plan are quite costly, and those costs are neither highlighted nor detailed in a way that clearly shows the costs that already have been imposed on the U.S. economy. The absence of such a detailed discussion may leave the public with the impression that the U.S. NAP either is free or entails insignificant costs. Neither is the case. Second, a description of the potential costs of more restrictive alternatives that the ones described in the U.S. NAP is important in educating the public on the additional costs of rigid targets and timetables or specific reduction levels. Moreover, such costs will have very real economic impacts. According to several recent studies, 23 restricting greenhouse gas emissions to 1988 levels could by 2010: Reduce GDP by 1.5 to 2 percent. Cause the loss of 500,000 jobs. Increase the fuel prices for electricity by 50-60 percent in the industrial sector of the U.S. economy. 23 U.S. Department of Energy, "The Economics of Long-Term Global Climate Change" (Sept. 1990); U.S. Department of Commerce, "The Economic Effects of Restrictions on Coal and Petroleum Fuels in Stationary Uses" (Apr. 1991); U.S. Department of Commerce, "Economic Effects of Using Carbon Taxes to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Major OECD Countries" (Jan. 1992). Conclusion The Global Climate Coalition believes that command and control measures, such as targets and timetables, are unnecessary and should be avoided in any national action plan. The U.S. is the world leader in the global climate arena, as exemplified by the country's quick ratification of the Framework Convention and early release of the U.S. NAP, and by passage of the Clean Air Amendments of 1990 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Voluntary actions and legislatively mandated activities should be implemented before further costly, government programs are imposed on U.S. industry. Such a Moreover, the U.S. NAP should properly position the U.S. to fulfill its agreements under the Convention, particularly after implementation of the Energy Policy Act and other recent congressional and international mandates and initiatives. result will be unprecedented in the industrial world, as even the few other countries that have also issued national plans as the United Kingdom publicly concede that they cannot stabilize their greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2000 at 1990 levels.24 - - such 24 Under the plan of the U.K., its emissions will rise from 160 MMTC in 1990 to 170 MMTC in the year 2000, 183 MMTC in 2005 and 221 MMTC in 2020. U.K. Department of the Environment, Board-Level (32) American Cement Alliance American Paper Institute American Electric Power Service Corporation American Mining Congress American Iron & Steel Institute American Petroleum Institute Association of American Railroads Association of International Automobile Manufacturers Atlantic Richfield Company Chemical Manufacturers Association CSX Transportation, Inc. Dow Chemical Company Drummond Company Du Pont Company Duke Power Company Duquesne Light Company Edison Electric Institute |