U.S. Will Fund Effort to Cut Polluting Gases : Environment: The $75 million will be used to curb ‘greenhouse effect.’ Administration balks at proposal to stabilize carbon dioxide emissions.

The United States on Thursday offered developing countries $75 million to help abate pollution contributing to the “greenhouse effect,” saying that it was “time to put some honest money on the table.”

At the same time, the chief U.S. negotiator in United Nations-sponsored global warming treaty talks said that the Bush Administration soon will reveal data showing how much the United States can cut its production of greenhouse gases.

The development marked the first significant U.S. movement after a year of tedious negotiations.

Both environmentalists and representatives of business and industrial interests gave the announcement a cautious endorsement, calling it a positive step toward an agreement that negotiators hope to complete in a final round of talks to be announced today.

The much-anticipated move came when U.S. delegation chief Robert Reinstein announced to a working group session that the United States is committing $50 million for the coming year to the new Global Environmental Facility, organized by the United Nations and the World Bank. He said that another $25 million will go to the agency earmarked to help developing nations assess their greenhouse gas emissions.

Earlier, Bush Administration officials had said privately that there had been agreement on a $50-million contribution to the global facility in each of the next two years. Reinstein said Thursday, however, that obligations beyond the initial $50 million are yet to be determined. Other Administration sources said that the contribution is almost certainly the beginning of continuing U.S. support.

More important than the amount, observers said, is the fact that the United States for the first time has given financial support to the 15-month-old agency, which is expected to manage assistance to developing nations on a host of environmental problems in coming years.

In spite of the movement on the financing arrangements, negotiators remained deadlocked on the issue of stabilizing the emission of greenhouse pollutants. European nations insist on a treaty mandating stabilization of carbon dioxide, the most important greenhouse gas pollutant, at 1990 levels by the year 2000.

But the United States, alone among the industrial powers, is holding out, pressing for an agreement focusing on reduction measures rather than a stabilization goal and a firm timetable.

Some scientists fear that continuing increases of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases could cause the Earth’s temperature to rise several degrees by the end of the next century, causing massive economic and social problems.

While industrial nations producing most of the pollution are bringing their emissions under control, huge increases in emissions are expected in developing countries unless controls are mandated.

Adding to a list of its own control measures, presented to negotiators more than a year ago, the United States on Thursday announced a series of steps already taken and others proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions--including voluntary electrical energy conservation, improved efficiency in transportation systems and incentives to develop clean energy technology.

By the time negotiators convene for their final attempt to reach agreement, Reinstein said Thursday, the United States will be prepared to say just how much the steps will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Whether they are sufficient to reach stabilization, he said, heavily depends on the condition of the U.S. economy. If growth remains as slow as it has been in recent months, the measures could bring stabilization in the emission of carbon dioxide, a product of fossil fuel burning. But if growth is robust, the use of fuel and the consequent pollution would outstrip the control measures.

John B. Shlaes, executive director of the business- and industry-financed Global Climate Coalition, hailed the U.S. move as a step that will pressure other countries to make financial commitments.

Environmentalists said that pressure will now mount on the United States to address the stabilization issue.