US to set 'binding' climate goals

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7263225.stm

US to set 'binding' climate goals

By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website

The US is ready to accept "binding international obligations" on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, officials say, if other nations do the same.

The comments came in a news conference in Paris given by James Connaughton and Daniel Price, environmental and economics advisers to President Bush.

The US hopes the world's major economies will conclude a "leaders' declaration" before the July G8 summit.

...

But the Bush administration is clearly looking for some kind of binding commitment from major developing countries such as China, India and Brazil.

"The US is prepared to enter into binding international obligations to reduce greenhouse gases as part of a global agreement in which all major economies similarly undertake binding international obligations," said Mr Price, the president's deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs.

...

[hatrack]

1. Blahblahblah blahblah! Blahblah! Blahblahblahblah!! BLAH!

Kick that can just a little farther down the road . . .

[eppur_se_muova]

2. We'll take these as seriously as we take our own laws. nt

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. Look at it this way

Laws are a way of stating our beliefs. (This is right, this is wrong.) The Bush administration has not done a good job of keeping their practices in line with our stated beliefs.

On the other hand, I think it's a step in the right direction for them to make a statement like this (rather than their usual petulant, "Try and make us!" attitude.)