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Bush 'must fight climate change' Bush 'must fight climate change'
(about 1 hour later)
Chief executives of some of the largest companies in the US have urged President George W Bush to introduce measures to tackle global warming.Chief executives of some of the largest companies in the US have urged President George W Bush to introduce measures to tackle global warming.
The executives from nine corporations said Mr Bush should support a mandatory cap on greenhouse gas emissions.The executives from nine corporations said Mr Bush should support a mandatory cap on greenhouse gas emissions.
Mr Bush will address the issue in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, but will not introduce binding rules for emissions, the White House says.Mr Bush will address the issue in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, but will not introduce binding rules for emissions, the White House says.
President Bush has in the past rejected mandatory controls on greenhouse gases.President Bush has in the past rejected mandatory controls on greenhouse gases.
The US withdrew from the Kyoto protocol in 2001.The US withdrew from the Kyoto protocol in 2001.
'Desire for clarity''Desire for clarity'
"We can and must take prompt action to establish a co-ordinated, economy-wide market-driven approach to climate protection," the executives said in a letter to President Bush."We can and must take prompt action to establish a co-ordinated, economy-wide market-driven approach to climate protection," the executives said in a letter to President Bush.
Mr Bush is preparing to make his State of the Union speechMr Bush is preparing to make his State of the Union speech
They have formed a group - the US Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) - which they intend to use to push for mandatory caps on greenhouse gases to cut them by more than 60% by 2050.They have formed a group - the US Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) - which they intend to use to push for mandatory caps on greenhouse gases to cut them by more than 60% by 2050.
"It's time for the nation's political leaders to come together and act," Duke Energy chief executive Jim Rogers - a USCAP member - told reporters at a news conference in Washington."It's time for the nation's political leaders to come together and act," Duke Energy chief executive Jim Rogers - a USCAP member - told reporters at a news conference in Washington.
Other members of the USCAP are CEOs of Alcoa, BP America, DuPont, Caterpillar, General Electric, Lehman Brothers, FPL Group and PG and E.Other members of the USCAP are CEOs of Alcoa, BP America, DuPont, Caterpillar, General Electric, Lehman Brothers, FPL Group and PG and E.
The pressure from big business stems form a desire for clarity, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says. The pressure from big business stems from a desire for clarity, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says.
At the moment, some states impose caps and the severity varies.At the moment, some states impose caps and the severity varies.
The White House said President Bush was going to make important announcement about energy efficiency and greenhouse gases.The White House said President Bush was going to make important announcement about energy efficiency and greenhouse gases.
But White House press secretary Tony Snow said "binding economy-wide carbon caps" are not part of Mr Bush's approach.But White House press secretary Tony Snow said "binding economy-wide carbon caps" are not part of Mr Bush's approach.
Mr Snow added that the president believed that industry must come up with innovations to address the issue of climate change.Mr Snow added that the president believed that industry must come up with innovations to address the issue of climate change.