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<div>The Hill<b> - 12/03/15 10:33 AM EST</b></div>
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<div><font face="Geneva"><b>Memos show Bush 41 advisers worried about
climate change</b></font></div>
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<div><b>By Timothy Cama</b></div>
<div><b><br>
</b><font face="Arial">Newly released documents from the George H.W.
Bush administration show that his advisers and Cabinet were very
worried about the threats posed by climate change.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"><br>
The documents, released Wednesday by a non-profit group
after a public records request, show Bush's senior staff considering
whether dramatic action could stop the worst effects of climate
change.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial">"Global climate change is the most far
reaching environmental issue of our time," a 1989 memo from acting
assistant Secretary of State Richard J. Smith said. "If the climate
change within the range of current predictions actually occurs, the
consequences for every nation and every aspect of human activity will
be profound."<br>
<br>
Writing to Secretary of State James Baker, Smith said, "As you
yourself stated we cannot wait until all the uncertainties have been
resolved before we act to limit greenhouse gas emissions and to
prepare for whatever climate change we are already committed
to."</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"><br>
The memos were released as world leaders gather in Paris to negotiate
a global climate change accord.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"><br>
The National Security Archive also found documents from President
Reagan administration showing his advisers expressing concerns with
big environmental issues of the day.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial">Specifically, they were pushing for more
action to protect the ozone layer and participate in a global treaty
on ozone.</font><font face="Helvetica Neue Light"><br>
<br>
</font><font face="Arial">"Many regard this issue as the most
important priority on the global environmental agenda," a top
official wrote to Reagan Secretary of State George
Shultz.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"><br>
Staying out of the treaty, the memo said, "would damage our
international credibility, unleash major domestic criticism, and
probably result in unilateral U.S." action to protect
ozone.</font></div>
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color="#000000">========================================<br>
"The broad pattern of these changes is clear enough."<br>
<br>
George Woodwell. The Energy Cycle of the Biosphere.</font></div>
<div><font face="Cambria" color="#000000"><i>Scientific American,</i>
September 1970, p. 36<br>
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