United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/S9-917024 Aug. 1991
iSrEPA Project Summary
Proceedings:
EPA/NGA Workshop on Global
Climate and State Actions,
December 3-4, 1990
Barbara Wells, Editor
The proceedings document state and
federal efforts described at a Decem-
ber 3-4, 1990, workshop that explored
how states have been responding to
potential global climate change. Co-
sponsored by the National Governors'
Association and the U.S. Environmen-
tal Protection Agency, the proceedings
present some of the findings that
emerged from discussions among the
participants. Despite uncertainty about
the extent, rate, and timing of a tem-
perature increase, many state govern-
ments are wasting no time in working
to reduce their greenhouse gas emis-
sions as research on the effects of
these gases continues. Fortunately,
nearly all methods to curb emissions
of greenhouse gases produce other
benefits as well, such as cleaner air,
reduced energy costs, and natural re-
source conservation. Therefore, most
programs to reduce emissions will re-
flect concern about environmental and
energy Issues as well as global climate
change.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory, Research Tri-
angle Park, NC, to announce key find-
Ings of the research project that Is fully
documented In a separate report of the
same title (see Project Report ordering
Information at back).
The growing consensus among scien-
tists and policymakers on global climate
change has become familiar:
• Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, and other "greenhouse gases
trap heat in the atmosphere;
• Human activities, primarily the burn-
ing of fossil fuels, have caused rapid
increases in atmospheric concentra-
tions of these gases;
• These greenhouse gas concentra-
tions threaten to warm the average
global temperature by three to ten
degrees Fahrenheit in the next cen-
tury; and
• Such a temperature change would
alter the global climate, potentially
increasing the frequency and sever-
ity of droughts, storms, beach ero-
sion, and flooding, and causing de-
sertification and the migration of ag-
ricultural zones.
A recent workshop sponsored by the
National Governors' Association and The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) explored how states have begun
responding to potential global climate
change. Despite uncertainty about the ex-
tent, rate and timing of a temperature in-
crease, many state governments are
wasting no time in working to reduce their
greenhouse gas emissions as research
on the effects of these gases continues.
Fortunately, nearly all methods to curb
emissions of greenhouse gases produce
other benefits as well, such as cleaner air,
reduced energy costs, and natural re-
source conservation. Therefore, most pro-
grams to reduce emissions will reflect
concern about environmental and energy
issues as well as global climate change.
The proceedings highlight state and
federal efforts described at the NGA/EPA
workshop and present some of the find-
ings that emerged from discussions among
trhe participants.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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B. Wells is with the National Governors'Assoc., Washington, DC 20001
Richard D Stem is the EPA Project Officer (see below)
The complete report, entitled "Proceedings: EPA/NGA Workshop on Global Climate
and State Actions.December 3-4, 1990, " (Order No. PB91-219 105/AS; Cost
$8.00, subject to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental
Research Information
Cincinnati, OH 45268
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POSTAGE & FEES PAID
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PERMIT No. G-35
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Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S9-91/024
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