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US at Odds With World Over Climate Change

Europeans call Bush's emissions proposal 'a total charade'

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 29, 2007 7:43 AM CDT

(Newser) – International diplomats in Washington for a conference on climate change lashed out yesterday after President Bush proposed non-binding global emissions standards. Even big polluters China and India found Bush's plan unfeasible, instead favoring mandatory measures. A European diplomat had "never heard a more humiliating speech by a major leader," reports the Guardian.

Britain's special envoy on climate said that the US had "isolated" itself on the issue and noted that it was not Bush but Arnold Schwarzenegger, who's putting policies in place in California, who represented the "most inspiring example of leadership this week." Critics are calling Bush's emphasis on technology and glossing-over of qualitative goals a "total charade."

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, right, speaks with Deputy National Security Advisor Dan Price at the Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change at the State Department in Washington,... (Associated Press)

President Bush speaks during the Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change, Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, at the Department of State in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari) (Associated Press)

Indonesia's Mines and Energy Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, left, and Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar, right, listen as President Bush, not pictured, speaks at a White House-sponsored... (Associated Press)

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US at Odds With World Over Climate Change

Europeans call Bush's emissions proposal 'a total charade'

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US at Odds With World Over Climate Change

Europeans call Bush's emissions proposal 'a total charade'

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

climate change • George W. Bush

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

How Much Did Obama Really Add to Deficit?

Ezra Klein crunches the numbers and comes up with a lower total than you think

'No Global Warming'? Critics Slam 2 Articles

Science scribes lambaste articles in the Wall Street Journal , Daily Mail

Bush's CIA Chief: We Ruled Out Iran Strike

Michael Hayden says it would have backfired then, and would now, too

Moderate? Romney Makes Bush Look Liberal

GOP has moved to the right since 2000, and Romney has, too: Ezra Klein

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