The making of greenhouse policy
The problem of anthropogenic climate change on a global scale has raised a public policy debate which has become the archetypical science policy issue. Against a background of natural changes in the earth's climate man has altered the surface of the earth and its atmosphere. We have evidence of increases in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The computer models of the climate effect take into account this input, but do not adequately simulate fundamental aspects of the Earth system which may reduce or increase the predicted climate effects. The average global temperatures did not increase from 1979 to 1989 yet global increases in releases of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere were at unprecendented levels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an international body, has set up three working groups to investigate different aspects of climate change. Their reports were presented to the Second World Climate Conference in Geneva from October 29 to November 7, 1990. All three groups cited uncertainties in their assessments of effects of global climate change. A government wide U.S. Global Change Research Program has been formed to monitor and understand the Earth system and predict global change. President Bush has asked for over $1 billion to fund this research program. Social and economic factors will play a large role in any policy decisions that affect climate change. Policies have been instituted by this administration which will reduce greenhouse-gas-emissions. These include the phasing out of CFCs by the year 2000, The Clean Air Act being debated by Congress, and a National Energy Strategy. President Bush has proposed the U.S. host the first negotiating sessions leading to an international agreement on greenhouse policy.
- OSTI ID:
- 5971736
- Journal Information:
- Issues in Science and Technology; (USA), Vol. 7:1; ISSN 0748-5492
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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POLICY AND ECONOMY
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
GROWTH
POLLUTION
GLOBAL ASPECTS
FORESTS
FREONS
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PALEONTOLOGY
POPULATIONS
290000* - Energy Planning & Policy
290200 - Energy Planning & Policy- Economics & Sociology
293000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation