NYT/Reuters: U.S. Is Odd Man Out in Climate Consensus

[DeepModem Mom]

U.S. Odd Man Out in Climate Consensus
By REUTERS
Published: March 17, 2007

POTSDAM, Germany (Reuters) - A consensus on the need to protect the world's environment is emerging among rich and developing nations, but the United States remains at odds with other countries on key points, Germany said on Saturday.

Environment ministers of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations, and officials from leading developing countries, were meeting to prepare for a June G8 summit at which climate change will be a major topic.

``On two issues, the United States were the only ones who spoke against consensus,'' German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters at the end of the two-day meeting, which he chaired on behalf of Germany's G8 presidency.

Gabriel said the U.S. remained opposed to a global carbon emissions trading scheme like the one used in the European Union and rejected the idea that industrialized nations should help achieve a ``balance of interests'' between developing countries' need for economic growth and environmental protection....

***

Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, told reporters there were areas where progress had been achieved, and noted a broad consensus on the causes of global warming.

The Bush administration, which for years questioned the reliability of scientific findings showing man-made pollution was responsible for the planet's warming, has shifted its stance....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-group.html

[sutz12]

1. Nice to know we are maintaining our position, academically and scientifically...

at the bottom of the pile. :sarcasm:

[tanyev]

2. GOP, The Grand Odd Party.

[Javaman]

11. giganitic old polluters. nt

[lyonn]

3. This is an easy one, reality vs. creationism

bush is not reality based.

[lovuian]

4. The rest of the world is looking at going under water and

want to survive...US irresponsibility here will a sad tale that Republicans and Congress Supreme Court FBI Pentagon and CIA

all will have to live with
Mother nature is pssst

[DeepModem Mom]

5. It's such a tragic irony that as climate change becomes a crisis...

we have Bush in the White House, instead of Gore, whose issue it is, and who was the candidate we chose with our votes.

[Canuckistanian]

6. I hate these kind of headlines

The MAJORITY of Americans have joined this consensus, including the scientific community.

The only ones RESISTING this consensus are a small MINORITY who happen to be in power for the moment.

The headline should read "US Government Odd Man out...."

[rmgarrette64]

13. Science question here...

In recent weeks, there have been two findings that appear to call into question anthropogenic global warming. First there was the verification that cosmic rays can cause cloud formation. Next there was verification that global warming is occurring on Mars. Both of these developments appear to back up the older, discarded model of solar-centric global warming.

I am curious as to whether others on this board are following these developments with the same interest I'm finding. I'd like further verification on both findings, of course, but I'll also note that the science seems solid on both of these. I don't think the findings change much - we should still try to cut back on CO2 emissions for its own sake, and shouldn't be burning fossil fuels for similar reasons.

And, yes, the consensus is still that global warming is anthropogenic. On the other hand, in science, "it only takes one. As long as he's right." (These findings, together, if verified, really appear to be that strong - they should shake the consensus...)

R. Garrett

[Lisa]

14. and there are plenty of US scientists who played a key role in researching global warming

Carl Sagan, James Hansen, Robert Watson, and hundreds of others ... from big-time modellers at NCAR to the folks around the country who extract tree ring, ice, or sediment cores, and analyze them in the lab ...

The amount of climate and biogeochemical systems expertise in the United States is breathtaking. The administration's refusal to listen is a slap in the face to these intelligent hardworking people.

[Pale Blue Dot]

7. US 'blocks environment progress'

Germany's environment minister, Sigmar Gabriel, says the United States has blocked progress on two key issues to protect the global environment.

He was speaking after a two-day meeting of environment ministers in the German city of Potsdam.

The BBC's Matt McGrath in Potsdam says there was a widespread acceptance that sustainable economic development had to go hand in hand with efforts to cut emissions of carbon dioxide.

But disagreements surfaced over specifics such as extending the global system of carbon trading, one of the central planks of any proposed deal to curb emissions.

According to one delegate the United States was "not subtle" in its opposition to carbon trading, and to another proposal that would pay developing countries to preserve rainforests.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6463143.stm

[alfredo]

8. Are the corporatist in our government that selfish? Are they

willing to kill off a large percentage of the animal and plant life to ensure increased profits?

[Barrett808]

9. Your question is of course rhetorical, but the answer is certainly "yes"

And not just American corporatists...

[alfredo]

10. It is an aggressive act against our children.

[heatstreak]

12. kick

[Toucano]

15. The fates of 6 billion people should not rest in the hands of 62 million.

Bush voters.

The U.S. needs to wake up or be brought down a peg or two.

[outofbounds]

16. I remember about 30 years ago

when San Fran's, I think it was Frisco's, skyline was mired in smog. You couldn't see across the city, the tops of skyscrapers invisible in the gray soot clouds the factories in the are were dumping into the air. It isn't like that anymore. The U.S. has worked hard on lowering pollution, I'm sure some won't like that statement but its true. This was when our world was going to freeze. Fluorocarbons were the enemy and we had probably waited to long to correct our ways, we were doomed. Now Co2 is the problem. Both have carbon in them which allow plants to thrive. What I never understood was how the 70's carbon would make the world freeze, and todays carbon will make it melt. Yes the U.S. was concerned and has made many efforts to clean up the environment.

Now that India and China have booming economies they want to live the good life too. They don't seemed to be interested at all in the environment as they catch up to the U.S. and soon will pass the U.S. in polluting the planet. The U.S. can be totally green but if these others countries don't help keep the planet clean it won't matter. They feel they have used bicycles and horses long enough, they want Hummers. And when they do get them will they participate in protecting the environment or not?