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Articles by Romany Webb
Parties to the London Convention and Protocol Debate Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Governance
The parties to the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention) and the 1996 Protocol to that Convention (London Protocol) are meeting this week.
International Governance of mCDR: Small Steps Forward, but Much More Work to do
Late last year, members of the international community convened in London to discuss issues relating to implementation of the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (“London Convention”) and the 1996 Protocol to that Convention (“London Protocol”). Among the topics up for discussion was the application of the London Convention and Protocol to certain ocean-based climate change mitigation activities.
Upcoming Developments in International Governance of Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal
The next week has the potential to bring important developments for international governance of marine carbon dioxide removal (CDR). That’s because the parties to the London Convention and London Protocol are meeting from October 28 to November 1 in London to discuss, among other things, governance of ocean alkalinity enhancement and ocean sinking of biomass (e.g. seaweed) for carbon storage.
The ITLOS Advisory Opinion and Marine Geoengineering: More Questions, Few Answers
On May 21, 2024, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) released its long-awaited advisory opinion on climate change. The opinion was requested in 2022 by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law, which asked ITLOS to opine on States’ obligations to address climate change under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The ITLOS Advisory Opinion and Marine Geoengineering: More Questions, Few Answers
On May 21, 2024, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) released its long-awaited advisory opinion on climate change. The opinion was requested in 2022 by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law, which asked ITLOS to opine on States’ obligations to address climate change under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal for Climate Mitigation: The Legal Framework
Examining the existing legal framework for ocean carbon dioxide removal (CDR), this forward-thinking book highlights potential legal challenges and opportunities associated with using the ocean to remove and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Congress should step in to advance ocean climate solutions
The latest report from the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), reminds us that time is quickly running out to address the climate crisis. At the recent report launch, IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee said that the world is “walking when we should be sprinting” on climate action. One day later, the Biden administration called for a sprint toward ocean climate solutions. But, for that to happen, we must remove hurdles that are currently in the way. Chief among them is permitting.
The New Methane Emissions Charge: One (Limited but Important) Stick in the Inflation Reduction Act
By Romany M. Webb The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has been described as being “all carrot” and “no stick” but that is not entirely correct. It is certainly true that the IRA uses “carrots” – principally in the form of tax credits – to incentivize actions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the IRA extends and expands existing tax credits for renewable electricity production, and creates a new credit for electricity production at certain nuclear power plants.
Energy security, resilience, grid security
ENERGY SECURITYAnnouncing the Electric Resilience Toolkit Published 28 June 2022 A new Electric Resilience Toolkit aims to support policymakers and stakeholders working on issues around electric sector regulation and climate resilience planning. Such planning is essential to ensure electricity infrastructure is designed and operated in a way that accounts for the impacts of climate change—impacts that are already being felt and which will only intensify in coming years.
Announcing the Electric Resilience Toolkit
Announcing the Electric Resilience Toolkit Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Initiative on Climate Risk and Resilience Law today released an Electric Resilience Toolkit to support policymakers and stakeholders working on issues around electric sector regulation and climate resilience planning.
Key Elements of the SEC’s Proposed Climate-Related Disclosure Rule
By Romany M. Webb On Monday, March 21, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed new rules aimed at enhancing public companies’ disclosure of climate-related risks.
Evaluating Climate Risk in NEPA Reviews: Current Practices and Recommendations for Reform
Abstract This report finds that in order to meet the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirement that federal agencies take a “hard look” at the environmental effects of proposed actions, agencies must consider how the changing weather and environmental conditions brought by climate change might impact an action and alter its environmental effects.
Using the Oceans to Store CO2 Could Help Avoid Climate Catastrophe
At last month’s climate conference in Glasgow, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres declared that the global goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius was still alive, but “on life support.” Carbon dioxide removal (CDR)—the process of drawing carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and storing it on land or in the oceans—could be part of the medicine needed to bring it back to life. But, like all experimental treatments, its use presents a range of challenges.
Extreme weather is a climate change inevitability; our responses shouldn't worsen the problem
Losing power, especially in times of emergency or crisis, can be deadly. During the February winter storm in Texas, at least 11 people died and 1,400 sought treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning after using cars, outdoor grills, and similar equipment in an attempt to stay warm when the power went out during record low overnight temperatures. It’s no wonder, then, that many Texans have since rushed to buy back-up generators, leading to near half-year waitlists.
Frank
This interview with Gretchen Bakke, author of The Grid, and visiting professor of anthropology at the Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environment Systems at Humboldt University in Berlin. , Humboldt University, Berlin Germany, was conducted and condensed by franknews. This interview was originally published in February 2019. frank: I have your book here, it's such a great framing piece that simplifies something so complicated. GB: Incredibly complicated.
Biden's first 100 days: Where he stands on science
“Science will always be at the forefront of my administration.” That was President Joe BidenJoe BidenBiden prepping cybersecurity executive order in response to SolarWinds attack Photoshopped deer in Kevlar vests circulate after Biden gun control comment Majority of viewers approved of Biden address to Congress: poll MORE’s promise when he announced his pick for White House science advisor one week before taking office.
NYPSC Asked to Require Utilities to Plan for Climate Impacts
By Romany Webb On Friday, March 19, Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law joined the City of New York, Environmental Defense Fund, and Natural Resources Defense Council in petitioning the New York Public Service Commission (NYPSC) to do more to prepare for the impacts of climate change on the state’s utility systems.
The Law of Enhanced Weathering for Carbon Dioxide Removal: Legal Issues Associated with Materials Sourcing
By Romany Webb Surface mine in Arizona. Source: U.S. National Archives. Enhanced weathering is one of several proposed approaches for removing carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere. It aims to enhance natural weathering processes in which carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reacts with silicate-based rocks, eventually forming carbonate minerals (e.g., limestone).
Global Warming Will Bring More Texas Blackouts
Romany Webb & Michael Panfil The Hill February 24, 2021 / (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) The electric industry needs to recognize the undeniable: Climate change is here and it needs to be factored into their planning and decision making. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments Related Articles
Without planning, climate change will bring more Texas-style blackouts
© Getty Images Without planning, climate change will bring more Texas-style blackouts The events in Texas are a tragedy that should not have happened. Many Texans still face serious and potentially deadly conditions without power, heat or safe drinking water and they urgently need help to recover. State leaders are also demanding that it never happen again.
Without planning, climate change will bring more Texas-style blackouts
The events in Texas are a tragedy that should not have happened. Many Texans still face serious and potentially deadly conditions without power, heat or safe drinking water and they urgently need help to recover. State leaders are also demanding that it never happen again. To ensure that, they must require the electric industry to recognize the undeniable: climate change is here and it needs to be factored into their planning and decision making. That should be a no brainer.
Will FERC’s New Chair Bring a New Approach to Natural Gas Pipeline Approvals?
By Jennifer Danis & Romany Webb On Thursday, January 21, 2021, President Joe Biden appointed Richard Glick as the new chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Chairman Glick has been a FERC commissioner since November 2017, and has earned a reputation as a strong proponent of action on climate change during his tenure.
Utilities should be required to disclose their climate-related financial risks
The following is a contributed article by Justin Gundlach, a senior attorney at the Institute for Policy Integrity at NYU School of Law; Michael Panfil, a senior attorney at the Environmental Defense Fund; and Romany Webb, a senior fellow at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School.
Could the Biden Administration Cancel Oil and Gas Leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
By Romany Webb Image: Firth River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Last Thursday, December 3, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it will conduct a sale of oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) on January 6. President-Elect Biden, who has long opposed oil and gas development in ANWR, will take office two just weeks later.
California Blackouts Highlight Need to Better Plan for Climate Impacts
By Romany Webb At 6:38pm on August 14, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO)—the entity that manages much of California’s electricity grid—ordered electric utilities to initiate temporary rolling service cuts. As a result, nearly half a million customers lost electricity, some for over two hours. The following evening, over 320,000 customers lost electricity for up to ninety minutes, again due to CAISO ordered service cuts.
COVID-19 policy could lead to a spike in methane emissions
by Romany Webb, Earth Institute, Columbia University Credit: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), published on March 31, shows that global methane emissions from the oil and gas sector increased by nearly four percent from 2018 to 2019. That trend could continue in 2020 and beyond, due, in part, to the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
PHMSA’s COVID-19 Policy Could Lead to a Spike in Methane Emissions
By Romany Webb A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), published on March 31, shows that global methane emissions from the oil and gas sector increased by nearly four percent from 2018 to 2019. That trend could continue in 2020 and beyond due, in part, to the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
EPA's COVID-19 policy will further restrict public access to climate data
Credit: CC0 Public Domain On Thursday, March 26, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a temporary policy on environmental enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump’s ‘Industry First, Science Last’ Agenda Is Costing Lives
Trump’s ‘Industry First, Science Last’ Agenda Is Costing Lives President Trump speaks at a White House press briefing on March 16, 2020. Photo: D. Myles Cullen Scientists are finally receiving some much-deserved praise from the Trump administration. At a recent briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic, administration officials hailed the “great American innovators” who are working tirelessly to develop a vaccine and treatments.
Six Important Points About BLM’s Revised Methane Waste Prevention Rule
By Romany Webb On Tuesday, September 18, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) finalized changes to its so-called Methane Waste Prevention Rule (“Rule”). The Rule, which was adopted in November 2016, aimed to prevent the loss of natural gas through venting, flaring, and leaks on public lands.
Four Important Points About EPA’s Affordable Clean Energy Rule
By Dena Adler, Jessica Wentz, and Romany Webb On Wednesday, June 19, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its so-called Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule. The ACE rule repeals and replaces the 2015 Clean Power Plan (CPP) which aimed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030.
Congress can stop the war on science
For the last three weeks, thousands of government scientists have been forced to stop important research due to the federal shutdown. Research has also been interrupted at outside institutions, as the government has stopped processing grant applications, and even blocked access to data needed by scientists. Hundreds of scientists are forced to miss the American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting, an important conference that facilitates idea exchanges.
Silencing science tracker expanded to include state and local government actions
In January, Columbia's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund launched the Silencing Science Tracker (SST). As its name suggests, the SST records government attempts to prevent or restrict scientific research, education, or discussion since the November 2016 election. Initially, the SST only recorded anti-science behavior within the federal government, of which we have 161 examples.
Five Important Points About EPA’s Revised New Source Performance Standards for the Oil and Gas Industry
On Tuesday, September 11, EPA published proposed revisions to its New Source Performance Standards (2016 standards) for new and modified sources in the oil and natural gas sector. The standards, which were finalized in June 2016, formed a central plank of the Obama administration’s strategy for reducing methane emissions. EPA estimated that, as originally adopted, the 2016 standards would reduce methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations by 510,000 short tons per year.
The Trump Administration’s Continued Attack on Science
As of August 14, the federal government has attempted to censor, misrepresent, and otherwise stifle science over 150 times. We know this because, in January, the Sabin Center and Climate Science Legal Defense Fund launched the Silencing Science Tracker (SST). As its name suggests, the SST records federal government action to “silence science,” for example by restricting scientific research or the publication of scientific information, since the November 2016 election.
Five Important Points About the “SAFE Vehicle Rule”
On Thursday, August 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) jointly issued the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Rule (SAFE Vehicle Rule). The SAFE Vehicle Rule proposes changes to EPA’s greenhouse gas emissions standards and DOT’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for light duty vehicles in model years (MY) 2021 through 2025.
Carbon Pricing in New York ISO Markets: Federal and State Issues
New York’s Clean Energy Standard (“CES”), adopted in August 2016, aims to steer the state’s electricity sector away from carbon-intensive generation sources. It supports low-carbon alternatives by requiring retail electricity suppliers to purchase credits, the proceeds from which are paid to renewable and nuclear generators.
New York City, give back our choice of commute
With new reports that organizations financed by oil barons Charles and David Koch are pushing to quash local public-transit projects, it is a good time to consider the future of our transportation system here in New York. It’s no secret that our deteriorating subway system is forcing more people into cars, costing the economy billions of dollars each year from increased traffic congestion, air pollution, and other problems.
The White House's attack on scientists could manipulate public opinion
The Trump administration’s FY2019 budget, unveiled last Monday, proposes cuts in essential funding for scientific research and education. Unfortunately, this attack on science is not an isolated incident.
Climate Law Blog
Extreme weather patterns can be easily seen in floods. Severe storms, especially during the rainy season, cause record rainfall to inundate both cities and countryside alike. Storm surges, another weather abnormality, create havoc in coastline areas by pushing meters-high water from the seas towards land. Indeed, the problem of flooding is becoming more and more pervasive around the world.
New Silencing Science Tracker Launched by the Sabin Center and Climate Science Legal Defense Fund
Just a year into his term, President Trump has already gained a reputation for being staunchly anti-science, with his administration recently described as showing “greater distain for science” than any other in modern history. Every day, it seems, there is a new report of the administration reducing public access to scientific information, cutting funding for scientific research, or downplaying the views of qualified scientists.
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