[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66341-66342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31914]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 2479]


Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs; Preparation of Second U.S. Climate Action Report

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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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 and 
to proposed format guidelines later adopted by the UNFCCC Conference of 
the Parties (COP) at its first session, the United States submitted the 
U.S. Climate Action Report (USCAR) to the UNFCCC Secretariat. At its 
second session, the COP to the UNFCCC agreed that the second national 
communications from developed country Parties would be due on April 15, 
1997. The U.S. government has initiated a process to complete its 
submission within the given timeframe.
    As part of that process, we are soliciting public comment on the 
first USCAR, which will be used as the basis for the second submission 
due in April.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    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 
production is not threatened and to enable economic development to 
proceed in a sustainable manner.''
    In accordance with the UNFCC's reporting requirements as specified 
in Articles 4.2 and 12, and following reporting guidelines developed 
(and adopted by the UNFCCC COP at its first session), the United States 
prepared the U.S. Climate Action Report (USCAR) and submitted it to the 
UNFCCC Secretariat in October 1994.
    The USCAR provided a description of the U.S. program designed to 
reduce emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. The initial USCAR 
incorporated much of the information contained in the first Climate 
Change Action Plan announced by President Clinton and Vice President 
Gore on October 19, 1993. The revised USCAR will review key elements 
contained in the initial Climate Change Action Plan including: An 
update on key baseline assumptions; a review and assessment of 
activities to date under the almost 50 actions listed in the plan; and 
update of the list of actions reflecting changes initiated by 
responsible agencies since the plan was first proposed in 1993. The 
revised USCAR will also reflect information submitted to the Council on 
Environmental Quality in response to a request for comments on the 
original Climate Change Action Plan that was published in the Federal 
Register on August 24, 1995 (60 FR 44022) and information presented at 
a subsequent public hearing held on September 22, 1995.
    In keeping with international guidelines, the USCAR provided an 
inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks, estimated effects 
of mitigation measures and policies on future emissions levels, and 
described U.S. involvement in international programs including 
associated contributions and funding efforts.
    In addition, the USCAR included a discussion of U.S. national 
circumstances which affect U.S. vulnerability and responses to climate 
change. Information on the U.S. Global Change Research Program, the 
largest climate change research program in the world, and on adaptation 
programs was also presented.
    At the Second COP, the Parties agreed to request developed country 
Parties to the Convention to submit to the UNFCCC Secretariat, in 
accordance with Articles 12.1 and 12.2 of the Convention, a second 
national communication by April 15, 1997. Parties that submitted first 
reports in 1996 are to provide an update by the 1997 deadline and 
Parties with economies in transition are to provide their second 
communication by April 15, 1998. Developing country Parties have 
different guidelines and due dates for their first communications.
    The Parties to the UNFCCC also adopted revisions to the guidelines 
for the reports at their second session. Among other modifications, the 
revised guidelines encourage Parties to provide information on actions 
implemented by

[[Page 66342]]

regional and local governments or the private sector. At its 12th 
Plenary meeting in September 1996, the Intergovernmental Panel on 
Climate Change (IPCC) approved additional guidance with respect to the 
methodologies to inventory greenhouse gas emissions. We anticipate that 
these revised methodologies will be approved at the next session of the 
UNFCCC's Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice 
(SBSTA) when it meets in December 1996. We intend to follow both sets 
of guidelines, to the extent possible, in the preparation of the second 
USCAR.

Public Input Process

    The comments received in response to this Federal Register notice 
will be considered in the preparation of the second national 
communication. We invite contributions and comments on all aspects of 
the USCAR and in particular, on issues related to regional, local, and 
private sector actions to address climate change.

DATES: Written comments on the first USCAR should be received on or 
before noon, January 2, 1997. The deadline cannot be extended because 
of a carefully planned timetable for the report's preparation in 
anticipation of the April 15, 1997 due date.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to: Mr. Daniel Reifsnyder, OES/
EGC Room 4330, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-7818. 
Copies of the First National Communication may be obtained from the 
Iternet (text only) at the following address: (ftp://
fedbbs.access.gpo.gov/gpo__bbs/dos__env/lclimate.txt), or by contacting 
the Government Printing Office (ISBN 0-16-045214-7).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel A. Reifsnyder, Director, 
Office of Global Change, U.S. Department of State at (202) 647-4069.

    Dated: December 4, 1996.
Rafe Pomerance,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment and Development, Bureau of 
Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96-31914 Filed 12-16-96; 8:45 am]
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