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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bush climate plans spark debate | Bush climate plans spark debate |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A plan by US President George W Bush for states to set their own targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions has drawn considerable criticism. | |
| Some delegates at a meeting of the world's top 16 polluters saw Mr Bush's comments as a US reluctance to commit to binding action on global warming. | Some delegates at a meeting of the world's top 16 polluters saw Mr Bush's comments as a US reluctance to commit to binding action on global warming. |
| Officials at the Washington forum said legally-set international targets were the only way to tackle climate change. | Officials at the Washington forum said legally-set international targets were the only way to tackle climate change. |
| Mr Bush stressed that combating climate change should not damage the economy. | Mr Bush stressed that combating climate change should not damage the economy. |
| And he again hinted that the US would not commit itself to mandatory CO2 cuts. | And he again hinted that the US would not commit itself to mandatory CO2 cuts. |
| 'Not enough' | 'Not enough' |
| "Each nation must decide for itself the right mix of tools and technology to achieve results that are measurable and environmentally effective," Mr Bush told delegates in Washington. | "Each nation must decide for itself the right mix of tools and technology to achieve results that are measurable and environmentally effective," Mr Bush told delegates in Washington. |
| But his comments did not go down well with a number of the ministers, diplomats and officials attending the US-sponsored forum on energy security and climate change. | But his comments did not go down well with a number of the ministers, diplomats and officials attending the US-sponsored forum on energy security and climate change. |
| I think the argument that we can do this through voluntary approaches is now pretty much discredited internationally John AshtonBritain's climate envoy Critics round on Bush plan href="/1/hi/world/americas/7019346.stm">Motives behind Bush's summit | |
| South African Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said in a statement: "What [the US] placed on the table at this meeting is a first step, but is simply not enough. | South African Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said in a statement: "What [the US] placed on the table at this meeting is a first step, but is simply not enough. |
| "We think that the US needs to go back to the drawing board." | "We think that the US needs to go back to the drawing board." |
| The British climate envoy, John Ashton, said the US seemed isolated on the issue of fighting climate change. | The British climate envoy, John Ashton, said the US seemed isolated on the issue of fighting climate change. |
| "I think that the argument that we can do this through voluntary approaches is now pretty much discredited internationally," he told the Reuters news agency. | "I think that the argument that we can do this through voluntary approaches is now pretty much discredited internationally," he told the Reuters news agency. |
| The BBC's environment correspondent Matt McGrath, in Washington, said Mr Bush's plan did not sit well with the majority of delegates. | The BBC's environment correspondent Matt McGrath, in Washington, said Mr Bush's plan did not sit well with the majority of delegates. |
| The plan exposed serious differences over the best way forward on climate change, he added. | The plan exposed serious differences over the best way forward on climate change, he added. |
| Shortly after taking office in 2001 Mr Bush said he would not ask Congress to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on cutting emissions, and has consistently opposed mandatory cuts. | Shortly after taking office in 2001 Mr Bush said he would not ask Congress to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on cutting emissions, and has consistently opposed mandatory cuts. |
| 'Isolated' | 'Isolated' |
| Instead the president has championed voluntary approaches - echoed by China and India. | Instead the president has championed voluntary approaches - echoed by China and India. |
| Mr Bush urged delegates on Friday to set a joint long-term goal for reducing the CO2 emissions that were causing the climate to heat up. | Mr Bush urged delegates on Friday to set a joint long-term goal for reducing the CO2 emissions that were causing the climate to heat up. |
| "By setting this goal, we acknowledge there is a problem. And by setting this goal, we commit ourselves to doing something about it," Mr Bush said. | "By setting this goal, we acknowledge there is a problem. And by setting this goal, we commit ourselves to doing something about it," Mr Bush said. |
| Activists want the US to take the lead in solving the climate crisis | Activists want the US to take the lead in solving the climate crisis |
| He told delegates his Washington forum would work within the framework of UN-led negotiations to craft a successor to Kyoto, due to begin in December in Bali, Indonesia. | He told delegates his Washington forum would work within the framework of UN-led negotiations to craft a successor to Kyoto, due to begin in December in Bali, Indonesia. |
| But he stressed that it was possible to cut emissions without harming economies. | But he stressed that it was possible to cut emissions without harming economies. |
| "We must do it in a way that does not undermine economic growth or prevent nations from delivering greater prosperity for their people," he said. | "We must do it in a way that does not undermine economic growth or prevent nations from delivering greater prosperity for their people," he said. |
| Humberto Rosa, a Portuguese minister representing the EU, welcomed the "firm and strong message", which he said was in "sharp contrast" to previous US attitudes. | Humberto Rosa, a Portuguese minister representing the EU, welcomed the "firm and strong message", which he said was in "sharp contrast" to previous US attitudes. |
| Teams from Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Japan, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Russia and the US took part in the Washington forum. | Teams from Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Japan, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Russia and the US took part in the Washington forum. |