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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 11, NUMBER 3, MARCH 1998

NEWS...
KYOTO PROTOCOL

Item #d98mar119

The climate commitments hammered out in Kyoto last December are subject to a one-year signature period which began March 16, 1998. But experts at a February meeting on the protocol held at the Royal Institute of International Affairs said that its complexity and unresolved issues could delay it from taking force for several years.

Most view the United States as an essential participant. Speaking before a Senate committee, Stuart Eizenstat, an undersecretary of state, said that the Clinton Administration intends to sign the treaty within a year but will not seek Senate approval until key developing countries agree to limit greenhouse gas emissions. In early February, Clinton announced his new fiscal year 1999 budget, which contains $1.7 billion in provisions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including funding for technology development and tax incentives.

Item #d98mar120

"House Panel Icy to White House Plans," A. Lawler,Science, p. 1124, Feb. 20, 1998. Top Administration science officials defended plans to implement the protocol, especially technology funding, before the House Science Committee.

Item #d98mar121

"U.S. Budget Reflects Climate Concerns, But Will Congress Concur?Global Environ. Change Rep., pp. 1-3, Feb. 13, 1998.

Item #d98mar122

"Kyoto Treaty Sets Precedent for Emissions Trading Program," C. Cooney,Environ. Sci. & Technol., pp. 74A-75A, Feb. 1, 1998. The emissions trading plan favored by the U.S., which barely survived the Kyoto agreements, is viewed with suspicion by developing countries and the U.S. fossil fuel industry, and is out of favor with some other U.S. businesses, and the European Union.

Item #d98mar123

"Kyoto Climate Conference," B. Hileman,Chem. Eng. News, pp. 20-22, Dec. 22, 1997. An overall summary and analysis of the outcome.