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President Bush yesterday called for a national goal of halting the growth of
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, mostly by curbing power plant pollution.
But his voluntary target fell well short of what most leading scientists say is
needed to avoid dangerous climate change and was widely criticized by Democratic
lawmakers and environmentalists.
Bush's proposal -- which would rely on technological innovation for success --
was the administration's most definite public statement yet on global warming.
Coming at a time when lawmakers and climate negotiators are focused on
fashioning a binding climate accord under the next administration, however, it
remained uncertain how much the president's initiative could influence the shape
of legislation and impending treaty talks in the months to come.
Scientists of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded last
year that global greenhouse gas emissions must begin to ...