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Climate Change
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285411043
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Climate Change
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These records pertain to Global Climate Change.
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Records of the White House Office of Policy Development (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Diana Furchtgott - Roth Subject Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
2017-0310-F
2017-0310-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Policy Development, White House Office of
Series:
Furchtgott-Roth, Diana, Files
Subseries:
OA/ID Number:
06778
Folder ID Number:
06778-013
Folder Title:
Climate Change
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
22
27
7
CLOSE HOLD
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
November 27, 1991
MEMORANDUM FOR GOVERNOR SUNUNU
ANDY CARD
D. ALLAN BROMLEY
MICHAEL DELAND
BOYDEN GRAY
ROGER PORTER
DAVID BRADFORD
TERESA GORMAN
ROBERT GRADY
FROM:
RICHARD W. PORTER RWP
SUBJECT:
Paper for Today's Meeting
A one-page summary paper prepared by Rob Reinstein at State
for discussion at our meeting this afternoon at 2:00 P.M. in room
180 is attached.
The purpose of today's meeting is to review and approve a
proposal for the climate convention negotiations. This proposal
has already been considered and approved by the Climate Change
Task Force, which is chaired by Dr. Bromley.
11/26/91
18:16
6202 647 0191
STATE OES/EGC
002
CLIMATE CONVENTION NEGOTIATIONS
The December negotiating session may determine what kind of
climate convention will be agreed to for signing at UNCED in
Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. There are two basic
possibilities: (1) a convention containing specific legal
commitments such as targets and timetables for reductions of
CO₂ emissions, or (2) a convention which establishes a
long-term process for cooperation between parties, including
submission of national reports and review by other parties.
The latter alternative is clearly preferable to the U.S.,
given that at this stage a "bare-bones" framework convention,
containing essentially nothing but general commitments to
cooperate on research and share information, is not considered
adequate by any group of countries participating in the
negotiations.
National Reports. Each country would be expected to prepare a
report containing: (1) a background section laying out its
national circumstances, energy mix, security considerations,
etc.; (2) its current GHG emissions patterns reflecting these
circumstances; and (3) a description of the actions it is
taking or proposes to take to reduce emissions, enhance sinks
or adapt to climate change, with estimates of the net changes
in emissions relative to current levels. The actions would be
chosen based on technical and economic feasibility as well as
other factors, such as consumer preferences and national
security considerations.
Review Process. National reports would be reviewed by other
parties from a technical point of view to see whether the
actions identified would actually result in the estimated
changes in GHG emissions, based on sound methodologies. A
party could also note if another party's actions seemed less
than ambitious and request an explanation of why certain
actions might not be included. Conversely, a party might also
note that another party's actions seemed overly ambitious and
could request an explanation of the feasibility assessments
for these actions. No party would be under any obligation to
change its policies or national actions based on the comments
of any other party.
Developing Countries. One benefit of this approach is that it
should encourage maximum participation by developing
countries, since it requires relatively little from them.
Some assistance in preparing their national reports, either
bilateral or multilateral (GEF), would be needed, and projects
could be identified in their reports that could contribute to
reducing net emissions, depending on availability of funding
(bilateral or GEF) and technology (on a commercial basis).
Technology cooperation would be available to help identify
these options.
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
(George Bush Library)
Document No.
Subject/Title of Document
Date
Restriction
Class.
and Type
02. Note
From James Fitzhenry to Ede Holiday
10/08/91
P-5
RE: meeting
[DOCUMENT OPENED ON REVIEW - DOCUMENT
FOLLOWS] (1 pp.)
PAGES OPENED ON REVIEW
Collection:
Bush Presidential Records
Domestic Policy Council
Record Group:
Bush Presidential Records
Office:
Domestic Policy Council
Series:
Subseries:
WHORM Cat.:
File Location:
UNCED
Date Closed:
3/29/2000
OA/ID Number:
CF01861-056
FOIA/SYS Case #:
1999-0128-F
Re-review Case #:
2004-1899-S
158-6-04
P-2/P-5 Review Case #:
MR Case #:
Appeal Case #:
MR Disposition:
Appeal Disposition:
Disposition Date:
Disposition Date:
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P-1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
(b)(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P-2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
(b)(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an
P-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
(b)(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
(b)(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P-5 Release would disclose confidential advise between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
(b)(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
(b)(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of
(b)(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
(b)(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
E HOUSE
GTON
Date: 10/3/91
8, 1991
TO:
EDE
FROM:
JAMES A. FITZHENRY
Associate Director
n
Office of Cabinet Affairs
Room 239, OEOB, x2800
Meeting with the Members of the
work
GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE of
commends that the President not
THIS TOPIC, I THINK youll
ork regarding the upcoming United
it and Development (UNCED), to be
, is a very controversial issue,
AGREE THAT WE SHOULD
.onal planning process in
is far from clear. At this stage
lves for UNCED are confidential.
oppose THIS REQUEST STATE
est for a meeting should be
would CERTAINLY AGREE
at CEQ would be an appropriate
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
(George Bush Library)
Document No.
Subject/Title of Document
Date
Restriction
Class.
and Type
03. Memo with
From Richard Porter and James Fitzhenry to Ede Holiday
04/17/91
P-5
Attachment
RE: UNCED steering group meeting - 04/12/91
[DOCUMENT OPENED ON REVIEW - DOCUMENT
FOLLOWS] (3 pp.)
PAGES OPENED ON REVIEW
Collection:
Bush Presidential Records
Domestic Policy Council
Record Group:
Bush Presidential Records
Office:
Domestic Policy Council
Series:
Subseries:
WHORM Cat.:
File Location:
UNCED
Date Closed:
3/29/2000
OA/ID Number:
CF01861-056
FOIA/SYS Case #:
1999-0128-F
Re-review Case #:
2004-1899-S
15 8-6-04 CS
P-2/P-5 Review Case #:
MR Case #:
Appeal Case #:
MR Disposition:
Appeal Disposition:
Disposition Date:
Disposition Date:
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P-1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
(b)(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P-2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
(b)(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an
P-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
(b)(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
(b)(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P-5 Release would disclose confidential advise between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
(b)(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
(b)(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of
(b)(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
(b)(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of Cabinet Affairs
Routing Slip
From:
Fittheny
Date: 446
Sequence To
Has Seen
Disposition
Williamson
/
Hw
RAD
Jackson
Wethington
Porter
2
TWP
R
Holiday
3
I
Watkins
A=Action
I=Information R=Review
D=Dispatch
CC:
Adair
Buchholz
Casse
Farrar
Fitzhenry
Gunn
Holiday
Jackson
Porter
Sechler
Schall
Wethington Williamson
Comments:
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 17, 1991
MEMORANDUM FOR EDE HOLIDAY
FROM:
RICHARD PORTER
SUBJECT:
UNCED Steering Group Meeting -- April 12, 1991
JAMES A. FITZHENRY BP
Attendees: Messrs. Porter (DPC), Struhs (CEQ), Holmstead (WH
Counsel), Chairman Deland (CEQ), Grady (OMB), Bohlen (State),
Ryan (State), Hartness (OMB), Gibbons (OMB), and Fitzhenry (OCA)
and Mses. Gorman (OPD) and Maynard (OSTP).
The UNCED Steering Group met to discuss CEQ's preparation of the
National Report, begin defining U.S. objectives for the
Conference and receive a briefing from Buff Bohlen, who recently
returned from the Second Preparatory Committee meeting in Geneva.
CEQ's National Report. Chairman Deland is scheduled to testify
on Thursday, April 18, 1991 before the House Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations on
CEQ's preparation of the 20-year National Report and U.S.
preparations for UNCED. It was decided that draft copies of the
National Report will not be made public at the 5 roundtables CEQ
has scheduled around the country to discuss UNCED and the Report.
Rather, a detailed agenda will be submitted permitting general
discussion about the issues. In addition, the draft Report will
not be made available to Congress. Revisions to Deland's
testimony were suggested and written comments will be submitted
early this week.
U.S. Objectives. There is a need to better define and prioritize
U.S. objectives for the UNCED. Generally, the U.S. is committed
to developing a separate forestry convention, as announced by
President Bush at the G-7 summit in Houston last year. Of a
lower priority, but still important, is an agreement relating to
oceans. In addition, the U.S. will emphasize the
interrelationship between environment and development by
highlighting the triumph of capitalism and describing how free
market mechanisms have enabled Western countries to improve their
environment.
Second PrepCom Debriefing. Buff Bohlen discussed the Second
PrepCom held earlier this month in Geneva. Bohlen reported that
over 140 nations were represented. Unfortunately, no agreement
was reached on the substantive issues. Most of the participants
have given little thought about what should come out of the
conference and are relying on the Secretariat to take the
appropriate action. The Secretariat, a Canadian named Maurice
Strong, will play a dominant role at the conference and seeks
from the UNCED the creation of an "earth charter" and an "Agenda
21" action plan to implement whatever principles are agreed to at
the conference. To date, the Secretariat has not submitted
written material outlining these proposals. While the U.S. has
its own agenda for the conference, the lesser developed countries
have two main goals: increased technology transfer and new
financial assistance.
From Bohlen's perspective, the positive outcomes from the Second
PrepCom included the creation of a third working group to discuss
legal mechanisms, an agreement on the participation of non-
governmental organizations, the low-key nature of the financial
resources discussions, and the focus on technology transfer. The
negative outcomes included a continued focus on procedural
matters rather than substantive ones, the short time period
remaining before the conference, the emergence of a strong
Secretariat whom the U.S. cannot rely upon and an overemphasis on
climate change issues.
Suggested Follow-up. We will work with Roger, Bob and Teresa to
pull together a meeting at the appropriate level to clarify U.S.
objectives for UNCED. This guidance is essential to bring to
focus U.S. preparations and State's preliminary negotiations with
the UNCED Secretariat.
CC: Roger Porter
Teresa Gorman
Bob Grady