Congress Takes Close Look at Upcoming Global Warming Conference

In less than a month, the United States will participate in the global warming conference in Kyoto, Japan. Members of Congress have expressed keen interest in this meeting, and have held several hearings during the last month to voice their concerns about the U.S. position. The latest hearing was on November 13 before the House Committee on International Relations. The sole witness was Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Timothy E. Wirth. Wirth also testified at a House Energy and Power Subcommittee hearing earlier this month. His testimony and statements by committee members at both hearings were similar.

At last week’s hearing, committee chairman Benjamin A. Gilman (R-New York) started the hearing by exclaiming, “I want to state that I am one of the members who shares the growing consensus that man may be making an impact on the environment of our planet. For that reason, I believe that the United States should do our part - as part of a comprehensive international effort - to reduce that impact.” Expressing a concern that is framing much of the debate on Capitol Hill, Gilman later stated, “If we bind our own economy with new restrictions without binding our economic competitors, there will be a giant sucking noise’ of jobs leaving the U.S. without any cuts in the production of greenhouse gases.”

Gilman criticized President Clinton’s October 22 climate change speech because it did not call for binding emissions restrictions on developing countries. The congressman faulted the time table for being too slow, saying “I worry that this is not a serious effort.” Assessing the entire situation, he cautioned, “I sense a growing gap between the Congress and the President on this issue.”

In his opening remarks, Ranking Minority Member Lee Hamilton (D-Indiana) characterized the administration’s position as “balanced” and “reasonable,” saying “the sky is not falling, but is filling-up with greenhouse gases.” Said Hamilton, “the problem is global, the response must be global.” He identified as a problem the “selling” of global warming to the world community, adding that Americans have problems with the science of this phenomenon.

Illustrative of Hamilton’s observations were the comments of Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-California). Rohrabacher said “global warming is baloney, absolute baloney,” a “stupid idea,” and an “unproven theory.”

Under Secretary Wirth’s prepared testimony responded to congressional concerns on several fronts. Wirth said the Clinton plan outlines “a flexible, market-based and cost-effective approach, backed by a comprehensive domestic program to help meet the ambitious target to return greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels in a budget period between 2008 and 2012.” The U.S. would make further reductions in the future. Regarding participation by developing nations, Wirth stated, “While developed countries must lead...key developing nations must meaningfully participate; otherwise, the United States will not assume binding obligations.” Gaining such participation, Wirth said, will not be easy: “much work needs to be done on many outstanding and difficult issues.”

Responding to questions, Wirth stated that categorization of countries that would and would not be mandated to make reductions was done “hurriedly.” In discussions with the leaders of these developing countries, Wirth has told them that while developed countries are the source of greenhouse gases today, developing countries will be a major source in the future. While he “remains optimistic,” reports suggest that getting developing countries to agree to reductions will be difficult. The conference begins on December 1.