United States

Greenpeace activists climb a 700-ft coal plant smokestack to denounce Bush's dirty power plan. The Hatfield's Ferry Power Station is a symbol and an example of the Bush administration's dirty energy policy that favors polluting fossil fuels over clean energy sources.

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The saying, "If you not part of the solution, you're part of the problem", is a massive understatement when it comes to the Bush administration and climate change. With less than 5 percent of the world's population, the US is the world's largest producer of greenhouse gases and is responsible for nearly 25 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.

And yet, the Bush administration has withdrawn from the only internationally binding measure to tackle climate change - the Kyoto Protocol. Instead, the policy of the Bush administration, and its legislative allies, is business as usual but only more so. They are giving millions of dollars in subsidies to the oil, gas and coal industries; making no credible effort to support renewable energy; and are opening the Arctic National Wildlife refuge for drilling. On the international scene, the Bush administration has made extraordinary efforts to impede progress in tackling climate change. Again and again, at international meetings Greenpeace delegates have watched the Bush team try to obstruct and weaken international efforts to reduce global emissions, just as it has tried to wreck so many other international negotiations over the past 15 years.

Not living up to its promise

Ironically, the US could easily be a world leader in addressing climate change. Along with energy efficiency, the US has made significant contributions to wind and solar technology development, and despite lack of support from the Bush administration both industries show strong domestic growth. US scientists have also played an important role in climate change research. For example, in what is being called the "smoking gun" of global warming, a decade long NASA led research project has confirmed that our planet is absorbing more energy from the sun than is emitted back into space - indicating an "energy imbalance" and a warming world.

Taking a leadership role in climate change would also benefit the US in many ways. For example:

More skilled jobs - Renewable energy creates more jobs per kilowatt than fossil fuels or nuclear.

Smaller US trade deficit - Solar and wind power hardware will likely find lucrative export markets.

Greater energy security - Less reliance on foreign oil.

Foster international good will - By joining the rest of the world in tackling climate change.

Ballon with a clear message floats above a glacier in Argentina threathened by global warming.

Instead, the Bush administration continues to ignore its own scientists, and act as if climate change isn't happening. Bush’s energy policies would seem divorced from reality if it weren’t for the cold hard cash Bush and his political allies get from the fossil fuel and nuclear industries as campaign contributions. It seems these political contributions, and Bush's own past with the oil industry, handily outweigh scientific evidence and world opinion when it comes to his administration's energy policy.

Greenpeace will continue to pressure the US government to take action on climate change. It is also working to persuade US states, cities, the business community and individuals not to wait for the government, but to move ahead on their own by implementing energy efficiency technologies and buying renewable energy. See the Greenpeace USA actions page for how you can help.

More information:

US withdraws from Kyoto Protocol

Stage is set to drill in Arctic refuge

Bush energy scams

Energy scams continued...

Greenpeace USA

Big oil protects its interests - Center for Public Integrity

US Government 'out on a limb over climate change science' - Royal Society news

Who's to blame ten years after Rio? (pdf)