GLOBAL WARMING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1989 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE, The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:08 a.m., in room 2123, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Philip R. Sharp (chairman) presiding. Mr. SHARP. Ladies and gentlemen, we have been waiting for our projector equipment so that two of our witnesses will be able to present slides. It is, we hear, on its way from the Senate, so we'll try to go ahead and proceed and regret the delay; typical of the efficiency around here. We can't seem to get the equipment where it's needed. U.S. energy policy should rest on at least three main pillars: energy security, economic competitiveness, and environmental protection. Two weeks ago, this subcommittee heard, again, that our national energy security and our economic wellbeing may be at risk as we become more dependent on foreign oil. It is clear that we need to work much harder to improve the energy efficiency of our economy, as well as to increase the supply of domestic energy. Today we ask whether our global environment is in jeopardy as well. We will hear from scientists who differ as to the magnitude of risk we face and the wisdom of changing energy policy based upon this risk. I hope they will help us sort through the conflicting accounts that have appeared in the news media. In this Congress, almost every issue that comes before our subcommittee, from energy conservation to nuclear licensing reform, will be examined with an eye on its implications for the greenhouse effect and other environmental issues. In many cases, the goals of energy security, economic competitiveness, and protecting the environment will be compatible. For example, energy conservation promotes all three. In other cases, we will have to make tough choices. I hope the distinguished scientists before us today will help us to understand how much weight we should give to the global warming threat as we formulate our Nation's energy policy. The Chair would now like to recognize our distinguished colleague from California, Mr. Moorhead, for an opening statement. Mr. MOORHEAD. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I welcome the start of what I believe will be an important series of hearings on energy policy implications of the global warming problem. Today's hearing, Mr. Chairman, is about what we know and don't know scientif (1) ically about the phenomenon of global warming. This is a topic which will be important to the subcommittee in reviewing future policy options and responses to the global warming problem. I expect today's hearing will be extremely interesting since we are fortunate to have with us scientific experts with differing viewpoints on the global warming problem. While all of them appear to agree that what we are facing potentially is a very serious environmental threat, there is less consensus over other key points. These include questions over whether we have already experienced a temperature increase due to global warming and questions over how fast and how large future temperature increases will be. All of these issues are important for our future deliberations on this problem. While I am concerned, as one Witness suggested in his written statement, that we may be harming the environment at a faster rate than we can predict the consequences, I am also concerned that we make sure that our policy responses reflect what we know and don't know about global warming. I look forward to today's hearing and the challenge of sorting out the different viewpoints of what everyone will agree is a complex and difficult problem. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. SHARP. Thank you. The Chair now recognizes the distinguished colleague from Oklahoma, Mr. Synar. Mr. SYNAR. I have no opening statement, Mr. Chairman. Mr. SHARP. The gentleman from Texas, Mr. Fields. Mr. FIELDS. Mr. Chairman, just very briefly, I want to congratulate you for holding this hearing today. Global warming is a very complex subject. I think this hearing is a good starting point with scientists who have differing viewpoints. I hope that we will have further hearings so that we might ultimately come to some type of consensus on what we might be able to do legislatively to deal with this problem. Thank you very much. Mr. SHARP. I thank the gentlemen. The gentleman from New Mexico? Mr. RICHARDSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Also, very briefly, I think it's important that you're holding these hearings. I would hope that sometime soon we also focus on the international implications of this issue. I think it's going to take a multilateral, multinational approach to deal with this problem. I think this is a positive start and, in answer to the question of the subject at hand, Global Warming: Is It Time For Action, I think the answer has to be yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. SHARP. I thank the gentleman. The gentleman from Tennessee, Mr. Cooper. Mr. COOPER. I have no opening statement, Mr. Chairman. Mr. SHARP. I thank the gentleman. [The prepared statement of Mr. Leland follows:] PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. MICKEY LELAND Mr. Chairman, there exists some disagreement on the cause and effects of increases in global temperatures. In fact, certain circles argue that there is no cause for concern as recent temperature increases are a natural phenomenon. |