In search of solutions. (Clinton administration's climate change policy) (Column)

The Clinton administration's long awaited climate change action plan calls for voluntary actions--not the mandates industry had feared-- to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

The goal is to limit the threat of global warming by cutting U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases about 100 million metric tons/year to 1990's level of 1.462 billion by 2000.

The 50 part plan would promote home and appliance energy efficiency, plant trees, encourage public transportation, reduce output of gases with global warming potential, recover methane emissions from landfills, and spur gas use.

As part of the program, 61 electric utilities pledged to lower their carbon dioxide emissions by switching to lower carbon fuels and take various other efficiency measures.

The plan …