unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/06/89)
Forwarded-By: rutgers!hplabs.hp.com!cdp!tgray
/* Written 1:37 am Oct 3, 1989 by econet in cdp:sc.natlnews */
/* ---------- "--World Bank - Global Warming" ---------- */
World Bank Gives Global Warming Cool Reception
At a major international conference in Tokyo Sept. 11, World Bank
President Barber Conable downplayed the significance of the
"greenhouse effect," saying that more study is needed and that
there could be positive effects from global warming.
In his remarks at the "Conference on Global Environment and Human
Response Toward Sustainable Development," Conable said that the
greenhouse effect could be beneficial to human societies. "On the
positive side, the cold and unproductive lands in the north could
be warmed into productivity. Some arid lands might be made fertile
as a result of the increased rainfall." Conable also highlighted
the uncertainties surrounding the greenhouse effect: "Without
minimizing the dangers I have described, ...scientists cannot
forecast when exactly the expected climatic change might occur.
Some scientists do not predict such catastrophic changes."
Conable said that despite the uncertainty, the World Bank will be
active in the fight against global warming. He called for more
research and said that the World Bank would "support developing
country programs to move to cleaner fuels, processes and systems,"
which produce less of the gases responsible for global warming.
Environmentalists were quick to take exception to Conable's
remarks, which they said did not reflect the urgency of the global
warming threat. Just days before the conference, the Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC) uncovered an internal World Bank
document on global warming with a similar conservative bent. The
draft paper, intended to serve as a policy guide, has been
criticized by environmentalists and members of Congress for merely
restating existing bank policies on energy conservation and
efficiency and tropical forest conservation. "The status quo is
not acceptable as an option," says David Wirth, a senior attorney
for NRDC. "This document is the equivalent of saying that hats and
sunglasses will solve the stratospheric ozone destruction."
"The good news is that the World Bank has said it will take steps
to combat global warming," says Larry Williams, Director of the
Sierra Club's International Program. "The bad news is that the
bank has nothing in place to make that happen; its policies remain
unchanged."
Williams also notes that the World Bank's global warming stance is
symptomatic of how the bank has addressed other pressing
environmental concerns, including the need to have non-government
organizations (NGOs) from recipient countries involved in the
formulation of bank projects. "Although the World Bank has
publicly endorsed the concept of getting greater involvement from
local peoples in the design and implementation of its projects,
the bottom line is that no policy is in place to ensure that this
happens," says Williams. "In the meantime, projects funded by the
World Bank continue to cause human misery and environmental
destruction."
Pelosi Bill Passes Subcommittee
The legislation that would force the World Bank and the regional
multilateral development banks to require environmental impact
assessments of their development projects was adopted by Rep.
Walter Fauntroy's (D-DC) House Banking Subcommittee Sept. 14. H.R.
2777, the International Banking Environmental Protection Act of
1989 by representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Thomas Carper (D-
DE) is expected to be marked up by the full Banking Committee
September 26.
Fauntroy was persuaded at the last minute by Pelosi to drop a
proposed amendment that would have allowed borrowing countries and
the banks to keep the environmental assessment secret, even to the
U.S. Treasury Department. The bill would prevent Treasury from
voting in support of Bank projects if an environmental assessment
is not provided to the department at least 120 days prior to the
vote. Treasury must then make the document available to the
public.
Rep. Douglas Bereuter (R-NE) announced during the subcommittee
mark-up that he was under heavy pressure from the Treasury
Department to offer an amendment to remove the requirement that
the assessment be released to the public. Treasury maintains that
public access to the document could jeopardize the U.S.
government's relations with other nations. The bill allows the
Treasury Department to withhold an assessment under special
circumstances, but Treasury would have to submit in a written
report to Congress the reasons for such action.
Contact: Larry Williams, (202) 547-1141
---
Patt Haring | United Nations | FAX: 212-787-1726
patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | BBS: 201-795-0733
patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange | (3/12/24/9600 Baud)
-=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-