[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