International Conference of the Changing Atmosphere: Implications for Global Security Conference Declaration (Toronto Conference Declaration)
The Toronto Conference Final Declaration is the culmination of the International Conference of the Changing Atmosphere: Implications for Global Security Conference. The Declaration characterized "climate warming... and changed frequencies of climatic extremes" as a critical problem, which would become "progressively more serious, more difficult to reverse, and more costly to address." It described the existing condition of the atmosphere as a human-induced "unintended, uncontrolled, globally pervasive experiment whose ultimate consequences could be second only to a global nuclear war." The Conference urged immediate action by the government, the United Nations and their specialized agencies, other international bodies, non-governmental organizations, industry, educational institutions and individuals to counter the ongoing degradation of the atmosphere. States are enjoined to establish a "comprehensive global convention as a framework for protocols on the protection of the atmosphere." It further recommends the creation of a World Atmosphere Fund financed in part by a levy on the fossil fuel consumption of industrialized countries, and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 20% of 1988 levels by the year 2005 as an initial goal.