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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Scumbria who wrote (136312)	4/7/2001 12:37:30 PM
From: greenspirit	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769667

Scrumbria, since developing countries are exempt from reducing CO2 under the Kyoto Protocol. It makes it very unlikely the Protocol will have any real effect on global temperatures. In a best case scenario, they would lower the projected temperature during the next century by only 0.1 degree. A report issued by the U.S. Department of Energy, estimates that, in 2010, if the Protocols were adopted: - Gasoline prices would likely increase about 66 cents per gallon, and electricity would cost 86.4 percent more than it would otherwise. - America's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010 would decline by about $397 billion dollars. Another report by WEFA, Inc. concluded: - It would nearly double the cost of energy and electricity prices. - Raise gasoline by about 65 cents per gallon. - Cost 2.4 million U.S. jobs. - Reduce state tax revenues by almost $100 billion. - Harm U.S. competitiveness and reduce family income dramatically. Consider this, in the 20th century, temperatures rose about 10 times the amount that Kyoto would prevent in the next 50 years, (in a best case scenario) and, at the same time, life span doubled, crop yields quintupled, and the greatest wealth generation in the world's history took place. Under the Kyoto terms, the United States must reduce its emissions of six greenhouse gases by 7 percent below its 1990 levels. However, U.S. carbon emissions are projected to be 43 percent above the Kyoto-mandated cap by 2010. The gap between projected emissions and the Kyoto cap will grow to 51 percent by 2015. At the same time, developing countries such as China, India, and Mexico, whose emissions will exceed those of developed countries in the same time frame, are completely exempt from such requirements. The fundamental flaw in the Kyoto Protocol is that it does not require developing nations participation. Only 38 developed nations have binding emission reductions targets. It requires nothing from any of the world's top developing country emitters of carbon dioxide, which include Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan. Plus 150 more. Yet these nations soon will emit more carbon than the United States, while being able to dictate the compliance terms for the United States and other developed countries. In 1997, the Senate overwhelmingly passed a resolution which expressed its intent that we not sign the protocols if it does not mandate specific scheduled commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions from developing countries, within the same time frame imposed on developed countries. Therefore, only a fool would play King and sign such a document, stripping America of its sovereignty, wealth, and future prosperity. Thanks God that fool just left the white house, and his wanna-be-clone King (Whopper Al), never got elected.

To: Scumbria who wrote (136312)	4/7/2001 12:43:54 PM
From: Mr. Palau	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769667

Senate Budget Vote Rebuffs Bush on Global Warming By Eric Pianin Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, April 7, 2001; Page A05 The Senate yesterday approved a bipartisan measure to restore $4.5 billion in funds for climate change programs over the coming decade that the Bush administration had sought to cut. The amendment, offered by Sens. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) and James M. Jeffords (R-Vt.), covers a broad range of international and domestic programs that study and address problems associated with the Earth's rising temperature. It also provides additional authority to the State Department to enable the United States "to fully engage with the international community in on-going and highly complex negotiations" toward a global warming treaty. The Senate action by voice vote follows the Bush administration's announcement that it was abandoning a landmark 1997 global warming protocol negotiated in Kyoto, Japan. The decision has triggered strong protests from European and Japanese allies abroad and from Democrats and environmental groups at home. While yesterday's amendment to the fiscal 2002 budget resolution doesn't directly address the president's decision to unilaterally chart a new course on global warming, supporters of the amendment said it signals displeasure with the president's handling of the issue. "While no one is under the illusion that Kyoto is perfect, this vote today . . . underscores that the Bush administration's initial approach of ignoring climate change altogether is beyond imperfect -- it's unacceptable," Kerry said. Kalee Kreider of the National Environmental Trust said that the Senate "appears to be rejecting the president's approach on global warming, which so far has been to do nothing." The Bush administration announced late last month that the Kyoto treaty, which committed industrial nations to limiting gases that many scientists believe threaten the Earth's climate, was dead. Officials said a Cabinet-level task force would develop a new approach -- less onerous to the U.S. economy -- that would be presented to the allies later this year. Bush complained that the Kyoto protocol, a decade in the making, was unfair to the United States and wrongly exempted developing countries, including India and China. The Senate language will be considered as part of a final budget plan to be ironed out by Senate and House leaders. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Todd Whitman yesterday urged environmentalists to quit fighting lost battles over global warming and work with the administration on politically achievable alternatives. Whitman delivered that message during a speech to a National Wildlife Federation convention. Environmental leaders there were fuming over Bush's decisions to break a campaign pledge to seek reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, and to pull out of the Kyoto agreement. In defending the president, Whitman said the administration still intends to adopt a tough new standard for arsenic in drinking water, despite a recent decision to scrap a new rule that would have reduced permissible levels by 80 percent. And she said there is the chance for an agreement with Congress to limit greenhouse gas emissions other than carbon dioxide. © 2001 The Washington Post Company washingtonpost.com