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Researchers from five U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories have issued a major report that finds the United States can make impressive strides toward addressing climate change through smart policies and technologies. The report, "Scenarios for a Clean Energy Future," assesses technologies and policies to meet energy-related challenges facing the United States. It concludes that successful implementation of these technologies and policies could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, oil dependence and economic inefficiencies. The report also concludes that the overall economic benefits of the policies and technologies that are modeled are comparable to their overall costs. The benefits derive from energy savings throughout the economy. "While previous studies have established the technical potential for significantly cutting greenhouse gases and enhancing energy security, this study shows the ability of policies to help realize this potential," said Marilyn Brown, deputy director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program. The report was commissioned by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. More...

global change news
Following COP-6 Activities on the Internet
The Sixth Session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-6) convenes in The Hague, The Netherlands, 13-24 November, 2000. A number of web sites are available, in addition to the news media, for following actions taken at the conference. Here are a few of the official and notable web sites:

UNFCCC COP-6 Web site

http://cop6.unfccc.int/modules/none.asp?pageid=16

The official website for the 6th Conference of the UNFCCC Parties. This site provides ready access to the Agenda and Daily Programme, Documents, and Press Corner for all press releases during the event. The Conference's Plenary and High Level Meetings will be broadcast live and on-demand on the Internet. For the first time, special "rooms" link you instantly to information about each government that is party to the Convention as well as those United Nations, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations that participate. A search facility and site map make navigation easy.

U.S. Department of State, Office of International Information Programs, Climate Change

http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/global/environ/climate/climate.htm

This site provides official briefing transcripts and positions statements from the U.S. delegation to COP-6.

Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB)

http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop6/

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) is an independent reporting service that provides daily coverage and summaries of official UN negotiations on environment and development agreements, wherever in the world they take place. It is published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and supported by governments, United Nations agencies and private foundations. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin publication has provided neutral, informative and objective reports on all major meetings of the UNFCCC since February 1995. The Bulletin provides a concise report on the meetings held each day, together with pointers to upcoming issues and discussions. It is distributed electronically and in hard copy to participants and others who are interested.

Eco - The Climate Action Network Newsletter

http://www.igc.apc.org/climate/Eco.html

Eco is the newsletter of the international environmental NGO network active on climate change policy. Published daily from the climate treaty negotiations, it offers lively, irreverent, and sometimes humorous and/or scathing running commentary on the negotiations. Produced and written by the Climate Action Network (consisting of over 160 Non-Governmental Organizations from around the world), and distributed electronically worldwide, Eco's contributors include leading independent scientists and political analysts, giving you unrivaled access to the negotiations and what they really mean."

publications
Latest Edition of Our Changing Planet Available Electronically
The Fiscal Year 2001 edition of Our Changing Planet, a supplement to the President's annual budget reviewing the U.S. Global Change Research Program, is now available electronically. The yearly report is written by the Subcommittee on Global Change Research, Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Research of the National Science and Technology Council.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Sandalow (left) gave the country's opening statement at the Sixth Conference of Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-6) at the Hague on 13 November. (Ambassador Mark Hambley, U.S. special negotiator on climate change is at right.) Among his other comments, Sandalow, head delegate for the U.S., stated that ". . . we must move forward in the fight against climate change." He emphatically stated that ". . . the United States is committed to making real progress here and now and to shaping a treaty that can be ratified." The United Nations COP-6 conference will run from the 13th through the 24th at The Hague, The Netherlands. Sandalow's opening statements are available at the U.S. State Department's Website here. Additional official information on U.S. participation at COP-6 is available at the State Department's Climate Change page.

global change news
President Clinton: Meeting the Challenge of Global Warming
In an address broadcast over the Internet Saturday, President Clinton announced the completion of the first comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of climate change across the United States, and called for a comprehensive new clean air strategy that can significantly reduce emissions from U.S. power plants that contribute to global warming. More...

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