The United States, which ratified the 1992 Rio Framework Convention on Climate Change and its goal of preventing such dangerous interference, withdrew in 2001 from the Kyoto process. As the world’s political and economic leader and its largest emitter of greenhouse gases, what the U.S. does next about climate change is of intense interest. At this critical juncture, the Aspen Institute in January 2002 convened a diverse group of scientists, economists, business leaders, environmentalists, and government officials to discuss the way forward. The bi-partisan group was co-chaired by Frank Loy, Undersecretary of State and chief climate negotiator under President Clinton, and Bruce Smart, Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade under President Reagan. Using the non-technical discussion papers included in this volume as a starting point, the group concluded that the scientific case for action is clear, voluntary actions alone are insufficient, new technology is critical, and the U.S. economy needs an early, credible signal from government that a cost will be imposed on carbon emissions in the future. Authors include T.M.L. Wigley (climate science), John P. Weyant (cost estimates), Jae Edmonds (timing and technology), David Gardiner (voluntary actions), Fred Krupp (international framework), Patrick F. Noonan and John G. Rogers (forest sinks), Robert Socolow (geologic carbon sequestration), and more. - from Amzon