President George W. Bush today committed the US to set goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In a massive u-turn from its previous opposition to mandatory caps on pollution, the US announced it would also take part in negotiations on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol – the decade-old agreement on emissions limitations, which the US, along with Australia, has refused to ratify.
The news comes just days before the G8 leaders meet in Germany next week, with climate change set to top the programme.
It also comes only hours after China unveiled it is set to release its first national plan to combat climate change.
In negotiations before the summit, the US rejected setting binding targets for reducing emissions – a policy favoured by some G8 leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
But according to an administration official today, the US is sending a “long-term signal that we want to reduce greenhouse gases significantly”.
“The United States takes this issue seriously,” Bush added.
The world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gasses is set to work with other large economies, including China and India, to agree long-term goals for reductions.
According to today’s announcement, the US plans to host a meeting of the world’s top emitters in an effort to reach consensus and devise a workable strategy on reductions.
But while the news represents a significant turnaround – and will certainly please some onlookers – the strategy is unlikely to be implemented before the end of 2008, according to White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
While this is good news– it is hard to believe good news from this administration. I hope that they head into the G8 Summit with great ideas and the willingness to do what it takes to implement new strategies. Unfortunately this administration has for along time ignored this issue and ultimately will leave this to the next adminstraion to handle, like many other things that have happend over the past eight years. It is IMPORTANT for Americans to consider this heading into a very important election in 2008. Our next president MUST take environmental issues seriously. Americans have the opportunity to elect a president who can make a huge impact in this area and that person will have an incredible opportunity to make a difference.
Comment by Melissa Oxenford — June 5, 2007 @ 1:51 am