From a Los Angeles Times editorial, 6/19/05:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-warm19jun19,0,599357.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials
Bush, Out in the Cold
By this time, believing that global warming is only a theory is akin
to saying the same thing about evolution.
And just as creationists shouldn't be allowed to remake schools'
curriculum on fossils, naysayers on climate change cannot hide from
the damage caused by fossil fuels.
Both areas of study are backed by robust evidence accepted by
scientists around the world.
June could almost be designated Greenhouse Month for the new urgency
governments and businesses have expressed in recent weeks about
controlling emissions -- mostly from burning oil and coal -- that
contribute to global warming.
In this climate, so to speak, it's disheartening to find President
Bush clinging to his old ploy of calling for ever more research before
doing something.
The U.S. National Academy of Sciences and 10 similar groups from other
nations called earlier this month for immediate action on global
warming, saying world leaders must "acknowledge that the threat of
climate change is clear and increasing."
Two days later, a group of 23 multinational corporations similarly
urged "action by both the private and public sector -- initiated now."
The group included Ford and oil giant BP.
Some U.S. companies are pushing for tighter regulation of greenhouse
gas emissions.
This might be enlightened self-interest in part.
Some can make money by selling less-polluting energy sources such as
windmills; others fear that if they don't get involved, lawmakers will
pass a hodgepodge of state regulations.
That's fine.
Their motivations don't matter as much as their recognition that the
time for action has arrived.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger showed that industry-friendly Republicans
can care about the environment too, announcing dramatic targets for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions in California over the next 50
years.
The proposal is longer on goals than on means, but the governor has
made a start by supporting a solar-homes bill and a state rule
requiring automakers to reduce tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases
nearly 30% by 2016.
With all this activity, where was the Bush administration this month
on global warming?
Watering down scientific documents and international accords on the
issue, mainly.
Bush last week accepted the resignation of a senior official of the
White House Council on Environmental Quality whose tinkering with
reports on climate change was revealed in the New York Times.
Philip Cooney -- a former lobbyist for the American Petroleum
Institute, a major foe of greenhouse gas regulations -- reportedly
edited U.S. scientists' reports on global warming to make the
phenomenon appear more dubious and less serious.
Bush also rebuffed British Prime Minister Tony Blair's attempts to
make him take the topic seriously.
Blair plans to make more aggressive action against greenhouse gases a
top priority at the July meeting of the Group of 8 industrialized
nations.
The Washington Post revealed last week that Bush administration
officials have succeeded in weakening the G-8 plan for joint action,
working behind the scenes to alter key sections.
During Blair's visit to Washington, Bush stuck to calling for
voluntary reductions and more study (unedited, we hope, by industry
flaks).
"We want to know more about it," Bush said of climate change.
We do too.
But with this administration, extended research on global warming has
become an excuse for inexcusable inaction.
________________________________________________________
"We want to know more about it," Bush said of climate change.
Or to put it more clearly...DUH.
Harry
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Scientology crooks: http://sf.irk.ru/www/ot3/otiii-gif.html
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