ABC News: U.S. Environmental Stance Draws Heat

Beth Duff-Brown from the AP writes:

The United States came under renewed criticism Tuesday as thousands of environmentalists and international officials hammered out rules for a global treaty to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

U.S. comments that it would resist any binding commitment to curb global warming by capping industrial emissions infuriated environmentalists, who accused Washington of trying to derail the U.N. Climate Change Conference.

"When you walk around the conference hall here, delegates are saying there are lots of issues on the agenda, but there's only one real problem, and that's the United States," said Bill Hare of Greenpeace International.

By the way, just so you know. The U.S. has 5% of the worlds population while we product 25% of the worlds greenhouse gasses.

The Kyoto agreement targets carbon dioxide and five other heat-trapping gases blamed for rising global temperatures and disrupted weather patterns. It calls on the top 35 industrialized nations to cut emissions to 5.2 percent below their 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012.

The United States, the world's largest emitter of polluting gases, has refused to ratify the agreement, saying it would harm the U.S. economy and is flawed by the lack of restrictions on emissions by emerging economies such as China and India. President Bush called for an 18 percent reduction of U.S. greenhouse gases by 2012 and has committed $5 billion a year on science and technology to combat global warming.

President Bush refused to sign a treaty for a 5.2% reduction and said their going to cut by 18% in the same time frame. Why didn't he just sign the treaty? Easy. He can say he's cutting emissions and not do anything instead of being audited by the world.

Here's an interesting little factoid: Greenhouse gas emissions have gone down by 0.8% since Bush took office. Next time a Republican tries to throw that in your face just remember. Bush also instutituted Self-regulation. Where the companies measure their own emissions and are never audited. I think that is where you'll find your 0.8% drop.

Be sure to also check out: Taipei Times - UN climate conference blasts US. This is NOT a U.S. friendly article.

ABC News: U.S. Environmental Stance Draws Heat