26 December 2007
Why are some people so thick headed (like Bush for instance) that they haven’t heeded scientists reports of global warming? Studies by scientists, for some time, have been measuring the ice in Antarctica and reporting serious changes there. In 2002, an ice shelf the size of Rhode Island, collapsed and fell into the sea. Now a bigger worry is the Ross Ice Shelf, the size of Texas and it is threatened. This will not happen in the near future, but when it does go it could raise sea levels. Antarctica ice is 90% of the worlds fresh water. The loss of ice affects ocean circulation and weather patterns. The Bush administration is just starting to address energy problems. His environmental bill has come too late and is not strong enough. I feel that “big business” such as the auto industry and oil companies have dictated our environmental actions and are continuing to do so.
At the climate change summit in Bali, the U.S. and China have succeeded in preventing any agreements on hard targets for future carbon reductions, despite pleas by the Secretary-General of the UN and strong backing from the nations of the European Union. The US delegation entered these negotiations with the intention of blocking any hard limits on carbon emission. This position is the Bush administration’s promotion of long-term aspirational goals, rather than strict limits. The hard work involved in agreeing upon a binding agreement has been put off to the future. Any agreement on binding emissions limits is not likely to be completed prior to the end of the Bush administration. Presidential candidates appear to be more willing to consider mandated limits on carbon emissions.
The European Union is threatening to retaliate for the US’ refusal to change views at Bali, by boycotting future climate talks hosted by the White House. The absence of major emitters would make them largely pointless. It has been suggested that this threat may be an EU negotiating ploy, but many have seen the Washington talks as no more than an attempt to undermine Bali in the first place.
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