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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 4, NUMBER 11, NOVEMBER 1991

NEWS...
NEWS NOTES

Item #d91nov102

Arctic Ozone Experiment. The European Arctic Stratospheric Ozone Experiment (EASOE), launched in October 1991, will involve over 250 scientists from most European countries, the U.S., the Soviet Union, New Zealand and Japan. Coordinated by a secretariat at Cambridge University, they will make measurements over the coming winter to refine understanding of ozone destruction processes. (See feature article in New Scientist, pp. 49-52, Nov. 9, 1991; ibid., p. 14, Oct. 19; Intl. Environ. Rptr., p. 569, Oct. 23.)

Item #d91nov103

CO₂ Disposal. The U.S. Department of Energy has solicited proposals for developing innovative concepts that will utilize waste CO₂ produced by or resulting from industrial processes. Funding is expected to reach $1 million for fiscal year 1993 and beyond. (See J. Air Waste Mgmt. Assoc., p. 1297, Oct. 1991)

Item #d91nov104

Japan will join a 14-nation project, under the auspices of the International Energy Agency and being coordinated by British Coal, that will study ways of "burying" CO₂ at sea. Japanese scientists recently discovered liquified CO₂ 1300 meters deep in the ocean which had emerged from volcanic vents. (See New Scientist, p. 19, Oct. 5.)

Item #d91nov105

New Climate Institute. The Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy held its inaugural conference in September. It has received funding from the North Rhine Westphalia government for the first year of operation, and will promote structural economic changes to mitigate the threat of global warming. For information contact Raimund Bleischwitz, Res. Coord., Wuppertal Inst., Doppersberg 19, D-5600 Wuppertal 1, Germany (tel: +49-202-249-2102).

Item #d91nov106

"Small Island Nations to Seek Accord on Creating Insurance Pool to Cover Risk," Intl. Environ. Rptr., pp. 561-562, Oct. 23, 1991. Describes details of a proposal submitted for consideration by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on a Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Item #d91nov107

"Pressure to Market CFC Substitutes Challenges Chemical Industry," J. Haggin, Chem. Eng. News, pp. 27-28, Sep. 9, 1991. Industry is compressing its developmental schedule at substantial financial risk in search of safe alternatives. Progress and remaining problems are discussed.

Item #d91nov108

"A Global Experiment in Technology Transfer," R. Pool, Science, pp. 6-7, May 2, 1991. Delegates from two dozen nations, at an international conference to review progress in developing CFC replacement technology, made it clear that technology transfer to developing nations has a long way to go. Problems are enumerated.

Item #d91nov109

"IPCC Reference Scenario Comes Under Attack," Global Environ. Change Rep., pp. 1-3, Sep. 6, 1991. In August a U.S. industry coalition, the Climate Council, formally requested that the IPCC provide full disclosure of the hypothetical nature of its business-as-usual reference scenario. Since the council does not consider the scenario a prediction or forecast, the estimates of future climate change based on it are also hypothetical. This article discusses various views on the matter.

Item #d91nov110

"Unease Grows Under the Ozone Hole," N.C. Nash, New York Times, p. C4, July 23, 1991. The residents of Punta Arenas, a city at the southern tip of Chile, at the edge of the Antarctic ozone hole are exposed to increased ultraviolet radiation in spring. Jaime Abarea, the area's only dermatologist is seeking funds for research on possible human effects. There have also been reports of oddities such as flocks of sheep that recently acquired cataracts.

Item #d91nov111

"Plan Presented to Curb Auto Emissions by Using Tradable Permits," Intl. Environ. Rptr., pp. 417-418, July 31, 1991. Britain's transport secretary submitted a plan to the European Commission by which credits toward fuel efficiency requirements may be traded among automobile manufacturers, as a means of achieving CO₂ emission reductions economically.

Item #d91nov112

"Vehicle `Feebates' Become Policy in Ontario," Global Environ. Change Rep., pp. 1-3, July 3, 1991. In the first application of the feebate concept in North America, the province of Ontario will tax most types of vehicles but offer rebates to buyers of the most fuel efficient. A scheme closer to the original feebate idea was nearly passed in California in 1990 and will be considered next year. Unlike the Ontario plan, it is completely revenue neutral, with fees on gas guzzlers balancing the rebates for efficient cars.