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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 11, NOVEMBER 1992

NEWS...
NEWS NOTES

Item #d92nov84

International agriculture study: Results of a study of the impacts of climate change on agriculture, funded by the U.S. EPA and presented at the International Geographical Congress (Washington, D.C., August 1992), show that developing nations are most vulnerable. According to an article in Science News (p. 116, Aug. 1992), the study is the first to take a detailed global look at agricultural impacts. A parallel study on health (still in progress) is finding similar results, with people in developing countries highly vulnerable to heat-related stress.

Item #d92nov85

Industrial ecology: A feature article in Chem. Eng. News (B. Hileman, pp. 7-14, Aug. 24, 1992) analyzes results of an international, interdisciplinary, industry-environment workshop (Snowmass Village, Colorado, July 1992) aimed at finding ways to reconfigure industry and agriculture to reduce all kinds of environmental damage. Disagreements occurred not so much between environmental scientists and representatives of industry, but over different ways of looking at issues, such as by sociologists and physicists. One of the many recommendations is that some international organization develop a clear and consistent environmental framework within which companies investing in developing and transitional countries can operate.

Item #d92nov86

News from Japan:

• "Administrative Measures Said Needed To Reach CO₂ Stabilization Goal By 2000," Intl. Environ. Rptr., p. 605, Sep. 23, 1992. Measures such as tax breaks and energy conservation certification systems are needed to reach Japan's goal, according to a report by the Industrial Structure Council and the Energy Study Council. CO₂ taxes should not be necessary.
• "New Trade Ministry Plan Stresses Economic Growth for Developing World," ibid., p. 606. The report released by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) gives economic development priority over environmental concerns, in contrast to the Environment Agency's policy which is reflected in an environmental bill being considered in the Diet. MITI finds that measures such as greater use of natural gas and nuclear energy will enable Japan to meet its CO₂ goal.
• "Big Increase for MITI Budget Emphasizes Energy Technology," D. Swinbanks, Nature, p. 4, Sep. 3, 1992. The 16% increased budget request would come largely from a new special account of $1.1 billion created by the ministry to promote development and use of technology to reduce CO₂ emissions and energy consumption. A carbon tax is one source of revenue being considered for long-term funding of such work.

Item #d92nov87

German utility program: The electric utility RWE Energie of Essen has launched a $67-million energy saving program for private households, expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by 120,000 metric tons annually. (See Intl. Environ. Rptr., p. 614, Sep. 23, 1992.)

Item #d92nov88

"Methods to Reduce CO₂ Emissions Appraised," J. Haggin, Chem. Eng. News, p. 24, Sep. 21, 1992. Gives highlights of a presentation by Howard Herzog of MIT at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society, concerning progress on techniques for sequestering (removing permanently from the atmosphere) CO₂ emitted from fossil fuel combustion.

Item #d92nov89

"WEC: Energy Supply Industry at a 'Turning Point,'" Global Environ. Change Rep., p. 6, Oct. 9, 1992. A brief report on the 15th World Energy Congress of the World Energy Council (Madrid, Sep. 1992). In contrast to previous meetings which focused on protecting the traditional interests of energy suppliers, this meeting emphasized environmental concerns and the energy needs of developing countries.

Item #d92nov90

"British Buses to Run on Flower Power," N. McDiarmid, New Scientist, p. 18, Oct. 3, 1992. The Italian firm Novamont manufactures a diesel fuel from oilseed rape now being used in several European countries. As a biofuel, it produces little net CO₂.