IF President Bush had unveiled his goals for reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions at the beginning of his administration instead of in its waning
months, he might have actually played a role in linking the United States to
global efforts to curb climate change. But the proposals he made yesterday,
which in 2001 could have been a starting point for negotiations with advocates
of stronger action in Congress, are now too belated and too weak to be more than
a historical footnote. All three remaining presidential candidates are committed
to much more stringent, mandatory reductions in carbon dioxide.
more stories like thisBush's plan would allow emissions to increase until 2025
and provides no specifics on how they would be limited after that. Bush rules
out new taxes on gasoline pur chases or carbon emissions, but his aides said his
plan would allow cap and trade rules, in which an industry-wide limit is set on
emissions by utilities. Utilities ...