§ 2901. — Findings.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC2901]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 56--NATIONAL CLIMATE PROGRAM
Sec. 2901. Findings
The Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) Weather and climate change affect food production, energy
use, land use, water resources and other factors vital to national
security and human welfare.
(2) An ability to anticipate natural and man-induced changes in
climate would contribute to the soundness of policy decisions in the
public and private sectors.
(3) Significant improvements in the ability to forecast climate
on an intermediate and long-term basis are possible.
(4) Information regarding climate is not being fully
disseminated or used, and Federal efforts have given insufficient
attention to assessing and applying this information.
(5) Climate fluctuation and change occur on a global basis, and
deficiencies exist in the system for monitoring global climate
changes. International cooperation for the purpose of sharing the
benefits and costs of a global effort to understand climate is
essential.
(6) The United States lacks a well-defined and coordinated
program in climate-related research, monitoring, assessment of
effects, and information utilization.
(Pub. L. 95-367, Sec. 2, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 601.)
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 95-367 provided: ``That this Act [enacting this
chapter, amending section 25 of former Title 31, Money and Finance, and
enacting provisions set out as a note under section 25 of former Title
31] may be cited as the `National Climate Program Act'.''
Global Climate Protection
Pub. L. 100-204, title XI, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1407, as amended
by Pub. L. 103-199, title VI, Sec. 603(1), Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat.
2327, provided that:
``SEC. 1101. SHORT TITLE.
``This title [this note] may be cited as the `Global Climate
Protection Act of 1987'.
``SEC. 1102. FINDINGS.
``The Congress finds as follows:
``(1) There exists evidence that manmade pollution--the release
of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, methane, and other trace
gases into the atmosphere--may be producing a long-term and
substantial increase in the average temperature on Earth, a
phenomenon known as global warming through the greenhouse effect.
``(2) By early in the next century, an increase in Earth
temperature could--
``(A) so alter global weather patterns as to have an effect
on existing agricultural production and on the habitability of
large portions of the Earth; and
``(B) cause thermal expansion of the oceans and partial
melting of the polar ice caps and glaciers, resulting in rising
sea levels.
``(3) Important research into the problem of climate change is
now being conducted by various United States Government and
international agencies, and the continuation and intensification of
those efforts will be crucial to the development of an effective
United States response.
``(4) While the consequences of the greenhouse effect may not be
fully manifest until the next century, ongoing pollution and
deforestation may be contributing now to an irreversible process.
Necessary actions must be identified and implemented in time to
protect the climate.
``(5) The global nature of this problem will require vigorous
efforts to achieve international cooperation aimed at minimizing and
responding to adverse climate change; such international cooperation
will be greatly enhanced by United States leadership. A key step in
international cooperation will be the meeting of the Governing
Council of the United Nations Environment Program, scheduled for
June 1989, which will seek to determine a direction for worldwide
efforts to control global climate change.
``(6) Effective United States leadership in the international
arena will depend upon a coordinated national policy.
``SEC. 1103. MANDATE FOR ACTION ON THE GLOBAL CLIMATE.
``(a) Goals of United States Policy.--United States policy should
seek to--
``(1) increase worldwide understanding of the greenhouse effect
and its environmental and health consequences;
``(2) foster cooperation among nations to develop more extensive
and coordinated scientific research efforts with respect to the
greenhouse effect;
``(3) identify technologies and activities to limit mankind's
adverse effect on the global climate by--
``(A) slowing the rate of increase of concentrations of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in the near term; and
``(B) stabilizing or reducing atmospheric concentrations of
greenhouse gases over the long term; and
``(4) work toward multilateral agreements.
``(b) Formulation of United States Policy.--The President, through
the Environmental Protection Agency, shall be responsible for developing
and proposing to Congress a coordinated national policy on global
climate change. Such policy formulation shall consider research findings
of the Committee on Earth Sciences of the Federal Coordinating Council
on Science and Engineering Technology, the National Academy of Sciences,
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National
Science Foundation, the National Aeronautic and Space Administration,
the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other
organizations engaged in the conduct of scientific research.
``(c) Coordination of United States Policy in the International
Arena.--The Secretary of State shall be responsible to coordinate those
aspects of United States policy requiring action through the channels of
multilateral diplomacy, including the United Nations Environment Program
and other international organizations. In the formulation of these
elements of United States policy, the Secretary of State shall, under
the direction of the President, work jointly with the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency and other United States agencies
concerned with environmental protection, consistent with applicable
Federal law.
``SEC. 1104. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
``Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act
[Dec. 22, 1987], the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency shall jointly submit to all committees
of jurisdiction in the Congress a report which shall include--
``(1) a summary analysis of current international scientific
understanding of the greenhouse effect, including its environmental
and health consequences;
``(2) an assessment of United States efforts to gain
international cooperation in limiting global climate change; and
``(3) a description of the strategy by which the United States
intends to seek further international cooperation to limit global
climate change.
``SEC. 1105. INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF GLOBAL CLIMATE PROTECTION.
``In order to focus international attention and concern on the
problem of global warming, and to foster further work on multilateral
treaties aimed at protecting the global climate, the Secretary of State
shall undertake all necessary steps to promote, within the United
Nations system, the early designation of an International Year of Global
Climate Protection.
``SEC. 1106. CLIMATE PROTECTION AND UNITED STATES RELATIONS WITH THE
INDEPENDENT STATES OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION.
``In recognition of the respective leadership roles of the United
States and the independent states of the former Soviet Union in the
international arena, and of the extent to which they are producers of
atmospheric pollutants, the Congress urges that the President accord the
problem of climate protection a high priority on the agenda of United
States relations with the independent states.''
