AAPG's Statement on Climate Change

The Issue

In the last century growth in human populations has increased energy use. This has contributed additional carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other gases to the atmosphere.

Although the AAPG membership is divided on the degree of influence that anthropogenic CO₂ has on recent and potential global temperature increases, the AAPG believes that expansion of scientific climate research into the basic controls on climate is important.

This research should be undertaken by appropriate federal agencies involved in climate research and their associated grant and contract programs.

Background

Geologists study the history of the Earth and realize climate has changed often in the past due to natural causes. The Earth ’s climate naturally varies constantly, in both directions, at varying rates and on many scales. In recent decades global temperatures have risen. Yet, our planet has been far warmer and cooler than today many times in the geologic past, including the past 10,000 years.

Certain climate simulation models predict that the warming trend will continue, as reported through NAS, AGU, AAAS and AMS. AAPG respects these scientific opinions but wants to add that the current climate warming projections could fall within well-documented natural variations in past climate and observed temperature data.

These data do not necessarily support the maximum case scenarios forecast in some models. To be predictive, any model of future climate should also accurately model known climate and greenhouse gas variations recorded in the geologic history of the past 200,000 years.

Statement

AAPG supports expanding scientific climate research into the basic controls on climate, specifically including the geological, solar and astronomic aspects of climate change. Research should include understanding causes of past climate change and the potential effects of both increasing and decreasing temperatures in the future.

AAPG supports research to narrow probabilistic ranges on the effect of anthropogenic CO₂ on global climate.

AAPG supports reducing emissions from fossil fuel use as a worthy goal. (However, emission reduction has an economic cost, which must be compared to the potential environmental gain.)

AAPG supports the premise that economies must retain their vitality to be able to invest in alternative energy sources as fossil fuels become more expensive.

AAPG supports the pursuit of economically viable technology to sequester carbon dioxide emissions and emissions of other gases in a continuing effort to improve our environment and enhance energy recovery.

AAPG supports measures to conserve energy, which has the affect of both reducing emissions and preserving energy supplies for the future.

Position Papers Updated

Climate Statement Prompted Changes

The 14 AAPG Position Statements have been reviewed and updated by the DPA Government Affairs Committee and approved by the AAPG Executive Committee, including the much-discussed Climate Change statement.

Upon DPA’s recommendation, the Statements’ format was changed from sometimes-lengthy discussions to a more brief presentation that states “Issue, Background and Statement.”

Statement issues approved include:

Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Resources
Hydraulic Fracturing
Preservation of Geological and Geophysical Data
National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Access
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Access
United States National Energy Supply
Climate Change
Tax Reform
Natural Gas Supply Concerns
Reformation of the Endangered Species Act
Reformation of the Clean Water Act — Wetlands Access
Offshore OCS Access
Research and Development Needs
Oil and Gas Workforce Needs in the 21^st Century

The Climate Change Statement (left) has been by far the most controversial. The discussions about the Climate Statement drew attention to the AAPG Statements as a whole as well as the process of their initiation, crafting and approval.

Consequently, the 2006-07 Executive Committee crafted a written Statement process, which names the Division of Professional Affairs as the principle author, and may also include soliciting comments from members at large on proposed positions deemed controversial. DPA subsequently recommended additional clarification and the newly approved procedures are posted on the DPA Web site at http://dpa.aapg.org/gac/paperpolicy.cfm.

The new Climate Change Statement approval comes after over two years of discussion sparked by the proposal at the 2004 Annual Convention in Dallas for a “Climate Change Card” to be produced and distributed to AAPG members. A review of the cards’ content drew divergent opinions.

Members were invited to comment on the card online through October 2006. The passion expressed led the Executive Committee to investigate not only the Climate Change Statement, but the overall Statement process as well, leading to the new written, posted policy.

Following the comment on the card a select ad hoc Climate Change Committee was formed to review and/or recommend a new climate statement. That statement, with review of the Division of Environmental Geosciences and the DPA, was offered online in May 2007 for review and drew 93 posted responses.

The responses were taken into account by the EC, and, with further collaboration with DEG and DPA, approved the new statement.

Additionally, a new Global Climate Change Committee has been created with a charge to investigate appropriate ways for the association to become involved in climate change “solutions.” Committee members are being named.

The review and revamping of the AAPG Statements was performed and led by Carl J. Smith, chairman of the DPA Government Affairs Committee.

The statements can be accessed at: http://dpa.aapg.org/gac/index.cfm.

Classifieds

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Position Statements Updated

AAPG's Statement on Climate Change

The Issue

Background

Statement

AAPG supports research to narrow probabilistic ranges on the effect of anthropogenic CO₂ on global climate.

AAPG supports reducing emissions from fossil fuel use as a worthy goal. (However, emission reduction has an economic cost, which must be compared to the potential environmental gain.)

AAPG supports the premise that economies must retain their vitality to be able to invest in alternative energy sources as fossil fuels become more expensive.

AAPG supports the pursuit of economically viable technology to sequester carbon dioxide emissions and emissions of other gases in a continuing effort to improve our environment and enhance energy recovery.

AAPG supports measures to conserve energy, which has the affect of both reducing emissions and preserving energy supplies for the future.

Position Papers Updated

Climate Statement Prompted Changes

Classifieds

Advertising

Position Statements Updated

AAPG's Statement on Climate Change

The Issue

Background

Statement

AAPG supports research to narrow probabilistic ranges on the effect of anthropogenic CO2 on global climate.

AAPG supports reducing emissions from fossil fuel use as a worthy goal. (However, emission reduction has an economic cost, which must be compared to the potential environmental gain.)

AAPG supports the premise that economies must retain their vitality to be able to invest in alternative energy sources as fossil fuels become more expensive.

AAPG supports the pursuit of economically viable technology to sequester carbon dioxide emissions and emissions of other gases in a continuing effort to improve our environment and enhance energy recovery.

AAPG supports measures to conserve energy, which has the affect of both reducing emissions and preserving energy supplies for the future.

Position Papers Updated

Climate Statement Prompted Changes

AAPG supports research to narrow probabilistic ranges on the effect of anthropogenic CO₂ on global climate.