[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 95 (Friday, May 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27102-27103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12895]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 2540]


Preparation of Special Report on the Regional Impacts of Climate 
Change

AGENCY: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs, State.

ACTION: Notice of the availability of draft report and request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 
Change (IPCC) has prepared a Special Report on the Regional Impacts of 
Climate Change. The IPCC Secretariat requires comments on this report 
from

[[Page 27103]]

national governments so that the Secretariat can meet its obligations 
to member governments of the IPCC. The U.S. Government is expected to 
receive its copy of the draft assessment for formal government comment 
on or about April 30, 1997. The U.S. Subcommittee on Global Change 
Research (SGCR) is handling the gathering of comments to be considered 
in the preparation of the formal comments by the United States 
Government. Through this notice, the SGCR is announcing the 
availability of the report and is requesting comments on the draft 
report by May 27, 1997 from experts and interested groups and 
individuals. These comments will be reviewed, combined, and 
incorporated as appropriate, in the process of preparing the set of 
official U.S. comments to the IPCC.

Supplementary Information:

Background

    The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was jointly 
established in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme and the 
World Meteorological Organization to conduct periodic assessments of 
the state of knowledge concerning global climate change. The IPCC has 
formed working groups to study various aspects of climate change. 
Working Group I addresses the state of the science concerning what is 
happening and is projected to happen to the climate; Working Group II 
addresses the state of the science concerning (i) vulnerability to and 
impacts of climate change and (ii) adaptation and mitigation 
strategies; and Working Group III addresses the state of science and 
understanding concerning economics and cross-cutting issues associated 
with climate change. Since finishing the Second Assessment Report in 
late 1995, the IPCC has undertaken four Special Reports (covering the 
regional impacts of climate change, emission scenarios, aviation and 
the global atmosphere and technology transfer) and several technical 
papers.

Report Outline

Foreword

Summary for Policymakers

1. Introduction
2. Africa
3. Arctic/Antarctic
4. Australasia
5. Europe
6. Latin America
7. Middle East/Arid Asia
8. North America
9. Small Island States
10. Temperate East Asia
11. Tropical Monsoon Asia
12. Synthesis (if deemed necessary)

Annexes:

A. Observed Changes in Regional Climate
B. Simulation of Regional Climate Change with Global Coupled Climate 
Models and Regional Modeling Techniques
C. Simulated Changes in Vegetation Distribution

Public Input Process

    The member countries of the IPCC have established a timetable that 
includes a brief period for comments from governments so that the IPCC 
Secretariat can meet its obligations for a timely completion of this 
Special Report. The Subcommittee on Global Change Research is 
responsible for coordinating preparation of the U.S. Government 
response, and through this notice is seeking the views of experts and 
interested groups and individuals to help in the formulation of its 
response. Comments that are provided will be reviewed, integrated, and 
used, as appropriate, in the preparation of the official U.S. comments. 
An information sheet providing specific requests for formatting 
submissions will be provided with each distribution of a chapter. In 
this review process, the emphasis should be on providing detailed 
recommendations for changes or modifications in specific chapters for 
which the reviewer has established expertise or interest. To be most 
useful, comments should be specific in suggesting wording changes to 
the text of a particular paragraph or chapter and, where appropriate, 
offer supporting information and peer-reviewed references supporting 
the proposed changes. Comments on the overall tone and scientific 
validity of the chapter and comments expressing agreement and 
disagreement with specific major points in the Executive Summary of the 
chapters are also solicited; however, comments without specific 
suggestions for changes are of limited help in improving the chapters.

DATES: Comments should be received on or before May 27, 1997. The 
deadline cannot be extended because the member countries of the IPCC 
have established a strict timetable for the review process and the U.S. 
Government requires time for development of its formal comments.

    Distribution Process: Full copies of this report will be sent to 
all SGCR agencies and will be available upon request to scientific 
reviewers and to organizations and companies with the expectation that 
review comments will be provided for use in developing the official 
U.S. Government response. Copies of specific chapters will be sent to 
nominated chapter coordinators and reviewers. The North America Chapter 
will be available by regular mail, by facsimile, or as an e-mail 
attachment in a format that will preserve line numbers; figures and 
tables will be available for viewing over the Internet, linked to the 
USGCRP Home Page: www.usgcrp.gov. Persons requesting mailed copies (by 
express mail) may be requested to provide an account number to cover 
expenses.

ADDRESSES: Copies of individual chapters can be requested by sending an 
e-mail to USG.IPCC.Review.RegI[email protected], by sending a fax to the 
USGCRP Office (202-358-4103) or by sending a letter to the USGCRP 
Office (300 E St., SW., Code YS-1, Washington, DC 20546). Comments 
should be submitted, preferably by e-mail, to the same e-mail address
(USG.IPCC.Review.RegI[email protected]).
A list of chapters making up the report is included with this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Melissa Taylor, Office of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, at 
tel: 202-358-1299.

    Dated: May 2, 1997.
Rafe Pomerance,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment and Development, Bureau of 
Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-12895 Filed 5-15-97; 8:45 am]
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