At G8, Bush Hangs Tough on Greenhouse Gas Goals

Bush meets with German chancellor, stances remain divided
By Max Brallier,  Newser User
Posted Jun 6, 2007 10:16 PM CDT
At G8, Bush Hangs Tough on Greenhouse Gas Goals
dent Vladimir Putin and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. Back row left to right, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, U.S. President George W. Bush, and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)   (Associated Press)

The G8 summit convened today, with President Bush still holding out on long-term greenhouse gas emissions goals. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's proposal includes hard targets which would cut emissions in half by 2050 and limit global temperature change to an increase of 3.6 degrees F. The plan also includes a mandate to increase energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. 

Bush and Merkel did their best to present a unified front after a working lunch, though it's clear they disagree strongly on the issue. Discussions will continue to be tense as negotiators work—Merkel is one of Bush's strongest European allies and the president won't want to risk straining their relationship. (More G8 summit stories.)

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