For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 30, 2005
Fact Sheet: President Bush Is Addressing Climate Change
President Bush Is Addressing Climate Change
President Bush is dedicated to climate change policies that grow economies,
aid development, and improve the environment. To address climate change,
the President's policies promote technological innovation and reduce
harmful air pollution in the U.S and throughout the world while improving
our energy security.
* We have an ambitious and realistic goal: In February 2002, President
Bush committed to cut our nation's greenhouse gas intensity -- how much we
emit per unit of economic activity -- by 18 percent through 2012.
* We are making real and accelerated progress: The President's goal
amounts to an annual 1.95-percent cut in emissions intensity. In 2003
alone, U.S. intensity declined by 2.3 percent. Preliminary figures for
2004 suggest even greater reductions in emissions intensity during a period
of robust economic growth.
* We are pursuing a balanced approach to overcome poverty with policies
that protect the environment while promoting development and economic
opportunity:
o The President knows that overcoming extreme poverty goes
hand-in-hand with improving the environment. Stagnant economies are one of
the greatest environmental threats in our world, because people who lack
food, shelter, and sanitation cannot be expected to preserve the
environment at the expense of their own survival - and poor societies
cannot afford to invest in cleaner, more efficient technologies.
o The long-term answer to environmental challenges is the rapid,
sustained economic progress of poor nations. And the best way to help
nations develop, while limiting pollution and improving public health, is
to promote technologies for generating energy that are clean, affordable,
and secure.
o Some have suggested that the best solution to environmental
challenges and climate change is to oppose development and put the world on
an energy diet. But at this moment, about two billion people have no
access to any form of modern energy - and blocking that access would
condemn them to permanent poverty, disease, high infant mortality, polluted
water, and polluted air.
o The President said that we are taking a better approach. We know
that the surface of the Earth is warmer, and that an increase in greenhouse
gases caused by humans is contributing to the problem. Though there have
been past disagreements about the best way to address this issue, we are
acting to help developing countries adopt new energy sources.
* We are taking action: The President has launched a broad portfolio of
domestic and international initiatives to develop and deploy new
technologies through a broad range of programs, including:
Short Term - NOW Midterm -
2010-2020 Long Term
Hybrid or Clean Diesel Vehicles Hybrid/Clean Diesel
Vehicles Hydrogen*
Clean Coal Efficiency Clean
Coal Gasification FutureGen*
Energy Efficiency Standards
Renewable/Efficiency Partnership* Zero Energy Homes
and Bulidings
Renewable Fuel Standard Cellulosic Biomass
Bio-Energy Systems
Nuclear Plant Relicensing Advanced Nuclear
GenIV Nuclear/Fusion*
Enhanced Oil Recovery Geological
Sequestration*
Biological Sequestration
Methane to Markets*
Federal Facility Management Plan
Fuel Economy Standards
Wind, Solar Tax Incentives
Climate Leaders
*
Denotes International Partnership
Climate VISION
SmartWay Transportation
* We are providing record funding for climate change programs: The Bush
Administration will have spent over $20 billion by the end of 2005, more
than any other nation. $5.5 billion is proposed for climate change
activities in 2006. The President has also proposed $3.6 billion in tax
incentives over 5 years to spur use of clean, renewable, and
energy-efficient technologies. These Federal programs are only part of the
effort, as they are also leveraging billions of dollars in private
investments.
* We are guided by the following principles at the G8 and beyond:
o We have shared goals, and our areas of agreement are numerous.
o Climate change is a serious long-term issue, requiring sustained
action over many generations by both developed and developing countries.
Developing innovative technologies that are cleaner and more efficient is
the key to addressing our climate challenge.
o The greatest progress will be assured by a cooperative effort that
combines our strategies with the best strategies of other nations to
improve economic and energy security, reduce harmful air pollution, and
reduce greenhouse gases.
o The President firmly believes that economic growth is essential to
success. Only economic growth provides the resources for investment in the
next generation of cleaner, more efficient technologies.
o We oppose any policy that would achieve reductions by putting
Americans out of work, or by simply shifting emissions from one state to
another, or from the U.S. to another country. Like us, developing countries
are unlikely to join in approaches that foreclose their own economic growth
and development.
The President's approach draws upon the best scientific research, harnesses
the power of markets, fosters the creativity of entrepreneurs, and works
with the developing world to meet shared aspirations for our people, our
economy, and our environment.
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