Environmental Defense Fund Environmental Defense Fund A leading - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Environmental Defense Fund Environmental Defense Fund A leading national nonprofit organization, A leading national nonprofit organization, Environmental Defense Fund represents more Environmental Defense Fund represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private- - science, economics, law and innovative private sector partnerships to create breakthrough sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org. . www.edf.org

Nine regional offices with more than 300 scientists, Nine regional offices with more than 300 scientists, economists, attorneys and other professionals nationwide. economists, attorneys and other professionals nationwide.

Climate & Air Climate & Air Land, Water & Wildlife Land, Water & Wildlife Health Health Oceans Oceans Environmental Justice Environmental Justice

Since the Beginning Since the Beginning 1. Science Science- -based based 1. 2. Constructive alternatives Constructive alternatives 2. 3. Putting solutions in place Putting solutions in place 3. The Power of Positive Solutions The Power of Positive Solutions

Environmental Defense Fund Environmental Defense Fund • New / Different New / Different • • Cooperative / Non Cooperative / Non- -confrontational confrontational • • Businesses / Uncommon allies Businesses / Uncommon allies • • Finding solutions / Getting results Finding solutions / Getting results • • Bottom Bottom- -line / Economy / Markets line / Economy / Markets • • Strong Science Strong Science •

Environmental Defense Fund Environmental Defense Fund Attor neys Scientists, economists, and policy specialists

• "...America's most economically literate "...America's most economically literate • green campaigners" green campaigners" - The Economist - The Economist • Michael Oppenheimer Michael Oppenheimer •

Nitrogen problems Nitrogen problems RED TIDES & RED TIDES & ACID RAIN & ACID RAIN & DYING DYING DEAD ZONES BIODIVERSIT DEAD ZONES BIODIVERSIT REEFS REEFS Y Y N N FISH KILLS FISH KILLS OZONE/PM OZONE/PM 2.5 2.5 ALGAL BLOOMS ALGAL BLOOMS GROUNDWATER GROUNDWATER GLOBAL GLOBAL WARMING WARMING

Environmental Defense Fund and Environmental Defense Fund and Nitrogen Nitrogen • Watershed pollution reduction trading Watershed pollution reduction trading • • Airborne delivery into estuaries Airborne delivery into estuaries • • Critical Loads designations Critical Loads designations • • Acid rain and NOx Acid rain and NOx • • Hog waste management Hog waste management • • USDA incentive programs USDA incentive programs •

Everyone’s problem Everyone’s problem • Many lakes and estuaries Many lakes and estuaries • • Most large urban areas Most large urban areas • • Most rural areas Most rural areas • Elevated Ozone, Oct. 2007 Elevated Ozone, Oct. 2007 • Most mountain areas Most mountain areas • • Most coastal areas Most coastal areas • • The biosphere The biosphere • Dead Zone, 2007 Dead Zone, 2007

Nitrogen Workshop Nitrogen Workshop • Biogeochemistry Biogeochemistry • • Environmental economics / Policy Environmental economics / Policy • • Agricultural practices Agricultural practices •

Workshop recommendations Workshop recommendations -Principles Principles- - - • Integrated management approach – All forms of N in air, water, soil NO x N 2 N 2 NH 3 NO NH 3 NO 3 3 PN Control Input Optimize Use Maximize Output

Workshop recommendations Workshop recommendations - first targets first targets - - - 1. Aggressive NGO leadership, 2. Increase public awareness, 3. Nitrogen inventory, 4. Integrated N pilot projects, 5. International scale

Two faces of nitrogen Two faces of nitrogen

EDF EDF opportunities opportunities N N C C • Leveraging the scientific consensus to lay the Leveraging the scientific consensus to lay the • foundation for global nitrogen governance foundation for global nitrogen governance • Campaign for nitrogen sustainability Campaign for nitrogen sustainability • • Non Non- -CO CO 2 greenhouse gas reduction programs • 2 greenhouse gas reduction programs • Expand conservation incentives programs Expand conservation incentives programs • • Valuation of ecosystem services Valuation of ecosystem services • • Double Double- -dipping and double dipping and double- -teaming: using existing teaming: using existing • policies and programs to address nitrogen policies and programs to address nitrogen

Actions . . . Actions . . . 1. Establish an expert advis Establish an expert advisory panel to build scientific ory panel to build scientific 1. consensus consensus 2. Improve the national inventory of non Improve the national inventory of non- -CO2 greenhouse CO2 greenhouse 2. gases gases 3. Broaden public awareness about the health effects Broaden public awareness about the health effects 3. 4. Launch pilot projects Launch pilot projects 4. 5. “Conservation Partnerships” and university “Conservation Partnerships” and university 5. collaborations to build the technological and economic collaborations to build the technological and economic case for reducing reactive nitrogen. case for reducing reactive nitrogen. 6. Coordinate emission reduction efforts Coordinate emission reduction efforts 6.