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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 6, NUMBER 9, SEPTEMBER 1993

NEWS...
NEWS NOTES

Item #d93sep118

EC environment ministers Michel Barnier (France) and John Gummer (Britain) agreed July 26 on the need for new regulatory measures, such as fuel taxes and controls on vehicle emissions, to fulfill the European Community pledge to stabilize CO₂ emissions. Both countries still oppose a general EC carbon/energy tax. (Intl. Environ. Rptr., p. 567, July 28.)

Item #d93sep119

Stratospheric ozone was about 10 percent thinner than normal over the Northern Hemisphere this summer, according to NASA satellite data. This result had been expected because a similar reduction, attributed to dust from the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, was observed last winter. (Science, p. 290, July 2.)

Item #d93sep120

Greenhouse gas reporting: The U.S. Department of Energy is soliciting comments on guidelines for voluntary reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and reductions and of carbon sequestration, as required by the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The comment period has been extended to Sept. 27, 1993. Contact Jean Vernet, U.S. Dept. Energy (202-586-4755).

Item #d93sep121

Refrigerator design prize: The Whirlpool Corp. of Michigan has won the $30 million award offered by a group of U.S. power companies for designing a CFC-free, super-efficient refrigerator. The new design may reach the market next year. (See New Scientist, p.11, July 10 1993; Global Environ. Change Rep., p. 7, July 9 1993.)

Item #d93sep122

The Climate Action Network, established by nongovernmental organizations to promote governmental and individual actions to limit human-induced climate change to ecologically sustainable levels, is now open to all groups that support its goal. Regional offices have been established in the U.K., Belgium, Croatia, Russia, Kenya, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Chile. For details on these offices contact Alden Meyer, CAN-U.S., c/o Union of Concerned Scientists, 1616 P St. NW, S. 310, Washington DC 20036 (tel: 202-332-0900; fax: 202-332-0905).

Item #d93sep123

The following news/analysis articles appeared in recent issues of Global Environ. Change Rep.:

"Experts Try to Quantify the Climate Treaty's Final Aim," pp. 1-3, Aug. 27. Article 2 of the Framework Convention on Climate Change calls for preventing "dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system," but translating this requirement into numbers to which all parties will agree is not easy.

"Hydropower Seen as Potentially Significant Source of Greenhouse Gases," pp. 1-3, Aug. 13. Two studies conducted recently in conjunction with Canadian hydropower utilities suggest that flooding behind dams increases emissions of methane and CO₂.