BERLIN, May 29, 2007
U.S. Rejects EU Targets On Climate Change
Bush Adviser Says U.S. Prefers To Focus On Specific Sectors, Not General Goals
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(AP)
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James Connaughton, chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, said the United States is not against setting goals but prefers to focus them on specific sectors, such as reducing dependence on gasoline and cleaner coal. "The U.S. has different sets of targets," he said.
Germany, which holds the European Union and Group of 8 presidencies, is proposing a so-called "two-degree" target, whereby global temperatures would be allowed to increase no more than 2 degrees Celsius — the equivalent of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit — before being brought back down. Practically, experts have said that means a global reduction in emissions of 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
Connaughton, who is on a one-week bipartisan trip to Europe with members of the House of Representatives, said the U.S. favors "setting targets in the context of national circumstances."
But despite the disagreements, Connaughton said the G-8 meeting, which brings together the leaders of Germany, the U.S., Russia, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and Japan, could still result in a productive conclusion.
"Let the G-8 process run its course," he said. "Give the leaders a chance."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who opposes President Bush on climate policy, urged international cooperation in tackling climate change.
Pelosi, on a separate trip to Berlin, hailed Chancellor Angela Merkel's "extraordinary leadership" in fighting climate change and agreed "that these solutions must be multilateral."
"We are trying to preserve the planet, which many in our country, including I, believe is God's creation, and we have a responsibility to preserve it," Pelosi said, speaking alongside the German leader after a meeting at the chancellery.
The California Democrat said faith-based organizations could play a role in battling climate change. The United States needed "the spirit of science to show us the way and faith-based organizations to help mobilize to preserve the planet," Pelosi said.
Merkel, who will host the summit of leaders from the G-8 in Heiligendamm, was diplomatic as she met with Pelosi and her bipartisan congressional delegation. The German leader said she was delighted there was "a bipartisan movement in the U.S. Congress that pays great importance to the issue of energy."
Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel has been more blunt, voicing regret after he met Pelosi on Monday at the difficulty of achieving "concrete results" with the Bush administration.
"I think that what we could achieve is at least a mandate for negotiations — a clear mandate — for the climate conference" later this year in Bali, Indonesia, which is set to consider future action against global warming, Gabriel told ARD television.
"The United States is rejecting that as well, so far," he said, but "if we could achieve that, then I think Heiligendamm would have achieved a breakthrough."
The U.S. has not ratified the 1997 Kyoto Protocol limiting emissions; President Clinton never submitted it to the Senate. President Bush, who has also declined to submit it for Senate confirmation, has argued that Kyoto would harm the U.S. economy and unfairly excludes developing countries such as China and India from obligations.
Pelosi has disagreed with that decision on Kyoto, but has said she wants to work with the Bush administration rather than provoke it. On the way to Europe, her delegation stopped in Greenland and saw the effects of global warming firsthand, she said.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
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See all 34 CommentsYeah, it's called protecting the oil industry and all the Bush Cheney family friends. With gas at record highs, and oil companies making record profits, you must be kidding to think that Bush is going to sign anything that will cut into their profits. Why, they put him in office!!
The National Academy of Sciences did a survey of every Scientific, Peer-Reviewed, Global Warming Study done in the last ten years.
Every one of these studies agreed on three fundamental facts:
1) GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL
2) GLOBAL WARMING IS CAUSED BY MAN
3) GLOBAL WARMING WILL BE DEVISTATING TO ALL LIFE ON THE PLANET
The SCIENTIFIC debate ended long ago.
The POLITICAL debate rages on because the fossil-fuels industry (Exxon-Mobile) is poring millions into a disinformation campaign.
Who did the study?
Exxon Mobil? The Cato Institute? George Bush's dog?
http://www.burnhamshops.com/gw/TheGreatGlobalWarmin.flv
The National Academy of Sciences did a survey of every Scientific, Peer-Reviewed, Global Warming Study done in the last ten years.
Every one of these studies agreed on three fundamental facts:
1) GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL
2) GLOBAL WARMING IS CAUSED BY MAN
3) GLOBAL WARMING WILL BE DEVISTATING TO ALL LIFE ON THE PLANET
The SCIENTIFIC debate ended long ago.
The POLITICAL debate rages on because the fossil-fuels industry (Exxon-Mobile) is poring millions into a disinformation campaign.
Climate research bodes badly for drought
Scientists say new research proves the Indian Ocean has significantly warmed and there will be less rain across southern Australia.
The CSIRO research has found a rise of 2 degrees Celsius in the Indian Ocean over the past 40 years.
It confirms long-held beliefs of general warming but for the first time in exact detail.
The researchers say the temperature change cannot be explained by natural variability and is linked to the heating up of the atmosphere.
Chief researcher Dr Gael Alory says the rising temperature of ocean currents means fewer storms along the Australian coast.
"There will be less rainfall on the continent," he said.
"The rainfall will move more south to just the ocean and that means less rainfall."
He says Western Australia's south-west will be hardest hit by the change in climate.
The research was carried out by following the trade routes of ships and measuring temperatures down to 800 metres.
Yeah, like spewing 5 times more CO2 into the atmosphere so the very wealthy can make even more money while the rest of America and the world's poor die from thirst, disaster, and starvation. It's the same pattern as with Katrina. Bush never cared one bit for those caught in that hell-hole, and only acted when public anger reached a dangerous point. It sickens me that the majority of America voted for a man who has no sense of morality or empathy. He cares nothing about America. And that is why he does nothing to help Americans, just helps his loyal cronies.
Winston Churchill once said
"You can always rely on America doing the right thing, after they have tried everything else"
Republican Mantra #2: Profit before Country
Republican Mantra #3: Myth before Truth
Sounds too good to me. I'm leaving early! Over and out.
Posted by skyhawk761 at 03:52 PM : May 29, 2007
Sounds like a really nice time. I had the pleasure of sitting in traffic yesterday for 2 hours for a normally 45 min. ride. I'm near the beach too and the holiday traffic was the most I've seen in years. The verdict is still out for me on citizen caused global warming, but I couldn't help thinking how much of a waste it was to see these thousands of cars creeping along burning fuel. And you know why? Because of traffic lights. It wouldn't take much to alter traffic patterns on these sort of holidays to keep things moving. But hey, what do I know? Life is to short, glad you had a great time with your family!
You either bring down Earths Carbon Dioxide or you don't. Maybe they intend to target Mars and Venus.
From the Administration that thought Saddam Hussein was an Al-Qaeda agent, I wouldn't be surprised.
Posted by chicnlittle at 03:44 PM : May 29, 2007
Great one! The kids and grandkids came down to the condo. Loved seeing them but they sure can tire me out. Recouping today with a few cold ones watching the waves!
Posted by skyhawk761 at 03:24 PM : May 29, 2007
Hey Skyhawk, ditto. Had a fair one,how about you?
Also, anyone who believes that many of the actions of the human race do not effect the rest of the planet in a negative way are sorely misinformed, regardless of what they've read, seen or heard.
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