Bush: Technology will prevent climate chaos

In a speech that was billed by White House officials as the turning point for America’s response to climate change, George Bush revealed that the US will not be penalising the biggest polluters through taxes or fines, but will be taking a more softly softly approach.

Bush said that he believes penalising those who pollute the environment is the wrong way to go about tackling climate change.

Instead, the US government, together with the private sector, will be providing $1 billion to invest in ‘clean’ coal research, and an additional $40 billion in loans for other renewable energy research projects and initiatives.

This move towards researching cleaner energy is part of Bush’s long term strategy for the US to halt greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions growth by 2025.

The strategy has been maligned by environmental activists and political commentators alike, who have accused Bush of greenwash.

Critics point to the fact that scientists have made it clear that reductions in GHG emissions are needed immediately - not in seventeen years time - if the worst effects of climate change are to be prevented.

Furthermore, it was pointed out that businesses have an obligation to shareholders to make the most profit possible, so are unlikely to move away from fossil fuels and nuclear power until they become too expensive.

Other governments are also unhappy. South African officials have labelled Bush’s proposals as unambitious, and have highlighted that other countries in the rich world are already reducing their GHG emissions.

Senior officials from the European Union called the plans ‘disappointing’, but added that Bush will be leaving office soon, so he needn’t be taken too seriously.