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December 21, 2004
The Bush administration's refusal to deal with the growing problems of global climate change reached new lows over the weekend. At a U.N. conference in Buenos Aires, Bush's surrogates opposed efforts by other nations to hold a series of discussions about what to do to combat global warming when Kyoto expires in 2012. The Bush administration officials insisted that "it was too early to take even that step" and if any meetings were held "there shall be no written or oral report," according to the New York Times.
- Governors are taking matters into their own hands. A bipartisan coalition of 8 states—four with Republican governors and four with Democratic ones—is taking matters into their own hands to control global warming. The consortium, called Northeast States for Coordinate Air Use Management, will implement a regional cap-and-trade system to control greenhouse gas emissions. The states involved see "environment, health and economic" benefits in taking action. Washington, Oregon and California are considering developing a similar plan.
- Even the business community wants to address global warming. The president repeatedly claims that a mandatory reduction in greenhouse gases would have a "negative economic impact." But the international business community understands that the consequences of inaction would be far worse. Experts at a major insurance industry conference agreed that extreme weather patterns could cost the insurance industry an additional $25 billion annually if global warming is unchecked.
- Yet, the Bush administration still ignores the scientific consensus on climate change. The Bush administration continues to challenge the scientific evidence that human activity is rapidly heating up the globe. The top ten hottest years have all occurred since 1990. Alden Meyer, policy director for the Union of Concerned Scientists said "whatever is going on is not natural and is no longer in the realm of variability." Nevertheless, the Bush administration has announced their opposition to the phrase "climate change" in favor of the inaccurate term "climate variability."
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
