[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 207 (Thursday, October 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26628]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 27, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 2101]
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific
Affairs; U.S. Climate Action Report (USCAR), September 1994; United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
ACTION: Notice of availability of USCAR and public comment period.
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SUMMARY: In June 1992, the United States signed the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Pursuant to the
reporting requirements under Articles 4.2 and 12 of the Convention, the
United States has prepared and submitted the U.S. Climate Action Report
(USCAR) in fulfillment of these requirements to the UNFCCC Secretariat.
The USCAR provides a description of the current U.S. program designed
to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. The information
presented in the USCAR, together with information provided by other
Annex I Parties (developed country Parties and Parties with economies
in transition to market economies), will be reviewed and discussed by
the Parties to the UNFCCC beginning at the first session of the
Conference of the Parties in early 1995.
In keeping with international guidelines, the USCAR provides an
inventory of current U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks, estimates
effects of current mitigation measures and policies on future emissions
levels, and describes U.S. involvement in international programs
including associated financial transfers and contributions. In
addition, the USCAR includes a discussion of U.S. national
circumstances which affect its vulnerability and responses to climate
change. Information on adaptation programs and the U.S. Global Change
Research Program, the largest climate change research program in the
world, is also presented. While it briefly discusses the future
direction of the U.S. effort, the USCAR does not seek to identify
policies or measures additional to those described in the Climate
Action Plan, announced by President Clinton and Vice President Gore on
October 19, 1993, that might ultimately be taken as the United States
continues to move forward in addressing climate change.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In June 1992, at the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (the ``Earth Summit''), the
United States signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC). The ultimate objective of this Convention is to:
``Achieve * * * stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the
atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system. Such a level should be achieved
within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally
to climate change, to ensure that food productions is not threatened
and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable
manner.''
It has been predicted that human produced greenhouse gases
(primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) will cause
change in global average climate at a rate that could far exceed any
natural change that has occurred in the last 10,000 years. Although
there are uncertainties regarding the magnitude, timing and regional
patterns of global climate change, any human-induced change that does
occur is not likely to be reversed for decades--or even centuries--
because of the long lifetimes of the greenhouse gases and the inertia
of the climatic system.
In accordance with the UNFCCC's reporting requirements as specified
in Articles 4.2 and 12, the United States has prepared the U.S. Climate
Action Report (USCAR) and submitted it to the UNFCCC Secretariat. The
USCAR represents the United States' first formal communication to the
Secretariat under these Articles.
Content of the USCAR
The USCAR provides a background to the issue of global climate
change and describes current U.S. efforts to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. Following the Introduction
and Overview (chapter 1), the report begins (in chapter 2) with an
analysis of United States national circumstances which affect its
vulnerability and responses to climate change. These circumstances
include natural resources, the economy, energy production and
consumption, governing institutions, and U.S. policies related to
climate change.
The next chapter (chapter 3) consists of an inventory of U.S.
greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, and HFC and PFC emissions. Because the full U.S. submission
includes a copy of the EPA Report ``Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas
Emissions and Sinks for 1990-1993'', the USCAR itself provides a
summary of this complete inventory.
Chapter 4 deals with the specific actions being taken to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. This section is drawn from the material
contained in the 1993 U.S. Climate Change Action Plan. As with the
emissions inventory, a detailed supplement was also submitted to the
INC Secretariat on this material. That document, ``The Climate Change
Action Plan: Technical Supplement,'' has been published separately by
the Department of Energy. The 1993 Action Plan aims to limit greenhouse
gas emissions while continuing to guide the U.S. economy toward
environmentally sound economic growth into the next century. The Plan
is comprehensive, as it targets all greenhouse gases and all sectors of
the economy through a portfolio of nearly fifty different actions. It
is designed for rapid implementation by building on existing
technologies, programs, and voluntary efforts to deliver cost-effective
results. It is a coordinated federal response, involving several
government agencies working together, and was developed through an
interagency process. The Plan is being actively monitored to ensure
that it meets the President's goals, and will be modified to adapt to
changing circumstances. Finally, the Plan lays the foundation for an
international response to climate change through the United States
Initiative on Joint Implementation.
The combined effect of the U.S. actions, assuming 1993 economic
predictions and full funding of all mitigation measures, would reduce
greenhouse gas emissions to 1,459 million metric tons of carbon
equivalent (MMTCE) by the year 2000, slightly below the 1990 level of
1,462 MMTCE. Without these mitigation policies, projected net
greenhouse gas emissions would rise to 1,674 MMTCE. Since these
policies were first developed and their effects projected, economic
growth has been more robust, and oil prices lower than predicted in the
Action Plan. These differences and other effects on meeting the
projected emission reductions of the Plan are now being evaluated.
Chapter 5 of the USCAR examines the potential impacts of global
climate change as well as strategies to adapt to any such change. Both
adverse and beneficial consequences of climate change are plausible,
with the overall effect depending on the rate and magnitude of change
and the vulnerability or sensitivity of human and natural systems to
such changes. Possible consequences include rising sea levels, coastal
zone erosion, shifts in precipitation patterns (causing either more
floods or droughts), shifts in agricultural production, and increased
stress on forest ecosystems.
Chapter 6 highlights current U.S. research and public education
efforts regarding climate change. The U.S. Global Change Research
Program, the largest climate change research program in the world,
seeks both to expand knowledge about the processes that affect climate
change and to develop integrated models to predict these effects. In
addition to basic science research, the U.S. is promoting research in
all economic sectors--including industry, transportation, housing, and
agriculture--to develop strategies to reduce emissions. The United
States is coordinating its research efforts with both international
organizations and on a bilateral basis with individual countries.
To ensure that the public has a solid understanding of the science
of climate change and the consequences of policy options, the U.S. is
also continuing to develop its efforts to coordinate general education,
communication, and information programs for the public. Educational
outreach programs include GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to
Benefit the Environment) for K-12 students, and Project Earthlink, a
long-term effort targeting community leaders, informal educators,
teachers, students, journalists, and the general public.
International activities and cooperation regarding global climate
change are discussed in Chapter 7. The Climate Convention requires all
Parties to communicate a national inventory of greenhouse gas emissions
and sinks and describe measures taken to implement the convention. To
help developing countries meet this commitment, the U.S. initiated its
Country Studies program in 1992. This program is providing technical
and financial support to developing countries and countries with
economies in transition to help them prepare studies to address climate
change. Chapter 7 also highlights other ways in which the United States
is implementing its financial commitments under the Convention,
including numerous U.S. bilateral mitigation projects as well as
multilateral cooperation through such organizations as the Global
Environment Facility, multilateral development banks, the Organization
of Economic Cooperation and Development, the International Energy
Agency, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation organization.
The final chapter of the Climate Action Report addresses future
actions to address climate change. In this chapter, two important
issues are raised: (1) the uncertainties in projecting the
effectiveness of current actions to meet the U.S. domestic commitment
to return greenhouse gas emissions to their 1990 levels by the year
2000, and (2) the long-term actions that must be taken to address
global warming--as greenhouse gas emissions will continue to rise
beyond the turn of the millenium.
Preparation of the Report
The U.S. Climate Action Report was prepared in a broad interagency
process, incorporating--to the greatest extent possible--data from all
relevant sectors and programs. Preliminary versions of the Report were
circulated to nongovernmental organizations, including environmental
and business groups, for their review and comment. Where possible,
suggestions received were incorporated into this text.
Availability of the Report
Copies of the U.S. Climate Action Report may be purchased from the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO),
Post Office Box 37082, Washington, DC 20013-7082; tel: (202) 512-1800.
The publication number for the Report is 0-16-045214-7. In addition,
GPO will provide copies to federal depository libraries.
The text of the U.S. Climate Action Report will also be available
electronically through:
The Federal Bulletin Board Service (BBS) of the U.S.
Government Printing Office which can be reached at (202) 512-1387. The
Report can be found in the Department of State (DOS) environment
library under ``global issues''.
The Internet via gopher to summit.fiu.edu under Department
of State (DOS) Reports.
Public Comment
The Framework Convention on Climate Change requires that Parties
periodically prepare additional communications on their actions to
address climate change. It is the U.S. intention to collect comments
received on this first submission and on the basis of those comments--
and additional actions being taken within the government--to prepare
additional documents for submission.
For this reason, while the timing for subsequent submissions has
not been determined, written comments on the U.S. Climate Action Report
are invited. Comments should be submitted to the Department of State no
later than December 30, 1994. Comments or questions should be directed
to: Mr. Daniel A. Reifsnyder, Director, Office of Global Change, Room
4329-A, Department of State, 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20520-7818; telephone: (202) 647-4069; fax: (202) 647-0191.
Dated: October 12, 1994.
Ambassador Elinor Constable,
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental
and Scientific Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-26628 Filed 10-26-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-M
