TABLE OF CONTENTS STAGE SET FOR ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, MARCHI, WIRTH TELL CGCP SYMPOSIUM READERS WRITE CGCP NOW THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY LAND-USE AND LAND-COVER CHANGES: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CANADA SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON PROBLEMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT: A RENEWED CANADIAN PRESENCE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AND HUMAN SECURITY PROJECT STARTS UP GECHS — AN OVERVIEW MONTREAL — GREENHOUSE GAS MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES UNDER DEVELOPMENT IMAGES OF A TIGER*: HELP FOR THE ACRONYMICALLY- CHALLENGED CCP INFO THE CANADA COUNTRY STUDY: CLIMATE IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE - HIGHLIGHTS THE EARTH SYSTEM: GEOLOGY LESSONS FOR OUR FUTURE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM "ELECTRICITY PRODUTION AND GREENHOUSE GASES : FACTS AND PERSPECTIVES" May 4-7 1997, Montreal, Québec RECENT PUBLICATIONS EVENTS CALENDAR

Montreal — Greenhouse Gas Management Strategies Under Development José A. Prades Institut de sciences de l'environnement Université du Québec à Montréal A new research project in Montreal is developing an integrated set of decision aids intended to help ensure that greenhouse gas emissions in Quebec are managed from a sustainable development perspective. The project, called Stratégies de gestion des gaz à effet de serre, or Greenhouse Gas Management Strategies (unofficial translation), is being directed by three principal investigators: José Prades and Jean-Philippe Waaube of GREIGE (Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire en gestion de l'environnement) at the Université du Québec à Montréal, and Richard Loulou of GERAD (Groupe d'études et de recherche en analyse des décisions) at McGill University. Eight other researchers are also involved in the project, which is expected to be completed in December 1997. The research is in line with federal and Quebec action plans for implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. However, the researchers are focusing their attention on emissions from the transport sector in urban areas. They are using the MARKAL (MARKet ALlocation) model — a dynamic linear programming model— to analyze technical and economic data, and to evaluate technological options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The model has been set up to simulate Quebec's power system, technology, economy and environment. The project is also analyzing tools for managing greenhouse gases. These tools fall into five categories: legal, economic, technical, organizational and educational, and their analysis will be based on reviews of both theoretical concepts and actual cases. Another aspect of this research is an analysis of the development of two types of social values — rationality of behaviours, and equitable sharing of costs and profits on the social, environmental, economic and political levels. The following procedures are being used to perform the analysis: computer analysis of texts (SATO), which analyzes media content in order to identify changes in social value systems the DELPHI questionnaire approach, which seeks to identify points of consensus in order to verify people's receptiveness to action strategies Once these various analyses have been performed, they will be integrated using a twofold review process. The fundamental aim of this process is to harmonize the requirements of environmental protection with those of social and economic development. Although they are a vital part of this research, these operations alone are not sufficient to develop the integrated set of decision-making aids that the researchers are aiming for. The issues involved are too complex for their analysis alone to provide strategies that are socially sustainable. The researchers are therefore seeking external evaluations (from governments, businesses, associations, independent experts, etc.) to augment their range of solutions, help refine their basic objectives and to maintain a practical, informed and coherent vision. This systematic integration project is contributing to the development of societal consensus based on rational, sustainable arguments. In the view of the researchers, developing an understanding of this type of consensus is a key aid in the decision-making process. For more information about the GREIGE project contact José A. Prades, Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire en gestion de l'environnement (Interdisciplinary Research Group in Environmental Management), Université du Québec à Montréal; tel: 514-987-3000, ext. 4427; fax: 514-987-6853; e-mail: prades.jose@uqam.ca