Bonn to Kyoto: The Administration's Position on the Climate Change Treaty : Hearing Before the Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifth Congress, First Session, November 13, 1997, Volume 4 |
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Common terms and phrases
Administration agree or disagree AMERICAN VIEWPOINT Citizens Annex I countries billion Burma Chairman GILMAN climate models climatologists Clinton Committee CONG CONGR CONGRESS THE LIBRARY Congressman costs developing countries developing nations El Niño emissions to 1990 emissions trading environment environmental establish a cap federal fuel gases GEJDENSON global temperatures global warming going Gore greenhouse gas emissions GRES GRESS THE LIBRARY Group of 77 HAMILTON HOT WHAT'S HOT House human industry IPCC issue joint implementation Kyoto LIBRA LIBRARY ARY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS LIBRARY RESS meeting Mexico City policy negotiating Niño observer group OCTOBER 27 ONGR participate percent population predicted President's proposal RARY reduce emissions reducing greenhouse gas ROHRABACHER scientists Secretary Wirth Senate September-October 1997 SMITH Sound Economy statement Strongly Agree technologies Thank Tim Wirth TOTAL AGREE TOTAL DISAGREE U.S. delegation U.S. Government United Vice President WCR OCTOBER 27 World Climate Report worldwide
Popular passages
Page 21 - The industrialized nations triea to reduce emissions to 1990 levels once before with a voluntary approach, but regrettably, most of us, including especially the United States, fell short. We must find new resolve to achieve these reductions, and to do that we simply must commit to binding limits. Second, we will embrace flexible mechanisms for meeting these limits. We propose an innovative joint implementation system that allows a firm in one country to invest in a project that reduces emissions...
Page 21 - States will pursue a comprehensive framework that includes three elements, which, taken together, will enable us to build a strong and robust global agreement. First, the United States proposes at Kyoto that we commit to the binding and realistic target of returning to emissions of 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. And we should not stop there. We should commit to reduce emissions below 1990 levels in the five-year period thereafter, and we must work toward further reductions in the years ahead....
Page 2 - Parties, unless the protocol or other agreement also mandates new specific scheduled commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions for Developing Country Parties within the same compliance period...
Page 22 - I commit the federal government to have 20,000 systems on federal buildings by 2010. Fifth, we must unleash competition in the electricity industry, to remove outdated regulations and save Americans billions of dollars. We must do it in a way that leads to even greater progress in cleaning our air and delivers a significant down payment in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Today, two-thirds of the energy used to provide electricity is squandered in waste heat. We can do much, much better. Sixth,...
Page 21 - ... an opportunity to chart a different energy future consistent with their growth potential and their legitimate economic aspirations. What Argentina, with dramatic projected economic growth, recognizes is true for other countries as well: We can and we must work together on this problem in a way that benefits us all. Here at home, we must move forward by unleashing the full power of free markets and technological innovations to meet the challenge of climate change.
Page 24 - Environmental initiatives, if sensibly designed, flexibly implemented, cost less than expected and provide unforseen economic opportunities. So while we recognize that the challenge we take on today is larger than any environmental mission we have accepted in the past, climate change can bring us together around what America does best — we innovate, we compete, we find solutions to problems, and we do it in a way that promotes entrepreneurship and strengthens the American economy. If we do it right,...
Page 21 - I'm announcing the instruction I'm giving to our negotiators as they pursue a realistic and effective international climate change treaty. And I'm announcing a far-reaching proposal that provides flexible market-based and cost-effective ways to achieve meaningful reductions here in America. I want to emphasize that we cannot wait until the treaty is negotiated and ratified to act. The United States has less than 5 percent of the world's people, enjoys 22 percent of the world's wealth, but emits more...
Page 24 - Orthodox Christians— a man who has always stressed the deep obligations inherent in God's gift to the natural world. He reminds us that the first part of the word "ecology" derives from the Greek word for house. In his words, in order to change the behavior toward the house we all share, we must rediscover spiritual linkages that may have been lost and reassert human values. Of course, he is right. It is our solemn obligation to move forward with courage and foresight to pass our home on to our...
Page 21 - ... market-based and cost-effective ways to achieve meaningful reductions here in America. I want to emphasize that we cannot wait until the treaty is negotiated and ratified to act. The United States has less than 5 percent of the world's people, enjoys 22 percent of the world's wealth, but emits more than 25 percent of the world's greenhouse gases. We must begin now to take out our insurance policy on the future. In the international climate negotiations, the United States will pursue a comprehensive...
Page 20 - America can stand up for our national interest and stand up for the common interest of the international community. America can build on prosperity today and ensure a healthy planet for our children tomorrow. In so many ways the problem of climate change reflects the new realities of the new century. Many previous threats could be met within our own borders, but global warming requires an international solution. Many previous threats came from single enemies, but global warming derives from millions...