MEMORANDUM THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON September 17 1969 FOR JOHN EHRLICHMAN As with so many of the more interesting environmental questions we really don't have very satisfactory measurements of the carbon dioxide problem On the other hand this very clearly is a problem and perhaps most particularly is one that can seize the imagination of persons normally indifferent to projects of apocalyptic change The process is a simple one Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has the effect of a pane of glass in a greenhouse The C02 content is normally in a stable cycle but recently man has begun to introduce instability through the burning of fossil fuels At the turn of the century several persons raised the question whether this would change the temperature of the atmosphere Over the years the hypothesis has been refined and more evidence has corne along to support it It is now pretty clearly agreed that the C02 content will rise 25% by 2000 This could increase the average temperature near the earth ' s surface by 7 degrees Fahrenheit This in turn could raise the level of the sea by 10 feet Goodbye New York Goodbye Washington for that matter We have no data on Seattle It is entirely possible that there will be countervailing effects For example an increase of dust in the atmosphere would tend to lower temperatures and might offset the C02 effect Similarly it is possible to conceive fairly mammoth man-made efforts to countervail the C02 rise E g stop burning fossil fuels In any event I would think this is a subject that the Administration ought to get involved with It is a natural for NATO Perhaps the first order of business is to begin a worldwide monitoring system At present I believe only the United States is doing any serious monitoring and we have only one or two stations Hugh Heffner knows a great deal about this as does also the estimable Bob White head of the U S Weather Bureau Teddy White's brother • 2 The Environmental Pollution Panel of the Pre sident ' s Science Advisory Committee reported at length on the subject in 1965 I attach their conclusions Daniel p Moynihan Attachment CI' ItCoaclealoaa aid Fl a 0 E tf Now_ 1'65 a•• tona tIM _ cc Dr Heffner OST Cop to C is MUle ' C File pW ¥ p H v KLML • Cu Utr