.S. Phaseout of HCFCs: Projected Servicing Needs in the U.S. Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Sector
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) are a class of chemicals that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, leading to overexposure of ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the earth’s surface. Excessive UV radiation damages biological systems and causes malignant melanoma and other skin cancers, cataracts, and harm to certain crops and marine organisms. As a Party to the Montreal Protocol, the United States is subject to a cap on the consumption of HCFCs in an international effort to protect the stratospheric ozone layer. In projecting servicing needs, ICF completed this report that examines the primary sources of HCFC-22 to service and maintain equipment after 2010, which include the amounts recovered from converted or retired equipment that are subsequently recycled or reclaimed (i.e., “recovered”) and the limited virgin production and import quantities distributed through allowances.
Will the Combustion Plant Directive Ignite Trading?
Published in
Environmental Finance , April 2005, by Kim Keats Martínez of ICF International. Despite the success of U.S. cap-and-trade schemes in reducing the cost of NO
x and SO
2 reductions, Europe's power sector seems less inclined to embrace trading. The article reviews the limited experience with NO
x and SO
2 emissions certificate trading in Europe and whether the European Union's Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCDP)—which sets Emission Limit Values (ELV) starting in 2008—will boost implementation of National Emissions Reduction Plans (NERP) for member states.
2004 Publications
Allocation of Carbon Emission Certificates in the Power Sector: How Generators Profit from Grandfathered Rights
Written by Kim Keats Martínez of ICF International and Karsten Neuhoff of the Department of Applied Economics (DAE), University of Cambridge, as part of the Cambridge-MIT (CMI) Electricity Project, DAE Working Paper Series, September 2004. The authors assess the impact of the European Union's Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS)—Europe's cap-and-trade scheme for CO
2 due to kick off from 2005—on a typical pulverized coal-fired power station and more modern gas-fired combined cycle plant.
An Evaluation of the Present Clean Development Mechanism
Written by Sebastian Foot of ICF International, this article was featured in Environmental Law and Management (Environmental L aw and Management, Volume 16, Issue 3, 2004, Lawtext Publishing, ISSN 1067 6058 , titled " An Evaluation of the Clean Development Mechanism ." The a uthor presents the evolution of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)—one of the three market-based flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Pro tocol designed to tackle climate change and global warming. The report highlights CDM's transformation as it matures compared to the original mandate it was designed to meet , as a tool for Member States to help meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction quotas. The author notes that the CDM has matured through a combination of expanded modalities, reached through international negotiation and the development of stakeholder tools, which is leading to increased standardization of the CDM framework, although at the cost of numerous failed projects. The article highlights the role of the CDM Executive Board (EB) and suggests that it is in a unique position to improve procedures, increase market potential and establish greater trust with participants. The article forms part of a larger study being undertaken by Mr. Foot of the issues surrounding the CDM, which will lead to further publications on this subject in the future.
See Part 2 above.
CHP Emissions Calculator
The CHP Emissions Calculator (EC), launched in August 2004 by
EEA, an ICF International Company , is a tool to estimate the net air pollution emissions from a small CHP system. The EC performs calculation for NO
x , SO
2 , CO
2 , and mercury (Hg). This
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet calculates net emissions based on information provided by the user and default information provided by the system. The net emissions are calculated from three primary components: on-site emissions from the CHP system; displaced emissions from on-site thermal production (i.e., steam boiler); displaced emissions from off-site generation of electricity. The net emissions equal the emissions from CHP minus the displaced emissions from thermal production and electricity production.
Determining the Share of National Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Emissions Trading in Ireland
Prepared for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Ireland, February 2004. Based on a study by ICF International and Byrne Ó Cléirigh regarding the distribution of the national greenhouse gas emissions budget, the Government of Ireland decided to allocate 67.5 million allowances over a three-year period, beginning in January 2005. The pilot emissions trading program is the first step in preparing Ireland and the European Union for global GHG emissions trading under the Kyoto Protocol starting in 2008.
Heat-Seeking Missives
Reprinted with permission from
FOREIGN POLICY #145 (November/December 2004)
www.foreignpolicy.com . © 2004 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Written by Christa Clapp of ICF International. A recent study by McKitrick and Michaels disputes the evidence of climate change accelerated by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. This article reviews the study against overwhelming scientific evidence and international consensus, concluding that dissent over minor data distorts the climate change policy debate in the United States.
ICAO Exploring Development of a Trading Scheme for Emissions from Aviation
By ICF International's Abyd Karmali and Melinda Harris; published in
ICAO Journal , May 2004. Emissions trading can be an effective means of reaching environmental objectives while minimizing the financial burdens on participants. ICF International recently carried out a study for the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) that examined options for an emissions trading system to cover international emissions of greenhouse gases from the aviation sector.
International Opportunities for Cost-Effective Reductions of Methane Emissions
Written by Don Robinson and Daniel Lieberman of ICF International, and Roger Fernandez of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this article was featured in
Oil & Gas Journal , July 12, 2004, under the title
"U.S. Natural Gas STAR Program Success Points to Global Opportunities to Cut Methane Emissions Cost-Effectively." The authors present numerous opportunities currently available to reduce methane emissions in countries with large and/or growing natural gas industries. Many of these options can reduce emissions while simultaneously increasing profits or decreasing costs. The article quantifies these opportunities, examines emerging emission reduction markets that can offer an additional revenue stream beyond increased gas sales, and includes some actual examples of international projects that will achieve methane emission reductions and claim credits under international schemes. The analysis is an example of global marginal abatement cost studies ICF International has performed for the EPA Natural Gas STAR Program, a public-private partnership with the U.S. natural gas industry.
Part 2: An Evaluation of the Present Clean Development Mechanism
Written by Sebastian Foot of ICF International, this article was featured in
Environmental Law and Management (Environmental Law and Management, Volume 16, Issue 4, 2004, Lawtext Publishing, ISSN 1067 6058), titled
"An Evaluation of the Clean Development Mechanism (Part 2)." The author discusses the potential for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)—one of the three market-based flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol, from the project validation perspective. An independent third party must validate that each CDM project meets the criteria of the Kyoto Protocol, Marrakech Accords, and subsequent CDM Executive Board decision. Consequently the validation process offers a unique insight into the practical workings of the CDM and its governing bodies. By considering the mechanism in such a context it has been possible to highlight issues in the CDM’s development and the implications for other emissions trading schemes. The author suggests that regulatory controls should be balanced in proportion to the probable size of the emissions trading scheme to ensure marginal administrative costs and maintain strict quality controls.
See Part 1 below.
The Bottomline on Buying Recycled
Published in
Inside Supply Management, March 2004, Vol. 15, No. 3, by Jan Canterbury of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Pamela Mathis of ICF International. ©Copyright Institute for Supply Management™. This article discusses the business impact of using recycled content rather than virgin materials in manufactured or purchased products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change. The article describes the EPA's ReCon spreadsheet calculator tool, which can be used to quantify the benefits of waste prevention and resource conservation efforts and show that what’s good for the environment can also be good for business in terms of bottomline profits and long-term shareholder value.
2003 Publications
Allocation Promises EU Power Shake-Up
Published in
Environmental Finance March 2003, by Abyd Karmali. ©Environmental Finance 2003. All rights reserved. Used by permission. This article discusses how the European Union's Emissions Trading Directive will possibly result in the most significant change to competitiveness within the European power sector since the single market for electricity in Europe was launched in the mid-1990s. The directive forces the power generation sector to begin operating under constraints of greenhouse gas emissions. Impacts will include changes in the wholesale power prices for electricity in each of the Member States and significant changes to the fundamental values of specific power plant assets.
Emissions Trading and EU Power Markets: Allowance Allocation—The Critical Determinant of Value
ICF International’s 2003 analysis of the European power sector, which accounts for more than 30 percent of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Europe, demonstrates the changing scenarios that will affect company strategies as GHG constraints are introduced in Europe, beginning as early as 2005. The shift to natural gas, the increased value of existing gas-fired assets, and the likely retirement of coal-fired assets are just a few of the possible implications discussed in the study. In our assessments, ICF International employs its proprietary
Integrated Planning Model® (IPM®), a dynamic linear programming model that forecasts the least-cost means of meeting electricity generation energy and capacity requirements while complying with European Union carbon emissions constraints.
Emissions: Where are the Traders?
Written by John Blaney and published in
Public Utilities Fortnightly , June 15, 2003. Significant obstacles stand in the way of achieving cost saving that should accrue to market-based emissions trading policies. This article examines the challenges facing the emissions trading markets, including the financial crisis gripping the energy industry and a halt in electric market restructuring. As a result of these challenges, market-based emissions trading programs must try to function within a patchwork quilt, with each state operating by its own set of rules. Learn ICF International's focus on compliance strategies that minimize near-term earnings impacts.
European Power and Carbon Markets Outlook 2009-2030
ICF International’s European Power and Carbon Markets Outlook 2009-2030 provides market and policy analyses along with price projections for European wholesale power and carbon allowances. Two individual chapters, focusing on the power sector and the Emission Trading Scheme, address the impacts of the current economic downturn and the ambitious long-term renewable and climate change targets recently approved by the European Union. Companies can customize their study by purchasing an individual chapter or the entire integrated study. Subscribers receive electronic and paper copies of the report, a free on-site energy and carbon markets seminar, and a discounted-price valuation study of power sector assets.
Winning in the European Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme: Insights for Power Generators
Published in
WorldPower 2003 , by Abyd Karmali and Neil Cornelius. ©WorldPower 2003. All rights reserved. Used by permission. This article discusses a new ICF International study, which illustrates that greenhouse gas emissions policy is likely to be the biggest determinant of power plant asset value in the European power generation sector. Power stations in the United Kingdom will make more money with carbon emissions trading—thus bringing the market back into balance and strengthening wholesale prices. The critical variable that determines who wins and by how much is the permit allocation mechanism. Market participants would be well advised to undertake detailed analysis to ensure they obtain a positive outcome from the permit allocation decision.
2002 Publications
Average Displaced Emissions Rate (ADER): Approach and Methodology
Prepared by Tom Kerr and Rick Morgan of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Juanita Haydel and Bishal Thapa of ICF International, April 2002. EPA Climate Protection Partnerships Division and ICF International have developed a new approach to estimating the potential for displaced emissions, which accounts for the intergrated response of power markets to changes in electricity demand/supply and may be applied to a wide range of energy efficiency measures and clean energy technologies.
Emissions Forecasting for the Southern Appalachian Mountain Initiative
Prepared by Jay Hall and Matt Howes of ICF International, along with Tom Elmore of Land of Sky for the 2002 American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, August 2002. This paper discusses a project funded by the Southern Appalachian Mountain Initiative (SAMI) to assess energy savings and greenhouse gas reduction potentials for commercial and residential buildings in that region. The project evaluated the potential energy and emissions impacts, as well as the cost effectiveness, of various packages of energy efficiency measures and incentive strategies.
Energy Efficiency Strategies for Freight Trucking: Potential Impact on Fuel Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
From
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board , No.1815, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2002, pp. 11-18, by Jeffrey Ang-Olson and Will Schroeer of ICF International
. Trucking is the dominant mode of domestic freight and offers a substantial opportunity to improve transportation energy efficiency and reduce the emission of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG). This report assesses eight trucking strategies to improve efficiency and reduce emissions through voluntary actions under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Ground Freight Transportation Initiative.
2001 Publications
2000 Publications
Crediting Energy Efficiency Measures Under Air Emissions Programs
By Steve Fine and Chloe Weil. Reprinted with permission from American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, ©2000, Washington, D.C. Published in Proceedings of the ACEEE 2000 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, 10.99-10.110. For information about the ACEEE proceedings, contact
http://www.aceee.org. This paper focuses on measurement and verification challenges that an entity such as a state would face when trying to design a system to credit energy efficiency measures either under a cap and trade or an open inventory system. It also examines several of the tools and protocol that have been developed to support the crediting of energy efficiency and renewable measures.
Marketing Green and Banking Carbon
By Todd Davis, Steven Fine, and Phil Mihlmester (2000). This paper defines green power resources and offers a rationale for commodity differentiation via this resource. The growth and potential of green power markets is examined, with reference to experience in key open market states. Potential for higher retail margins on green power products is also examined. Finally, the paper presents an overview of the complex issue of carbon credits associated with green power.
1999 Publications
U.S. Methane Emissions 1999-2020: Inventories, Projections, and Opportunities for Reductions
September 1999. This analysis of methane emissions, prepared by ICF International for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is the first comprehensive examination of the opportunities and costs of reducing emissions from the major U.S. sources of methane: landfills, livestock manure systems, natural gas, and coal mining. This methane analysis provides a key missing element in the debate over the economic role of other greenhouse gases in any nationwide emissions reduction strategy. An article about this study was published in
Science magazine, titled
"Costs of Multi-Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets for the USA," October 29, 1999.
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