We've received a number of messages asking for more details about Bush's climate plan--the one he is rallying polluters around the world to support. The core of the issue is that Bush opposes the most critical and effective element of a global treaty: emissions targets that actually count. That's why Bush has mounted a push for a process outside of the UN negotiations. In fact, he's just invited the world's most polluting countries to a summit this September to discuss his toothless approach to climate change:
The Bush administration unveiled plans on Friday for global warming talks next month that will bring together the world's biggest polluters to seek agreement on reducing greenhouse gases. ... But a senior U.S. official said the administration stood by its opposition to mandatory economy-wide caps. Many climate experts say that without binding U.S. emissions targets, the chance for significant progress is limited.
His push for a voluntary, optional system has been reported on for some time, as here:
The United States, one of the world's biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, made no statement at Tuesday's sessions, and has repeatedly rejected firm targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, maintaining this would hurt the US economy.Instead, Washington has called for voluntary rather than mandatory emissions cuts.
G8: Bush Proposes Talks on Voluntary Global Goal for Greenhouse Gases
But the thing that really got Avaaz moving on this was word from high-level government officials outside the US that they'd been targeted by the Bush administration, and that Bush and Howard have begun an intense pressure campaign to stop a binding post-Kyoto treaty from going through. Unfortunately, these officials spoke to us on the condition that we not give their names, due to their sensitive role in negotiations. We're working to try to get the full story out through the media. As soon as we do so, rest assured that we'll let our members know about it!
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