June 01, 2007 — By Reuters
BRUSSELS -- President George W. Bush's plan to tackle climate change merely restates U.S. policy which has been ineffective in the past in cutting emissions blamed for global warming, the EU's environment chief said on Friday.
"The declaration by President Bush basically restates the U.S. classic line on climate change -- no mandatory reductions, no carbon trading and vaguely expressed objectives," EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said, according to his spokeswoman.
"The U.S. approach has proven to be ineffective in reducing emissions," Dimas added of Bush's call on Thursday for 15 major countries to agree by 2008 on a long-term goal for cutting emissions.
European Commission President Jose Manual Barroso and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had emphasised that Bush's announcement did at least create more opportunities for dialogue, he said, adding that there was growing bipartisan support within the United States for a cap-and-trade system.
"Mandatory reductions, carbon trading and specific commitment and timetables have allowed the EU to reduce its emissions by 1.5 percent in 2005 under the 1990 levels, while the U.S. has increased them by more than 16 percent in the same period," Dimas had said.
He expected a "tight and lively European trading market to continue beyond 2012", Dimas' spokeswoman quoted him as saying.
Source: Reuters
