Strike three on climate change for the Bush White House?
President Bush is set to make an announcement on climate change today.
Will it be a third strike for Bush?
Washington Post columnist Dan Froomkin thinks so:
Bush's trick on climate change is to wait until others are about to embrace mandatory limits on greenhouse gases, then make a major speech about goals and process, without any specifics on measures or penaltiesHis planned speech this afternoon recalls his two earlier attempts to muddy the debate and buy time."
DeSmog writer Chris Mooney is monitoring the announcement and will weigh in with his analysis later today.
UPDATE: And Strike Three, you're out Mr. President
Joe Romm at Climate Progress writes: Bush/Nero speech: "Technology, technology, blah, blah, let's fiddle until 2025
Dave Roberts at Grist writes: Same as it ever was
Andrew Revkin at the New York Times Dot Earth Blog marks up Bush's speech with his insights.
I am going to agree and disagree on a couple points, while it is very clear the bush admin has been more of an obstruction in reducing green house has emissions, this change in policy is significant. What I mean by that is the last bastion of open resistance to denying that humans are playing a significant role in modifying the climate has now changed that stance. With that, any of the 3 who may be the next president will address greenhouse gas emissions and it gives me, someone who wants to see a national plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions even more reason to be pleased. Canada will follow the US like the little dog that it normally is and we will see policy changes here as well.
While all of this maybe be to little to late when it comes to president Bush, to me the simple change in policy itself is promising and something to find hope in that the challenge of meeting reducing greenhouse gas emissions on a national level will begin. While there is much concern over the lack of anything specific and the way this is to be accomplished, Bush now apparently accepts the scientific consensus on climate.
If I thought for a moment that the new administration that will succeed Bush is going to stick to this "plan," I'd despair. But when even the Republican front-runner accepts AGW, I think we can look forward to positive action at an accelerating rate. Whether or not Harper & his crowd follow suit is an open question. He has the oil patch to consider and it will be interesting to see which prevails: his allegiance to the oil industry, or his Americophile leanings.
Fern Mackenzie