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Climate Change Is a Congrcssional
Issue
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International activity d a t e d tu climate chanac has accelerated siiicc President Bush sigiicd the
Frainework Convention on Climate Chance in Rin dc lanein) in 1992 This contrasts with ihc
cbbs and flows of mcdia attention clnd rclntive luck ol'pcblic mv areness i;l the United States.
A flew United Xations-sponsorcd climxe ~hangt:b u i a u v i (IC! i s IICJW tligagcd in ncgutiations
involving more than 160 nations. These iietjotiations are ariticipared to be coniplcred by late
1097 and could produce an agreement placin g the United Stales at a siKnificant economic and
compethivo disaadvantaye. while having no substantial cficcr on limiting I h e ridi dclimaie
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ciluri~t..

Coiigressional oversight i s criiical tu c i l u i t : i l i a the a\dmuustration vigorously holds thc linc
against any prematurc and yrwprtous clirnatc change agreements that rlmaten U S . ccoiiomic
and competitive interests.
The latest round of international climate change negnriarions, k n o w i as the Berlin Mandate
Proccss. began in August 1995, Thcsc ncptintion; are expected to strengther! the Chiate
Change Convention by adding new policies and measur u iricludiny addi tiond cneryy tascs
and caps on national emissions to reduce greenhouse gas ~rtiissionsafter the year. 2000.The
Rerlin hhndate P r w s s could take fewer than 18 moi!ths to complete, so rimc is of the
essence. hforeover, niany of the principles incorporate d into the negotiating process wnuld
skew tiic uutcurr~eagainst U.S. ccoiiomic interests.

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Developing Nations Are Exempted: The dirriatc d m g c issue is %globaland can be
addressed o d y on a broad inlernational basis I he Cliriton Adniinistrsiion conri:iuously
has stressed a global perspective U.S. climate negotiators. however, ayre ed to the
Berlin mandate lanyuage that exempts J1 devclopmt! n:triom including the most
advaiiced nations such as South Korca and Singapore. and nsiioiis such as China and
India that will be rhc largest individual sources o1'rrriisbioils i ; i the 1Ltul-e " L k mpted"
count:'ics are invited to the negotiating table, whcre they will be able to protect their
exemption and Iwlp determine how much mure should be done by developed nations,
such ns the United Stales. to reduce their emissloiis weli inlo thc ncxt century
Ironically, the "cxaap~c:Cl"
wuntrics, as a group, will producc thc majority of
Qreenhouseemissions in future years
Targets and Timetable Approach Hurts the United States: Sei.iousproposals berrrg
considered in the Rerliti mandate ncgntiations would require lcgally binding targets and
tirnctablcs LO rcducc carbon dioxide emissions 15-20 percent below 19W lev els by
2005 or 201 0.If'rarilied, ~riaildalu~y
i u ~ a and
~ s tinictabics w d d drop U . S . Groys
Domestic Product 2-3 percent (about 3114O-SZOO billion in today's economy) and cost

6/34/06

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J CI CdG
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i 202 547

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To :

ht tp /!wwtt, wwldcorp .co~i~'dc-online/~cciconyres~
htinl
600,OOU jobs annually, accordins IO DRT/McGI~w
Hill csiiniatrs. Muitwver. targcts
and timetables wouid impose a disproportionate economic burden on rlie U.S.
cconnmy, due largely 10 the combined effect of'canrinucd C C O I I C ~ I grouth
~~C
and future

population iticreases. Countries supporting Target and timetable proposals do no1 i x e
these CUIII biiied fuuui 5.
Wliat C o q r r s Cau Do

held accountable in the Berlin Mandate Prwess ful cl1suI 1118
iliai
any agreement' (1 ) includes appropriatc cominitments f i m i all nations Involved in thc
negotiatinnq, nnA (2) k e e p the IJnitecl States 011 an even footing with our t rading panncrs, BS
1he Administration must be

President Clinton assured last year. This can be acheved 1f'UonSress

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holds major ovcrsight hcarinp bcfore the mintsterisl.levo1 climate chariye tiegotiations

scheduled for July I996 This second meetins uT the C u i ~ ~ r ~ c tufthe
i c t : Partlcs
(counties thal have ratified the Cliinate Convcntm) will address scientific arid e
rnnnmir. analyses and assessment activities and I; S.policies and positions on the new

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cornmitrnents being negotiated;

evalualcb iiifui rialk kin coiitahcd in thc wide r q e of ccononiic studics that have b w
cunducted to dare, and seeks inforrnaiion rqard,ng economic srudies now being
cuiiducld by 1lic Administration;
requires the LJ.S position in Rerlin mandate negotiations to bc based on full
participation of'appropriate federal syeticics rvith euperiise in C C O ~ I O ~ I trade
C.
and

ernploymenr policies;
requires that the Umtcd States analyze and assess tne job, trade and competitive
impacts of specific poiicies. measures and timetables proposcd;

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requires that the secretary of state certify to Conyrcss that any i ~ 1 ~ i >anien&nent
t ~ ~ ~ ~ i or
~
ut!izi lesa1 i~istiumcntrcsultine from thc climatc ncgolintiotis and subnutted to the
Senate for ratification (1) was developed in a transparent I I I ~ ~ I L I IaC iI d allal)Lr: d foieconomic and environnicntal impacts; (2) etlsul-ej that tne cost of itiiplementation will
not ariversciy affect the industrial competitiveness 01'111~ Uriited States, and ( 3 ) states
that ~mplementoiionwill be achieved by thc United States without the need i'nr new
regultllui y I qui1 ciiieii~s.~taiidards,t m c s or fees;
requires that U S . negotiators discuss policy decisions nith and seek the a d ~ i c arid
z
c u u ~ i x ul'rlolr-9~~eriiiiient
l
organizations, i i l d u d i i l s U ,S.business, labor wd ttiu

canmiunity and
considcrs a bipartisan rcsolution or legislation cxpressing these vicws.

a i v i i wriiaital

Fur

tiiui't

hfoiination on the Berlin lliandatc Pruccss, possible legislation

01'
other

issues

related to t h e scieticc and economics of climare change.
.piwx c u i i u t the Global Climate
Canlitinn ST (202) 637-3358.

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Talking points for GCC talking poiills (Straw-Rlrin) paper

Audicnce Friendly Repub. and Dem. staff aware vf dimale change issue but not bricfed on
/\T;nhi pmcass

Mission: Establish prcdicatc that climate change is a con~;res~iional
IWII?

6/24/96

Belicve w e w e d to

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lrtty:/huww.watldcorp.canlidc-onlinc~~cc.tc~ntrrrws
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1202 547 0850

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do lhis before we call pursuc a lcgislativc strategy.

06/25/96

1l:ll

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b

Ob,jective: Creare a straw man IO focus thinking and discusion.
Key
will

Issue: When do wc go to the Hill? Still need a hook Maybe upcoming AGBM meeting

yrtrvidc it

Smmarize paper
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IGCC Huw.P~~c(SCIcI)Cc(Pol(Cv~Econo~rilr~InclerrrITimclwbl~~

P. 004

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