THE BULLETIN OF THE GLOBAL CLIMATE COALITION Volume 3 Issue 2 March/April 995 CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES MEETS IN BERLIN Executive Director '5 Column DEBATE HEATS UP FOR BERLIN CONFERENCE By John Shlacs he next phase of negotiations on the climate treaty will occur in Berlin from March 28 through April 7. The meeting, the first nference of the Parties has rned up the volume on the public dis- cussion surrounding the Framework Convention on Climate Change The German government considers the Berlin meeting one of the major events following reunification, and the German ?green" party, which has considerable government in?uence, has for months attempted to focus German and Euro- pean attention on the meeting. Interest- ingly, the German Environment Minister recently visited the United States in an attempt to convince the US government to support new mandates and obligations to reduce manufacturing emissions. Up until now, the climate negotiations have been relatively free of such outside influences. At the six previous ?interim? sessions since the adoption of the con- vention in May 1992, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) negotiators were alone in developing recommenda- tions on how the COP should address issues regarding administering the treaty. However, it is anticipated that Berlin will host over 230 environmental, social, youth, church and other organiza- tions. These groups will participate in a series of conferences, seminars, art here has been no increase in weather-related natural disasters, according to a report issued in February by Accu- Weather, the world's leading com- mercial weather ?rm. The authors credit the perception of increased extreme weather events to several factors: more people live in areas that were once sparsely populat- ed or even uninhabited; local media are now able to quickly report extreme weather events in distant parts of the globe; and, science has developed new tools such as satellites and improved computer technologies, so more events are being covered. In the study entitled, ?Changing Weather? Facts and Fallacies About Climate Change and Weather Extremes,? Accu-Weather meteorolo- gists refute the claim that there has been a dramatic increase in extreme weather events as a result of human FORECASTING EXPERTS FIND NO RISE IN EXTREME WEATHER activity. In addition, they support the ?ndings of most climate experts that the slight increase in global tempera- tures during the last century (about one degree Fahrenheit) is well within the range of natural variability. The authors, Norman Macdonald, M.S., Certi?ed Consulting Meteorolo- gist, and Joseph Sobel, Senior Vice President of Accu-Weather, credit the Earth's climate changes over geo- logical time to natural variations in the Earth's climate, caused by factors such as the sun?s strength, the Earth?s orbit and volcanic action. ?While it is impossible to answer these questions unequivocally, studies of observational data and an under- standing of the theoretical issues of climate do offer some insight. Put brie?y, while climate does change, man?s activities do not appear to be a signi?cant agent of change," the aUthors saY- Cmtinuedonmz organized by the German League for the Protection of Nature and the Environ- ment and the Berlin Green League. The purpose of the ?Rio? type NGO activity during the Berlin meeting will be to create external public pressures on the delegates, and to force additional and binding agreements. One such effort will be the convening of he Greenhouse Gathering,? which is billed as an NGO counterpart to the Berlin Climate Summit. negotiations, and We are not willing to let politicians play with our a first step, we demand a binding protocol for a 20 percent CO2 reduction by 2005 for industrialized countries." They are also pursuing an evolving environmental theme: ?We need a radical redefinition of the Northern concept of development.? Make no mistake, Berlin will be high stakes. But the real action will take place inside the international shows, concerts and exhibits sponsored Organizersof thisevent havesaid, ?We conference center, where over 100 by KLIMAFORUM ?95, the NGO group demand real progress in the climate Continuedon page 5 PRIVATE Secron ACHIEVEMENTS LAUDED BY CLINTON ADMINISTRATION oluntarv private sector cooper- ation works! The Clinton Administration reports signifi- cant progress by voluntary company actions to help reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to I990 levels bv the year 2000. In a paper released at the intergovern- mental Negotiating Committee (INC) meeting in New York in February, the accomplishments of the President? 5 Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) were detailed as part of the U.S. effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Inthepreambletothepaper, the Administration states it is facing the issue of climate change with ?cost-effective policies" based on the ?three pillars? of sound science, partnerships with the pri- vate sector, and ?international solutions.? In addition to the voluntary programs described on page 4: 0 New grants to 18 states and one local NGO have been awarded by the State CLIMATE WATCH and Local Outreach Program. In total, 24 states have participated in the Program. 0 CCAP recently approved seven joint implementation projects to encourage wind energy, fuel switching, energy efficiency, and improved forest man- agement in developing countries and those in transition. An apparent byproduct of the CCAP is an expected energy savings of $60 billion by the year 2000. U.S. Research Effort The CCAP paper also outlines the accomplishments of the U.S. contribution to the IPCC, which is funneled through the U.S. Global Change Research Program and funded to the amount of$2.3 Billion in FY I995. This program coordinates the resources and research activities of a dozen federal agencies as well as the U.S. participation . in the World Climate Research Program. I I I i Recent accomplishments include: Redesign of the Earth Observing System satellites to enhance the monitoring of possible climate changes. The first satellite in this series is scheduled for launch in 1998. 0 Collection of data on which type of clouds trap infrared radiation. 0 Modification of climate models to re?ect deep ocean mixing and sulfates released through human activity and the volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. 0 Improvement in the ability to forecast the El Nino Southern Oscillation phenomenon for agricultural planning purposes. 0 Establishment of a Climate Simulation Laboratory to improve climate modeling. 0 Source. Climate (February I995) (Mariner-t 0mm Of?ce of Science and Technology Macy. White Extreme Weather (or-admin!? They also concur with the finding that most of the temperature increase over the past century occurred before 1940, while the majority of greenhouse gas emissions occurred well after 1940. The report was prepared at the request of the Global Climate Coalition. Accu-Weather is a full-service weather company which provides specialized forecasts, graphic displays, maps and around the world. The State College, PA-based firm also offers Accu-Data, a comprehensive weather database. The firm gathers weather-related data 24-hour; a day from high-speed data lines and satellite receivers from obser- vation stations worldwide. They also rely on full-time, on-lina ?mat from the Nalonal Weather Service .4 .erli'n Conference nnlinird fun! "out page countries will be holding their first administrative meeting to decide what measures should be adopted to further implement the climate treaty. There are two fundamental views coming out of February's United Nations deliberations at in New York: one view. promoted primarily by the Europeans and the United States, says that nations need to go further than called for in the existing treaty; the other view, put forth by several developing countries, says that the current provisions of the are adequate, and need to be more fully implemented. To better understand the issues in Berlin, we need to look at the key issues debated in New York that the Parties will revisit in Berlin: l) adequacy of commitments, 2) consultative bodies, 3) joint implementation, 4) methodologies, and 5) niles of procedure. Adequacy, consultative bodies and joint implemen- tion are the issues of most concern. On adequacy, the United States stated its position that the treaty was inade- quate, but added that new aims should be negotiated for the post-2000 period by I997. This was worrisome since the European Union (EU), supported by member states such as Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, called for the negotiation of a new protocol (in essence a separate binding agreement). Ever assertive? Gummy called for ?tars gets and timetables" as well as new 'policles and measures,? a position rep- .tnd application of eco- nomic instruments' (such as internation- al carbon taxes). The Chinese and several countries from the Group of 77 (6-77), now up to 124 developing countries, strongly objected to this arbitrary and aggressive approach. The Philippine representa- tive and Chairman of the G-77 said: ?Are the Group of 77 and China against improving the Convention? By no means. But ?rst things first. Implement now. Discuss ways of improvement well in advance. But active negotiations of the Convention should take place only when we are sure that even the present realistically be met.? ?To . . .embrace new mandates would hurt the United States . . . the most.? JohnSlilaes Another issue of significance was a move to set up sectoral industry techni- cal panels and consultative bodies to implementation of the Convention. Ultimatelthedelegatesagteedtoa for'Annexlpartlestdevalopodmi- an? ?0 ofi a ?0?me Win? I theyathXiO.? AnothtEuiopaan objectivelsthodmlopmantofapon- muwmwmI-uam 2000mndatatoroduoeamisalonsm "anw?wz? which pusllelstha'l'oroanargst,? W. COM martin tut?h? Unionmor?i? tlalglobalgoal.? Thelrgoalisbhumo- 99' nize national climatepiotedlonpolicies and open for a great deal more debate. Industry too, left asking the same ques- tions it asked the United States and others during the months leading up to I and the hurry to negotiate new measures and agree ments? The Intergovemmental Panel on Climate Change and others readily admit there is much more information required on the science. Few countries have pro- vided consistent and complimentary data on their basic energy and economic cirr umstances, or on emissions scenar- ios. ()nly I8 of 36 developed countries have submitted national action plans so far and data differ widely or are made quate for analysis. Moreover, no credi- ble economic analyses on the impacts of treaty provisions have been undertaken a strong treaty proviso. So where does this leave us as we approach Berlin? Well, we know the environmentalist NGOs be pulling out ?all the stops? to persuade the dele~ gates to adopt new mandates and regu- lations. We also know that delegates I hold widely divergent views in many cases because the treaty is only I I months old, and also because several nations are unsure of the impacts. should calls for dramatic new initiatives be . We also know that the U.S. economy is particularly vulnerable to an aggres- sive new target. U.S. industry, though extremely efficient, cannot afford, nor can its customers or employees afford, the precipitous limitation of growth that dramatic new 'tugets and timetables" would bring. Also, the United States would be less economically competi- world- . INTERNATIONAL NEWS UPDATE CARBON TAXES FAIL IN FIRST EUROPEAN TESTS nitial experimentation carbon tax shown that they have a negative impact on a ?allon's economy, add to the complexity of the tax system are difficult to enact and require trade-offs in the four nations where they were instituted tBelgium Research Programme In Geneva, Switzerland. the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden), the Organization'ior is in agreement with Andrew Goudie, professor of . Economic Cooperation and Development l()ECl)) reported 8908?th at Oxford University who believes that it is (005000 that the energy taxes were largely counterproduuwp. ,0 ii there is a relationship. ~We need a much longer per- The most Important criteria was whether the tax hun sped?? to assess if it is real (?vrdence of climate change,? industrial competitiveness. After two years, the Swedish Newson sad, "As we look back in a year or two?s time we may government exempted industry from the energy tax and 59?- this particular winter as an important long-term pornter. i granted a 75 percent exemption from the CO, levy whue However, the slight increase in temperature is well within the increasing taxes on households to make up for the shortfalL range of natural variability." Norway granted exemptions of 40 percent for C0, Norman Lynagh, managing director of Noble Denton Weather emissions and 60 percent for sulfur dioxrde from the very Services in london said, ?We need another 20 or 30 years of beginning. experience it?s not something you can measure that easily. The Netherlands enacted an across-the-boarcl energy tax last A typical global warming prediction calls for the mean year, but cushioned large consumers by placing more of the temperature rising one or two degrees Celsius. But weather is burden on small users. The OEC reported the negative unmidable and temperatures can far exceed that, up or impact on the economy to be high because industrial firms n. in a year,? he said. Over the past century, the mean . left the country as a result of the tax. temperature has only risen one degree Fahrenheit. i Belgium's industrial competitiveness suffered because of the The envrnonmental group, Friends of the Earth, also hesitates nation?s proximity to European nations which don?t have to claim global warming. I energy taxes, and its relatively small size. ?There?s no conclusive proof that climate change is The purpose of the study was to assess how national guide- happening,? according to Anna Stanford, Friends of the Earth lines for the taxation should or should not be designed for assistanrenergycampaigner. other member states of the European Union. 0 Source "3095 5 EUROPEAN FLOODS NOT I LINKED TO GLOBAL WARMING i here is no es rdence that the devastating floods which recently struck northwestem Europe are linked to global manning. "The floods are an exceptional event, but i don?t think anyone could relate them to climate change at this pornt.? said Roger Newsom of the World Climate es in Europe has Source Reuters (ms; ENERGY DEMAND JUMPS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES pproximately half of the world's energy consumption and carbon emissions in 1992 were generated by developing nations and those with former centrally- planned economies, according to a recent US. govern- ment report. Energy consumption in countries such as Russia, india and China reportedly grew at a much faster rate than those in the developed nations. These ?ndings were reported in 'Energy Use and Carbon Emissions: Countries,? released earlier this year by the Energy information Administration of the Department of Commerce. A more dramatic discovery is that between 1970 and 1992me 121 perceritinthenon-aligied nations, representing 84 percent of the world?s population, corn- paredto36 percent in Organization For Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). At the same time, carbon emissions grew by 99 percent in the countries compared to only 24 percent by Continued on bad: POP UTILITIES ACCEPT CLIMATE ver 200 utilities have signed commitments to reduce green- house gas emissions under the Climate Challenge, the new initiative unveiled by the Department of Energy and the electric utility industry. Kurt Klunder, head of the Technical Assistance Team for Climate Challenge at DOE told Climate Watch, ?We believe we have a substantial ontribu- tron to meeting the Administration?s goal of reducing arbon emissions by the year 2000 to 1990 levels. We are especially pleased that many of the larger utilities have stepped forward to provrde leadership. This demonstrates good citizenship as well as sound busi- ness efforts to improve the efficiency of their operation.? Under Climate Challenge. companies sign individual agreements with DOE detailing not only how they will reduce emissions, but what levels of reduction they expect to achieve. Klunder noted that there have been three signing ceremonies with company officers and the Secretary of Energy. The first on January 17, involved it mem- bers of the Large Public Power Council. On lanuary 30, over 20 companies and ENERGY RENEWAL AND EFFICIENCY GOES ou can now access information about energy efficiency and renewable energy on the Internet. Dubbed the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN). this on-line service allows users to call up data from the Department of Energy (which created the network), national laboratories, federal and state government agencies, utilities, non-government organizations and commercial sources. There is no charge for the service. The information enconpasses all apectsoftheenergy industry, fromsci- enti?c theories to manufacturirg specs. The network is accessed by inputting affiliations in the Americ an Public Power Association signed an agreement They represent approximately I 50 largely munic ipal utilities On February 5, over 35 invesmr-owned utilities anili- atecl with the Edison Electric Institute tEElt agreed to do their pan. The DOE spokesman said that plan- ning is in the works for a ceremony members of the National Rural Electric ooperative Association to complete coverage oi the industry Klunder said existing commitments represent over 40 million metric tons of greenhouse gas savings by the year 2000. This is a significant step in reach- ing the goal of 108 million metric tons of carbon reduction annually by the year 2000. Companies signing the agree- ment have made one or more of the fol- lowrng types of speCIfic commitments: 0 Contribute to a particular industry initiative (see table below). 0 Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a specified amount, including below or to the utility's 1990 base. line by the year 2000 0 Reduc or limit the emission rate. 0 Undertake specific protects to reduc greenhouse gas emissions. 0 Report annually on their activities and achievements. EEI has also led or supported the development of five additional pro- grams in which utilities can on behalf of the industry. These addre electrotec hnologies and renewable energy, forest carbon management, international energy prorec ts, geother- mal heat pumps and electric vehic les For more information about the Climate Challenge, contact Allan Hoffman, Program Director, (202) 586 1786 For general information about the emission reduction programs often by DOE, call (800) 363-3732. For details on EEl?s call Petei lump at t202t 508-5657 . heseareamongtheapproxi- ofgteenhousegasemissions. Omnibus replacements. ltalsopromotesthe useofmotionsensorsforusein largelyunoccupied' rooms. Over t600cormanies,utilities, local mmhospitalsand schoolshaveslgnedupiortheEPA- administeredprograrnsimeitwas mblishedln1991. Grin-re Over?OOeloctricwlities meperoentofus. air-mm? energyandpollutionprevention. Twohundrodandmtimhave Wm Wise Targend at reducing and recycling business waste, Waste ?Me has attracted 300 businesses with over 750 prog'arns underway. 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