[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1310-E1311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           GLOBAL WARMING AND POPULATION GROWTH: INSEPARABLE

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                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 24, 1997

  Mr. McGOVERN Mr. Speaker, I would like to share with my colleagues an 
article that appeared in the Monday, June 23, edition of the

[[Page E1311]]

Christian Science Monitor. Written by Dr. Werner Fornos, president of 
the Population Institute, it identifies the relationships between 
global warming and population growth. With the special session underway 
at the United Nations to review progress on the Rio Summit, his words 
and insights are timely and valuable for all Members of Congress.

          [From the Christian Science Monitor, June 23, 1997]

           Global Warming and Population Growth: Inseparable

                           (By Werner Fornos)

       During President Clinton's weekend conference in Denver 
     with leaders of the ``Group of Seven'' and his address today 
     before a special session of the United Nations General 
     Assembly, global climate change will be among the primary 
     topics of discussion.
       It appears that the issue is heating up these days--and for 
     good reason. As the result of a UN-estimated average global 
     temperature rise of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit in the next 
     century, the world may experience widespread flooding, the 
     disappearance of small island nations, and rowboat-only 
     access to Bourbon Street, Broadway, and countless other 
     coastal spots. This prognosis will be compounded by a world 
     population that could reach 10 to 12 billion, or higher.
       Although the United States, the European Union, and 153 
     other nations officially recognized the problem of global 
     climate change at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, the United 
     States remains woefully behind in fulfilling the Bush 
     administration's pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 
     1990 levels by the year 2000. Public awareness of the pending 
     disaster has lagged behind as well, because of efforts by 
     fuel companies and other corporations who see themselves 
     harmed by emissions limitations.
       Global climate change results when increased levels of 
     greenhouse gases in the atmosphere block the escape of 
     infrared, or thermal, radiation. Human activities in recent 
     years have increased the levels of all of these gases, 
     including carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, nitrous oxide, and 
     chloroflu-orocarbons. Water vapor is the only exception.
       Carbon dioxide is the most troublesome, accounting for 60 
     percent of the enhanced greenhouse effect. Fuel burning, 
     agriculture, automobile exhaust and other human emissions 
     contribute an estimated 22 billion metric tons of carbon 
     dioxide each year, and have caused an unprecedented 10 
     percent increase in atmospheric levels of the gas in the last 
     20 years.
       Negligence by the US and the six other industrial nations 
     of the Group of Seven--which account for 38 percent of 
     greenhouse gas production--could lead to an estimated one to 
     three foot increase in sea level and a mid-latitude climate 
     zone shift of approximately 200 miles in the next century.
       There is no question that controlling greenhouse gas 
     emissions is a priority for achieving sustainable human 
     development. And, surprisingly this is one key step toward 
     self-preservation that can actually be beneficial to 
     economics. Mr. Clinton has proposed an international strategy 
     of establishing a greenhouse gas emissions quota based on a 
     financial credit system. A similar program to control acid 
     rain has been environmentally successful as well as cost-
     effective. In addition, incentives could be extended for the 
     research and development of alternative energy sources and 
     more efficient technologies.
       The recent attention to global climate change is 
     encouraging, but any energy policy that seeks to halt global 
     warming cannot ignore the fact that the current world 
     population of 5.9 billion people is projected to double in 
     only 40 years--with 98 percent of the increase occurring in 
     the developing world. As nations such as China and India--
     accounting for over 2.2 billion people--seek to 
     industrialize, what level of havoc will their greenhouse gas 
     emissions wreak on the atmosphere?
       We must recognize that global climate change and other 
     abuses of the environment are symptions of the strain imposed 
     by rapid population growth and a reversal of the warming 
     trend is unlikely unless there is a meaningful reduction in 
     fertility.
       The time is now for Clinton and other world leaders to set 
     a course for our planet that looks beyond the present and 
     minimizes the damage humanity has already inflicted.
       The residents of numerous small island nations, who face 
     sci-fi horror in the real-life possibility of being reclaimed 
     by the sea, would be the immediate beneficiaries. In the all-
     too-near future, however, the beneficiaries would include 
     everyone's children and grandchildren.

     

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