http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/07/03/g8.bush.ap/index.html
CNN.com - - Jul 3, 2005
Bush wants to shift global warming debate
Sunday, July 3, 2005; Posted: 11:24 p.m. EDT (03:24 GMT)
Bush: "You can grow your economy and at the same time do a better job
of harnessing greenhouse gases."
LONDON, England (AP) -- Ahead of this week's G8 summit, President
Bush says he wants to shift debate on global warming away from limits
on greenhouse gas emissions to new technology that would reduce
environmental harm without restricting energy use.
In an interview with British journalist Trevor McDonald to be
broadcast on ITV television Monday, Bush repeated his opposition to
the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and said the United States would
not sign it or any similar deals limiting gas emissions.
"I think you can grow your economy and at the same time do a better
job of harnessing greenhouse gases," Bush said. "That's exactly what
I intend to talk to our partners about."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who hosts the three-day summit of
major industrial powers that begins Wednesday in Scotland, plans to
make action on global warming a top focus along with tackling poverty
in Africa.
Bush spoke of his administration's investment of $20 billion (16.55
billion euros) in developing hydrogen-powered vehicles, zero-emission
power stations and other technology.
The Bush administration opposes the 1997 Kyoto treaty because
officials believe it would raise energy prices and cost 5 million
U.S. jobs.
"My hope is -- and I think the hope of Tony Blair is -- to move
beyond the Kyoto debate and to collaborate on new technologies that
will enable the United States and other countries to diversify away
from fossil fuels so that the air will be cleaner and that we have
the economic and national security that comes from less dependence on
foreign sources of oil," Bush said.
Blair, who has described global warming as "probably the most serious
threat we face" wants an agreement among G8 leaders on the scientific
threat posed by global warming and the urgent need for action.
He also wants greater research in so-called green technology, and to
draw emerging economies such as China, India, Brazil and Mexico into
the debate.
Prospects of agreement when the leaders of the United States, Russia,
France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan join Blair in Gleneagles,
Scotland, remain uncertain.
Bush described climate change as "a significant, long-term issue that
we've got to deal with" and acknowledged that human activity is "to
some extent" to blame.
Bush also made it clear that he was not ready to slash the farm
subsidies that critics say distort global trade and make it difficult
for African economies to compete unless the European Union was also
prepared to scrap its Common Agricultural Policy.
"We've got agricultural subsidies, not nearly to the extent that our
friends in the EU have," he said. "... The position of the U.S.
government is, we're willing to do so and we will do so with our fine
friends in the European Union."
In the interview, Bush was also asked if he would make a special
effort to support Blair at the summit in return for the British
leader's backing for the war in Iraq.
"I really don't view our relationship as one of quid pro quo," Bush
replied. "Tony Blair made decisions on what he thought was best for
keeping the peace and winning the war on terror, as I did. So I go to
the G8 not really trying to make him look bad or good, but I go to
the G8 with an agenda that I think is best for our country."
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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