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1997 Submission of the United States of America Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Department of State Publication 10496
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental Scientific Affairs
Office of Global Change

Released July 1997

Table of Contents

1. Introduction and Overview

The Science
National Circumstances
Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Mitigating Climate Change
Vulnerability and adaptation
Research and Systematic Observation
Education, Training, and Outreach
International Activities
The Future

2. National Circumstances

U.S. Climate and Natural Resources

Land Resources
Wetlands
Wildlife Resources
Water Resources

U.S. Population Trends
The U.S. Economy

Government and the Market Economy
Composition and Growth
The U.S. Federal Budget
National Revenue Structure

U.S. Energy Production and Consumption

Resources
Production
Electricity Market Restructuring
Consumption

U.S. Governing Institutions

Federal Departments and Agencies
The U.S. Congress
State and Local Governments
The U.S. Court System

3. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Recent Trends in U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Carbon Dioxide Emissions

The Energy Sector
Industrial Processes
Changes in Forest Management and Land Use

Methane Emissions

Landfills
Agriculture
Oil and Natural Gas Production and Processing
Coal Mining
Other Sources of Methane

Nitrous Oxide Emissions

Agricultural Soil Management and fertilizer Use
Fossil Fuel Combustion
Adipic Acid Production
Nitric Acid Production
Other Sources of N₂O

HFCs, PFCs, and SF₆ Emissions
Emissions of Criteria Pollutants

4. Mitigating Climate Change

Action Plan Summary Review

Evaluation of Plan Actions
Overview of Progress Toward Meeting CCAP Goals
Additions to the Action Plan
Pollution-Prevention Programs Outside of the Action Plan
State and Local Outreach Program

Carbon Dioxide Program

Residential and Commercial Sector Actions
Industrial Sector Actions
Transportation Sector Actions
Energy Supply Actions
Land-Use Change and Forestry Actions

Methane and Other Greenhouse Gas Programs

Methane Programs
Nitrous Oxide Programs
Other Emission-Reduction Programs

Projections and Effects of Policies and Measures

Projected Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 1990-2020
Baseline Emissions Growth: Review and Update
Integrated Analysis of Growth in Emissions Between 1990 and 2000
Key Uncertainties Affecting Projected Emissions

Joint Implementation

5. Vulnerability and Adaptation

Enhancing the Adaptability of Natural Systems

Contingency Planning
Ecosystem Management
Research and Development

Assessing Vulnerabilities and Identifying Adaptation Strategies

Agricultural Land
Coastal Zones and Fisheries
Water Supplies
"Lightly Managed" Ecosystems
Forests
Human Health and Climate Change

6. Research and Systematic Observation

Research Relating to the Prediction of Climate Change

Quantifying Natural and Human-Induced Factors Forcing Climate Change
Characterizing the Natural Variability of Climate
Quantifying Climate System Processes and Feedbacks
Improving Model Predictions of Climate Change
Observing and Monitoring the Climate System
Conducting Climate Assessments

Research on Impacts and Adaptation

Agriculture and Forests
Water Resources
Coastal Zones
Human Health

Research Relating to Mitigation and New Technologies

Solar and Renewable-Energy Technologies
Fossil Fuels Energy Technology Research
Nuclear and Fusion Energy Technology Research
Energy Efficiency Research

Research Relating to Socioeconomic Causes and Effects

Climate Change Contributions of the Consequences for Human Societies
Integrated Assessments: A Framework for Policymakers
Interagency Analysis of Policy Initiatives

International Research and Capacity Building

International Research Programs
Multilateral Program Activities
Regional Research and Related Capacity Building
Sharing Observational Capabilities and Research Data
Bilateral Cooperative Research

7. Education, Training, and Outreach

Broad-Based Programs

Mission to Planet Earth
Project Earthlink
The Global Research Act of 1990

Education and Training

GLOBE
Junior Solar Sprint
Global Change Teacher Packet
SEED at ORISE
The Global Change Education Resource Guide
Global Change Education Program
The Sea Grant Program
Project NOVA

Public Outreach

National Park Service's Olympic Exhibit
Reporting on Climate Change: Understanding the Science
DOD Initiatives
DOE Regional Roundtables
IREC's PARK POWER
EPA's State and Local Climate Change Program
Ocean Planet
ENERGY STAR

Future Directions -- The President's Council on Sustainable Development

Business Forum for Sustainable Development
National Sustainable Development Extension Network
School Construction Initiative
State Capacity Building
International Program

8. International Activities

Bilateral Technical Assistance and Technology Transfer

U.S. Country Studies Program
U.S. Initiative on Joint Implementation
Worldwide Projects
Regional Projects
Individual Country Projects

Multilateral Organizations

Framework Convention on Climate Change
Other Relevant Conventions and Agreements
Global Environment Facility
Multilateral Development Banks
International Energy Agency
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Nongovernmental Efforts

Edison Electric Institute
The Alliance to Save Energy
U.S. Export Council for Renewable Energy
Export Council for Energy Efficiency
International Institute for Energy Conservation
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Appendix A: Climate Plan Actions

Appendix B: IPCC Reporting Tables

Appendix C: Bibliography