[Federal Register: April 8, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 67)]
[Notices]
[Page 18066-18067]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ap05-111]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific
Affairs
[Public Notice 5041]
Preparation of Fourth U.S. Climate Action Report
AGENCY: Department of State.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The United States is a Party to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Convention sets forth
requirements for UNFCCC Parties to provide a national communication
that lists the steps they are taking to implement the Convention. In
particular, Parties are to provide: An inventory of anthropogenic
emissions by sources and removal by sinks of all greenhouse gases not
controlled by the Montreal Protocol; a detailed description of the
policies and measures adopted to implement their commitments under the
Convention; and estimates of the effects those policies and measures
will have on emissions and sinks. Subsequent guidelines further
elaborate the information that Parties are to submit periodically. The
United States submitted the first U.S. Climate Action Report (USCAR) to
the UNFCCC Secretariat in 1994, the second in 1997, and the third in
2002. The U.S. Government is currently preparing its fourth national
communication, which is due to the UNFCCC secretariat no later than
January 1, 2006. The purpose of this announcement is to notify
interested members of the public of this process and to solicit
contributions and input on the issues covered in the national
communication for the purpose of preparing the report. The State
Department intends to make available for public review a draft national
communication in summer of 2005.
DATES: Written comments should be received on or before noon, April 29,
2005.
ADDRESSES: To expedite their receipt, comments should be submitted via
e-mail to: OESCommentsCAR4@state.gov. Comments may also be submitted in
hard copy to Mr. Graham M. Pugh, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of
Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office
of Global Change (Room 4330), 2201 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20520.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Graham M. Pugh, U.S. Department of
State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific
Affairs, Office of Global Change at (202) 647-4688.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Fourth United States Climate Action Report (CAR)
Articles 4.2 and 12 set forth initial requirements for national
communications. Subsequently, Parties to the UNFCCC elaborated
additional detailed guidelines relating to the content of the national
communications. An overview of the reporting requirements is available
from the UNFCCC Web site at: http://unfccc.int/national_reports/annex_i_natcom_/items/1095.php
, while details regarding preparation
of the fourth national communication are at: http://unfccc.int/national_reports/annex_i_national_communications/fourth_national_communications/items/3360.php
.
Guidelines specify chapter headings and the type of information
that should be included in the report. Chapters are identified below.
Table of Contents
I. Executive Summary
II. National Circumstances
III. Greenhouse Gas Inventory
IV. Policies and Measures
V. Projections and Effects of Policies and Measures
VI. Vulnerability Assessment, Climate Change Impacts, and Adaptation
Measures
VII. Financial Resources and Transfer of Technology
VIII. Research and Systematic Observation
IX. Education, Training, and Public Awareness
In keeping with UNFCCC guidelines, the Fourth CAR will provide an
inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks and an estimate of
the effects of mitigation policies and measures on future emissions
levels. It will describe domestic programs as well as U.S. involvement
in international efforts, including technology programs and associated
contributions and funding.
In addition, the text will include a discussion of U.S. national
circumstances that affect U.S. vulnerability and responses to climate
change. Information on the U.S. Climate
[[Page 18067]]
Change Science Program (CCSP) Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP),
Global Climate Observing Systems (GCOS), and adaptation programs will
also presented.
Public Input Process
This Federal Register notice solicits contributions and comments on
all matters to be covered in the fourth U.S. CAR and in particular, on
issues related to non-federal, State, regional, local, and private
sector actions to address climate change. Comments may be submitted to
the contact listed above.
In addition, the U.S. will release the draft text of the fourth CAR
for review and comment in the summer of 2005. Comments on that document
will be due within 30 days of release. Because of the tight time
constraints on completing and printing the final text, a longer review
period will not be possible.
We invite input now on all aspects of the document currently under
development, including its content, format, and graphics. Comments
received in response to this Federal Register notice will be considered
in the preparation of the draft of the fourth national communication.
You may view the 2002 U.S. Climate Action Report on the Internet
at: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/usnc3.pdf.
Dated: April 1, 2005.
Daniel A. Reifsnyder,
Office Director, Office of Global Change, Bureau of Oceans and
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of
State.
[FR Doc. 05-7044 Filed 4-7-05; 8:45 am]
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