WATCHING GOVERNMENT DEBATE ON GLOBAL WARMING

The Clinton administration has already decided its voluntary global warming action program will be inadequate, although it is just starting up.

The U.S. signed the climate treaty in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the Senate ratified it last year, and it took effect last Mar. 21. The goal of the treaty is to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, which are believed to trap the sun's heat in the atmosphere, warming the earth.

The 80 participating countries will hold their first meeting in Berlin next March, when they are expected to create subsidiary bodies to implement the treaty and provide science and technical advice.

U.S. PROGRAM

Last year the U.S. outlined its program, which relies on industry to voluntarily reduce emissions by 2000 to 1990 levels.

But Tim Wirth, the State Department's undersecretary for global affairs and former U.S. senator from Colorado, recently declared the U.S. plan is inadequate.

Wirth explained the Rio treaty had a limited goal of restricting emissions by 2000 and does not adequately address policies and measures to be taken beyond 2000.

"This is a long term challenge," Wirth said. "It requires long term solutions. We think that as a first priority ... we need to set an aim that can guide our efforts for the initial period after 2000."

Administration officials have hinted that their main option may be to take further steps to discourage gasoline use and encourage alternative fuel vehicles.

John Shlaes, executive director of the Global Climate Coalition, strongly disagreed. His group represents U.S. associations and companies affected by greenhouse rules.

"The treaty only took effect in March," Shlaes said. "It is impossible this soon to conclude additional actions are needed.

"Industry is also deeply disturbed by the implication that the president's voluntary climate action plan ... will be inadequate and that more stringent measures may be needed domestically."

Shlaes said due to the long lead time, the president's plan indicates that most U.S. emissions reductions and energy savings will occur during 2000-2010. He said the administration certainly should not act unilaterally until the United Nations releases its next assessment of the status of climate change, which is due in the fall of 1995.

William O'Keefe, American Petroleum Institute executive vice-president, said scientists are still undecided about the effect of global warming. Because greenhouse estimates are based on simplified scientific models, they do not provide "a sound foundation for policy actions" until more research is done.

A WARNING

In a House of Representatives floor speech, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) was less diplomatic.

He warned, "Amending the treaty to include additional directives could have dramatic negative consequences for the American economy.

"Some of the policies that could be necessary to implement new international environmental standards could dramatically raise energy prices and cost our economy hundreds of thousands of jobs. And we would be harmed more than some of our international trade competitors."

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