Climate Policy Experts Available for Media Interviews on Bush Climate Proposals

2/14/2002

From: Ray Kopp, 202-328-5059 Richard Morgenstern, 202-328-5037 Melinda Wittstock, 202-328-5019 both of Resources for the Future

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Ray Kopp and Dick Morgenstern, leading environmental economists and climate change experts, are available for interviews and questions on the implications of the Bush Administration's plan to address global warming, due out today (Thursday).

Both RFF senior fellows can offer detailed analysis of the proposals, how they will play out domestically and internationally, and what their impact will be on the environment, consumers, and industry.

Kopp and Morgenstern say there must be an economy wide U.S. emissions "cap and trade" program if there is to be any realistic chance of combating global warming. "In time, we are going to have to act more decisively to further slow the growth in greenhouse gas emissions if we really want to protect the global climate," says Kopp. "A mandatory market based greenhouse gas programs similar to the extremely cost effective way we've reduced the emissions of power plants that cause acid rain makes the most sense."

To minimize risk to the U.S. economy, the "cap and trade" proposal calls for a "safety valve" to be built into carbon emissions targets. If the cost of meeting those targets rises above a recommended trigger price of $25 a ton (equivalent to a 6 cent gas tax) emissions could then rise within an agreed period.

Kopp, an expert on global climate change policy and environmental regulation, is also executive editor of the RFF climate change website 'Weathervane' and a member of the U.S. State Department's Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy.

Morgenstern, whose research focuses on the use of economic incentives to address global climate change, participated in negotiations for the Kyoto Protocol as a former senior economic counselor to the undersecretary for global affairs at the U.S. State Department. He was also administrator of the EPA's Office of Policy Analysis.

------ Resources for the Future (www.rff.org) is an independent, non-profit and non-partisan research institute focusing on improving environmental and natural resource policy.