MADISON, Wis. - Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore on Saturday criticized President Bush for refusing to accept a federal agency report that blames humans for global warming.

The recently released Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report appeared to back the view of many scientists who believe global warming is caused mainly by emissions from automobiles, power plants, and oil refineries.

Bush appeared to dismiss the report, calling it a product of bureaucracy, and said he would continue to press for voluntary efforts and financial incentives for U.S. companies to reduce emissions.

Gore, the 2000 Democratic presidential nominee and a champion of environmental protection as vice president, said the president had succumbed to powerful interests that run the Republican Party and rejected the report rather than accept it and do something about global warming.

"That's not a moral choice," Gore said. "I don't want to hear from this bunch: 'We didn't know'."

Gore has questioned Bush's policies on the economy, environment and values in previous appearances since emerging from a year of political seclusion in February. He has not said whether he will make another run at the White House in 2004.

The Bush administration has put "lobbyists for the polluters in charge of policies" and put "the hungriest fox they could find" to guard government henhouses, Gore said.

The Bush administration had repeatedly emphasized that there was not enough scientific evidence to link global warming to industrial emissions and has refused to sign the Kyoto Treaty, which seeks to reduce worldwide atmospheric emissions.

The State Department has submitted the report by the EPA, whose top officials are appointed by the president, to the United Nations.

Republicans want to turn their back on the environment rather than embrace new technologies that can clean up the environment and create jobs, Gore said.

"It is our moral responsibility and it's our economic opportunity,' Gore said.

© Reuters Limited 2002

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