Bush’s Greenhouse Gas Proposal Is Hazy (Rep. G.K. Butterfield)

While it’s encouraging that President Bush may finally be accepting the seriousness of greenhouse gas emissions, his vague plans for technology transfers and voluntary emissions targets will not resolve the issue. There’s a pressing need to address the issue of global warming, and the solution must recognize the urgency.

President Bush’s proposal duplicates and could undermine the ongoing efforts to build on the Kyoto Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is unlikely that a parallel effort would result in a new international agreement that truly addresses global warming.

As the world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gases, we have an obligation to convincingly lead the way forward. If the United States fails to limit its own pollution, it is unrealistic to believe that India or China would do so. To resolve this crisis, we must work with the rest of the world to agree on binding goals and a protocol for international enforcement.