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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 8, AUGUST 1989

NEWS...
NEWS NOTES

Item #d89aug4

From Intl. Environ. Rptr., June 1989:

"European Community Environment Ministers Agree on Plan to Combat Greenhouse Effect," p. 285. The resolution called for new energy sources, intensified reforestation and the elimination of CFCs as soon as possible; the ministers may also call for an international conference on global warming.

"New Prime Minister Says Government to Be More Active in Solving Global Problems," pp. 285-286. In a statement presented at the June meeting of environmental ministers from six Asian countries, Prime Minister of Japan Sousuke Uno (who stepped down a month later) declared he will give even higher priority than his predecessor to environmental issues.

"Debt Relief Urged for Nations Complying with Ozone Protection Efforts," p. 286. Representatives of 12 Asia-Pacific nations including China and India made specific suggestions for assistance needed by developing countries to introduce CFC substitutes.

Item #d89aug5

"Global Warming Aspects of Foreign Aid Targeted in House Appropriations Bill," Greenhouse Effect Report, p. 51, June 1989. In late May the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved an amendment to an appropriations measure that would require all bilateral foreign assistance programs to analyze and consider human contributions to global climate change. The measure is the latest of several reflecting a strong trend in the U.S. Congress to make federal programs consider possible greenhouse impacts.

Item #d89aug6

"DOE Slashes CO₂ Research Request, Asks Full Funding for Clean Coal," ibid., p. 60, July. The U.S. Department of Energy's proposed fiscal year 1990 budget, described in a July 11 Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing, would fully fund the Clean Coal Technology Demonstration Program but cut many others including those aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

Item #d89aug7

"How Economic Growth Can Be Greenhouse-Friendly," F. Pearce, New Scientist, p. 34, July 8, 1989. Discusses a study, released July 1 by the Association for the Conservation of Energy, which found that Britain can meet tough international targets for cutting greenhouse effect contributions without sacrificing economic growth or gambling on unproven technology. One approach is least-cost planning, pioneered in the United States, in which utilities are required to show they have considered investment in energy efficiency when planning for new generating capacity.

Item #d89aug8

"Friendly Gases," The Economist, pp. 74-75, May 20, 1989. Explains the vigorous push by Japan's CFC producers to catch up with the United States in the development of substitutes. Meanwhile, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) at Tsukuba is working on schemes that would convert CFCs to harmless substances.

Item #d89aug9

"Weather Forecasts Could Take the Sting Out of Sunbathing," I. Anderson, New Scientist, p. 30, May 27, 1989. One suggestion at a May conference on health and the thinning ozone layer, held at Hobart, Tasmania, was to issue daily forecasts of expected ultraviolet radiation in sunshine to persuade sunbathers to take cover. No one was prepared to say that ozone depletion has yet led to more skin cancers, although their frequency has increased recently in Australia.

Item #d89aug10

"Nations Urged to Unite in Efforts To Stem Global Climate Change," P. Zurer, Chem. Eng. News, pp. 18-19, May 15, 1989. Discusses proposals made by science, government and industry leaders at the recent Forum on Global Change and Our Common Future in Washington.

Item #d89aug11

"Study Planned of Greenhouse Effect," T. Ewing, Nature, p. 535, Apr. 13, 1989. In an abrupt change from its previous position, the Australian government has decided to spend A$7.8 million over the next 15 months on greenhouse effects research. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and the Bureau of Meteorology will receive A$5.54 million for work on predictive modeling; the rest will support participation in international research and a six-member National Greenhouse Advisory Committee.