The U.S.-U.S.S.R. Agreement on Protection of the Environment and its Relationship to the U.S. National Climate Program

Abstract

In 1972 the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. agreed to cooperate in the field of Environmental Protection. A part of this agreement involved the formation of Working Group VIII (WG VIII), which deals with the influence of the environment on climate. This mandate has been interpreted very broadly, resulting in a wide range of cooperative climate activities that have been addressed under the agreement. Details on the history, organization, and activities?past, present and future?are presented and discussed. Although this bilateral agreement predates the U.S. National Climate Program, its activities have been supplementary and complementary. Scientists interested in the activities of the climate working group are encouraged to participate.