Wind Shift in Climate Change

January 23 2008

The Bush Administration has stymied action on global warming at home and abroad, questioning and occasionally suppressing compelling scientific evidence that the earth is heating up and man-made pollution is a major reason why.
Global warming has no shortage of causes — coal-burning power plants, carbon-spewing automobiles — but many European and Asian environmentalists seem to blame one factor above all others: U.S. President George W. Bush. As the world's top carbon emitter and the only major developed country to refuse to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, America is seen as hastening global warming while foiling attempts to slow it down. At December's U.N. climate-change summit in Bali, the frustration toward American intransigence on global warming was palpable. When U.S. negotiators stood in the way of agreement during the summit's final day, the anger boiled over, with delegates, observers from environmental groups and even members of the international press booing the American team. The U.S. eventually dropped its opposition to the Bali road map, but that did little to allay suspicion that Washington would remain a roadblock in efforts to combat the world's most pressing environmental crisis. More >>>

'20 20 by 2020' says Europe

EU to Cut Carbon Output by 20%, and Obtain 20% of Energy From Renewables
23 January 2008

The European Commission has made long-awaited proposals on energy and climate change. By 2020 it wants a 20% cut in carbon dioxide emissions, and 20% of energy to come from renewables.

"Europeans want a vision, and a plan of action," said European Commission President Manuel Barroso when announcing the 'package'.

The draft legislation follows on from a March 2007 agreement outlining the same aims. The new proposals contain three main strands: the imposition of "specific, binding national targets" for each of the 27 European Union member countries for greenhouse emissions; mandatory targets for the percentage of renewables in each country's total energy consumption; and an overhaul of the existing carbon dioxide emissions trading scheme; and a proposed law on carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Europe should cut its own emissions by 20% by 2020, and be ready to "step up to 30% with international agreement," Barroso said. More >>>