The meeting followed last year's climate change meeting in Kyoto, Japan, where international agreement was reached on a general framework. More meetings will take place in 2000 as nations address thorny issues holding up agreement on specific measures and approaches. The two main gases scientists are worried about are carbon dioxide and methane. Methane is being produced, in large part, by the decomposition of solid waste in landfills. Those emitted today will remain in the atmosphere for decades and centuries.
Action taken now can avert the real possibility of major problems down the road.
What counties can do Anything that burns a fossil fuel produces carbon dioxide. Major sources include motor vehicles, electrical generating plants that burn coal or natural gas, space heating systems, industrial processing and manufacturing plants, and the burning of agricultural wastes. Major sources of methane include the livestock industry and solid waste decomposing in landfills. County government can play an important role in encouraging a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Residents can drop off or pick up reusable goods.