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Kyoto Agreement Would Severely Restrict American Mobility: Higher Gasoline Prices, No-Drive Days Among Compliance Strategies

12 December 1997

Kyoto Agreement Would Severely Restrict American Mobility: Higher Gasoline Prices, No-Drive Days Among Compliance Strategies

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- A so-called global climate change
treaty agreed to by the United States and other nations yesterday would force
gasoline prices higher and seriously restrict mobility in the U.S., according
to William D. Fay, president and CEO of the American Highway Users Alliance,
reacting on behalf of America's driving public.
    "The agreement is not global in scope -- China, Mexico, and India, for
example, are not affected -- because it does not cover greenhouse gas emission
limitations on developing countries," Fay said.  "The entire burden is placed
on developed nations with the U.S. suffering the greatest damage."
    For the U.S. to meet targets set under the treaty, severe restrictions on
Americans' mobility will be necessary.  More stringent CAFE (fuel economy)
standards, no-drive days, no-drive zones, parking surcharges and other limits
are all on a White House list as "actions for consideration" to reduce the
amount of emissions in the U.S., warns James Johnston, author of the new book,
Driving America.
    Transportation would not be the only industry sector devastated by the
agreement, said Mary H. Novak, senior vice president of Wharton Econometric
Forecasting Associates, a leading economic consulting firm located in Boston.
The coal mining industry would be wiped out, and the agriculture and
manufacturing industries would be seriously affected, she said.
    "It is obvious the Clinton Administration plunged ahead with an extreme
environmental agenda and without the best interests of the American people in
mind when it agreed to this treaty," Fay said.  "It was more concerned about
accommodating the many environmental groups than ensuring the viability of the
American economy."
    Many on Capitol Hill consider the treaty "dead on arrival" since it does
not adhere to a Senate passed resolution instructing the Administration to not
accept any treaties that would impact the American economy.  The Kyoto
agreement would force the U.S. to cut industry's carbon emissions by 7 percent
below l990 levels by 2008-2012.  It is estimated that over two million jobs
would be lost.
    The Highway Users urges the Senate to avoid an economic disaster and kill
the treaty upon receipt.  "This treaty is not global and will have serious
ramifications for the American economy," Fay concluded.

SOURCE  American Highway Users Alliance