United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2003-10-01 monographic deposited born digital 13 p. GA 1.13:GAO-04-131T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-131T P0b002ee1803a4795 f:d04131t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-131T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-131T GAO-04-131T Air pollution control Climate statistics Environment evaluation Environmental monitoring Environmental research Performance measures Strategic planning Global Climate Change Initiative Testimony A08638 In 2002, the Administration announced its Global Climate Change Initiative. It included, among other things, a goal concerning U.S. carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, which are widely believed to affect the earth's climate. The Administration's general goal was to reduce the growth rate of emissions, but not total emissions, between 2002 and 2012. Its specific goal was to reduce emissions intensity 18 percent, 4 percentage points more than the 14 percent decline already expected. Emissions intensity measures the amount of greenhouse gases emitted per unit of economic output. In the United States, this ratio has generally decreased for 50 years or more. Under the Initiative, emissions would increase, but less than otherwise expected. GAO was asked to testify on whether the Administration's publicly available documents (1) explain the basis for the Initiative's general and specific goals, (2) identify elements to help reduce emissions and contribute to the 18 percent reduction goal, as well as their specific contributions, and (3) discuss plans to track progress in meeting the goal. This testimony is based on ongoing work, and GAO expects to issue a final report on this work later this year. Because of time constraints, GAO's testimony is based on its analysis of publicly available Administration documents. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-131T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-131T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-131T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-131T.pdf GAO-04-131T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-131T Testimony GAO-04-131T; Climate Change: Preliminary Observations on the Administration's February 2002 Climate Initiative; Air pollution control Climate statistics Environment evaluation Environmental monitoring Environmental research Performance measures Strategic planning Global Climate Change Initiative