The CHAIRMAN. Senator Burns.

STATEMENT OF HON. CONRAD BURNS, U.S. SENATOR FROM

MONTANA

Senator BURNS. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. I appreciate these hearings because I am deriving a lot of information out of

it.

I have spent several years refereeing football, both high school and college level, and I have heard players jump on me for call and questioning that we were not watching the same game. [Laughter.]

Senator BURNS. Which some of that criticism was due.

I am wondering right now, are we living in the real world as it is now and working with the information that we now have and striving for more information that is on a solid basis, of which we as policymakers are charged to deal with policy and in a real world. I would say at this point, do we look at a situation from a political standpoint, or do we deal with it from a real standpoint. I think that is the question here. I think the statement by my good friend from Colorado just confirmed that, that there is probably more political right now than there is in dealing with science in the real world.

I think some of the questions that we try to deal with here sometimes is not best for the environment, but we have a very serious power struggle here and that concerns me very much.

But I am looking forward to the testimony today. I enjoyed last week very much and reading over the testimony and, of course, attending as much of those hearings as I possible can. So, I thank the Chairman for these hearings.

And I also appreciate my colleague from colleague from Colorado because he raises some very serious questions that should be dealt with on a scientific basis, the world as it is because this Government, this Congress, and this administration has made a commitment more than anybody else in the world in dealing with climate change and the greenhouse effect and the ozone situation. So, I thank the Chairman. Thank you very much.

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Burns.

Senator Craig.

STATEMENT OF HON. LARRY E. CRAIG, U.S. SENATOR FROM

IDAHO

Senator CRAIG. Mr. Chairman, thank you for convening this hearing today. The issue is an important one. I think all of us recognize the importance of that.

For the first time in about 2 decades, the American people are finally beginning to ask the question that has to be asked in this current world. Is there a way of achieving a better environment through the use of science and the application of the science as we know it? The reason they are asking that question is because they have finally begun to recognize the phenomenal consequence, the economic consequence of the politics of environmental fear that have largely driven public policy in this country for the last 2 decades.

Mr. Chairman, I think the challenge before us is to solve the problem without question, but to err on the side of science and in the kind of practical approach that I think has been referenced here today by a good number of my colleagues.

I look forward to the testimony of those who are here, but I do believe the American people are now finally beginning to recognize that some of what has been done and some of that which is currently being proposed is out of balance with a reasonable approach that results in the kind of environmental protection that future generations will require based on a viable economy that they will choose to live in.

The CHAIRMAN. Senator Bingaman.

Senator BINGAMAN. I just came to hear the witnesses, Mr. Chair

man.

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much.

We will begin this morning with Ms. Linda Stuntz, who is acting Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy. No. Let us first begin with Mr. Robert Reinstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs of the Department of State.

STATEMENT OF ROBERT A. REINSTEIN, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Mr. REINSTEIN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Bob Reinstein, and I was the chief negotiator for the United States in the negotiations which were completed last week.

I am happy to report that last Saturday, May 9, the United States and over 140 other countries adopted the text of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This far-reaching agreement establishes a long-term process for responding on a global basis to this vital issue.

The convention calls upon industrialized countries to take the lead by adopting national policies and corresponding measures that will mitigate climate change by limiting their anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and protecting and enhancing their sinks and reservoirs of these gases.

Further, the convention calls on industrialized countries to provide on a regular basis detailed information on the policies and measures they undertake in this regard, as well as projections to the end of the decade of their resulting human-caused emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol. Countries will thus be able to compare the results of these actions on emissions with the levels of emissions in 1990, with the broad aim of returning to these earlier levels.

The agreement also establishes a global partnership between industrialized countries and others, particularly developing countries, as well as those countries with economies in transition. It provides for financial support to enable countries in need of such assistance to comply with obligations they have undertaken in the agreement and to implement certain agreed programs and projects which

would contribute to the global effort in accordance with the financial mechanism defined in the convention.

The negotiators entrusted the Global Environmental Facility, the GEF, of the World Bank, United Nations Environment Program, and the United Nations Development Program with operation of the financial mechanism on an interim basis. Parties to the convention will decide at the first session of the conference of the parties, following entry into force of the convention, whether this designation of the GEF should be reaffirmed.

Other provisions of the agreement provide for technology cooperation, including technology transfer, enhanced cooperation in the areas of scientific research, monitoring and observation, as well as education and training and the exchange of information. A related resolution adopted by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee provides for work on interim activities prior to the convention's entry into force, with a follow-up meeting before the end of this year.

The United States believes that this is the right agreement for this time, a judgment endorsed by a broad spectrum of other countries. The new convention will enable us to address the issue of climate change through a process that integrates science, technology, economics, and relevant national circumstances. This agreement signals to both the public and private sectors that climate change is a common concern. The Framework Convention on Climate Change provides the means for us to pursue a coherent and cooperative international response that balances many interests. In so doing, it provides a foundation on which to build a global partnership for sustainable growth for our own and future generations.

I am sure there are many more questions about it, but I think I will stop with just that brief introduction and turn to the other agencies who will have the largest part in our implementation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[The prepared statement of Mr. Reinstein follows:]

PREPARED STAtement of ROBERT A. REINSTEIN, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT, Health and NATURAL RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF STATE

I am happy to report that on Saturday, May 9, the United States and over 140 other countries adopted the text of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This far-reaching agreement establishes a long-term process for responding on a global basis to this vital issue.

The Convention calls upon industrialized countries to take the lead by adopting national policies and corresponding measures that will mitigate climate change by limiting their anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and protecting and enhancing their sinks and reservoirs of these gases. Further, the Convention calls on industrialized countries to provide on a regular basis detailed information on the policies and measures they undertake in this regard, as well as projections to the end of the decade of their resulting human-caused emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol. Countries will thus be able to compare the results of these actions on emissions with the levels of emissions in 1990, with the broad aim of returning to these earlier levels.

The agreement also establishes a global partnership between industrialized countries and others, particularly developing countries, as well as those countries with economies in transition. It provides for financial support to enable countries in need of such assistance to comply with obligations they have undertaken in the agreement and to implement certain agreed programs and projects which would contribute to the global effort in accordance with the financial mechanism defined in the Convention.

The negotiators entrusted the Global Environment Facility (GEF) of the World Bank, UNEP and UNDP with operation of the financial mechanism on an interim basis. Parties to the Convention will decide at the first session of the Conference of the Parties following entry into force of the convention whether this designation of the GEF should be reaffirmed.

Other provisions of the agreement provide for technology cooperation (including technology transfer), enhanced cooperation in the areas of scientific research, monitoring and observation, as well as education and training and the exchange of information. A related resolution adopted by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), provides for work on interim activities prior to the Convention's entry into force, with a follow-up meeting before the end of the year.

The United States believes that this is the right agreement for this time, a judgment endorsed by a broad spectrum of other countries. The new convention will enable us to address the issue of climate change through a process that integrates science, technology, economics and relevant national circumstances. This agreement signals to both the public and private sectors that climate change is a common concern. The Framework Convention on Climate Change provides the means for us to pursue a coherent and cooperative international response that balances many interests. In so doing, it provides a foundation on which to build a global partnership for sustainable growth for our own and future generations. [Attachments.]

U.S. VIEWS ON GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

THE SCIENCE

For some time the scientific community has warned us of the potential for human activities to contribute to global climate change, while recognizing that there is still much we do not know or understand about this issue. The United States has taken this warning to heart. Through both governmental and non-governmental activities we have invested heavily in scientific research to better understand the nature of the problem. The United States currently contributes roughly half of the world's climate research budget. Science, we believe, provides the cornerstone on which a sound response to the problem of climate change should be built. The following represents a consensus view of a broad range of scientists, including most U.S. scientists, who have participated actively in the international effort to understand the issue:

Climate Change: While scientists cannot yet establish that a human-induced warming has already occurred, best estimates indicate that increased concentrations of greenhouse gases are likely to increase atmospheric and ocean temperatures and alter their associated circulation and weather patterns. However, the magnitude, timing and regional details of these changes cannot be predicted with much certainty. Climate models predict changes in the average temperature of the globe's atmosphere as a consequence of a doubling of atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide are unlikely to lie outside the range of 1.5 to 4.5 °C (2.7 to 8.1 °F), with a best estimate, based on model results and taking into account the observed climate record, of 2.5 °C (4.5 °F). Associated sea-level rise has been estimated to range between a few tens of centimeters and approximately 1 meter (less than 1 foot to approximately three feet). In addition, observed warning in recent years is of the same magnitude as that predicted by the models but also of the same magnitude as natural variability. Thus, the observed increase could be due predominately to natural variability or could be part of a larger warming offset by other human factors. Potential impacts of climate change are likely to vary considerably from region-toregion, with particular risks for drought-prone areas, irrigated agriculture, water resources, coastal zones and natural ecosystems. Precise evaluations of the impacts of climate change are not likely to be available for a decade or more.

Greenhouse Gases: The principal greenhouse gases are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and ozone (O3). Of these, water vapor has the largest greenhouse effect; however, on a global scale, its concentrations in the atmosphere are not directly affected by human activities. With the exception of CFCs, the remainder of these gases occur naturally; human activities have contributed significantly to increases in all of their atmospheric concentrations. CO2, principally from the burning of fossil fuels, constitutes approximately 60% of the total greenhouse effect of these anthropogenically produced gases. (This is based on estimates of the relative effects of each of these gases over time, expressed as "global warming potential" or GWP.) The economically developed world currently accounts for around half of global greenhouse gas