Last Updated:
February 28, 2007

GCRIO Program Overview

Library 
Our extensive collection of documents.

Privacy Policy

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

FROM VOLUME 3, NUMBER 6, JUNE 1990

REPORTS...
ENERGY POLICY

Item #d90jun57

Technological Responses to the Greenhouse Effect, Watt Committee on Energy, Apr. 1990. Available from Rooster Books Ltd., Royston, Hertfordshire, UK.

The results of a year-long study of how to stabilize emissions of greenhouse gases in Britain at 1988 levels through the year 2000, the target established by a 1989 ministerial conference at The Hague, conducted by an independent group of industrial scientists. Short-term measures include use of more efficient combined-cycle gas-turbine electric power plants, use of wind energy, promotion of energy conservation in various ways, tree planting, and work with less developed countries to formulate policies for agriculture and forestry. Long-term R&D is needed on cleaner use of coal, removal of CO₂ from flue gases, new fuels, and less polluting methods of transport. (See New Scientist, p. 34, May 5, 1990, for comments on the report.)

Item #d90jun58

Productivity Trends and the Cost of Reducing CO₂ Emissions, W.W. Hogan, D.W. Jorgenson, 44 pp., May 1990. Energy & Environ. Pol. Ctr., Harvard Univ., Cambridge MA 02138 (617-495-1317); institutional price $50.

Used an econometric model to explore the effects of long-term productivity trends in the U.S. economy and their relationship to reducing CO₂ emissions, in contrast to the short-term effects usually considered. It predicts a negative effect on productivity and technological change which could be significant over a period of decades. This preliminary analysis indicates a serious need to refocus energy-economic models on technological and productivity changes associated with policy responses to global climate change.

Item #d90jun59

CO₂ Emission Limits: An Economic Cost Analysis for the USA, A.S. Manne, R.G. Richels, 32 pp., Nov. 1989. Available from R.G. Richels, EPRI (Elec. Power Res. Inst.), POB 50490, Palo Alto CA 94303 (415-855-2602).

Describes Global 2000, an analytical framework for estimating costs of a carbon emissions limit (see Global Climate Change Digest, REPORTS/GENERAL, Apr. 1990), and applies it to five alternative U.S. emission scenarios. Concludes that if emission controls are required there will be significant costs, but they can be reduced greatly (perhaps by several trillion dollars) through research and development on both energy supply and demand, especially if begun before controls are imposed.

Item #d90jun60

U.S. Energy '90--Fourth Annual Assessment of U.S. Energy Prospects, May 1990. Available (no charge) from the U.S. Energy Assoc., 1620 Eye St. NW, S. 615, Washington DC 20006 (202-331-0415).

Discusses five critical issues that must be addressed by an integrated national energy policy: the current high dependence on petroleum imports; increasing demand for electric power in several regions; balancing environmental, energy and economic objectives; current pricing that does not encourage energy efficiency; and regulatory and judicial delays that thwart priority energy projects.

Item #d90jun61

Greenhouse Effect (Session 88-89, HL Paper 88-I), 69 pp., Oct. 1989. HMSO (inquire for price).

This sixth report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology addresses the scientific basis for developing policy relating to the greenhouse effect, based on hearings and discussions with various groups in the United States. Discusses possible effects of warming, possible countermeasures, scientific research needs and policy recommendations.

Item #d90jun62

A Fossil Energy Perspective on Global Climate Change (DOE/FE-0164), 99 pp., Jan. 1990. NTIS: $21.95.

Highlights the substantial uncertainties underlying the forecasts of greenhouse gas emissions and concentrations, and of climatic change. Demonstrates that, if it is determined that emissions should be reduced, fossil-fuel-based technologies must play a role.

Item #d90jun63

An Evaluation of Energy Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Measures to Ameliorate Them (Energy Paper No. 58), U.K. Dept. Energy, 97 pp., Oct. 1989. HMSO (inquire for price).

Presents an analysis for the UK as a contribution to the national studies undertaken for the IPCC subgroup on Energy and Industry. A range of energy scenarios for the years 2005 and 2020 are developed and used to estimate CO₂ and methane emissions; against this baseline technical options for limiting emissions are evaluated.

Item #d90jun64

UN ECE Publications: the following were published in 1989. Obtain from local distributors of U.N. publications or from U.N. Sales Section, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switz. Items with no price stated may be obtained from Info. Officer, U.N. Economic Commission for Europe, at the same address.

Coal Combustion and the CO₂ Issue (COAL/R.142).

Energy, the Environment and Climate Changes--The Role of Gas (GAS/R.182).

The ECE Energy Series--No. 1: Energy Efficiency in European Industry (GV.E.88.0.8), US$75.

--No. 2: Energy Balances for Europe and North America 1970-2000 (GV.E.88.0.9), US$45.

The Macro-Economic and Energy Policy Context of Industrial Energy Conservation Policies in Europe (1989 annual report to the UNDP-UNIDO Indus. Energy Conserv. Network).

The Coal Situation in the ECE Region in 1988 and Global Prospects for Coal (COAL/R.145).