In Snub to Bush, US Mayors Sign Environment Accord

In Snub to Bush, US Mayors Sign Environment Accord

news.yahoo.com

NEW YORK (AFP) - Some 500 US mayors pledged on Tuesday to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Kyoto Protocol, signaling their objections to the environmental policies of President George W. Bush.

"Mayors took action because we have to, because the federal government was silent," said Douglas Palmer, head of the United States conference of Mayors.

A total of 514 US mayors attending an environment summit of world city leaders signed the accord to slash pollutants to below 1990 levels by 2012.

The United States Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement is the only climate protection agreement of its kind among US elected officials. Bush has refused to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol.

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Since our President is busy protecting all the rich corporations profit margins from any new environmental laws that would reduce pollution or reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases, Mayors from across the country have decided to step up to the plate and introduce laws in their own communities.

It seems kind of alarming though, according to the article, that these mayors are the only elected officials in the US that have done anything to help reduce greenhouse gases thru regulations or laws.

Kinda like the mayors saying, "if you don't have the kahunas to do something about this problem, then we will."



news.yahoo.com
(visit the link for the full news article)



[edit on 16/5/07 by Keyhole]

I don't really see why this is a snub. I think Bush is all for things being decided at the local level, so if these mayors want to go ahead on their own, more power to them. It's just Bush doesn't want it to be federally mandated.

Bush cant sign Kyoto if the Senate doesnt pass the legislation.

so maybe its more of a snub to the Senate than to Bush

It looks like Bush is actually trying to get some kind of regulations on greenhouse gases into affect now, this is an article from 5/15

Bush Finally Moves to Curb Greenhouse Gas Emissions

NEW YORK President George W Bush on Monday made it clear that he would be directing the Environmental Protection Agency to take concrete steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bush was forced to take this action following a Supreme Court ruling, but although he said some action would be taken by 2008; there was no mention of anything specific.

Speaking in the Rose Garden at White House, Bush said that nothing would be finalized before the regulatory process was put into motion. That process is due to be completed just a few weeks before Mr Bush quits office in 2008.

This quote is from above, "he said some action would be taken by 2008."

But then in the last paragraph:

He added that after the regulatory steps were completed in 2008, his cabinet secretaries would “evaluate the benefits and costs before they put forth the new regulation.”

I doubt he is going to do anything substantial while in office to curb greenhouse gases.