I am writing to request for the third time, the documents and other materials supporting your testimony before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power more than a month ago. At the Subcommittee hearing held March 4, 1998, you presented conclusions regarding the cost of complying with the Kyoto Mandate. At that hearing, I requested that you provide the Subcommittee with the analysis that supported those conclusions, as well as any other economic analysis that reached different conclusions, not later than two weeks after the conclusion of the hearing (opening statement attached). Your staff requested an extension of time within which to respond, which I agreed to (letter attached). That time again was extended by my letter to you requesting the relevant information by no later than April 1, 1998 (letter attached). I still do not have the documents I requested. In order for the Subcommittee to adequately assess your conclusions, the Subcommittee must be able to review the data and analysis supporting those conclusions. At the hearing you presented certain conclusions. I am merely asking that you provide me with the analysis on which you based those conclusions. I do not believe it is unreasonable for the Subcommittee to ask you to support your testimony and, thus, your apparent reluctance to provide this information only heightens my concern over the validity of the Administration's analysis. Moreover, you should already have in your possession all the information I am requesting. I do not expect your office to create new data, documents or analysis to support the conclusions presented at the hearing. Please be advised that if I have not received a full and complete response to my request by Wednesday, April 15, 1998, I will consider pursuing other legal means to obtain the information. Thank you for your cooperation on this matter. If you have any questions concerning this outstanding request, please contact Ms. Catherine Van Way of the Commerce Committee staff at 225-2927. THE CHAIRMAN EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS WASHINGTON, DC 20500 April 17, 1998 Dear Chairman Schaefer: Enclosed find documents relied upon in the preparation of my testimony on the economics of the Kyoto Protocol before the House Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and Power. I apologize for not forwarding these materials sooner. CEA is a small agency with large responsibilities, and we have gathered these documents as quickly as our resources allowed. In addition to the documents provided today, your request calls for materials that implicate the President's interest in the confidentiality of White House decision making processes. That interest is particularly acute here because of ongoing interactions with foreign governments and because we are continuing to consider, formulate and effectuate new policies in this area. Pursuant to standard procedures of the Executive Branch, we have consulted with the Office of Counsel to the President to determine how to accommodate the Subcommittee's oversight needs regarding these materials, without undermining the interest of the Executive Branch in the confidentiality of its decision making. As part of that accommodation, the White House is prepared to make available for review, but not copying, by Members and Subcommittee staff, confidential documents you have requested which were relied upon in the preparation of my testimony on the economics of the Kyoto Protocol before the Subcommittee. Please call me to discuss arrangements for such review, or to address any questions you might have. SINK7T03 WP Why 7% below Kyoto's "1990 levels” is no more than This paper compares the carbon numbers associated with the United States (1) Under the Kyoto Protocol, each party has its choice of 1990 or 1995 as a (2) Under the Kyoto Protocol, the emissions budget is based only on gross (3) Under the Kyoto Protocol, the emissions accounting system includes only The Kyoto Protocol (A) The Kyoto Target Emissions budget = 5 years x (1990 Emissions of CO2, CH4, N20+ 1995 Emissions of HFC, PFC, and SF6) x 93% Page 1 SINK7TO3.WP 1990 Emissions of CO2, CH4, N20 1995 Emissions of HFC, PFC, and SF6 Total baseline emissions = 1559 MMTCE = 37 MMTCE = 1596 MMTCE Kyoto Emissions Budget, total for first budget period = 5 years x (1596) × 93% Annual Average Budget in 2008-2012 = 1484 MMTCE (B) The Kyoto Accounting System 2008-2012 emissions = [Total emissions of CO2, CH4, N20, HFC, PFC, SF6] - [net changes of carbon stocks "from direct human-induced land-use change and forestry activities, limited to afforestation, verifiable changes in stocks in each commitment period" ] The President's Announcement (A) The President's October Target Under the President's October plan, the emissions target for the United States Emissions Budget = 5 years x [(1990 Emissions of CO2, CH4, N20 and HFC, PFC, and SF6) - (net changes carbon stocks from all forests, including forest soils] Note that the budget equation includes sinks, which all else equal makes the budget Page 2 |