[GreenYes] FW: Check out this article from Crosslands

[David Biddle <Dbiddle@no.address>]

> ------ Forwarded Message
> From: Newsdesk <newsdesk@no.address>
> Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 14:43:13 -0600
> To: David Biddle <dbiddle@no.address>
> Subject: Check out this article from Crosslands
>    
> June 19, 2006
> Master and Commander Charts Climate Course Expectations of the Bush White
> House are that with the US at the helm, the big powers will be ready to call
> the shots. 
> 
> CEQ chairman James Connaughton pictured at a workshop during the 2004 annual
> conference held by the National Association of Counties. Photo by David
> Hathcox Speaking last month at the American Enterprise Institute, the
> libertarian business incubator of conservative political ideas, James
> Connaughton delivered a full-length, director?s cut of US policy on global
> warming.  The former corporate attorney who captains the White House Council
> on Environmental Quality led the audience through every global warming port
> of call since George W. Bush became president.
> 
> The revealing talk <http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/rm/2006/67433.htm>
> explains the strategy behind many of the administration?s moves over the past
> year from the G8 meeting in Gleneagles, Scotland, through the international
> climate change negotiations in Montreal, up to the publication of the final,
> revised carbon dioxide emissions accounting rules in the US (see below).  The
> main objective has been to place a dozen or two countries, at the most, with
> the largest economies on a parallel course to lower greenhouse gas emissions
> relative to each dollar of gross national product.  By that measure, the US is
> already doing quite well.
> 
> Today's approach echoes the no-regrets policy introduced into the climate
> change political vernacular by George W. Bush's dad.  The idea in 1990 was to
> claim credit for modest energy conservation measures that were destined to
> happen anyway as a consequence of industrial modernization and cost-cutting. 
> Meanwhile, carbon emissions rose steadily.
> 
> ?So a good thing about the intensity metric, it rewards economically valuable
> activity that does not require a lot of energy or greenhouse gases.  So in
> America, we are enjoying a huge growth in the service-based sectors, which
> consume less energy per unit of economic output,? Connaughton confided.
> 
> The line of thought leads directly to the US Department of Energy?s new
> 1605(b) guidelines for voluntary reporting of emissions intensity and
> reductions relative to economic output.  Environmental groups briefed by DOE
> last month are less than enthusiastic about the accounting rules.  The data
> wi!  ll not b e suitable for any future CO2 cap-and-trade program no matter
> how more dependable they are compared with the old 1605(b) reports.
> 
> Connaughton said that the action plan agreed to by the G8 at the meeting
> hosted by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair last year was a watershed in the
> debate.  It makes greenhouse gas emissions reductions a stepchild of the
> larger international discussion that nations really care about ? economic
> growth.  The strategic focus permanently shifts influence from climate
> specialists to the affairs of state departments and finance advisers. 
> Environment ministers, especially those from the bulk of the 189 nations that
> are parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, are purposefully
> demobilized.  The White House did its part by pushing the chief US
> environmental official out of the picture from the beginning of the Bush
> administration.
> 
> ?So again, I want to sort of just continue to underline this point,?
> Connaughton said.  ?There are big policy drivers out there that are
> complimentary to a climate strategy.  And if we can focus on all of them in a
> bundle, we can make some pretty substantial progress and commitments and
> policy initiatives.?
> 
> Connaughton referenced his visit with senior officials in China.  ?It was very
> clear where these issues ranked in terms of where their focus is.  And if they
> are focused on economic growth, if they are focused on national security
> related to their energy use, well, if you start talking to them on those
> terms, the door opens wide.  If you start talking to them in terms of a sort a
> CO2 lead vision, to that lens and carbon constraints, they tend to push you
> off to official number 185.?
> 
> For more information see Gleneagles Gives U.S. Breathing Space on Climate
> Change 
> <http://www.crosslandsbulletin.com/bulletin/stories.php?id=1013&show=bulletini
> ndex> , 8 July 2005; Time for Climate Celebrat!  ion To T urn Sober
> <http://www.crosslandsbulletin.com/bulletin/stories.php?id=1133&show=bulletini
> ndex> , 10 December 2005; and Greenhouse Gas Reporting Guidelines Revised
> <http://www.crosslandsbulletin.com/bulletin/stories.php?id=1224&show=bulletini
> ndex> , 17 April 2006.
>  
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>  
> Visit www.crosslandsbulletin.com </index.php>            © Victor House News,
> Co. 
>        


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