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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 2, NUMBER 4, APRIL 1989

NEWS...
LONDON CONFERENCE

Item #d89apr3

Twenty more countries agreed to sign the Montreal Protocol at an early March 1989 conference, raising the total number following the Protocol to over 50. The meeting, organized by Britain to promote the Protocol and the strengthening of its requirements, was attended by representatives of 124 other countries. Third world nations, particularly China and India, objected to the present requirements of the Protocol, arguing that restrictions placed on developing countries are too severe and that industrialized countries should provide more assistance for research and development of substitutes. The United States, Canada and the European Community are pushing to strengthen the Protocol requirements to the point of nearly complete elimination of ozone-destroying chemicals by year 2000. There was no overall agreement on this at the meeting; the USSR expressed the need for more scientific evidence before such a move. Further consideration of amendments to the Protocol will be taken up at a meeting in Helsinki in May.

"Plan Calling for CFC Phaseout Divides East Countries From West," Air/Water Pollut. Rep., p. 85, Mar. 13, 1989.

"China Attacks `Unfair' Ozone Protocol," New Sci., p. 26, Mar. 11.

"London Meeting Wins Some Hearts," Nature, p. 101, Mar. 9.

"The Biggest Greenhouse Still Intact," J. Maddox, ibid., p. 111. Argues why progress made at the London conference should not be construed as the solution to the greenhouse effect.