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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 5, NUMBER 5, MAY 1992

PERIODICALS...
GENERAL INTEREST AND POLICY

Item #d92may89

India's CSE report:

"Justice in the Greenhouse--Assigning Blame for Global Warming," R. Tomalty, Alternatives, 46-49, Jan./Feb. 1992. (Publisher: Environ. Studies, Univ. Waterloo, Waterloo, Ont. N2L 3G1, Can.) Focuses on the controversy over the greenhouse index published in the World Resources Institute's 1990-91 Guide to the Global Environment (GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE DIGEST, Reports/Gen. Interest, Feb. 1991), which concluded that developed and developing countries share equal blame for global warming on the basis of objectively determined emissions. Describes criticism of the report by India's Center for Science and Environment (CSE) (see GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE DIGEST, News, June 1991), and concludes that any analysis that throws guilt on the Third World may be counterproductive for finding solutions.

"Ecology and the New Colonialism," F. Pearce, New Scientist, 55-56, Feb. 1, 1992. The proposal of India's CSE for a per capita allocation of the global CO₂ sink, instead of percentage reduction targets for CO₂ emissions, is fairer to developing nations. (Related correspondence appears on p. 59, ibid., Feb. 29.)

Item #d92may90

"From Discord to Accord," H.F. French, World Watch, 26-32, May-June 1992.

The June Earth Summit presents a golden opportunity to make changes in the U.N. structure that will speed the treaty-making process and ensure that agreements are more than paper tigers.

Item #d92may91

"Sunstruck," M. Roach, Health, 41-50, May/June 1992.

A witty, informative update of the health risks of enhanced ultraviolet radiation. Based in part on interviews with health professionals and citizens in Punta Arenas, Chili, a city sometimes located under the Antarctic ozone hole, where anecdotal reports of ultraviolet effects abound. Accompanied by supplementary information on skin cancer types and practical guidance for minimizing risks to human skin.

Item #d92may92

"Living in a Bubble," R. Lewin, New Scientist, 12-13, Apr. 4, 1992.

(See Research News, this GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE DIGEST issue--May 1992.) Discusses controversy over the approach to research by organizers of the Biosphere 2 enclosed ecosystem in Arizona. Several critical articles have portrayed them as cult followers who have managed to buy legitimate scientists with big money (e.g., "Take This Terrarium and Shove It," M. Cooper, Village Voice (New York City), 24-33, Apr. 2, 1991).

Item #d92may93

"Can We Turn Down the Heat on Global Warming?" E. Kraft, V. Strauss, The National Voter, 4-8, Mar.-Apr. 1992. (League of Women Voters, 1730 M St. NW, Washington DC 20036)

Contains a background summary on the national and international global warming debate, but focuses on the benefits of increased energy conservation and efficiency in the U.S.

Item #d92may94

"The Green Diplomat," F. Pearce, New Scientist, 38-40, Mar. 21, 1992. Discusses the career of Sir Crispin Tickell, a distinguished British diplomat who has also helped to put climate change at the top of the world's political agenda.

Item #d92may95

Two items from World Watch, Mar.-Apr. 1992:

"The Tuna Test: GATT and the Environment," H.F. French, pp. 9, 34. A recent ruling of a GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) panel, which concerns a dispute over dolphin protection between the U.S. and Mexico, could be a threatening precedent for other global agreements such as the Montreal Protocol on stratospheric ozone depletion.

"Saving Nature's Sunscreen," M. Stetson, 34-36. Summarizes recent findings on damage by increased ultraviolet exposure resulting from ozone depletion, and advocates advancing the Montreal Protocol deadlines.

Item #d92may96

"Logging Rainforests the Natural Way?" N. Brown, M. Press, New Scientist, 25-29, Mar. 14, 1992.

Environmentalists are skeptical of the goal of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) to make scientifically-based, sustainable logging the norm by the year 2000. In this article two scientists summarize results of recent field studies in Borneo, which show that reducing the size of gaps made in the forest canopy and reducing the frequency of logging are major steps in the right direction.

Item #d92may97

"Fossil Fuels: Removing and Sequestering Carbon," Energy, Econ. & Clim. Change, 1-4, Mar. 1992.

Summarizes very recent results, from the Netherlands, the U.S. and elsewhere, of research into methods of removing carbon from fossil fuel combustion emissions, and storing it underground or in the oceans. Includes sources of information.

Item #d92may98

"`Gradual' Climate Change," ibid., 7-10, Feb. 1992.

Discusses apparent contradictions in several major U.S. reports, including those from the American Petroleum Institute and the National Academy of Sciences, which conclude that any climatic change from greenhouse gases is likely to be gradual. Clarification of terminology is the first step toward settling the question.

Item #d92may99

"The Future of the Global Environment Facility: Bright, Dim or Foggy?" Global Environ. Change Rep., 1-3, Feb. 28, 1992.

The GEF, set up to provide financial aid to developing countries for mitigating climate change, ozone depletion and other problems, has the favor of the industrialized countries but the deep mistrust of some developing countries. India and Brazil fear the arrangement will reduce their overall level of aid; the involvement of the World Bank concerns environmental groups.

Item #d92may100

"Climate Variability and Development," P.M. Morisette, N.J. Rosenberg, Resources, 18-22, Winter 1992. (Resources for the Future, 1616 P St. NW, Washington DC 20036)

A climate agreement could be an important achievement of UNCED, but it should also address the problem of existing climate variability. Agriculture's response to drought suggests that better means of adapting to existing variability would provide immediate benefits and would likely expand the range of options available to cope with climate change in the future.