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SGR argues that human-induced greenhouse gas emissions are causing global warming and calls for the immediate ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. The statement condemns the US government's rejection of the protocol and warns against relying on 'global technofixing' or forest growth as primary mitigation strategies.

The report argues that 51 coal-fired power plants in the U.S. have illegally avoided modern pollution controls by exploiting a 'grandfathering' loophole in the Clean Air Act, leading to significant public health crises. Drawing on data from Abt Associates, the Clean Air Task Force estimates that these plants cause between 5,500 and 9,000 premature deaths and 107,000 to 170,000 asthma attacks annually. The report highlights a 'transport of death and disease' where pollution from plants in the Midwest and Southeast impacts the Northeast. It criticizes the Bush Administration's 2001 review of NSR policy as prioritizing industry efficiency over public health and calls for the closure of the 'lethal loophole' through nationwide emission caps on nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury, and carbon dioxide.

The report describes the comprehensive environmental and health impacts of coal in the United States, noting that the electric power industry is the nation's largest toxic polluter. It highlights that coal, used for over half of U.S. electricity, releases diverse toxic pollutants during mining, cleaning, transportation, generation, and disposal, affecting nearly 900 million tons of coal burned annually. These pollutants are linked to cancer, reproductive impairment, developmental issues in children, and damage to the nervous and immune systems. Additionally, the document identifies carbon dioxide emissions from power plants as the primary greenhouse gas responsible for climate change and notes that impacts vary by region, ranging from mining concerns in coal-field regions to inhalation risks in urban areas.

The report argues that coal is the 'dirtiest of all fuels' and that its entire lifecycle—mining, preparation, transport, combustion, and waste disposal—causes extensive damage to human health and ecosystems. It highlights the failure of regulatory enforcement and the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.

The document details the transition of Bulgaria's power sector from a state-monopoly under the National Electric Company (NEC) to a restructured model featuring independent producers and distributors. It highlights the tension between the Bulgarian government's rapid implementation and the IMF/World Bank's preference for a sequenced approach starting with a robust regulatory framework. Key issues include the social burden of rising energy costs on impoverished households, the environmental impact of lignite coal, and the geopolitical pressure from the EU to decommission old nuclear units at Kozloduy NPP.

The document highlights a contradiction between the IPCC's warnings of devastating climate impacts and the US government's focus on using budget surpluses for tax cuts. It argues that the cost of investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy is a small fraction of the projected $3 trillion surplus and is far lower than the future costs of climate damage.

SGR argues that the UK government's approach to climate change is too cautious and fails to challenge the unsustainable nature of economic growth. The organization advocates for a 'Contraction and Convergence' model for global emissions, a shift in taxation from labour to resource use, and the complete replacement of fossil fuels and nuclear power with renewables. SGR specifically criticizes the government's reliance on 'accounting tricks' for non-CO2 gases, the lack of restrictions on air travel, and the potential dangers of climate engineering technologies.

The document assesses the role of the United States in the global effort to combat climate change following the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. It argues that the U.S. has failed to lead, contributing to 27% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions while resisting binding domestic action. The authors highlight critical loopholes in the Kyoto Protocol, such as the use of surplus emissions allowances from former socialist economies and ambiguous forest activity definitions. To ensure the treaty's success, the brief recommends that the U.S. implement mandatory domestic programs, defer demands for immediate binding commitments from developing countries, and support the Global Environment Facility.

The report argues that current global development trends are environmentally and socially unsustainable, risking ecological collapse and persistent poverty. It proposes a 'Policy Reform' pathway that maintains the framework of economic globalization but introduces aggressive policy interventions to meet sustainability goals. These goals include halving hunger, unsafe water, and illiteracy by 2025 and again by 2050, while stabilizing atmospheric CO2 concentrations at less than 450 ppmv by 2100. The analysis demonstrates that such a transition is technically feasible through massive improvements in energy and water efficiency, a shift toward renewable energy, and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, provided there is sufficient political will to implement these reforms.

Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) advocates for a minimum 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by industrialised countries by 2010, based on IPCC evidence of human influence on the climate. The document warns of catastrophic consequences, including sea-level rise affecting small island states and the potential disruption of the North Atlantic Current. SGR rejects geo-engineering and cost-benefit analysis as inappropriate tools for climate assessment, instead proposing ecological tax reform, renewable energy investment, and a long-term global goal of equal per capita emissions.

The report assesses the vulnerability of Canadian Prairie agriculture to climate change, highlighting the historical impact of droughts in the 1930s and 1988. It projects that while warming may extend growing seasons and open northern lands for cultivation, increased evaporation and potential precipitation deficits could lead to more frequent and severe droughts, reducing average potential yields by 10-30%. The document emphasizes the need for policy shifts to incentivize sustainable land management and diversification, noting that current income protection programs may discourage adaptation. It also discusses Canada's potential shift in global competitive advantage, suggesting increased opportunities for wheat and corn exports if other global regions face diminished production.

The report analyzes the energy-intensive nature of the Texas transportation system, which is heavily dependent on petroleum. Using the LEAP/EDB model, it compares a Reference Scenario (status quo) against four alternatives: Rollback, Moderate, Aggressive, and Visionary. The findings indicate that while the Reference Scenario projects a 44.2% increase in energy use by 2020, the Visionary Scenario could reduce energy consumption to levels below 1994 totals. The study emphasizes that aggressive pricing and technological shifts are necessary to achieve significant energy savings and air quality improvements.

The report analyzes the total value of adopting energy-efficient computers, using the IBM PS/2 E as a benchmark. It demonstrates that such machines reduce direct energy use by approximately 80% during office hours and lower secondary energy needs for cooling and power distribution. Beyond utility savings, the author highlights substantial capital cost reductions in air-conditioning and wiring for new and renovated buildings. Environmentally, the report quantifies the reduction in CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions. Finally, it suggests that the elimination of fan noise, radiant heat, and screen flicker, combined with better ergonomics, can lead to productivity gains that may outweigh all other economic benefits.

The paper compares two approaches to estimating national energy sector greenhouse gas emissions, finding that while global CO2 totals for 1988 are within 2% of Oak Ridge National Laboratory's estimates, national-level results vary by over 10% for 52 out of 139 countries. These discrepancies are attributed to differences in energy statistics, the treatment of bunker fuels, and the handling of non-energy products. Additionally, the study includes CO, CH4, and N2O emissions from fossil fuel combustion, which contribute an additional global heating effect of approximately 8% compared to CO2 emissions.

The report argues that a transition to a renewable-based energy system is technically and economically feasible. The FFES demonstrates that through aggressive energy efficiency improvements, fuel switching, and the adoption of solar, wind, and biomass energy, global CO2 emissions can be reduced to zero by 2100. The analysis emphasizes that such a transition could be achieved at costs similar to or lower than 'business-as-usual' scenarios, provided there is strong policy leadership and international cooperation to overcome market barriers and address economic inequities between the North and South.

The AES Corporation, a leading independent power producer in the U.S., faced a conflict between its operational goal of providing energy at the lowest possible cost and its corporate value system emphasizing social responsibility. CEO Roger W. Sant sought ways to offset carbon dioxide emissions from the company's coal-fired co-generation plants, which were identified as significant emitters of the key greenhouse gas, to align the company's cost strategy with its environmental accountability.

The paper asserts that most global warming can be abated at negative net cost by replacing inefficient resource use with advanced technologies in energy, farming, and forestry. It details specific potentials for saving electricity and oil, argues for a 'best buys first' investment strategy to avoid opportunity costs, and proposes market-based implementation techniques such as 'feebates' and 'negawatts'. The authors emphasize that these measures support global equity and development, particularly in the USSR and developing nations, while providing significant co-benefits in environmental protection and security.

The report proposes a framework for setting long-term climate targets based on the adaptive capacities of natural ecosystems. It recommends a maximum global temperature increase of 1.0°C to 2.0°C above pre-industrial levels and a sea-level rise limit of 0.2 to 0.5 meters above 1990 levels. The document analyzes the role of various greenhouse gases, introduces the Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Sea-level Rise Potential (SRP) indices, and discusses the socio-economic challenges of implementing these targets in developing countries and centrally planned economies.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) calls for a decisive U.S. energy policy to address global warming, urban air pollution, and economic competitiveness. The primary recommendation is to prioritize energy efficiency through tax strategies, such as a carbon dioxide tax and phased-in gasoline taxes, and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies. The report also advocates for stimulating renewable energy sources, halting deforestation, and leading international efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions, including a total phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

The briefing assesses the viability of nuclear power as a solution to global warming, concluding that it is an ineffective strategy compared to energy efficiency. Analysis shows that even under highly optimistic assumptions—such as reduced construction times and costs—massive nuclear investment cannot prevent CO2 growth in high or medium energy demand scenarios. In the United States, the author asserts that investment in electrical efficiency displaces nearly seven times more carbon per dollar than investment in nuclear power. The document emphasizes that the primary driver of future emissions is the level of energy demand, and that efficiency improvements in the commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors offer vast, low-cost opportunities to reduce carbon output.