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 7, NUMBER 2, FEBRUARY 1994

PERIODICALS...

• GENERAL INTEREST - SCIENCE AND POLICY

Item #d94feb103

"The Ice Age Cometh?" M.D. Lemonick, Time, 79-81, Jan. 31, 1994.

Recent cold weather in the U.S. is just a reminder that the Earth's climate could turn colder at any time, as shown by increasingly detailed ice core results from Greenland. It is conceivable that the greenhouse effect could warm up the planet for a while but then trigger a sudden chill.

Item #d94feb104

"Where Has All the Carbon Gone?" D. MacKenzie, New Scientist, 30-33, Jan. 8, 1994.

Fossil-fuel burning produces more CO2 than is known to remain in the air or be absorbed by the ocean. Recent work suggests that the missing carbon has been taken up by increased growth in northern forests this century. The findings are consistent with models that predict a carbon sink in the Northern Hemisphere. (A shorter article on the same topic appears in Discover, 38-39, Dec. 1993.)

Item #d94feb105

Two items from Environ. Action, Winter 1994:

"Back Talk," B. Ruben, 11-16. Criticizes the many recent "anti-environmental" news articles and books that omit or twist facts, over-generalize, rely on old scientific literature, or focus on a source that is obviously biased. Global warming and ozone depletion are topics that have been especially vulnerable to misinformation.

"A Long Way from Earth Day," B. Ruben, 34-36. Reports on changes in the U.S. administration's policy on global warming between Earth Day and October 1993, when President Clinton announced his plan.

Item #d94feb106

"The Doomsday Myths," S. Budiansky, U.S. News & World Rep., 81-91, Dec. 13, 1993.

By exaggerating environmental dangers, activists have undermined their credibility, and triggered an anti-environment backlash. Discusses the scientific evidence for prevalent "myths" regarding climate change, ozone depletion, deforestation and biodiversity.

Item #d94feb107

"Enter the Contrarians," M. Hager, Tomorrow, 10-13, 16-19, Oct.-Dec. 1993.

Describes the most important scientists, economists and others who question conventional wisdom (particularly on climate change and ozone depletion), but who do not consider themselves anti-environment. They want to ensure that solid science, not public panic, underlies environmental policies and regulations, and that the most pressing risks are the ones addressed.

Item #d94feb108

Two items in Our Planet, No. 5, 1993 (U.N. Environ. Prog., POB 30552, Nairobi, Kenya):

"The Global Environment Facility: Three Years On," M. Pyhälä, 4-7. The current restructuring, called for by Agenda 21 of the 1992 Earth Summit, is largely a response to criticism from governments and NGOs. The highest decision making body will be constituted by the participating governments. The GEF must follow the requirements of the biodiversity and climate conventions with regard to strategy, priorities and funding criteria.

"GEF in Action: Helping to Save Vietnam's Biodiversity," J. Laird, 8-9.

Item #d94feb109

World Climate Review, Fall 1993. (Available at no charge from Dept. Environ. Sci., Univ. Virginia, Charlottesville VA 22903.)

Includes a feature on clouds as Earth's thermoregulator, in addition to editorials and research summaries for general readers.

Item #d94feb110

"A Rich Harvest from Halophytes," J. Douglas, EPRI Journal, 16-23, Oct./Nov. 1993 (Electric Power Res. Inst., POB 10412, Palo Alto CA 94303).

These salt-tolerant plants are being investigated as an alternative for removing and storing atmospheric CO2 and as a nonfossil biofuel, as well as for other uses.