Bush Kills Off Hopes for G8 Climate Change Plan
WASHINGTON - George Bush yesterday threw international efforts to control climate change into confusion with a proposal to create a “new global framework” to curb greenhouse gas emissions as an alternative to a planned UN process.
The proposal came less than a week before a G8 summit in Germany and appeared to hit European hopes that the world’s industrialized nations would commit to halving their emissions by 2050.
A UN-brokered meeting in Bali in December, at which it had been hoped to agree to keep climate change to a 2C increase in temperature, is supposed to provide a successor to the Kyoto protocol. All that was thrown in doubt by the initiative announced yesterday by President Bush.
“By the end of next year, America and other nations will set a long-term global goal for reducing greenhouse gases. To help develop this goal, the United States would convene a series of meetings of nations that produced most greenhouse gas emissions, including nations with rapidly growing economies like India and China,” Mr Bush said.
Under the Bush proposal, the 15 countries responsible for the overwhelming bulk of greenhouse gas emissions would meet in the autumn with the aim of striking a deal by the end of next year. But it was unclear how this new grouping would be able to agree on a scheme so rapidly, when there are such pronounced differences within the smaller G8, largely between the US and its partners.
British and German officials have stressed in recent weeks that a new climate agreement should be based on binding caps on carbon pollution for developed nations, similar to those set up under the UN’s Kyoto protocol. President Bush has consistently opposed such restrictions, which he argues would damage the US economy. He prefers voluntary targets and his administration is keen to measure the carbon intensity of polluting activities - a measure of their efficiency - rather than tot up their overall emissions.
Yesterday’s announcement contained only a reference to an unspecified long-term goal.
Tony Blair hailed the Bush initiative as an important step forward. “For the first time America’s saying it wants to be part of a global deal,” the prime minister told Sky News while on a tour of South Africa. “For the first time it’s setting its own domestic targets. For the first time it’s saying it wants a global target for the reduction of emissions, and therefore for the first time I think [there is] the opportunity for a proper global deal.”
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor and host of next week’s G8 summit, also welcomed the initiative. “I think it is positive, and the US president’s speech makes it clear that no one can avoid the question of global warming any more,” Ms Merkel said of the proposal. “This is common ground on which to act.”
However, Bernd Pfaffenbach, the chief German negotiator or “sherpa” on climate change was blunter. He told the Suddeutschen Zeitung newspaper that excluding the UN or weakening its role was a “red line” that Ms Merkel “will never cross”.
“The leading role of the UN on climate change is non-negotiable,” he added. Another German official described the proposal as a “poison pill” aimed at undermining G8 and UN efforts to tackle global warming. “With one stroke you say goodbye to the UN,” the official said. “This is a fundamentally different approach, and I’d be very surprised if the other G8 countries abandon the UN course.”
Environmentalists were also furious. Daniel Mittler, an analyst at Greenpeace International, said: “It’s not even too little too late, but a dangerous diversionary tactic. He doesn’t need to start a new process. There already is one. This is meant to slow down the UN process.”
The Bush administration moved to dispel the impression that it was an attempt to undermine Europe’s position on climate change, or that it represented a transatlantic breach. Jim Connaughton, the former energy lobbyist who heads the Council on Environmental Quality at the White House and is lead negotiator on climate change, claimed that the process the president was advocating was not intended to undercut the influence of the Bali climate conference. “It will run in parallel and reinforce Bali,” Mr Connaughton said.
However, he was critical of using emission caps or setting temperature control, the main instruments of Europe’s approach, and repeated Washington’s opposition to the European goal of limiting climate change to 2C. “We don’t think that’s a very practical approach,” he said. “You can’t manage the temperature.”
Coming days after the Bush administration’s opposition to the 2C goal became public, the new proposal has all but killed off hopes of an agreement on basic principles for combating climate change at the G8 meeting. German officials had hoped the gaps could be narrowed in a meeting between Ms Merkel and Mr Bush on Wednesday but in yesterday’s speech the US president appeared to commit himself to an alternative course.
European hopes that the US establishment was now convinced that combating climate change was an urgent global task were also knocked yesterday when the chief of the US space agency said global warming was not an issue of pressing concern. “I have no doubt that a trend of global warming exists,” Michael Griffin of NASA told a radio station. “I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with.”
© Guardian News and Media Limited 2007
I have watched testimony of EPA director Johnson, scientist by education? Senator Whitehouse (RI), former US Attorney could not break through Gonzo stonewalling direct and pointed questions.
One of them was why EPA still demand open ended time for further investigation of whether global warming has endangering public health and well being.
Senator Whitehouse threw his hands in despair saying “I could not believe it”.
What world should expect from Armageddon lunatic?
Captain Bush has called a meeting of the staff of the Titanic in the aft boardroom for, sometime next week, to discuss this “iceberg” issue. A follow-up meeting is proposed for next month to hold the associated “sinking” debate.
Europe/Russia etc are not lost about whats going on here. This is the U.S. trying to dictate to the world how its gonna be. China/India will play along just to see what kind of bones we’ll throw in their direction, but this means nothing substantive will be done about Global Warming until some cities go underwater. After that, no doubt, it’ll be at the point of a U.S. gun.
Nero fiddled.
W winked.
Bush has no intention of cooperating on reducing global warming. He makes a proposal which will blunt if not block the efforts of the G8 and is unlikely to even follow through on his own proposal. This is typical of his administration and is the equivalent of tabling the whole issue.
If this G8 summit were a positive event they would focus on reducing waste and developing solar. This is a great example why their countries are industrial/consumption oriented!
Why give any hope to G8 to solve anything.
“President Bush has consistently opposed such restrictions, which he argues would damage the US economy. He prefers voluntary targets… ”
Hmmm, ‘targets’.. Say, isn’t that a synonym for ‘benchmarks??’
…Tony Blair hailed the Bush initiative as an important step forward. “For the first time America’s saying it wants to be part of a global deal,” …
Who would have ever thought British and Texas English were the same language?
Wow, is there anything more putrid than Bu$h the inferior’s mannerisms. Oh yeah, his policies, his supporters, and his appointees.
He walks with a swagger that would get his butt kicked in any bar in Wisconsin except maybe the gay bars. (not up on gay bar etiquette)
His creepy winks and touches aimed at women are - well words fail me.
Of course we all just love the superior smirk and the folksy phrases like ‘dead or alive’, ‘the decider’ and ‘mission accomplished’.
After nearly six years of stonewalling & deception concerning mitigation against carbon pollution, one can only expect more of such tactics from this administration. The dangerous manipulation of essential scientific data used by them to conceal and derail corrective measures for this threat and other vital environmental reforms has also been apparent–and all indicators show that their motives are still unchanged..
Contrary to their assertions, measures to reduce greenhouse gases could only improve our economy by lessening our trade deficits, and improving our security by reducing our dependance on foreign oil. We could also regain some of our lost world respect that has resulted from our opposition Kyoto while arrogantly contributing disproportionally to carbon pollution.
Evidence linking carbon pollution to warming has been as close to certain as science can be for many years. Its causes, consequences, and mitigation requirements have been documented by many dedicated environmental organizations including The Union of Concerned Scientists.
Often overlooked is the fact that the same measures needed to mitigate global warming would be necessary even if it were not an issue. Conservation, alternative energy development, anti- pollution refinements, etc are essential for other vital environmental reforms such as air and water quality, reductions in toxic waste generation, land preservation, etc.
The environmental and social damage from our indifference to carbon pollution and related environmental measures can only worsen if we allow these destructive environmental policies of this reckless and unlearned president to continue.
Robert Settgast
San Rafael, CA
rhsettgast@hotmail.com
ITMFA, Americans.
Before he destroys the whole frigging world.
(sigh) — Isn’t George Bush sooo charismatic? Those winks just totally win me over. What’s with the left side of his face, by the way. It always looks sad and evil while the right side is trying hard to look smiley. He’s creepy.
Great shot of the Decider. I actually thought it was Alfred E. Newman.
What, Me Worry?
The people of the industrialized nations are going to have to rise up and demand that their governments ignore George Bush’s suggestion. It’s another con, pure and simple. The difficulty is that the industrialized West is beholden to corporations to keep people employed, off the streets and paying taxes. There needs to be a radical re-think of what a “civilized” country is and one element of this concept surely is to keep the environment in such a way that it continues to sustain us. The logic behind the continued trashing of the environment is the logic of non-human corporation which is dedicated solely to the bottom line. New thinking will only come from the grassroots.
Well its money for his friends and it gives the ability to cause gross negligence that he can use to his benefit. Heck, just because its a system that doesn’t work for what he says its for, doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. A gross, humored wink over security issues is enough to impeach this lying fool. My grandmother would be rolling over in her grave if she saw this. He looks like he is selling a new video game.
This photo of Tyrant Shrub sums up his whole attitude for me. Trying to seem like an honest, “down home,” “good ‘ol boy”…When he is really a sly fox in a hen house. We need to get this administration out of office now. I feel like our generation has become apathetic and hopeless. We need to be the change we wish to see in this world and take our democracy back. Ever since 911 the government has been sneaking our rights out from beneath our feet. All the while we have been distracted with threats of terrorism and fighting wars that we never were and still haven’t been able to win. The reason for being in Iraq has changed so many times, and something like 80% of Americans have been brainwashed by our propaganistic media to believe that Saddam had something to do with 911!
Somebody…anybody… join in to this coversation for a plan. I am so overwhelmed. But I need to, we need to do something! Can we take this Administration to the UN or something, because they surely do not represent the general public any longer. 78% of Americans disprove of Shrub and his policies. I personally have lost faith in the democrats, and never trusted the republicans. This could be a crazy and naieve idea but; I don’t trust our electoral system any longer…can we write in our own canidate and start a massive quiet movement to do so? Via the internet or something? Because I am sure that pretty soon we are going to see more of this lumping together protesters with terrorists. Look at the article that was published the other day on commondreams about the one protester who had the flag draped coffin outside of Hillary’s fund raiser. They called in a bomb squad!
Again please; SOMEBODY PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS POSTING WITH BRAINSTORMS FOR A PLAN. Or at least send me a link that will send me in the right direction.
By the way DINGOBOY what does “ITMFA, Americans” mean anyway?
Peace and Love…
That photo says it all. Sean Penn described him best: “smarmy”
Anyone else sick ‘n’ tired of this jackass and the corporate greed-meisters he serves? The monkey wrench in the CO2 curbs are Rovian…
I wonder how many hours during the past week W devoted to practicing that wink….I would guess at least 40. Someone working for a living, in stead of sponging off the taxpayers would have been canned.
Stall, stall, stall.
I guess the damned fool is waiting for lightning to strike him.
Then he will really hear God’s voice in the burning bush–just like Moses did.
G8 = Rome.Tokyo.Berlin Axis + Republican Washington + relatively powerless guests for Public Relations image.
Intent: To displace the United Nations with an exclusive Superpower oligarchy…. like the Security Council without the members (or China).
Bush is fake again, of course. There’ll only be more until his term ends or he is IMPEACHED.
Hopefully, we will withdraw from the alliance after that, and stand for Democracy again…. depends on who becomes US President.
The USA gets ALL of its power from the other countries of the world that support it with their resources and their markets. If the US were boycotted as Iraq was for the ten years preceeding the US invasion, it would be reduced to third world status without the ability to cause further harm internationally.
Boycot the USA. Isolate the country that invades sovereign states with impunity, meddles in the internal affairs of countless nations, contributes the most (compared to any other nation) CO2 and other emissions that cause global warming
BOYCOTT the USA, isolate it with UN imposed prohibitions on all commerce involving the USA enforced by an international fleet of military naval and air vessels, and begin negotiations:
1. to ease the sanctions when the USA delivers up all its nuclear weapons and agrees to exhaustive inspections of all its nuclear facilities, on its own soil, and around the world, including all its military installations and units.
2. to pay reparations to any country it has illegally invaded.
Short of these measures, this rogue nation will continue to cause global damage to the environment and threaten the security of all nations around the earth.
BOYCOTT and SANCTION THE USA
moonbutterfly Your on the ball. What to do? Everyone is up to something to no avail. My progressive city has no answer. Someone who can make the news can do something like the guy in Sacramento with the coffin. Pull comedic acts to get your point across, if you can get them in the media? Only one actor is really up in arms, Moore. At least news worthy. Impeach The Mother F**ker Anyway - Itmfa! The Smarmy limp wrist ed corporate puppet lip servicing through his hat talking clown of a American style Dictator needs to go down
moonbutterfly,
jungleboy, above, spells it out. Impeach the Motherf%@*^% Already.I wasn’t trying to be cryptic. It’s all over the place and I’m in Canada.
And I think that’s what you all need to do because no less will change anything. Enough little grassroots movements and it will happen.
Someone posted Nancy Pelosi’s number on another article. If a LOT of people call her and say they’ll never vote democrat again until
she rethinks the whole impeachment thing, things might start to happen.
Here it is: 202-225-0100
good luck. I liked your post.
I agree with RestoreDemocracy’s sum up of what the G8 is in the first place; they are not the UN, and the “G” stands for globalization. There are perhaps hundreds of thousands of people converging right now to protest this “event,” which will not do any good in the first place; Bush’s disgusting plan to make the idea of replacing the G8 with something even worse (intimidating developing countries to stop developing so US can stay the same) will perhaps lead to a destruction of the whole thing.
http://www.dreamingearth.net
It’d be great if the other developed nations would boycott the USA, but they’re almost all in this together. Shame on the international community not condemning the invasion/occupation of Iraq, shame on them for cooperating with the terrorists who work out of the White House and Pentagon! It seems that world leaders all over the globe have the blood of Iraqi women and little kids on their filthy nasty hands.
Please don’t just call Pelosi and think you’ve done your part. Please call her AND your senators/congress ONCE A WEEK, and ask everyone you know who cares to do the same. We need to bug the hell out of them about it.
Bush is a horrific tragedy, not just for the USA but the whole world. It’s all been straight downhill ever since they stole the presidency from Al Gore. They must be held accountable. We must do our part to ensure that this is the last major war on Earth.
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“Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that numbers of people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of the leaders of their government and have gone to war, and millions have been killed because of this obedience. . . Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves, and all the while the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem.” Howard Zinn, “Failure to Quit”, p. 45
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“We cannot afford to differ on the question of honesty if we expect our republic permanently to endure. Honesty is not so much a credit as an absolute prerequisite to efficient service to the public. Unless a man is honest, we have no right to keep him in public life; it matters not how brilliant his capacity.” Theodore Roosevelt
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“The time for war has past…
Man must change or die.
There is no other course.”
Maitreya the World Teacher
http://www.Share-International.org
COMPLETELY OFF THE SUBJECT, BUT INTERESTING…I was just on the FBIs Most Top Ten most Wanted List, Usama is there, but there is NO reference to 9 11. Only the attacks on WTC in 1993, and various incidents outside the US. interesting.
Bush prefers voluntary measures to decrease carbon output. I want to scream everytime I hear that. We had voluntary measures in 1960 when CO-2 was at 310 ppm. We have voluntary measures now, with CO-2 at 380 ppm. Why doesn’t he just come out and say “I prefer to do nothing”? He lacks the capacity to understand global warming.
It’s later than 1933 on the Berlin-o-meter.
The world keeps trying appeasement to soothe the belligerent policies of the US-adm. This allows the “corporatist” US state to keep building military structures for all levels off attack – from militarily to diplomacy to business to media.
The US has 50 % of all military weapons in the world and growing, yet turns the global attention around by whining about how threatened the US is by relatively puny weapons some others may have some day.
Resistance to harmonizing culture with nature on the issue of nature-damage and climate change is simply another side of military belligerence. Peace with nature demands similar peace with fellow man and nations. Neurotic resistance to change on a national scale by the US demands aggression to block out the unreasonableness of the unsustainable self-image. The neurotic aggression perpetuates itself. Like a cancer-growth it threatens to destroy the whole organism – the US, or indeed most of current global culture.
Soon only physical force - by nature or culture - can stop the harm being caused by the US. We already seem beyond the level of reason (as Al Gore has pointed to). But the US-adm. thinks itself strongest and wants the fights coming. Bush-co has the lunacy to see the Iraq-fiasco as a success for getting their way in the world.
The reading on the Berlin-o-meter keeps getting worse.
Bush and his administration is stalling, politics a usual. I am ashamed that America is no longer able to do the right thing. I am ashamed that, as a citizen, I allowed it to get like this.
aum33,
right on. RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON!
I do boycott the States for the reasons you mentioned but let me tell you, it’s not easy. And I feel like I’m one of about 3 people
doing it, in Canada.
A meteor wiped out the dinosauers, A Bush will wipe out mankind…oh I forgot..Bush thinks that humans hunted the dinosaurs to extinction….and gravity is just GOD pusing down on his fat head.
Global warming is not a problem for BUSH..he expects GOD to rapture him and his Oily buddys to heaven before it gets too warm
I think that Bush has pretended to be a religious nut - using that appearance in an exploitive manner to win the support of the religious right. I think that he and his colleagues with their blood stained hands are actually agnostic.
They are a global tragedy, and must be thrown out of power forever. If we don’t get them out of power, they will do much to destroy the world, and the advances of the past century.
Bush Kills Off Hopes…PERIOD. this babbling baboon subhuman has ruined everything his admin crosses over in it’s path
That picture of Bush would make a good cover for “Mad” magazine.
ITMFA
Impeach the mofo already!
Yep, the al newman clone strikes out again.
What, me think????
Bush is an arrogant jerk, and he couldn’t care less about most people. He’s defying us. That’s why he’s winking. He’s making a killing for himself and all of his friends.