"In our view, the PRB is the single most important energy resource on earth because it is the most important energy resource for the world's most important economy – that of the United States." Western Fuels, profile, comment on the Powder River Basin Thanks Steve, for the old news from John Christy and folks. I have inserted at the bottom of this message the website of the Pew Center on Climate Change. Recently Dupont and CH2M HILL have joined the Environmental Leadership Council at the Pew Center to battle climate change. The additional members of the Business Environmental Leadership Council include: AirProducts and Chemicals, Inc.; American Electric Power Company; Baxter International Inc.; Boeing; BP America; Enron Corp.; Holnam Inc.; Intercontinental Energy Corporation; International Paper; Lockheed Martin; Maytag; The Sun Company; 3M; Toyota; United Technologies; U.S. Generating Company; Weyerhaeuser and Whirlpool. The American Petroleum Institute still will not admit to anthropogenic enduced climate change. Satellites fall back to earth and on their way down they get closer to earth. No one is actually sure how to correct for this measurement error but it explains some variation in temporal trends 5 or more kilometers above the surface of the earth. "In a new Texas Poll commissioned by the Sierra Club, 58 percent of Texans said they believe global warming mainly is caused by emissions from the burning of coal and oil and 64 percent said the United States should reduce that dependence, even if it means paying more for cleaner energy sources. And one-third of respondents said they want the U.S. government to make replacing oil and coal energy with renewable sources a priority like the Manhattan Project, the World War II project to build the atomic bomb." "Contrary to claims that people are skeptical of global warming, this sends a message that people understand the causes, impacts and ways to respond," said Ken Kramer, director of the Sierra Club's Lone Star chapter. "The poll results should be a wake-up call in Texas and Washington." http://www.junkscience.com/sep98/hcpoll.htm Some folks have different opinions about what constitutes junk science. Hey! Western Fuels website says that higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are a benefit to the earth. Why? They say that there is an optimum climatic mean for which the earth is better off. Right now we are below the climatic optimum. While the American Petroleum Institute denies the science of climate change, the large Coal Lobby accepts climate change but says it will be a good thing not a bad thing. The profile of Western Fuels states: "Much of the 20 million tons of coal we supply each year is purchased from coal companies operating mines in the Powder River Basin. The Powder River Basin has the largest reserves of low-sulfur coal in the nation. In our view, the PRB is the single most important energy resource on earth because it is the most important energy resource for the world’s most important economy – that of the United States." http://www.westernfuels.org/profile.htm Both in terms of theory and practice the stratosphere should cool as a result of higher greenhouse gas concentrations. The satelittes are correct here but the trend of lower temperatures should be lower than indicated by Scotty and folks. Perhaps 2000-2100 will be the "madhouse century" that the Hadley Institute is predicting based on the largest computer in the world. It has recently predicted a global temperature rise of 6 degrees celsius. Joint Statement of the Business Environmental Leadership Council May 7, 1998 Our country has a long and proud tradition of coming together to respond to challenges that affect our nation's economic security, health or quality of life. Today, as we approach the millennium, we believe that one of our most serious challenges at home and abroad will be addressing global climate change as we work to sustain a growing global economy. Our companies recognize that the risks and complexities of climate change are so important that we must work together to meet this challenge. We support efforts to bring together the ingenuity and experience of all sectors of our society -- private, public, and non-governmental organizations to address this issue in a constructive way. We also believe that the response must be cost effective, global, and equitable, and allow for economic growth based on free market principles. It is in this context that each of our companies has decided to participate in a new initiative, the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, as members of its Business Environmental Leadership Council. We begin this important effort united in several beliefs: First, we accept the views of most scientists that enough is known about the science and environmental impacts of climate change for us to take actions to address its consequences. Second, businesses can and should take concrete steps now in the U.S. and abroad to assess opportunities for emission reductions, establish and meet emission reduction objectives, and invest in new, more efficient products, practices and technologies. Third, the Kyoto agreement represents a first step in the international process, but more must be done both to implement the market-based mechanisms that were adopted in principle in Kyoto and to more fully involve the rest of the world in the solution. Fourth, we can make significant progress in addressing climate change and sustaining economic growth in the United States by adopting reasonable policies, programs and transition strategies. The Pew Center on Global Climate Change will add a constructive, positive and pragmatic voice to the public debate on this important issue. We look forward to working with the Center and everyone interested in a constructive dialogue on the issue of global climate change. >From Pew Center on Global Climate Change. http://www.pewclimate.org/home.html For Immediate Release Thursday, October 29, 1998 CH2M HILL and DuPont Join Growing Corporate Effort to Address Climate Change Move Signals Growing Shift in Climate Change Debate WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pew Center on Global Climate Change announced today that CH2M HILL, a global leader in sustainable design, construction and infrastructure management, and DuPont (NYSE: DD), a global research and technology-based company, are joining the Pew Centerís growing efforts to address the problem of climate change. As new members of the Pew Centerís Business Environmental Leadership Council, CH2M HILL and DuPont join 18 other companies, many of which rank in the Fortune 500. The group represents a diverse group of corporate interests—including auto manufacturing, energy and major appliance and technology producers. "The decision by DuPont and CH2M HILL to join our effort continues to signal a growing shift in the climate change debate. Although the businesses of these two companies may differ, they recognize that there are solutions to climate change that can keep both the environment and the economy healthy," said Eileen Claussen, executive director of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. The Pew Center was established in May 1998 by the Pew Charitable Trusts, one of the nation's largest philanthropies and an influential voice in efforts to improve the quality of America's environment. The Pew Center is conducting studies, launching public education efforts, promoting climate change solutions globally and working with businesses to develop marketplace solutions to reduce greenhouse gasses. As with the current members of the Business Environmental Leadership Council, both DuPont and CH2M HILL have a significant stake in the climate change debate. CH2M HILL helps public and private clients worldwide realize a greater return on their investment in energy and environmental technologies. In 1991, DuPont voluntarily stepped forward to address the problem of global climate change and is on track to achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for operations by the year 2000. "DuPont is pleased to be joining the Business Environmental Leadership Council and looks forward to playing an active role," said Dr. Paul Tebo, Vice President—Safety, Health and the Environment at DuPont. "Global climate change is a complicated issue that must be dealt with responsibly. The Pew Center serves an invaluable purpose by creating a positive, constructive forum in which we in the business community can act to solve this problem." "There can be no more important work over the next decade than joining with like-minded businesses to address global climate change in ways that heighten the competitiveness of U.S. industry," said James J. Ferris, president CH2M HILL Energy, Environment & Systems. "We expect the engineering, construction and management skill sets we bring to the Business Environmental Leadership Council to add a unique perspective to this already impressive group." All members of the Business Environmental Leadership Council are committed to the founding principles of the Pew Center: First, we accept the views of most scientists that enough is known about the science and environmental impacts of climate change for us to take actions to address its consequences. Second, businesses can and should take concrete steps now in the U.S. and abroad to assess their opportunities for emission reductions, establish and meet their emission reduction objectives, and invest in new, more energy-efficient products, practices and technology. Third, the Kyoto agreement represents a first step in the international process, but more must be done both to implement the market-based mechanisms that were adopted in principle in Kyoto and to more fully involve the rest of the world in the solution. Fourth, we can make significant progress in addressing climate change and sustaining economic growth in the United States by adopting reasonable policies, programs and transition strategies. "We applaud DuPont and CH2M HILL for stepping forward and demonstrating there are steps businesses can and should be taking to address climate change. The Pew Center is looking forward to working with government, industry and the public to find fair and equitable solutions to this very serious problem," said Claussen. Claussen is the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. The additional members of the Business Environmental Leadership Council include: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.; American Electric Power Company; Baxter International Inc.; Boeing; BP America; Enron Corp.; Holnam Inc.; Intercontinental Energy Corporation; International Paper; Lockheed Martin; Maytag; The Sun Company; 3M; Toyota; United Technologies; U.S. Generating Company; Weyerhaeuser and Whirlpool. More information about global climate change and the Pew Centerís activities can be found at their web site, located at www.pewclimate.org. Contact: Kelly Sullivan (Pew Center) (202) 289-5900 Andre Armstrong (CH2M HILL) (303)-713-2425 Lori Fenimore (DuPont) (302)-773-0220 It is funny Steve Krock that you are not harping about "endocrine disputers" and I think a fella like yourself should get into the fray here to and do some debunking. Some say the real story is how Dr. Theo Ree longs to be hailed as the new Rachel Carson, author of the infamous 1960s doomsday book Silent Spring and the queen bee of ecomania. Others say that Dr. Theo Ree is a pawn of radical environmental groups who see this new scare as a means to advance their own political agendas. Leftist groups who see industry and capitalism as the bane of society. Paranoid groups that, like the Unabomber, see technology as inherently evil. And last, but not least, some say that Dr. Theo Ree is simply laughing all the way to the bank at the expense of the public. A public, she is banking on, that will believe almost anything. http://www.junkscience.com/news/swollen1.html > Surface temperature measurements for 1998 show this to be the warmest > year this century. In constrast to the gradual warming of the surface > over the past 20 years, the tropospheric measurement from MSU showed > no trend until the major warm El Niño event of '98. > > _________________________________________________________ > DO YOU YAHOO!? > Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%