wednesday 14 march 2001
bush deals blow to world climate
deal
The chances of finalising a global
agreement to protect the world's climate from
global warming took a step backwards today.
US President George Bush has abandoned plans
to regulate emissions of carbon dioxide, the
main greenhouse gas, from United States power
stations. The decision was revealed in a
letter to senators released last night
[1].
While not directly linked to the Kyoto
Protocol, the move will seriously affect
America's ability to meet its emission
reduction targets promised under the treaty.
Switching power generation from coal to gas -
from the dirtiest to the cleanest of fossil
fuels - dramatically increases efficiency and
leads to substantial cuts in carbon
emissions. It should be used alongside
developing renewable energy sources.
Following the collapse of international
talks in The Hague last November, fresh
negotiations are set to resume in Bonn,
Germany, this July. But Friends the Earth
warns that the latest American move will
undermine international confidence in the USA
to deliver on its promises.
Tony Juniper, Vice Chairman of Friends of
the Earth International said:
"President Bush's decision sends a negative
signal to the rest of the world about US
willingness to curb pollution. The US has
about 4 per cent of the world's population
but produces about a quarter of all global
warming emissions. If the world is to avoid a
catastrophe it is essential for the US to
take a lead in tackling the profligate use of
fossil fuels.
"The new Bush Administration has so far
failed to make its position clear on climate
ahead of the resumption of international
talks later this year. Today's news does not
augur well. If America continues to do
nothing, then ultimately it will lose out.
Its people will suffer the damage of climate
change. And its economy will lose out, as the
rest of the world seizes the green business
opportunities and produces new environmental
technologies needed to protect the world's
atmosphere."
1 President Bush's letter to 4 Senators
says "As you know, I oppose the Kyoto
Protocol because it exempts 80 percent of the
world, including major population centers
such as China and India, from compliance, and
would cause serious harm tothe U.S.
economy."
President Bush's letter can be found
on
www.globalclimate.org
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