# Presentation: 303026

## Climate-Friendly Actions with Co-Benefits

**Liana Reilly**
- NPS Air Resources Division
- March 21, 2007

**Notes:**
Good morning!

Just heard about why we should be concerned about climate change in this part of the country.  I’d like to talk with you about what we can do to reduce the amount that we each contribute to the problems that can arise.  There are several positive things that I’ll discuss with you today.

## Overview

- Co-benefits introduction
- CAPs explained
- Impacts of CAPs
- How CAPs and GHG  are related
- The Co-Benefits Concept
- Co-Benefit Examples

**Notes:**
- The primary focus of this workshop is on greenhouse gases, so I am provided a little background on CAPs.

## Co-benefits

- When reduce one type of pollutant you reduce another so there are ‘co-benefits’
- GHG reduction and CAP reduction go hand-in-hand

##              What are CAPs?

**      ****Criteria Air Pollutants**
- Cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to *endanger public health or welfare*
- Result from numerous, diverse mobile and stationary sources

**Notes:**
CAPs are defined as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act, whereas GHGs are not.  Therefore, GHGs can not currently be regulated under the CAA.  
Sensitive populations include asthmatics, children, and the elderly 
Public welfare inlcudes protection against decreased visibility, damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings. 
NAAQS are updated every few years
Another class of pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, or toxics air pollutants, are regulated under another separate section of the Clean Air Act.  These pollutants have serious health effects such as cancer and birth defects.   We are not addressing HAPS in this workshop.

## Regulations exist

**Notes:**
Regulators realize that there could be major ramifications ahead if we don’t do something.

In our CAA-where the previous definition was from.

People have tried to come up with global solutions as well.

##      CAP regulation:     the Clean Air Act

- Primary standards are to protect human health, including sensitive populations
- Secondary standards are to protect public welfare
- National Ambient Air Quality Standards are established for six criteria pollutants (nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and lead)

## Primary v. Secondary standard objectives

- Health
- Welfare

**Notes:**

Primary standards are protecting health-so we don’t need to go to the doctor constantly.
Secondary standards are protecting welfare and include things like visibility.
Photo on left has visibility of 195km (dv 7)
Photo on right has visibility of 20km  (dv 30)

(photos taken here at ROMO-same location)

## Impacts of CAPs : NOx

- Nitrogen oxides
- React with volatile organic compounds to form ozone (smog), a respiratory irritant
- Contribute to acid deposition (acid rain and nutrient overload)
- Significant player in visibility reduction

**Notes:**
-Acid deposition:  both as wet deposition (i.e., acid rain) and dry deposition from gaseous and particulate forms

Acid deposition is a big deal in this area.  When we look at trend data, we see that acid rain is increasing in this part of the country!

## Impacts of CAPs : SOx

- Sulfur oxides
- Cause respiratory illness
- Primary factor in acid deposition
- Primary cause of visibility reduction

## Impacts of CAPS : 03

- Ozone
- Triggers a variety of respiratory health problems
- May cause permanent lung damage
- Injures plants and ecosystems

**Notes:**
Injury to plants:  not sure of plant physiology, but causes foliar injury, early leaf drop, reduced growth, and susceptibility to other stressors

ROMO NP is in nonattainment for ozone-it is not meet ozone standards.

## Ozone continued

**Notes:**
Ozone as noted is of particular concern in this part of the country-as well as other areas.

## Impacts of CAPs : PM

- Particulate Matter
- Causes respiratory illness
- Contributes to acid deposition
- Causes aesthetic damage to culturally important objects
- Contribute to visibility reduction

## Impacts of CAPs : CO

- Carbon Monoxide
- Cardiovascular and nervous system effects stem from reduced lung function

## Impacts of CAPs : Pb

- Lead

- Serious health effects include damage to brain and nervous system (particularly in young children), damage to reproductive and other organs

## How are GHGs and CAPs Related?

## The Co-Benefits Concept

- Take ONE action, receive TWO benefits: both CAPs and GHGs are reduced simultaneously
- Plus, the impacts associated with each form of emissions are reduced

## CAP-Reducing Measures with GHG Co-Benefits

- Replace boilers/ generators/heaters with less polluting versions
- Reduce vehicle idling
- Use alternative-fuel vehicles
- Carpool
- Encourage use of public transportation

## Example: Institute a Visitor Shuttle

- CAP Action: Restrict roadways to personal vehicles; transport visitors via shuttle instead
- Glacier Nat’l Park
-  Grand Canyon Nat’l Park
- Result: Dramatically improve park air quality by reducing CAPs
- Co-Benefit:
- GHG: Less combustion of gasoline/diesel – saves CO2 emissions
- GHG: Reduced VMT – saves CH4 and N2O emissions
- Economic incentive
- Decreased road maintenance costs

## GHG-Reducing Measures 				with CAP Co-Benefits

- Use energy-efficient appliances
- Use renewable energy
- Turn off lights/appliances when not in use
- Reduce, reuse, recycle
- Encourage alternate modes of transportation (walking, biking, etc.)
- Weatherize buildings

## Example: Install Photovoltaic Panels

- GHG Action: Install photovoltaic panels on buildings to meet building energy needs via solar energy
- Zion National Park
- Result: Reduce energy consumption (and energy costs) and CO2 emissions
- Sometimes excess energy can be sent back to the grid, supplying emission-free electricity to other users
- CAP Co-benefit: fewer emissions of CAPs at power plant

**Notes:**
Zion National Park installed photovoltaic panels at the visitor center.  Provides electricity for the buildings, and also supplies some energy back to the grid

## The take home message

- CAPs and GHGs are contributing to global climate change
**BUT**
- There are things that you can do to help reduce your contribution of GHGs and CAPs!
- Follow the leaders: NPS, EPA, DOE, USFS and others!

## WE CAN DO SOMETHING!

- Let’s not let this become our reality!

**Act now!**

## Any questions?

**Notes:**
Photos from romo

## THANK YOU!

- For future questions please contact me:
- Liana Reilly
- 	National Park Service
- Air Resources Division
- 	_[liana_reilly@nps.gov](mailto:liana_reilly@nps.gov)_
- 	(303) 987-6895
- _[http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/](http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/)_
- Have a great day!

**Notes:**
Pics: Long’s Peak and a wood lily (from romo website)