Will Brownsberger — State Senator, Democrat, 2d Suffolk and Middlesex District

In this legislative session in Massachusets, we are not expecting much new legislative progress on energy issues, but at the federal level legislation is front and center. Congressman Ed Markey and Energy Secretary Chu seem to be leading us in a good direction.

Smaller housing units in high density areas are more efficient from both the building carbon use perspective and the vehicle miles travelled perspective.

Over the 2007-2008 session, I have spoken out and taken positions on many larger issues, but some of my most satisfying accomplishments have come from lower profile legislative work.

Our goal should be to create an economy substantially independent of the burning of fossil fuels.

NASA scientest Jim Hansen argues that the concensus estimates of the rate and risks of global warming are understated.

Greenhouse gases in Massachusetts come in roughly equal parts from power generation, homes and buildings (mostly from heat, but also industrial processes), and transportation. Currently Massachusetts is moving forward very strongly on the first two sectors.

It ain’t over until it’s over.  The 2007-2008 legislative session ended in the wee hours of August 1.  The final twists yielded stunning successes for environmental advocates.

China is a gigantic wild card with the potential to substantially extend the growth of carbon emissions world wide, even if developed nations get their emissions under control.  China is unlikely to control its emissions without dramatic assistance or heavy economic pressure from developed nations.

To stop making the problem worse, we need to stabilize CO2 levels in the atmosphere – we need to stop putting out more CO2 than can be absorbed naturally.  Global warming is driven by the cumulative total amount of CO2 we have put into the atmosphere less cumulative natural absorption. 

2.0 degrees from pre-industrial levels — 1 to 1.5 from todays level — is a ceiling that some world organizations have viewed as troubling, but livable.

On a straight carbon dioxide emission basis, the United States accounted for 24.0% of emissions, highest in the world, and was 5th highest per capita in 2000 (only exceeded by Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain).

European nations have suceeded in achieving a slight reduction in carbon emissions by switching from coal to gas for power generation. Overall, their energy use is actually increasing.

Available statistics allow an analysis of carbon emissions by broad type of economic activity.

Currently, the only renewable energy source which contributes a meaningful portion of the nation’s and Massachusetts energy supply is hydropower. 

About 1/3 of the United States total energy consumption of approximately 100 quadrillion BTUs (“quads”) is imported, up from less than 1/5 in 1973.  Most of our net imports were petroleum.  We import roughly 2/3 of our petroleum consumption.

Roughly 40% of carbon emissions are under direct individual control — half from transportation and half from electricity and heating in the home (as a nationwide average). An additional few points can be controlled by diet changes.

Pursuant to the Global Warming Solutions Act, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has begun to produce Massachusetts Greenhouse Gas estimates which appear to be authoritative.

Links to online calculators and key numbers for personal carbon budget analysis.

For a personal Kyoto compliance amount, figure a little over 5 metric tons — 11,000 pounds — of Co2 per year per person.

55 – 65% of GHG’s from United States agriculture are attributable to domestic livestock (feed exports are not attributed to livestock in this computation).