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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 9, NUMBERS 10-11, OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 1996

PERIODICALS...
GENERAL INTEREST

Item #d96oct101

"Climate Science and National Interests," R.M. White, Issues in Science & Technol., pp. 33-38, Fall 1996.

Item #d96oct102

"Climate Science and National Interests," R.M. White, Issues in Science & Technology, 12(1), 33-38, Fall 1996.

An essay on the constantly changing relationship between the science and the politics of climate change. The scientific case for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is perceived to be changing, but the political barriers remain daunting. It is surprising that missing from the negotiations is any concept of marshaling international action to develop technologies that will be needed for adaptation. Many promising energy options are sufficiently far from commercialization that international collaboration might advance their availability. But absent efficient new energy technologies, the negotiators simply will not have the tools necessary to achieve greenhouse emission goals.

Item #d96oct103

New publication: Environment Matters, Summer 1996, 32 pp. Published three times a year by Environ. Dept. Publications, The World Bank, 1818 H St. NW, Rm. S-5057, Washington DC 20433 (tel: 202-458-8459; fax: 202 477 05650; e-mail: environment@worldbank.org). The magazine and other information on World Bank projects is available on the Environment Department's Web page: http://www-esd.worldbank.org/envmat/.

This debut issue contains an article explaining a study which applies an environmental cost to CO₂ emissions being generated by current, greenhouse gas intensive Bank development projects. Calculation of these external or hidden costs of emissions could provide direction to the Bank in current and future development work.

Item #d96oct104

Ecodecision, a Canadian quarterly published under the sponsorship of the Royal Society of Canada for the past several years, provides detailed articles on environmental policy and science, written from a global perspective by internationally recognized authors. For more than a year, Ecodecision has been carrying articles written on behalf of the Canadian Global Change Program.

Each issue has a theme; recent and upcoming themes include "The Atmosphere," Autumn 1995; "Transport and the Environment," Summer 1996; NGO's and Environmental Policies," Autumn 1996; "Rio: Five Years Later," Spring 1997. Annual subscriptions are $Cdn.59 (individual)/$Cdn.100 (corporate). Contact Ecodecision, 276, rue Saint-Jacques ouest, bureau 924, Montreál PQ H1Y 1N3, Can. (fax: 514 284 3045; e-mail: ecodec@cam.org); its Web site (http://www.ecodec.org.) has an electronic subscription form.

Item #d96oct105

"Turning Up the Heat," Consumer Reports, pp. 38-44, Sep. 1996.

Explains the latest conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the findings of its latest assessment of the science of climate change, and the recent controversy over the editing of the report's final version. Comparison of the final report to the draft version of the chapter lends no support to the accusations of political tampering. Enumerates measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions, particularly those relating to transportation.

Item #d96oct106

"Farming and Fishing in the Wake of El Niño," J. Tibbetts, BioScience, pp. 566-569, Sep. 1996.

Discusses how the periodic warming of the central Pacific ocean waters relates to global climate change and food production. The characteristics of El Niño have certainly changed over the past few years, but any relationship of this change to greenhouse warming is unknown. Other factors affecting food production are algal blooms, that could be made worse by ocean warming, and overfishing.

Item #d96oct107

"No Cause for Alarm," C. Marris, I. Langford, T. O'Riordan, New Scientist, pp. 36-39, Sep. 28, 1996.

Presents results of research conducted by the authors at the University of East Anglia, on why and how individuals respond to various risks, such as ozone depletion, terrorism, nuclear power or microwave ovens. The statistical probability of harm determined by an "expert" is but one element used by the public to evaluate danger. Risk perception is a complicated, complex process which makes sense in relation to an individual's experience and view of the world.

Item #d96oct108

"Outcasts from Eden," N. Fell, ibid., pp. 24-27, Aug. 31, 1996.

One study has estimated that the number of environmental refugees is likely to reach 50 million by 2010, and could reach 200 million by the middle of the next century if global warming causes the predicted rise in sea level, erratic growing seasons, and dislocation of weather patterns. Politicians are becoming worried.

Item #d96oct109

"Ten Thousand Cloud Makers: Is Airplane Exhaust Altering Earth's Climate?" R. Monastersky, Science News, pp. 12-13, July 6, 1996.

Explains several ways in which exhaust could alter climate, and summarizes the latest research. One mechanism is alteration of high-level clouds. Another is ozone production in the troposphere through emissions of nitrogen oxides. Studies using computer models indicate that current aircraft could have boosted tropospheric concentrations of ozone (a greenhouse gas) by several percent in regions with heavy air traffic.

Item #d96oct110

"Climate Change and Its Consequences," M.A. Toman, J. Firor, J. Darmstadter, Resources, pp. 10-13, Summer 1996. (Resources for the Future, 1616 P St. NW, Washington DC 20036; tel: 202 328 5025.)

Reviews possible impacts, and the effectiveness and costs of response options, based on the recent IPCC assessment. The authors believe that the assessment justifies some degree of policy intervention that goes beyond actions to improve economic efficiency without reference to climate change, although even these "no regrets" actions are far from exhausted. Future research budgets should give greater emphasis to ecological and socioeconomic research.

Item #d96oct111

"Debunking Junk," N. Cole, Nucleus, pp. 3-5, Summer 1996. (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2 Brattle Sq., Cambridge MA 02238; tel: 617 547 5552; fax: 617 864 9405.)

Describes the Union's Sound Science Initiative, designed to help scientists present accurate, credible information about global issues to the media and policymakers, to counter the growing prevalence of "junk science." Through a quick-response network on the Internet, the project makes it easier for 1500 scientists across the country to speak out on four major issues—biodiversity, climate change, ozone depletion, and population growth.

Item #d96oct112

"The Greenhouse Effect," J. and M. Gribbin, Inside Science No. 92 (4-page insert to New Scientist, July 1996).

A concise, up-to-date presentation of the science.

Item #d96oct113

"AIJ—Africans in Jeopardy?" A. Churie, Tiempo, pp. 17-20, June 1996. (Contact Tiempo, c/o Mick Kelly, Sch. Environ. Sci., Univ. E. Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.)

The parties to the climate convention have approved a three-year pilot phase for Joint Implementation activities, now referred to as Activities Implemented Jointly (AIJ). This article explains the mixed feelings with which many African participants view the development, and recommends guidelines for such activities in Africa.

Item #d96oct114

"Some Like It Hot," J. Motavelli, E Magazine, pp. 28-35, Jan./Feb. 1996.

Although most environmental groups accept global warming as established fact, the topic is still hotly contested in universities and laboratories. The debate has become pointedly political, and it often seems that where scientists stand on global warming depends a lot on where their own sympathies lie and who's paying the bills. Discusses major players in the controversy such as Ben Santer, Richard Lindzen, the Global Climate Coalition, and Rush Limbaugh.

Item #d96oct115

Special issue, "Atmosphere," Our Planet, Vol. 7, No. 5, 1996, 34 pp. (Contact U.N. Environ. Prog., POB 30552, Nairobi, Kenya.)

Contains a dozen short articles on various topics related to climate change and ozone depletion, such as: principles for industry's role in policy making; financing climate change mitigation with a tax on air travel; China and the atmosphere; a science court for uncertain issues like climate change.

Item #d96oct116

Special issue, "Energy and Global Climate Change," Oak Ridge National Laboratory Review, Nos. 2&3, 1995, 136 pp. (Contact ORNL, Bldg. 4500-South, M.S. 6144, Oak Ridge TN 37831.)

Contains a dozen major articles related to activities at ORNL, on topics such as biomass fuels, managing global change information, integrated resource planning in developing countries, and international deployment of greenhouse gas technologies.