Arguably (well, I don't think there's much of an argument actually), the biggest fear for the upcoming Bali Summit is that the current U.S. President, George Bush, will still be so backward in his thinking that he'll hamper negotiations and stifle any possibilities for concerted action.
As such, I'd like to help remove one ace from Mr. Bush's sleeve - the possibility that he may try to take centre-stage with boasts of recent emission reductions in the U.S.
What am I talking about? The Energy Information Administration, Office of Integrated Analysis and Forecasting for the U.S. Department of Energy has released a report - Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2006 (PDF) - giving emissions data for the United States for 2006. Comparing these figures with 2005 shows a 1.5% reduction in emissions. Although only a small reduction, at least it's not an increase. But how were these emission reductions acheived? What policies and actions brought about this barely encouraging figure? Well, just a policy of inaction actually:
For the second time in under six months, the Bush administration is using the results of failed climate and energy policies—the warmest year on record and higher energy prices—as proof that they are contributing to a reduction in global warming emissions. Final numbers released by the Energy Information Administration today, originally released in draft form in May, said that the drop in global warming emissions was due to weather-related events and high energy prices.“This is the perfect metaphor for the administration’s posture of passivity as the world gathers to confront global warming in Bali.” said Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. “Emissions went down in the U.S. because heating and cooling degree days went down – not because of any policy success of the Bush administration. Our 100 years of carbon emissions are now warming the planet, and science says that if we don’t drastically reduce those emissions, today’s balmy weather could turn deadly for much of the planet. Nevertheless, our innately-optimistic president has decided that the tiny temporary reduction in emissions from warmer weather validates his policy of doing nothing. Someone needs to tell him that when it comes to preventing climate catastrophe, warmer weather is not the cure!”
... “The world is warming, and Bush isn’t just fiddling while the world burns, he’s singing his own praises to the same lackluster tune,” continued Markey. “I hope the President’s negotiators do not try to use this information during the international climate negotiations next week in Bali, as they will be laughed out of the place.” - The Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming
