INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL INTELLIGENCE BRIEF

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005284804
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: May 27, 2011
• Case Number: F-2008-00831
• Publication Date: September 30, 1998

International Environmental Intelligence Brief
Contents
Articles
Climate Change: Argentina Ready to Consider
Prognosis Mixed for Joint Commission Environmental
Working Group
Page
Calendar
sec
APPROVED FOR RELEASEL
DATE: 17-May-2011
Issue 98/9 30 September 1998
 Climate Change: Argentina Ready to
Consider Emissions Target
Argentine Environment Minister Alsogaray is
keeping voluntary emissions targets for
developing countries on the agenda for the
November Conference of Parties in Buenos
Aires probably as a lace-holder for President
Menem he may
plan a surprise announcement that Argentina
will adopt a greenhouse gas emissions growth
target.
- The move would be a logical next step
in the environmental cooperation he
pledged in the Barriloche Declaration
with President Clinton last October.
- World media attention would help to
differentiate Argentina from less
progressive emerging markets.
More critically, continuing expansion of natural
gas consumption in the power generation and
transport sectors has positioned Argentina to
move toward a target. Hydroelectricity also has
significant room for growth
- Natural gas, hydro, and nuclear power
comprised half of power generation
feedstock in 1995.
Compressed natural gas has become the
fuel of choice for 75 percent of the taxi
fleet as YPF Gas offers incentives for
more private vehicle conversions,
In addition, deregulation and privatization of
state-owned energy companies-such as YPF-
have introduced energy efficiencies into the
industrial sector that have, in turn, helped to
limit emissions growth. Per capita carbon
dioxide emissions fell from 3.5 metric tons in
However, the downside to an Argentine target is
serious as China has already warned the US that
it will not accept an agenda at Buenos Aires that
includes targets for developing countries,
Menem's move probably would
increase domestic criticism of
Argentina's pro-US foreign policy in the
run-up to the presidential election next
year.
- Argentina's economic capacity to
deliver a long term emissions target is
vulnerable to spillover from the global
financial crisis and more serious
financial problems in Brazil.
 Prognosis Mixed for Joint Commission
Environmental Working Group
ussian cooperation on
existing EWG projects is expected to continue,
but progress on new initiatives is doubtful in
light of the current political and economic crisis.
Confusion over the status of Danilov-Danil'yan,
who chairs the Russian side of the EWG as well
as the State Committee for Environmental
Protection (Goskompriroda), will complicate
Russian EWG decisionmaking.
- Yel'tsin's request late last month for
the resignation of all ministers
probably includes state committee
heads, but he asked the officials to stay
on for an indefinite period)
do not expect
current climate change projects, such as the
Arctic Sea Ice and Meteorology CD-ROM
Atlases
the Carbon-Boreal Forest Study, to be
significantly affected by current bureaucratic
uncertai tie
The new North Atlantic Oscillation
project and expanded environmental
disaster cooperation, however, have
not progressed and may be seriously
delayed,
Danilov-Danil'yan's bureaucratic rival
Bedriskiy-chief of the Hydrometeorological
Service (Ros-Hydromet), who has many Duma
supporters-may use the uncertain political
environment to force Danilov-Danil'yan out or
to block the planned merger of Ros-Hydromet
with Goskompriroda. Ros-Hydromet controls
Russia's environmental satellites and parts of
the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute that
are involved in current and planned EWG arctic
research projects
Continued involvement in the EWG by the
Defense Ministry and its space-based
reconnaissance systems also is uncertain with
the recent departure of GRU General
Polishchuk's
replacement will be GRU Lieutenant General
Letyago, but formal confirmation of Letyago's
appointment has not been announced.
- The Defense Ministry has not attended
the two most recent EWG technical
meetings because of a GRU
re r anization
- The Russian economic crisis will put a
greater premium on US funding for
EWG environmental projects
Banking Crisis Affects EWG
e freezing of
foreign currency accounts at ussian banks is
complicating our ability to compensate Russian
collaborators for their work on EWG projects
and could delay final products. The US side has
suspended transfers to Russian banks until it is
confident they will reach the intended institutes.
- Other Joint Commission committees
are experiencing similar problems.
Russian banks have frozen a $15,000 payment
for past work by Russia's Forestry Institute on
the Boreal Carbon Assessment project. The
transaction difficulties soon may affect more
than $200,000 in contracts for other forestry
studies, the Sea Ice Atlas, and the Meteorology
Atlas.
 - US EWG officials are working with the
State Committee for Environmental
Protection to resolve the funding
problems.
EWG Meetings Last Month Show Progress
Arctic Sea Ice CD-ROMAtlas. After a one-year hiatus attributed to Russian Navy security concerns, this
third Arctic atlas has been restarted and substantial progress made. The project now is on track to meet
the scheduled completion date next May
Arctic Meteorology CD ROMAtlas. The final Arctic atlas was begun. The EWG expanded its scope to
address new questions about the "Arctic Climate Oscillation," such as the influence of the North Atlantic
Oscillation
 Franz li~
Josef. g?
Landp$
Edge of Haakan Mosby Mud
Volcano showing white bacteria
mats and tube worms that live off
of methane and hydrogen sulfide
that seep from the volcano.
(Norway)
\t3'
~. _ Sea
 -ge-cret-
 10
Se
 In Brief
 Selected International Environment-Related Meetings
22 May-30 September
1998 Lisbon World Exposition (EXPO 198)
Theme: The Oceans, a Heritage for
the Future
21-22 October
EU-US High-Level Environment
Bilateral Meeting
26-28 October
OECD Conference on Eco-Labeling
Berlin
26-30 October
FAO Meeting on Sustainable Fisheries
Rome
2-13 November
Fourth Conference of Parties to the
Buenos Aires
Climate Change Convention
4-6 November
Global Environment Facility
Washington
Council Meeting
12-18 November
APEC Ministerial and Heads
Kuala Lumpur
of State Meeting
17-24 November
Tenth Conference of Parties to the
Cairo
Montreal Protocol
Unclas ' ed