President Bush unveils climate plan
Story By: Bea Karnes
Source: NBC
On the eve of an International Conference on Climate Change, President Bush Thursday announced a new goal for the United States. He wants to reduce greenhouse gases but he wants to do so in a way that won't harm the U.S. economy.
While announcing his plan to the American people, President Bush was also announcing to Congress and other world leaders what he is and isn't willing to do. President Bush is calling for a gradual halt in the growth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Mr. Bush said, "The growth in emissions will slow over the next decade, stop by 2025, and begin to reverse thereafter."
While some critics call the goal meager it's a course change for a president who once debated whether global warming even exists. Now the president is calling for fast-tracking technology and passing new laws that he calls realistic. President Bush said, "There is a wrong way and a right way to approaching green house gas emissions."
He opposes a bill now being crafted in Congress because it would force industries to abide by emissions caps. California Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer chairs the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works.Boxer said, "He just doesn't understand and he doesn't understand that business wants us to act, that the religious community wants us to act, that the states want us to act."
While each week brings disturbing new headlines about global warming from the thinning ice caps, to the thick air choking Chinese cities, the White House is facing a different sort of pressure. Administration officials are trying to stave off what they've repeatedly called a regulatory train wreck.
Recent court decisions are forcing the government to become the greenhouse gas police. "This will make the federal government act like a local planning and zoning board," said the president.
While some environmentalists see the approach as too cautious others are happy to see change in the air. Steve Cochran of the Environmental Defense Fund said, “What's encouraging we hope, is they're now beginning to move. Words aren't enough. Actions are what the test is. We'll see now going forward if we can really make some progress."
And because he has only nine months left in office it's not clear whether Congress will try to work with President Bush or around him.
