[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 67 (Friday, April 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18066-18067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7044]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs

[Public Notice 5041]


Preparation of Fourth U.S. Climate Action Report

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States is a Party to the United Nations Framework 
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Convention sets forth 
requirements for UNFCCC Parties to provide a national communication 
that lists the steps they are taking to implement the Convention. In 
particular, Parties are to provide: An inventory of anthropogenic 
emissions by sources and removal by sinks of all greenhouse gases not 
controlled by the Montreal Protocol; a detailed description of the 
policies and measures adopted to implement their commitments under the 
Convention; and estimates of the effects those policies and measures 
will have on emissions and sinks. Subsequent guidelines further 
elaborate the information that Parties are to submit periodically. The 
United States submitted the first U.S. Climate Action Report (USCAR) to 
the UNFCCC Secretariat in 1994, the second in 1997, and the third in 
2002. The U.S. Government is currently preparing its fourth national 
communication, which is due to the UNFCCC secretariat no later than 
January 1, 2006. The purpose of this announcement is to notify 
interested members of the public of this process and to solicit 
contributions and input on the issues covered in the national 
communication for the purpose of preparing the report. The State 
Department intends to make available for public review a draft national 
communication in summer of 2005.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before noon, April 29, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: To expedite their receipt, comments should be submitted via 
e-mail to: [email protected]. Comments may also be submitted in 
hard copy to Mr. Graham M. Pugh, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of 
Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office 
of Global Change (Room 4330), 2201 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20520.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Graham M. Pugh, U.S. Department of 
State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs, Office of Global Change at (202) 647-4688.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Fourth United States Climate Action Report (CAR)

    Articles 4.2 and 12 set forth initial requirements for national 
communications. Subsequently, Parties to the UNFCCC elaborated 
additional detailed guidelines relating to the content of the national 
communications. An overview of the reporting requirements is available 
from the UNFCCC Web site at: http://unfccc.int/national_reports/annex_i_natcom_/items/1095.php, while details regarding preparation 
of the fourth national communication are at: http://unfccc.int/national_reports/annex_i_national_communications/fourth_national_communications/items/3360.php.
    Guidelines specify chapter headings and the type of information 
that should be included in the report. Chapters are identified below.

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary
II. National Circumstances
III. Greenhouse Gas Inventory
IV. Policies and Measures
V. Projections and Effects of Policies and Measures
VI. Vulnerability Assessment, Climate Change Impacts, and Adaptation 
Measures
VII. Financial Resources and Transfer of Technology
VIII. Research and Systematic Observation
IX. Education, Training, and Public Awareness

    In keeping with UNFCCC guidelines, the Fourth CAR will provide an 
inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks and an estimate of 
the effects of mitigation policies and measures on future emissions 
levels. It will describe domestic programs as well as U.S. involvement 
in international efforts, including technology programs and associated 
contributions and funding.
    In addition, the text will include a discussion of U.S. national 
circumstances that affect U.S. vulnerability and responses to climate 
change. Information on the U.S. Climate

[[Page 18067]]

Change Science Program (CCSP) Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP), 
Global Climate Observing Systems (GCOS), and adaptation programs will 
also presented.

Public Input Process

    This Federal Register notice solicits contributions and comments on 
all matters to be covered in the fourth U.S. CAR and in particular, on 
issues related to non-federal, State, regional, local, and private 
sector actions to address climate change. Comments may be submitted to 
the contact listed above.
    In addition, the U.S. will release the draft text of the fourth CAR 
for review and comment in the summer of 2005. Comments on that document 
will be due within 30 days of release. Because of the tight time 
constraints on completing and printing the final text, a longer review 
period will not be possible.
    We invite input now on all aspects of the document currently under 
development, including its content, format, and graphics. Comments 
received in response to this Federal Register notice will be considered 
in the preparation of the draft of the fourth national communication.
    You may view the 2002 U.S. Climate Action Report on the Internet 
at: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/usnc3.pdf.

    Dated: April 1, 2005.
Daniel A. Reifsnyder,
Office Director, Office of Global Change, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 05-7044 Filed 4-7-05; 8:45 am]
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