Frank Press

“ A rapid climatic change may result in large scale crop failures at a time when an increased world population taxes agriculture to the limits of productivity. The urgency of the problem derives from our inability to shift rapidly to non-fossil fuel sources once the climatic effects become evident not long after the year 2000; the situation could grow out of control before alternate energy sources and other remedial actions become effective. Natural dissipation of CO2 would not occur for a millenium after fossil fuel combustion was markedly reduced. ”

“ However, I believe that we must now take the potential CO2 hazard into account in developing our long-term energy stragegy. Beyond conservation, we must be prepared to exploit nuclear energy more fully. As insurance against over-reliance on a nuclear energy economy, we should emphasize targeted basic research which could lead to breakthroughs for solar electric, biomass conversion or other renewable energy sources. I am already working with OMB and other Federal agencies on a national climate research program which would lead to a better assessment of the CO2 hazard. ”

“ What is new is the growing weight of scientific support which raises the CO2-climate impact from speculation to a serious hypothesis worthy of a response that is neither complacent nor panicky. The authoratative National Academy of Sciences has just alerted us that it will issue a public statement along these lines in a few weeks. ”