Peter Erickson
Senior Scientist
Seattle, WA
pete.erickson@sei-us.org
skype: pugetgold
+1 (206) 547-4000 x3#
Peter is a Staff Scientist in the Climate and Energy program in SEI's Seattle office. His research focuses on climate change policy, with particular interests in the role of offsets in cap-and-trade programs, contribution of consumption and behavior change to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, industrial policy, and cities.
Current or recent projects include the development of a greenhouse gas tracking framework for a major U.S. metropolitan area (Seattle); a study on the quality and quantity of potential greenhouse gas offsets in the United States; a study on the role of international offsets in global climate mitigation; and a long-term emission reduction scenario for sustainable consumption and production in the United States.
Peter joined SEI in 2008 after 8 years consulting on environmental issues for cities and states throughout the United States. He received a B.A. from Carleton College in 1998, with a major in geology and extensive studies in mathematics.
Recent Publications by Peter Erickson
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International Trade and Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Could Shifting the Location of Production Bring GHG benefits?SEI and 3C Project Report Author(s): Erickson, P. ; Kemp-Benedict, E. ; Lazarus, M. ; van Asselt, H.Year: 2013 Research Area(s): Climate Mitigation Policy Description: This report examines the potential for trade to shift production to the lowest-emission locations and thus reduce overall emissions, and explores the viability of policy approaches to spur such a shift. It looks at the relative average GHG intensity of production of selected goods in different world regions and the potential for regions to access low-GHG fuels and feedstocks needed to expand low-GHG production. This simplified approach allows us to gauge what conditions might enable countries to be future low-GHG producers. The report begins by looking at the emissions embodied in trade, based on a multiregional input-output model, to help identify significant trade flows for further analysis. It then examines differences in GHG-intensity among regions for some of the categories identified, and asks whether and how shifting the location of steel production could reduce global GHGs. The final sections assess a range of national and international policies that could be used to shift trade patterns, summarize the results and identify areas for further research.More information Download PDF |
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A core framework and scenario for deep GHG reductions at the city scaleEnergy Policy, in press (online March 2013) Author(s): Lazarus, M. ; Erickson, P. ; Chandler, C.Year: 2013 Research Area(s): Climate Mitigation Policy Description: This article presents one of the first long-term scenarios of deep greenhouse gas abatement for a major U.S. city – Seattle, Wash. – and discusses innovations in community-scale GHG accounting. Using a detailed, bottom-up scenario analysis, the authors investigate how Seattle might achieve its recently stated goal of carbon neutrality by the year 2050. The analysis demonstrates that a series of ambitious strategies could achieve per capita GHG reductions of 34% in 2020, and 91% in 2050 in Seattle's "core" emissions from the buildings, transportation, and waste sectors. The paper also discusses methodological innovations for community-scale emissions accounting frameworks, including a "core" emissions focus that excludes industrial activity and a consumption perspective that expands the emissions footprint and scope of policy solutions.More information External Link |
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Transitioning away from large-scale power projects: A simple and effective fix for the CDM?SEI Policy Brief Author(s): Lazarus, M. ; Erickson, P. ; Spalding-Fecher, R.Year: 2012 Research Area(s): Emissions Trading & Offsets Description: This policy brief, based on SEI research for the High Level Panel of the CDM Policy Dialogue, shows how large-scale power supply projects may undermine the value and integrity of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and proposes transitioning away from them. It finds that for large-scale power supply projects, which are expected to generate the majority of CDM credits going forward, additionality is hard to demonstrate with high confidence. Thus, the value and integrity of the CDM may hinge on the net emissions impact of such projects. The authors argue that a transition away from large-scale power projects could help address the over-supply of certified emission reductions (CERs), support projects that truly depend on CERs, and improve the CDM's overall mitigation impact. However, such a transition would need to be carefully considered, bearing in mind governance and legal aspects and the need for investor confidence.More information Download PDF |
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Assessing the Impact of the Clean Development MechanismReport to the High-Level Panel of the CDM Policy Dialogue Author(s): Spalding-Fecher, R. ; Erickson, P. ; Lazarus, M. ; Achanta, A.N.; Haites, E.; Pahuja, N.; Pandey, N.; Seres, S.; Tewari, R.Year: 2012 Research Area(s): Emissions Trading & Offsets Description: This report, one of three commissioned by the High-Level Panel on the CDM Policy Dialogue, aims to provide an independent assessment of the impact of the CDM across a broad range of metrics and possible effects. The impact of the CDM is assessed firstly in relation to its original purposes stated in Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol, namely "to assist Parties not included in Annex I in achieving sustainable development and in contributing to the ultimate objective of the Convention, and to assist Parties included in Annex I in achieving compliance with their quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments". Beyond sustainable development and cost-effective emission reductions, the analysis considers potential impacts on technology transfer, financing, net global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy security, clean energy investment and the regional distribution of projects.More information External Link |
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Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Consumption: A Methodology for Scenario AnalysisSEI Working Paper 2012-05 Author(s): Erickson, P. ; Chandler, C. ; Lazarus, M.Year: 2012 Research Area(s): Climate Mitigation Policy Description: In recent years, climate policy analysts have explored the links between consumption patterns and greenhouse gases (GHGs) by developing methods to estimate life-cycle emissions associated with different categories of consumption, e.g., a carbon "footprint" or a "consumption-based" GHG inventory. Implicit in many of the studies is the notion that shifts in consumption patterns could lead to reductions in global emissions. For example, if consumers were to shift their purchases from particularly GHG-intensive goods and services (e.g. red meat) to less GHG-intensive goods and services (e.g., grains and legumes), global emissions may decline. However, surprisingly few studies have attempted to construct long-term scenarios for how shifts in consumption patterns and behavior could reduce emissions. Here the authors develop a methodology to construct such scenarios, then apply it to a major U.S. city, Seattle, Wash., which has been active in climate action planning and helped organize over one thousand U.S. mayors to adopt GHG-reduction goals.Download PDF |