Bush Outlines Climate Change Targets

President Suggests Broad National Goals For Ending Growth Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions By 2025

(AP)  President Bush on Wednesday called for a halt in the growth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and urged other major polluting nations to develop national goals to address climate change.

In a Rose Garden speech on global warming, Bush expressed concern that Congress might pass climate legislation that would hurt economic growth. Critics of his energy policy have argued that the Bush administration has dragged its feet in addressing the problem. But Bush argued that his staff was working intently to address the contentious issue about greenhouse gases believed responsible for the warming of the Earth.

While setting a broad goal, the president offered only a general outline - and few specifics - about how to achieve the objectives. Bush's proposal was quickly denounced by congressional Democrats and environmentalists as falling far short of what is needed to stabilize the concentration of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere.

Bush said unilateral action by the United States, however, will not make a dent in fixing the problem.

"Like many other countries, America's national plan will be a comprehensive blend of market incentives and regulations to reduce emissions by encouraging clean and efficient energy technologies," Bush said. "We're willing to include this plan in a binding international agreement, so long as our fellow major economies are prepared to include their plans in such an agreement."

The United States and other countries agreed at a meeting in December in Bali, Indonesia, to work to set firm targets for reducing greenhouse emissions by the end of 2009, as a follow-up to the Kyoto reduction targets that expire in 2012.

The president also called for putting the brakes on greenhouse gas emissions from electric power plants within 10 years to 15 years.

"We're doing a lot to protect this environment. We've laid a solid foundation for further progress. While these measures will bring us a long way toward achieving our new goal, we've got to do more in the power-generation sector," the president said.

"To reach our 2025 goal, we will need to more rapidly slow the growth of power sector greenhouse gas emissions so that they peak within 10 to 15 years, and decline thereafter," he said. "By doing so, we will reduce emission levels in the power sector well below where they were projected to be when we first announced our climate strategy in 2002.

"There are a number of ways to achieve these reductions, but all responsible approaches depend on accelerating the development and deployment of new technologies," Bush added.

Senate Democrats said the president's plan would allow continued growth of greenhouse gases for nearly two decades during which the government estimates U.S. heat-trapping emissions will grow. U.S. emissions from electric power plants alone are expected to grow by 16 percent.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee, called Bush's new climate strategy "worse than doing nothing ... the height of irresponsibility."

The new goal for curtailing greenhouse gas emissions is an attempt to short-circuit what White House aides call a potential regulatory "train wreck" if Congress doesn't act on climate change. The president's speech was aimed at shaping the debate on global warming in favor of solving the problem while avoiding heavy costs to industry and the economy.

The president remains opposed to a Senate bill that would require mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions, calling that proposal unrealistic and economically harmful.

"I believe that congressional debate should be guided by certain core principles and a clear appreciation that there is a wrong way and a right way to approach reducing greenhouse gas emissions," Bush said. "Bad legislation would impose tremendous costs on our economy and American families without accomplishing the important climate change goals we share."

Bush expressed concern over a possible rush to address the Earth's warming through a hodgepodge of regulations under existing federal laws such as the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act.

All three presidential candidates - Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain - favor a more aggressive program on climate change than does Bush, all supporting mandatory limits on greenhouse gases.

Senate Democratic leaders plan to begin debate in June on legislation that would cap greenhouse gases and allow polluters to ease some of the cost by buying emissions credits. This cap-and-trade approach is aimed at cutting the emissions by 70 percent by mid-century. The House also is moving toward considering a cap-and-trade proposal. And many industry lobbyists have become resigned to some type of cap-and-trade proposal moving forward, if not this year probably next, and are trying to find ways to limit the damage.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., called Bush's announcement a "late, insufficient and insincere effort" by the president.

"No matter how hard he tries to square the circle, there will be no American leadership on climate change if President Bush insists on appeasing congressional Republicans by refusing to support a responsible cap-and-trade policy that achieves the levels of emission reductions called for by our nation's top scientists," Kerry said.

Meanwhile, many environmentalists maintain that the congressional debate may be overtaken by the courts.

The Environmental Protection Agency already is under orders from the Supreme Court to determine whether carbon dioxide is endangering public health or welfare. If so, the court said, the EPA must regulate CO2 emissions.

Carbon dioxide is the leading greenhouse gas, so named because its accumulation in the atmosphere can help trap heat from the sun, causing potentially dangerous warming of the planet.

At the same time, the Interior Department has been told by another court to decide whether the polar bear should be brought under the protection of the Endangered Species Act because of disappearing sea ice - a phenomenon blamed by scientists on global warming.

"If these laws are stretched beyond their original intent, they could override the programs Congress just adopted. ... Decisions with such far-reaching impact should not be left to unelected regulators and judges," Bush said.

[leftyintexas]

DOOFUS''S idea of cutting Greenhouse gases is to limit the amount of beans he eats each meal. Let''s see... if he eats one less bean each month, after 12 years we should see an improvement in the air quality. Brilliant!! Why didn''t we think of that??

[wakeup60]

" DUBYA " ... "Another Fantastic Adoration" for ...
The BUSHMAN, THE BUSH/MEISTER, THE BUSHBABY Of Connecticut !! Priceless comments today!! I also love the CRETIN COMMENT !! LOVE IT !! PERFECT DAY !!

[wakeup60]

I love McCain''s new Title: "Mr McBush"!!! Perfect!
Getting on to "W''S" News Flash Yesterday... Oh, my goodness ... I think I HAVE BEEN reading all of his announcements wrong,as well as all of his press conference quips, snubbing his nose @ the many facts on AND about our planet...ONE OF "mr. pres''s." statements for all the years that he''s been in office..."There''s no such thing as GLOBAL WARMING OR GREENHOUSE GASES...But, now there are ??? How quaint !!! "Poor George"... There goes that "Silver Foot" AGAIN ... IN THAT SNICKERING MOUTH-ATTACHED TO THOSE HOPPING SHOULDERED GROTESQUE GIGGLES...THAT YOU WERE BORN WITH! "ANN RICHARDS"...ARE YOU HEARING THIS, HONEY! SHE WAS OUR MOST PRIZED GOVERNOR FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS-NOT THE FAKE TEXAN FROM CONN. BYE,BYE G.W.B. ... AND IT WON''T BE SOON ENOUGH!

[noloyalisti]

Why not control the 20% that we cause, that is a huge amount. Especially considering the natural system was in equilibrium with the other 80% until we came along with our steel plants and the started driving SUVs to the shopping center near our unsustainable suburbs and exurbs.

[ralan40]

...Human activity only releases about 20% of the greenhouse gasses....now if we could somehow control the other 80% of greenhouse gasses that nature releases.......

[rf35]

I heard Hillary harp on the other day about "green collar" jobs coming to Americas rescue.
It''''s too late to inflate a green bubble to save the economy.Green technology will take years to become economically viable.
Posted by bgwinnett at 06:12 AM : Apr 17, 2008

I agree that we should get started right away. That was your point, wasn''t it?

[tonyd_31]

libagenda, what is wrong guy? When I read some of the *** you neocons write, I am amazed. What kind of drugs are you on? Partner, FOX News is not really news. I think any reasonable intelligent 5 yr-old could make that distinction. Stop listening to Rush and the boyz. Oh, "anti-American"? So if you don''t agree with those retards (Rush, O''Reilly, Fatboy Hannity) you are un-american? Join us in the real world my man.

[hhroams]

The only thing Dubya knows about gas is when he passes it!!!!!!!!

[jjp735i]

Does anyone really pay much attention to Bush and his policies any more? I mean most fail and others do nothing for the people, only his friends.

[samrensho]

"Bush Outlines Climate Change Targets"

That drunken cretin couldn''t outline diaper change targets.

[excoachken]

Does this mean that the Cowardly Cowboy is willing to admit the lies he told to get us into the war, the lies about being a "caring Conservative", the lies about his drug use history,or the lies about not knowing who outed Valerie Plame or the lies.....................................or is this just part of a new and bigger lie?

[mcvet]

"Do you guys ever tire of being wrong?

Posted by ubrew12 at 12:44 AM : Apr 17, 2008"

Well, since you never tire yourself out looking up facts, what is your excuse?

Again, take a look at this website:
http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/c
ryosphere/
And the ''''40mb'''' file you refered to is a year old. Go down the page and look at all the charts for sea ice coverage, then come back and try to explain to me why the coverage in ALL areas is greater today than one year ago. Global Sea Ice coverage is 2 MILLION square kilometers more today than one year ago. Any ''''global warming'''' excuses for that?

Recent Sea Ice Coverage, Northern Hemisphere:

http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.
edu/cryosphere/IMAGES/current.365.jpg

nRecent Sea Ice Coverage, Southern Hemisphere:

http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.
edu/cryosphere/IMAGES/current.365.south.
jpg


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by TheGateway1 at 01:39 AM : Apr 17, 2008
+ report abuse

He made a very good point Swastika Breath. I have searched and searched and can fine NOT ONE TIME that you fascist have been right on the enviroment. When your Fuhrer took office this issue was cast aside, wasn''t real we were told. Now look? It''s election time again and guess who has suddenly found out that IT IS an issue?? It''s amazing how people can just keep on being bootlickers like you... simply amazing! Sieg Heil Bush

[bgwinnett]

I heard Hillary harp on the other day about "green collar" jobs coming to Americas rescue.
It''s too late to inflate a green bubble to save the economy.Green technology will take years to become economically viable.

[iamauto]

confess while commit
No matter how bad we''ve done, as long as we confess, the god will forgive us.
No matter how many Iraq people we''ve killed, as long as we confess, the god will forgive us.
No matter how many lies we''ve told, as long as we confess, the god will forgive us.

[sistatee-2009]

Climate change? I thought it was global warming. Now it''s any change at all...hot or cold? How about global something? Something could happen somewhere, so we need to tax you more in order to stop it. Great plan. Stalin would have liked it.

[ubrew12]

Hey TheGateway1:

Why not do something productive for a change?

Go fight some forest fires in Colorado...

In April...

[ubrew12]

TheGateway1 said: "I was pointing out that in all areas, global sea ice coverage is greater today than one year ago today. How does that mesh with ''global warming alarmism''?"

One year of data doesn''t mean sh*t in the area of climatology. You should know that if you''re going to post on the subject.

Hansen predicted rising temperatures using a climatological model 26 years ago.

26 years later, he was right on target. Now there''s a trend for prediction worth noting!

No wonder Bush hired a college dropout to take a scissors to Hansens reportage in the EPA.

[termtex01]

"Do you guys ever tire of being wrong?

Posted by ubrew12 at 12:44 AM : Apr 17, 2008"

Well, since you never tire yourself out looking up facts, what is your excuse?

Again, take a look at this website:
http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/
And the ''40mb'' file you refered to is a year old. Go down the page and look at all the charts for sea ice coverage, then come back and try to explain to me why the coverage in ALL areas is greater today than one year ago. Global Sea Ice coverage is 2 MILLION square kilometers more today than one year ago. Any ''global warming'' excuses for that?

Recent Sea Ice Coverage, Northern Hemisphere:

http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/IMAGES/current.365.jpg

Recent Sea Ice Coverage, Southern Hemisphere:

http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/IMAGES/current.365.south.jpg

[termtex01]

"TheGateway1 - - Back with nothing but - http Spam
TheGateway1 - - - - I Remember You ! ! !


Posted by lastdance112 at 11:53 PM : Apr 16, 2008"

!. Not spam. I was pointing out that in all areas, global sea ice coverage is greater today than one year ago today. How does that mesh with ''global warming alarmism''?

2. Nice to have a fan that thinks so much about the truth on himself that he saves every example I''ve ever thrown back at him.

My my, must be boring living in that apartment above your parents house at your age to need to save every post on these forums to peruse at your leisure at a later date.

[termtex01]

"Anyone who talks positive on an issue of - Torture - Perusing Children -
Taking showers with - Boy - Sport Teams
Has Fantasies of doing - Just That ! !

Posted by lastdance112 at 11:53 PM : Apr 16, 2008"

Just repeating the liberal dogma back at you people. You all can''t stand being confronted with truth or facts, (especially you lastdance) so in your case, I make the exception and drown you in your own mantras.