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Resource-management approach to carbon dioxide during the century of transition

Journal Article · · Denver J. Int. Law Policy; (United States)
OSTI ID:5528259

The atmosphere is a global resource that countries must manage for mutual benefit. The increasing accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO/sub 2/) in the atmosphere is expected to raise the temperature of the earth, which would have major impact on world climates, ocean currents, and growing seasons. The CO/sub 2/ buildup arises primarily from the use of fossil fuels and to a much lesser extent from deforestation and poor management of soils. This means that the CO/sub 2/ problem should be viewed foremost as a problem in developing the appropriate transition strategy for moving from a fossil fuel to a nonfossil fuel economy in the next fifty to one hundred years. A CO/sub 2/ strategy should seek to manage carbon dioxide emissions so as to limit the increase in temperature or at least to delay it sufficiently to develop new technologies for storing and recycling carbon dioxide and to prepare for anticipated changes in climate. Proposed measures include controls on CO/sub 2/ emissions, selective use of renewable resources and of those fossil fuels with relatively low CO/sub 2/ content, conservation of energy resources, and environmentally sound management of forests and soils for sustained yields. These elements comprise the CO/sub 2/ transition strategy for managing the atmosphere.

Research Organization:
Georgetown Univ. Law Center, Washington, DC
OSTI ID:
5528259
Journal Information:
Denver J. Int. Law Policy; (United States), Journal Name: Denver J. Int. Law Policy; (United States) Vol. 10:3; ISSN DJIPD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English