Governor's Task Force on Global Warming
Research & Background Information

This page contains information related to Global Warming. The content was posted at the request of Task Force members. It is intended to provide background information such as research papers, academic studies, and examples of action taken by other states. When possible, source and date are plainly noted. Documents are listed first, arranged by chronological request; Related Sites are listed near the bottom. Please read the disclaimer carefully.

DISCLAIMER: Documents have been posted at this website at the request of a member of the Governor's Task Force on Global Warming. Information contained within the Governor's Task Force on Global Warming website is intended as general information for Task Force members and the public. It is not intended to be a complete treatise on environmental laws and regulations. Such materials have been compiled from a variety of sources, and are subject to change without notice from the State of Wisconsin. Neither the State of Wisconsin nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information contained herein. Neither the State of Wisconsin nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, endorse the authors of posted documents or the views they express or the products/services they offer. The State of Wisconsin cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in documents.

Documents

1. Recommendations of the Governors Task Force on Global Warming [PDF exit DNR]
   Information Memorandum, Wisconsin Legislative Council, August 2008
   This summary of the Task Force’s recommendations is intended to inform members of the Legislature of the scope of the recommendations.
   Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chair Roy Thilly
2. The Potential Impact of Climate Change on Insurance Regulation [PDF 202KB]
   National Association of Insurance Commissioners, May 2008
   The NAIC Climate Change and Global Warming Task Force and the NAIC Executive Committee adopted this white paper on May 31, 2008.
   Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chair Tia Nelson
3. Basic Analysis of the Cost and Long-Term Impact of the Energy Independence and Security Act Fuel Economy Standards [PDF 4.9MB]
   Sierra Research, Inc., April 2008
   At the request of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Sierra Research analyzed the vehicle design changes that may be required to comply with the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards that will be adopted by the Department of Transportation pursuant to the Energy Independence and Security Act approved December 2007.
   Posted at the request of the Task Force and Transportation Work Group Co-Chairs
4. Economic Impacts of Climate Change Regulations (Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Motor Vehicles) [PDF exit DNR]
   California Air Resources Board (CARB), August 2004
   This technical document discusses the economic methodology and impacts CARB anticipates from implementation of the proposed climate change regulations (greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles) on the California economy. The results are intended to provide an overall picture of the economic impacts of the proposed regulations on the economy. CARB recognizes that individual businesses and consumers may experience different impacts than anticipated.
   Posted at the request of the Task Force and Transportation Work Group Co-Chairs
5. Corporate Average Fuel Economy for Model Year 2011-2015 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks [PDF exit DNR]
   National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, April 2008
   This assessment examines the costs and benefits of improving the fuel economy of passenger cars and light trucks for model years 2011- 2015. It includes a discussion of the technologies that can improve fuel economy, analysis of the potential impact on retail prices, safety, lifetime fuel savings and their value to consumers, and other societal benefits such as improved energy security and reduced emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases.
   Posted at the request of the Task Force and Transportation Work Group Co-Chairs
6. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 [PDF 1.3MB]
   Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chairs, Roy Thilly and Tia Nelson
7. Regional Initiatives to Address Global Climate Change [PDF exit DNR]
   Information Memorandum, Wisconsin Legislative Council, February 2008
   This expanded and updated memorandum (originally prepared in October 2007) identifies and briefly describes the primary regional climate change initiatives in North America and the EU Climate Change Program.
   Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chairs, Roy Thilly and Tia Nelson
8. California’s Waiver Request to Control Greenhouse Gases Under the Clean Air Act [PDF 145KB]
   Congressional Research Service, December 2007
   This report reviews the nature of EPA’s, California’s, and other states’ authority to regulate emissions from mobile sources, discusses the applicability of that authority to GHGs, and analyzes issues related to the California waiver request.
   Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chair Roy Thilly
9. Comparison of Greenhouse Gas Reductions Under CAFE Standards and ARB Regulations Adopted Pursuant to AB1493 [PDF 117KB]
   California Air Resources Board Technical Assessment, January 2008
   Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chair Roy Thilly
10. Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: How Much at What Cost?
    McKinsey & Company, December 2007
    Full Text [PDF 4.2MB]
    Executive Summary [PDF 458KB]
    As consensus grows that concerted action will be needed to address rising greenhouse gas emissions, the discussion is now turning to the practical challenges of where and how emission reductions can best be achieved, at what costs, and over what periods of time. Starting in 2007 a research team from McKinsey & Company worked with leading companies, industry experts, academics and environmental NGOs to develop a detailed, consistent fact base estimating costs and potentials of different options to reduce or prevent GHG emissions within the United States over a 25 year period. The results are reported here.
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chair Roy Thilly
11. National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency Vision for 2025: Developing a Framework for Change [PDF 1.3MB]
    National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, November 2007
    This Vision for the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency establishes a goal of achieving all cost-effective energy efficiency by 2025; presents ten implementation goals for states, utilities, and other stakeholders to consider to achieve this goal; describes what 2025 might look like if the goal is achieved; and provides a means for measuring progress.
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chair Roy Thilly
12. The Green Communities Act of 2007 [PDF 254KB]
    Summary of Massachusetts House Bill No. 3965
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chair Roy Thilly
13. Midwestern Governors Association 2007 Energy Security and Climate Stewardship Summit
    Summit Platform [PDF 2.1MB]
    Greenhouse Gas Accord [PDF 280KB]
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chairs, Roy Thilly and Tia Nelson
14. Charting the Midwest: An Inventory and Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in America's Heartland
    World Resources Institute, October 2007
    Full Text [PDF 2.3MB]
    Wisconsin Profile [PDF 800KB]
    This publication is an in-depth study and data analysis of GHG emissions for 8 Midwest U.S. States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chairs, Roy Thilly and Tia Nelson
15. 2007 Integrated Energy Policy Report [PDF 3.6MB]
    California Energy Commission, Draft Committee Report, October 2007
    This report was prepared in response to state legislation which requires that the California Energy Commission prepare a biennial energy policy report that contains an integrated assessment of major energy trends and issues facing the state’s electricity, natural gas, and transportation fuel sectors and provides policy recommendations to conserve resources; protect the environment; ensure reliable, secure, and diverse energy supplies; enhance the state’s economy; and protect public health and safety.
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chairs, Roy Thilly and Tia Nelson
16. Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free - A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy
    Nuclear Policy Research Institute and the Institue for Energy and Environmental Research, July 2007
    Executive Summary [PDF 463KB]
    Summary of a report examining the technical and economic feasibility of achieving a U.S. economy with zero-CO2 emissions without nuclear power.
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chairs, Roy Thilly and Tia Nelson
17. Illinois Modeling Examples
    Modeling of Policy Proposals [PDF 555KB]
    ENERGY 2020 Reference Case [PDF 510KB]
    Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group, September 2007
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chairs, Roy Thilly and Tia Nelson
18. The Power to Reduce CO2 Emissions [PDF exit DNR]
    The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Energy Technology Assessment Center, August 2007
    Discussion paper prepared for the Electric Power Research Institute 2007 Summer Seminar
    The analyses summarized in this paper address the technical feasibility for the electricity sector to achieve large-scale CO2 emissions reductions, the technology development pathways and associated RD&D funding needed to achieve this potential, and the economic impact of realizing emissions reductions targets.
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chairs, Roy Thilly and Tia Nelson
19. Program on Technology Innovation: Economic Analysis of California Climate Initiatives: An Integrated Approach
    The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), May 2007
    Executive Summary [PDF 67KB]
    Volume 1 - Summary for Policymakers [PDF exit DNR]
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chairs, Roy Thilly and Tia Nelson
20. State of Florida Office of the Governor Executive Order
    
    • Number 07-126 [PDF 20KB] - Establishing Climate Change Leadership by Example: Immediate Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Florida State Government
    • Number 07-127 [PDF 23KB] - Establishing Immediate Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions within Florida
    • Number 07-128 [PDF 17KB] - Establishing the Florida Governor's Action Team on Energy and Climate Change
    Posted at the request of Bruce Nilles, Sierra Club
21. Climate Exchange - Cool heads tackle our hottest issue [PDF 448KB]
    from Sierra, May/June 2007
    Posted at the request of Emily Green, Sierra Club
22. Tackling Climate Change in the U.S. [PDF 8.5MB]
    American Solar Energy Society, January 2007
    Potential Carbon Emissions Reductions from Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by 2030
    Posted at the request of Bruce Nilles, Sierra Club
23. The State Energy Efficiency Scorecard for 2006 [PDF 771KB]
    by Maggie Eldridge, Bill Prindle, Dan York, and Steve Nadel
    © American Council for an Engergy-Efficient Economy
    Posted at the request of Roy Thilly, Task Force Co-Chair
24. GAO Report: Climate Change, Financial Risks to Federal and Private Insurers in Coming Decades are Potentially Significant [PDF exit DNR]
    Government Accountability Office, March 2007
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chairs, Roy Thilly and Tia Nelson
25. Nuclear Power: Villain or Victim? [PDF exit DNR]
    by Max W. Carbon, 2006
    Posted at the request of Tia Nelson, Task Force Co-Chair
26. An Unfamiliar State: How Global Warming Could Change Natural Wisconsin [PDF exit DNR].
    Wisconsin Environment Policy and Research Center, 2007.
    Posted at the request of Tia Nelson, Task Force Co-Chair
27. Special Committee on Nuclear Power [PDF 405KB]
    Proposed Report to the Legislature, Wisconsin Legislative Council, March 2007
    Recommends a set of bill drafts to the Joint Legislative Council, for introduction in the 2007-08 Session of the Legislature.
    Posted at the request of Rep. Phil Montgomery
28. Report to Congress on the Energy Policy Act of 2005 [PDF exit DNR]
    U. S. Department of Energy
    Summarizes the findings of the DOE Study and makes recommendations for State and regional policies.
    Posted at the request of Margi Kindig, Citizen Member
29. Final Report of the Clean Car & Energy Efficiency Working Group [PDF 137KB]
    April 2007
    Presents measures relating to automobiles and energy consumption that could help meet the major goals of Illinois Governor Rod R. Blageojevich's Energy Independence Plan.
    Posted at the request of Bruce Nilles, Sierra Club
30. A Cost Curve for Greenhouse Gas Reduction [PDF 285KB]
    from The McKinsey Quarterly, 2007.
    An analysis of the size and cost of various greenhouse gas abatement measures.
    Posted at the request of Tom Scharff, StoraEnso
31. Climate Change: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Bills in the 110th Congress [PDF 405KB]
    Congressional Research Service, April 2007
    This paper presents a sibe-by-side comparison of the major provisions of proposed bills advancing programs that reduce greenhouse gases and includes a glossary of common terms.
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chairs, Roy Thilly and Tia Nelson
32. Climate Change 2007: Mitigation of Climate Change [PDF 405KB]
    Working Group III contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report
    This Summary for Policymakers was formally approved at the 9th Session of Working Group III of the IPCC, Bangkok, Thailand, 30 April - 4 May 2007.
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chairs, Roy Thilly and Tia Nelson
33. National Security and the Threat of Climate Change [PDF 1MB]
    The CNA Corporation, 2007
    Posted at the request of the Task Force Co-Chairs, Roy Thilly and Tia Nelson

Related Sites

• Marian University Seventh Annual Academic Symposium - Global Warming: The Facts and The Future [PDF 36KB]
  Marian University, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, October 28 – 29, 2008
  Marian University and its Academic Symposium Committee invite submissions for the Seventh Annual Academic Symposium. This two-day symposium aims to engage the Marian community and members from the surrounding communities in discussions concerning current events and topics; the 2008 symposium will focus on global warming and the environment. The goals of this symposium are to clearly present what scientists know about global warming and what they are still debating; develop an understanding of the issue from a number of perspectives; identify possible solutions to address global warming; and discern what needs to be done to implement these solutions.
• Wisconsin Natural Resources Board Climate Change Briefing
  The Natural Resources Board held a special meeting April 22, 2008 to hear from experts on climate change. Topics covered during this informational seminar included an overview of climate change and presentations on three state and regional projects that address climate change: the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts; the Governor's Task Force on Global Warming; and the Midwest Governors Association Initiative.
• Advances in Nuclear [exit DNR]
  Seminar by Wisconsin Public Utility Institutes
  March 2008, Engineering Hall, Madison
  Includes links to presentations, bios and videos
• Conference on Global Climate Change and Sustainable Development [exit DNR]
  UW-Milwaukee Global Climate Change and Sustainable Development Initiative
  April 24 - 25, 2008, DoubleTree Hotel, Milwaukee
• Sustaining Wisconsin's Environment & Economy: Responding to Climate Change [exit DNR]
  Second Annual UW-Madison Nelson Institute Earth Day Conference
  April 16, 2008, Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, Madison
• EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator [exit DNR]
  The calculator converts greenhouse gas-related savings estimates, typically presented in "million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents," into familiar terms. Users can enter savings in emissions, electricity consumption, gallons of gasoline, or number of vehicles into the calculator and determine up to 13 different ways to express the magnitude of the savings.
• Pew Center on Global Climate Change [exit DNR]
  The Center brings together business leaders, policy makers, scientists, and other experts to bring a new approach to a complex and often controversial issue. The approach is based on sound science, straight talk, and a belief in working together to protect the climate while sustaining economic growth.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) [exit DNR]
  The IPCC is a scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteorological Organization and by the United Nations Environment Programme. It was established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. The IPCC does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters. Its role is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.
• UW Energy Institute email list [exit DNR]
  Subscribe to the electronic mailing list for notification of upcoming energy-related events and activities on or near the UW-Madison campus.
• UW Energy Institute Presentations [exit DNR]
• Business Roundtable [exit DNR]
  An association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies with $4.5 trillion in annual revenues and more than 10 million employees. Read their Climate Change Statement [PDF exit DNR].
• Special Report on Business and Climate Change [exit DNR]
  The Economist, June 2, 2007
• Stablization Wedge Resource [exit DNR]
  From the Carbon Mitigation Initiative, the "stabilization wedges" concept illustrates the scale of emissions cuts needed in the future, and provides a common unit for comparing the carbon mitigating capacities of various energy and storage technologies.