The Louisiana Climate Initiative Task Force (LA-CITF) is a two-year initiative, established by Governor John Bel Edwards, to reduce Louisiana's greenhouse to net zero by 2050.
In order to achieve net zero emissions, the Task Force has set emission reduction goals:
- By 2025, reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% of 2005 levels
- By 2030, reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 40-50% of 2005 levels
- By 2050, reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero
Task Force meetings are open to the public and livestreamed via Youtube. View the meeting schedule below.
While the process is open to public comment, the information is often difficult to find, buried in jargon, and not very well publicized. Thus, climate allies across the state are organizing to increase public participation and access to this critical process! Check out Gulf South for A Green New Deal's (GS4DND) Action Kit.
The final plan, Louisiana's Climate Action Plan (LCAP), was sent to the Governor for his consideration on February 1, 2022.
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So who's on the Task Force anyway?
The Task Force includes scientists, state administrators, academics, oil industry representatives and environmental advocates.
Much of the Task Force represents the interests of the "incumbent" power: oil and gas trade groups, manufacturing and business interests, and utilities, while a smaller portion of members represent environmental justice advocates, clean energy experts, and equity-focused allies; creating tense debates on how emission reduction strategies will play out across the state.
Much of the Task Force represents the interests of the "incumbent" power: oil and gas trade groups, manufacturing and business interests, and utilities, while a smaller portion of members represent environmental justice advocates, clean energy experts, and equity-focused allies; creating tense debates on how emission reduction strategies will play out across the state.
LEARN MORE ABOUT TASK FORCE MEMBERS
The 23 full Task Force members represent the decision-making body; their work is divided across 6 Committees and 4 Advisory Groups, each composed of both task force members and additional relevant expertise.
COMMITTEES
Power Production, Distribution, and Use:
- This committee will examine how to increase efficiency and reduce emissions at existing power generation facilities, to encourage the growth of renewable energy adoption by LA’s utilities or end-consumers, support the customers of utilities (consumer and industrial) to use cleaner fuels and lower their bills, and pursue other avenues as deemed appropriate.
Members
- Jonathan Bourg, Entergy (Co-chair)
- Bill Robertson, Public Service Commission (Co-chair)
- Jeff Arnold, Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives
- Logan Atkinson-Burke, Alliance for Affordable Energy
- Brian Bond, SWEPCO
- Ethan Case, Heelstone Energy
- Dr. Terrence Chambers, University of Louisiana Lafayette
- David Guerry, Midcontinent Independent System Operator
- Robbie Laborde, CLECO
- Simon Mahan, Southern Renewable Energy Association
- Kim Talus, Tulane Energy Law
- Rob Verchick, Loyola University
- Matt White, Drax
Land Use, Buildings, and Housing:
- This committee will examine how land use decisions can be used to reduce emissions and lower the impacts of climate change and how changes to building codes, building construction, or remodeling practices or materials can increase energy efficiency or otherwise reduce the carbon footprint in the built environment.
Members
- Gina Campo, Office of Community Development (Co-chair)
- Camille Manning-Broome, Center for Planning Excellence (Co-chair)
- Dr. Fallon Aidoo, University of New Orleans
- Camille Pollan, U.S. Green Buildings Council
- Dr. Kevin Conrad, Ochsner
- Archie Hall, Siemens Smart Infrastructure
- Mark Goodson, CSRS Arthur Johnson, Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement & Development
- Kim Marousek, Capital Region Planning Commission
- Andreanecia Morris, Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance
- Louisette Scott, City of Mandeville
- Z Smith, Eskew, Dumez, Ripple
- Chris Tyson, Build Baton Rouge
Transportation:
- This committee will examine opportunities to lower the emissions from transportation-related sources. Opportunities to promote alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction measures, fuel economy improvements, new transportation technologies, and cleaner modes of transportation will all be considered.
Members
- Flozell Daniels, Foundation for Louisiana (Co-chair)
- Dr. Eric Kalivoda, Department of Transportation & Development (Co-chair)
- Vivian Johnson, LA Department of Environmental Quality
- Bethany Stitch, UNO Transportation Institute
- Dr. Vijaya Gopu, LA Transportation Research Center
- Chett Chiasson, Port Fourchon
- Scott Gammel, Alexandria International Airport
- Wyly Gifloil, Lake Providence Port Commission
- Kent Rogers, Northwest LA Council of Governments
- Dinero Washington, SPORTRAN Transit
- Jessica Kemp, Center for Planning Excellence
- Ann Vail, LA Clean Fuels
- Joe Annotti, Gladstein, Neandross & Associates
- Alex Posorke, Ride New Orleans
Agriculture, Forestry, Conservation, and Waste Management:
- This committee will examine agriculture and forestry practices; conservation measures to promote and maintain natural carbon sinks, blue carbon opportunities such as the implementation of the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan, and other ecosystem restoration efforts; and waste management.
Members
- Joey Breaux, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (Co-chair)
- Karen Gautreaux, The Nature Conservancy (Co-chair)
- Gregory Grandy, Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority
- Yolunda Righteous, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
- Naveen Adusumilli, LSU AgCenter
- Ernest Giouard, LSU AgCenter
- Buck Vandersteen, Louisiana Forestry Association
- Robby Toombs, Resource Management Service LLC
- Justin Kozak, Center for Planning Excellence
- Ron Harrell, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
- Kyla Cheynet, Drax
- David Daigle, Farmer, Cattleman, and Forester
- Fran Harvey, Global Geospatial Institute
- John Pitre, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (Non-voting member)
- Michael Lindsey, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (Non-voting member)
Manufacturing and Industry:
- This committee will examine opportunities to reduce emissions within the manufacturing sector which includes petrochemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, and other operations within the state. This committee will consider opportunities to procure cleaner sources of power to fuel operations, enhance efficiencies and eliminate fugitive emissions, carbon capture and sequestration, and other measures related to this sector.
Members
- Jason Meyers, Department of Environmental Quality (Co-chair)
- Timothy Hardy, Breazeale, Sachse, & Wilson, LLP (Co-chair)
- Tokesha Collins-Wright, Louisiana Chemical Association
- Morris Johnson, CF Industries
- Gray Stream, Gulf Coast Sequestration
- Margo Moss, L&M Environmental
- Rhoman Hardy, Shell
- Daniel Shantz, Tulane Engineering
- Nathan McBride, LA Mid-Continental Oil & Gas Association
- Zen Saunders, Dow Chemical
- Hunter Johnson, Lake Charles Methanol
- Marylee Orr, LA Environmental Action Network
- Scott Anderson, Environmental Defense Fund
Mining and Oil and Gas Production:
- This committee will examine opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the mining, extraction, production, and transportation of oil and gas. This committee will consider opportunities to enhance efficiencies and eliminate fugitive emissions, carbon capture and sequestration, and other measures related to active and inactive elements of this sector.
- CLICK HERE to check out our blog post on why half-measures and false solutions, such as carbon capture and sequestration, will not bring about the reductions in emissions needed to reach net zero by 2050.
Members
- Jason Lanclos, LA Department of Natural Resources (Co-chair)
- Brent Campbell, LA Department of Natural Resource Office of Conservation (Co-chair)
- Lori LeBlanc, LA Mid-Continental Oil & Gas Association
- Bryan Johnston, LA Department of Environmental Quality
- William Daniel, Gulf Coast Testing
- Selby Bush, BHP
- Kristi Trail, Pontchartrain Conservancy
- Richard Hughes, LA State University
- Al Collins, Occidental Petroleum
- Donelson Caffrey, Landowners Association
- Daniel Droog, Chevron
- Adam Peltz, Environmental Defense Fund
- Tom Broom, Danos
- Mark Gebbia, Williams
- Glen Lyons, ExxonMobil
- John Sparling, Aethon Energy
- Wynn Radford, British Petroleum
- Andy Jacoby, Attorney
- Stacy Methvin, Pioneer
ADVISORY GROUPS
Scientific Advisory Group:
- Provide both general and specific guidance with regard to the efficacy of proposed emissions reduction strategies that arise from within working groups and/or the Task Force, provide information on the interactions across sectors of proposed policies, and help shape and conduct reviews of requests for additional information to guide decision making. Support the development of emission reduction solutions that are rational, trackable, transparent, and based in sound science.
Members
- Dr. Virginia Burkett, United States Geological Survey (Co-chair) (Non-Voting Member)
- Dr. Mark Zappi, University of LA Lafayette (Co-chair)
- Eric Smith, Tulane University
- Dr. Carrie Castille, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Dr. Monica Farris, University of New Orleans
- Dr. Kalliat Valsaraj, LSU
- Dr. Jean Fotie, Southeastern LA University
- Dr. Raj Boopathy, Nicholls State University
- Dr. Camille Stagg, United States Geological Survey
- Dr. Alex Kolker, LA Universities Marine Consortium
- Dr. Peng “Solomon” Yin, University of LA Lafayette
- Dr. Kimberly Foster, Tulane University
- Dr. Mehdi Zeidouni, LSU
- Dr. Chang Jeong, LSU
- Dr. Richard Keim, LSU
Equity Advisory Group:
- Identify how potential greenhouse gas emissions reduction policies may mitigate or exacerbate existing inequalities in order to pursue strategies that contribute to a reduction of inequalities and that offer new opportunities to benefit all persons in Louisiana, advise committees and the Task Force on potential impacts of emissions reduction strategies, and assist committees and the Legal Advisory Group in the development of equitable implementation mechanisms that consider all members of society.
Members
- Colette Pichon Battle, Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy (Chair)
- Chief Shirell Parfait-Dardar, Grand Caillou/Dulac Band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw
- Charles Allen, National Audubon Society
- Dr. David Robinson Morris, Xavier University
- Dr. Kenny Cole, Oschner
- Liz Williams Russell, Foundation for LA
- Jasmine Brown, Greater New Orleans, Inc.
- Steve Cochran, Environmental Defense Fund
- Dr. Craig Colten, LSU
- Ashleigh Gardere, Policy Link
- Larry Sorapuru Jr., St. John the Baptist Administrator
Finance Advisory Group:
- Evaluate the economic impacts of proposed policy changes including the potential for growth or development of new economic opportunities related to the adoption of certain policies or technologies; help consider the larger economic and market forces that may be pertinent to policy discussions; help evaluate potential options for mitigating or overcoming potential negative economic consequences and/or maximizing the positive economic consequences of implementing certain proposed policies; consider workforce implications of proposed policy directions; and suggest opportunities within the world of finance to implement some of the proposed solutions.
Members
- Brad Lambert, Louisiana Economic Development (Chair)
- Dr. Stephen Barnes, University of Louisiana Lafayette
- Camille Conaway, Lousiana Community & Technical College System
- Pierre Conner, Tulane Energy Center
- Stephanie Ferry, Raymond James Financial
- Alejandra Guzman, New Orleans Business Alliance
- Michael Jackson, Bernhard Capital
- Vic Lafont, South Louisiana Economic Council
- Brandon Nelson, Whitney Bank
- Dr. Jim Richardson, LSU
- Jeff Schwartz, City of New Orleans
Legal Advisory Group:
- Anticipate legal hurdles that may arise in the design of greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies, assist committees in the development of mechanisms to implement emissions reduction strategies, and advise committees and the Task Force on supplementary strategies and mechanisms for consideration.
Members
- Rob Verchick, Loyola Law School (Chair)
- Harry Vorhoff, Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities
- Faye Matthews, National Wildlife Federation
- Timonthy Hardy, Breazeale, Sachse, & Wilson, LLP
- Mark Davis, Tulane Law School
- Blake Canfield, LA Department of Natural Resources
- Courtney Burdette, LA Department of Environmental Quality
- Tokesha Collins-Wright, LA Chemical Association
- Susan Margaret Floyd, Entergy
- Tyler Gray, LA Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association
- Monique Hardin, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
- Karen Sokel, Loyola Law School
- Nick Bryner, LSU
- Brandon Frey, LA Public Service Commission
FULL LIST OF TASK FORCE MEMBERS
- Chip Kline, Executive Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Activities, Task Force Chair
- Designee: Harry Vorhoff, Deputy Director, Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities
- Colette Pichon Battle, Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Center for Law and Policy, as a member of the environmental and climate justice community
- Dr. Chuck Brown, Secretary, LA Department of Environmental Quality
- Designee: Lourdes Iturralde, Assistant Secretary, Office of Environmental Compliance
- Jay Dardenne, Commissioner of Administration, Division of Administration
- Designee: Mark Moses, Assistant Commissioner, Facility Planning & Control
- Bren Haase, Executive Director, Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority
- Thomas Harris, Secretary, LA Department of Natural Resources
- Designee: Jason Lanclos, Director, State Energy Office
- Don Pierson, Secretary, LA Economic Development
- Designee: Brad Lambert, Deputy Secretary, Louisiana Economic Development
- Mike Strain, Commissioner, LA Department of Agriculture & Forestry
- Designee: Joey Breaux, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Soil and Water Conservation
- Dr. Shawn Wilson, Secretary, Department of Transportation & Development
- Designee: Dr. Eric Kalivoda, Deputy Secretary, Department of Transportation and Development
- Timothy Hardy, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P., designee for LA Senate President Page Cortez
- Selby Bush, BHP Petroleum, designee for the LA Speaker of the House Clay Schexnayder
- Bill Robertson, designee of LA Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell
- Tyler Gray, President and General Counsel, LA Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association
- Gregory M. Bowser, President and CEO, LA Chemical Association
- Jonathan Bourg, Director of Resource Planning and Market Operations at Entergy, representative of a utility company
- Dr. Virginia Burkett, Chief Scientist for Climate and Land Use Change at the United States Geological Survey, as
a nonvoting representative of a federal scientific agency - Karen Gautreaux, Director of Government Relations for LA at the Nature Conservancy, as a member of
the environmental nonprofit community - Flozell Daniels, President and CEO of the Foundation for LA, as a member with experience in community
development and engagement - Dr. Terrence Chambers, Director of the Energy Efficiency & Sustainable Energy Center at the University of
Louisiana at Lafayette, as a member of Louisiana’s academic community - Chief Shirell Parfait-Dardar, Tribal Chief of the Grand Caillou/Dulac Band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw, as a
member of an indigenous tribe, nation, or community - Jeff Schwartz, Director of Economic Development for the City of New Orleans, as a representative of local
government perspective - Robert Verchick, Gauthier-St. Martin Eminent Scholar & Chair in Environmental Law at Loyola University New
Orleans, as a member with special qualifications and experience in climate change policy - Camille Manning-Broome, President and CEO of the Center for Planning Excellence, as a member at-large
Watch past Climate Task Force meetings on their Youtube page:
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Why Does Louisiana Need a Climate Task Force?
Louisiana is particularly vulnerable to the symptoms of a dangerously warming climate, and we must act boldly and swiftly to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions if we wish to preserve our land and way of life. We have no time for further hesitation or for false solutions.
For Louisiana the impacts of climate change are most severely manifested in the loss of coastal wetlands from sea level rise, increased flooding from tropical and intense rainfall events, rising energy burdens because of extreme weather events, and poor health outcomes because of pollution.
Each of these environmental and health stressors are and will increasingly have negative impacts on families, communities, and regions around our state with disproportionate impacts on those with the fewest resources.
The approach that brought us to our current predicament -- that of placing corporate profit over people and community, of viewing the Earth as a thing to be exploited -- will not provide a solution to the dire challenge we face.
The creation of this task force represents an opportunity to begin the difficult but necessary work of reversing decades of ecological destruction, but it must be guided by commitments to honest accounting, economic and racial equity, indigenous sovereignty, and a radical change in our relationship with the land and waters.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
Which sectors are the most responsible?
The Louisiana Climate Initiatives Task Force aims to identify action items for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the Louisiana economy and society.
The sector that needs to reduce its emissions the most? Well the sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana are clear, and industry is the primary polluter.
Industrial processes contribute 66% of our state’s CO2 emissions. On a national scale, industrial processes account for just 17% of CO2 emissions, a stark contrast that highlights the outsized contribution of industry to Louisiana’s carbon pollution. Learn more in LSU's Briefing Study on GHG Inventory.
The Louisiana Climate Initiatives Task Force aims to identify action items for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the Louisiana economy and society.
The sector that needs to reduce its emissions the most? Well the sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana are clear, and industry is the primary polluter.
Industrial processes contribute 66% of our state’s CO2 emissions. On a national scale, industrial processes account for just 17% of CO2 emissions, a stark contrast that highlights the outsized contribution of industry to Louisiana’s carbon pollution. Learn more in LSU's Briefing Study on GHG Inventory.
LSU BRIEFING STUDY ON GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY & EMISSIONS ANALYSIS
In January 2021, the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities (OCA) contracted the LSU Center for Energy Studies (CES) to update prior statewide estimates on GHG emissions from all major sources. This report will give state administrators an overview of LA's greenhouse gas inventory and help identify areas in which LA must most improve.
We've summarized some of the most crucial findings and key takeaways below, but also check out the full powerpoint here!
The biggest take away? The sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana are clear, and industry is the primary polluter. Industrial processes contribute 66% of our state’s CO2 emissions. On a national scale, industrial processes account for just 17% of CO2 emissions, a stark contrast that highlights the outsized contribution of industry to Louisiana’s carbon pollution.
In fact, greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana have risen between 8-10% since 2012, while during that same period, U.S. emissions declined by approximately 10%. Any plan to address climate change must emphasize the curtailing of industrial emissions as a primary feature. This means accounting for the greenhouse gas emissions of industrial facilities brought on-line since 2018 and those that are permitted but unconstructed, which will contribute an additional 125 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents annually above those accounted for in the greenhouse gas inventory as presented.
Likewise, the inventory must account for emissions from our state’s thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells and pipelines. Failing to do so will cause the task force to vastly underestimate the reductions necessary to meet our emissions goals. Reducing industrial emissions will also mean curtailing the permitting of new facilities. This will require a coordinated, multi-agency effort across state government, including the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Department of Natural Resources, among others.
All about the numbers? Here are 10 stats you need to know:
Greenhouse gas emissions by type:
We've summarized some of the most crucial findings and key takeaways below, but also check out the full powerpoint here!
The biggest take away? The sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana are clear, and industry is the primary polluter. Industrial processes contribute 66% of our state’s CO2 emissions. On a national scale, industrial processes account for just 17% of CO2 emissions, a stark contrast that highlights the outsized contribution of industry to Louisiana’s carbon pollution.
In fact, greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana have risen between 8-10% since 2012, while during that same period, U.S. emissions declined by approximately 10%. Any plan to address climate change must emphasize the curtailing of industrial emissions as a primary feature. This means accounting for the greenhouse gas emissions of industrial facilities brought on-line since 2018 and those that are permitted but unconstructed, which will contribute an additional 125 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents annually above those accounted for in the greenhouse gas inventory as presented.
Likewise, the inventory must account for emissions from our state’s thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells and pipelines. Failing to do so will cause the task force to vastly underestimate the reductions necessary to meet our emissions goals. Reducing industrial emissions will also mean curtailing the permitting of new facilities. This will require a coordinated, multi-agency effort across state government, including the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Department of Natural Resources, among others.
All about the numbers? Here are 10 stats you need to know:
- Louisiana's GHG emissions have risen between 8-10% since 2012. During that same period, U.S. emissions declined by approximately 10%.
- LA’s accounts for slightly of 4% of the U.S.'s GHG emissions.
- LA’s GHG emissions are dominated by the industrial sector. Industrial sources comprise about 61% of overall state emissions.
- Power generation comprises about 17% of overall state emissions.
- The top 20 industrial facilities in LA account for over half of the state's industrial GHG emissions.
- Wetlands, and all LA forest lands, are a net sink that....(have increased from a negative 25million tons to negative 36million tons.)
Greenhouse gas emissions by type:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) enters the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal), solid waste, trees and wood products, and also as a result of other chemical reactions (e.g. manufacture of cement).
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste.
- Methane (CH4) is emitted during the production and transport of fossil fuels in the petroleum and chemical manufacturing sectors. Methane emissions can also result from livestock and other agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.
- Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) are a family of gases containing fluorine. They are powerful greenhouse gases found and released from refrigerants, heat pumps, air conditioning, blowing agents for foam/solvents, and fire extinguishers.
CITF Events
Upcoming & Past Meetings
Spring Meeting | April 11th, 2022
The Governor’s Climate Initiatives Task Force (CITF) is meeting Tuesday, April 11 in Baton Rouge. At this meeting, partners will give implementation and project updates to the Task Force. We encourage you to come in person, but the meeting will be recorded for viewing afterwards.
Winter Meeting | January 31st, 2022
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Upcoming opportunity to get engaged! The Task Force is meeting Tuesday, January 31 in Baton Rouge at the State Capitol. This meeting is open to the public. The Task Force needs to hear from you, come make your voice heard! The meeting will be held from 1:30pm to 4pm at the Louisiana State Capitol, HCR 4 (900 N. 3rd St, Baton Rouge LA 70802).
The 1st Annual Report for the Climate Action Plan will be presented to the Task Force at the January 31st meeting before it is sent to the Governor in February. The report overviews the extensive efforts underway to implement climate action across the state in the first year of implementing the 2022 Climate Action Plan (from February through November of 2022). |
The report was recently open to public comment and the version presented at the January 31st Task Force meeting will reflect the round of final edits made after the public comment period ended on December 31, 2022.
Equity Metric Stakeholder Conversation | January 17th, 2022
The Equity Advisory Group, whose goal is to center equity as part of the implementation the Climate Action Plan, met on Tuesday January 17, 2023 from 3-5:30pm in the Oliver Pollock Room, Adjacent to the DEQ Building (602 N. Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802). This was a feedback meeting during which they looked at the equity metrics used in the Climate Action Plan.
More specifically, they were "wrapping up the phase 1 of the analysis of the work of the Data Center on the Equity Metrics Report. This [was] an opportunity for the Advisory Group and other allies to provide feedback to this process and provide feedback to the structure of the way we think about equitable outcomes in metric form."
More specifically, they were "wrapping up the phase 1 of the analysis of the work of the Data Center on the Equity Metrics Report. This [was] an opportunity for the Advisory Group and other allies to provide feedback to this process and provide feedback to the structure of the way we think about equitable outcomes in metric form."
Watch the meeting on the Task Force's Youtube Channel:
Fall Meeting & Workshop | November 4th, 2022
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The Climate Initiatives Task Force held an interactive workshop to learn and collaborate about new federal funding programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IlJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
The meeting was held in Baton Rouge on Friday, November 4, 2022 from 1 - 5pm. You must RSVP by October 31st. The agenda and location details will be shared closer to the event. We look forward to seeing you there! |
July Meeting | July 12th, 2022
The Task Force's summer meeting w heldas in Baton Rouge at the State Capitol (HCR 1) on July 12, 2022 at 9am CT. Come in person to submit public comment! This meeting was also livestreamed on house.louisiana.gov.
All Hands Workshop | March 23, 2022
Members of the Climate Initiatives Task Force subgroups and the public came together for a workshop to discuss content of and first steps in implementation of the Climate Action Plan (CAP). Following an overview of plan, attendees participated in two exercises with a primary goal of synergizing and coordinating efforts across stakeholders to implement the 84 climate actions.
Implementation Meeting | March 9th, 2022
The Climate Task Force is meeting again after a short hiatus to move forward with the The Louisiana Climate Action Plan's (LCAP) implementation. The Task Force has published a plan to reduce our carbon emissions, but the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) & state agencies in the legislature are going to have to act on it.
The meeting was held at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge. Can’t make it in person? Tune in to the livestream!
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Final Opportunity for Public Comment | January 31st, 2022
The Governor’s Climate Task force met on January 31st at 9am CT. This was the last opportunity for the public to comment during the process before the final report was submitted to the Governor. The work of this Task Force is already making waves in renewable energy development.
The Louisiana Climate Action Plan (LCAP), the final product of the Governor's Climate Task Force, contains recommendations that could potentially set Louisiana on a path to meeting the goal of net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050.
However, the LCAP has significant limitations: it is not, in fact, a plan, but rather an unprioritized list of recommendations that provides no analysis of the relative greenhouse gas emissions reductions of the measures included.
However, the LCAP has significant limitations: it is not, in fact, a plan, but rather an unprioritized list of recommendations that provides no analysis of the relative greenhouse gas emissions reductions of the measures included.
Watch the meeting on the Task Force's Youtube Channel:
January CITF Meeting | January 11th, 2022
The final draft of the plan was unveiled at this meeting. Task force members were allowed to append objections to the plan until January 31st, the date of the Task Force's last meeting in 2022.
Watch the meeting on the Task Force's Youtube Channel:
Watch the meeting on the Task Force's Youtube Channel:
December CITF Meeting | December 16th, 2021
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Watch the meeting on the Task Force's Youtube Channel:
November CITF Meeting | Week of November 15th, 2021
The Climate Task Force met to discuss the revised Portfolio.
October Meeting on Carbon Capture, Utilization & Sequestration | October 26, 2021
At the October meeting they presented the results of the second consequence analysis on the Draft Portfolio and reviewed comments from the public and committees on the Draft Portfolio.
The meeting was held on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 from 9am - 12pm CST.
The meeting was held on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 from 9am - 12pm CST.
Special Meeting on Industrial Decarbonization | October 8 & 19, 2021
Be part of the conversation! The Louisiana Climate Initiatives Task Force discussed strategies to decarbonize our industrial sector - which will help shape the future of our state's environment, economy, and people.
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The First Meeting was held on
Friday, October 8, 2021 from 9am - 12pm CST |
The Second Meeting was held on
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 from 9am - 12pm CST |
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Special Public Meeting of the Equity Advisory Group | September 30, 2021
The Governor’s Climate Task Force virtually held a Special Public Meeting of the Equity Advisory Group Thursday, September 30th, 2021 at 6pm. The Equity Advisor Group listened to the public about and discussed how climate solutions can enhance resilience and better prepare for future storms. Let your voice be heard! If you cannot zoom in, email your comment to climate@la.gov.
Advisory Group Second Consequence Analysis Kick-Off | August 27, 2021
The Advisory Group met on zoom Friday, August 27 from 10am-12pm CST.
CITF Meeting | July 29, 2021
On July 29th the full Governor's Climate Initiatives Task Force met at the Capitol to hear a presentation on Louisiana's greenhouse gas emission inventory as of 2018. The presentation also covered high level priorities for the Task Force. This is a snapshot of where Louisiana's emissions are coming from, and how they've changed over the last two decades.
The 29th is an opportunity to provide public comment on how Louisiana's emissions are analyzed, are increasing and are reported. If you cannot make it to that meeting you can provide comment in advance of the meeting at climate@la.gov.
The meeting was be held in House Committee Room 5 of the State Capitol in Baton Rouge on Thursday, July 29 from 9am-12pm CST. The video was livestreamed and archived on the House Legislative website for those who were unable to attend in person.
The 29th is an opportunity to provide public comment on how Louisiana's emissions are analyzed, are increasing and are reported. If you cannot make it to that meeting you can provide comment in advance of the meeting at climate@la.gov.
The meeting was be held in House Committee Room 5 of the State Capitol in Baton Rouge on Thursday, July 29 from 9am-12pm CST. The video was livestreamed and archived on the House Legislative website for those who were unable to attend in person.
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Louisiana Wind Week | June 21-25, 2021
This free webinar series looked at how offshore wind energy could become a part of the state's energy future.
"While Louisiana's onshore wind resources are limited, Louisiana's coast is ripe for wind energy development," said Governor Edwards. "Thanks to years of oil and gas exploration experience, Louisiana's existing infrastructure, workforce and business community give us a strategic advantage in developing offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico and all coastal waters of the United States."
Zoom webinars were held June 21-25 from 9 to 11am (CST). Each session focused on a different topic critical to the development of offshore wind.
Topics included: navigating the regulatory process, minimizing impacts to fish and wildlife, minimizing impacts to existing users in the Gulf of Mexico, connecting offshore wind to end users and leveraging Louisiana's existing offshore energy industry.
"While Louisiana's onshore wind resources are limited, Louisiana's coast is ripe for wind energy development," said Governor Edwards. "Thanks to years of oil and gas exploration experience, Louisiana's existing infrastructure, workforce and business community give us a strategic advantage in developing offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico and all coastal waters of the United States."
Zoom webinars were held June 21-25 from 9 to 11am (CST). Each session focused on a different topic critical to the development of offshore wind.
Topics included: navigating the regulatory process, minimizing impacts to fish and wildlife, minimizing impacts to existing users in the Gulf of Mexico, connecting offshore wind to end users and leveraging Louisiana's existing offshore energy industry.
Developing an Action Plan | Feb-April 2021
The Task Force crafted an Action Template to solicit input from the public and members of the Climate Initiative groups from February 24, 2021, through April 30, 2021. Their goal was to "develop comprehensive actions that reflect the needs and expertise of all Louisianans."
Directive to Update Prior Statewide Estimates on GHG Emissions | January 2021
In January 2021, the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities (OCA) contracted the LSU Center for Energy Studies (CES) to update prior statewide estimates on GHG emissions from all major sources.
- Developing a transparent, high-level, top-down inventory of emissions by major GHG emissions type, process, and by economic sector
LSU BRIEFING STUDY ON GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY & EMISSIONS ANALYSIS
In January 2021, the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities (OCA) contracted the LSU Center for Energy Studies (CES) to update prior statewide estimates on GHG emissions from all major sources. This report will give state administrators an overview of LA's greenhouse gas inventory and help identify areas in which LA must most improve.
We've summarized some of the most crucial findings and key takeaways below, but also check out the full powerpoint here!
The biggest take away? The sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana are clear, and industry is the primary polluter. Industrial processes contribute 66% of our state’s CO2 emissions. On a national scale, industrial processes account for just 17% of CO2 emissions, a stark contrast that highlights the outsized contribution of industry to Louisiana’s carbon pollution.
In fact, greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana have risen between 8-10% since 2012, while during that same period, U.S. emissions declined by approximately 10%. Any plan to address climate change must emphasize the curtailing of industrial emissions as a primary feature. This means accounting for the greenhouse gas emissions of industrial facilities brought on-line since 2018 and those that are permitted but unconstructed, which will contribute an additional 125 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents annually above those accounted for in the greenhouse gas inventory as presented.
Likewise, the inventory must account for emissions from our state’s thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells and pipelines. Failing to do so will cause the task force to vastly underestimate the reductions necessary to meet our emissions goals. Reducing industrial emissions will also mean curtailing the permitting of new facilities. This will require a coordinated, multi-agency effort across state government, including the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Department of Natural Resources, among others.
All about the numbers? Here are 10 stats you need to know:
Greenhouse gas emissions by type:
We've summarized some of the most crucial findings and key takeaways below, but also check out the full powerpoint here!
The biggest take away? The sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana are clear, and industry is the primary polluter. Industrial processes contribute 66% of our state’s CO2 emissions. On a national scale, industrial processes account for just 17% of CO2 emissions, a stark contrast that highlights the outsized contribution of industry to Louisiana’s carbon pollution.
In fact, greenhouse gas emissions in Louisiana have risen between 8-10% since 2012, while during that same period, U.S. emissions declined by approximately 10%. Any plan to address climate change must emphasize the curtailing of industrial emissions as a primary feature. This means accounting for the greenhouse gas emissions of industrial facilities brought on-line since 2018 and those that are permitted but unconstructed, which will contribute an additional 125 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents annually above those accounted for in the greenhouse gas inventory as presented.
Likewise, the inventory must account for emissions from our state’s thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells and pipelines. Failing to do so will cause the task force to vastly underestimate the reductions necessary to meet our emissions goals. Reducing industrial emissions will also mean curtailing the permitting of new facilities. This will require a coordinated, multi-agency effort across state government, including the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Department of Natural Resources, among others.
All about the numbers? Here are 10 stats you need to know:
- Louisiana's GHG emissions have risen between 8-10% since 2012. During that same period, U.S. emissions declined by approximately 10%.
- LA’s accounts for slightly of 4% of the U.S.'s GHG emissions.
- LA’s GHG emissions are dominated by the industrial sector. Industrial sources comprise about 61% of overall state emissions.
- Power generation comprises about 17% of overall state emissions.
- The top 20 industrial facilities in LA account for over half of the state's industrial GHG emissions.
- Wetlands, and all LA forest lands, are a net sink that....(have increased from a negative 25million tons to negative 36million tons.)
Greenhouse gas emissions by type:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) enters the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal), solid waste, trees and wood products, and also as a result of other chemical reactions (e.g. manufacture of cement).
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste.
- Methane (CH4) is emitted during the production and transport of fossil fuels in the petroleum and chemical manufacturing sectors. Methane emissions can also result from livestock and other agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.
- Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) are a family of gases containing fluorine. They are powerful greenhouse gases found and released from refrigerants, heat pumps, air conditioning, blowing agents for foam/solvents, and fire extinguishers.
Governor John Bel Edwards Creates the LA-CITF | August 2020
On August 19th, 2020 Governor John Bel Edwards signed Executive Order (JBE 2020-18), creating the Louisiana Climate Initiatives Task Force (LA-CITF).