Media release - January 23, 2007
“At a time when the American people, the newly elected Congress, and business leaders are calling for solutions to global warming, the President has once again failed to deliver. A year after he publicly admitted our nation's addiction to oil, the President tonight proposed a series of energy initiatives that won't address this dependency or the climate crisis facing the planet. This comes a week before the release of the United Nation’s latest assessment of the science of global warming.
"Instead of creating a real national plan to combat global
warming and increase energy security, the President has ensured his
legacy of failure while continuing to represent the interests of
the energy industry. Today, the President proposed an alternative
fuels proposal that could actually increase global warming
pollution along with a fuel efficiency program for automobiles that
lacks any real targets.
"Scientists repeatedly warn that the U.S. must reduce its global
warming pollution 80 percent by mid-century if we are to avoid the
most dangerous impacts of climate change. A growing number of
states, corporations and Congressional leaders have endorsed that
goal. The President's proposals do nothing to put us on that
course. The American people and the world community deserve much
better and it is available through existing technology, which the
President chooses to ignore.
"While the expectations were high for this speech as speculation
swirled of a change in policy in the White House, the rumors were
inaccurate. The international community should abandon all hope,
once and for all, that President Bush will ever really change
course on climate change.
"It is clear that Bush is incapable of leading his country to
face the challenge of climate change, now the best he can do is to
follow the American people who understand the need for action."
VVPR info: In the U.S.: Jane Kochersperger, (202) 680-3798, cell;
In Europe: Steve Sawyer, +31 6 5350 4715