PRESS OFFICE: (202) 628-3622

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
GCC - Don Itheem (202) 628-3622
NAM - Andy Smart (202) 637-3090
COALITION SUPPORTS VOLUNTARY APPROACH,
CALLS FOR SOUND SCIENCE IN CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY
Washington, DC, November 16, 1993.... While supportive of President Clinton's voluntary
approach to climate change policy, the Global Climate Coalition (GCC), in testimony before the
House Energy and Power Subcommittee today, maintained that to the extent the measures in the
climate change action plan are cost-effective, make economic sense and are based on sound
science, American business will be supportive.
Jerry Jasinowslci, current chairman of the GCC and president of the National Association of
Manufacturers, told the subcommittee that "President Clinton's Climate Change Action Plan to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000 is a balanced approach that acknowledges
the importance of economic growth and employment and relies primarily on voluntary
business/government partnerships and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
"While the GCC does not believe that rigid targets and timetables for greenhouse gas reductions
are called for," Jasinowski said, "the approach taken in the Plan is clearly superior to economically
harmful government command-and-control policies." He said that "despite rhetoric to the
contrary, there is no scientific consensus on whether man-made greenhouse gas emissions will
lead to dangerous changes in the global climate."
"The GCC is also encouraged by the Action Plan's support of the concept of Joint
Implementation," Jasinowslci said. "To be effective, any climate change program must recognize
that the issue is global in nature and that most of the future growth in man-made emissions will
come from developing countries. While the details of the Joint Implementation portions of the
Plan have not been developed, it makes sense to recognize actions taken by

 U.S. entities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in other countries, thereby providing a critical
and cost-effective mechanism to encourage the introduction of cleaner, more modem technology
where it is most needed."
The coalition also expressed concern with the administration's timetable for evaluation and policy
review of the plan and proposals for a long-term policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after
the year 2000. The first evaluation of the Action Plan is scheduled for fall 1994, a time when,
according to the GCC, many of the programs barely will have begun. Also, the government task
force, established in the plan, is scheduled to make recommendations on post-2000 strategies at
the end of 1994. "Such unilateral action is beyond the requirements of the Framework
Convention, and the scientific uncertain of climate chan e will remain," said Jasinowski. "The
wi oppose regulatory or legislative initiatives that would impose unreasonable costs and
job loss, or would make U.S. industry less competitive in world markets. It is premature to
determine a post-2000 strategy before the science and economic implications are better
understood."
The GCC urged the administration to develop realistically attainable benchmarks for measuring
progress and to make research on climate science_ a priority. "The administration should
acknowledge that it will need to resolve scientific uncertainty with the same level of urgency as its
does it planrminuidtui wd evalflalejiogress on the Action Plan.
The Global Climate Coalition, the leading business voice on climate change, is an organization of
business trade associations and private companies established in 1989 to coordinate business
participation in the scientific and policy debate on global climate change.
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Complete copies of testimony are available from the Global Climate Coalition press office, (202)
628-3622.