Wallström blasts Bush climate policy

Date: 28/02/02

By Martin Banks

ENVIRONMENT Commissioner Margot Wallström has sharply criticised US President George W. Bush's plans on tackling climate change, claiming they would actually result in a 'very substantial' increase in greenhouse emissions.

'His proposals are simply not sufficient to fight global warming effectively,' she claimed.

Speaking ahead of Monday's (4 March) meeting of EU environment ministers, the Swede said: 'The EU is particularly concerned about the purely voluntary nature of the actions he proposes.

'Furthermore, a review of the effective-ness of the measures will not take place before 2012.

'It is clear that the proposals for US action on climate change are purely domestic but I am concerned that they will not even be sufficient to reduce US emissions.

'Mandatory monit-oring and reporting of emissions...would be necessary to adequately assess whether his plans represent an effort comparable to the ones under the Kyoto protocol,' she added.

Environment ministers are expected to focus on two items: a presidency report on the emissions trading directive and political agreement on the ratification of Kyoto.

In other developments that are likely to upset Washington, the EU is being urged by Iran to condemn Bush's claims that it forms part of an 'axis of evil' with Iraq and North Korea. The Iranians hope the EU-Persian Gulf Cooperation Council meeting taking place today (28 February) in Granada, Spain, will result in a joint declaration by ministers distancing themselves from Bush's remarks.

External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten wants the EU to encourage Iranian President Muhammad Khatami to continue with democratic reforms.

The Commission has also made plain its dismay at US and Israeli efforts to thwart Tehran's attempts to join the World Trade Organisation.

European Commissioner for the environment, Margot Wallström, has sharply criticised US President George W. Bush's plans on tackling climate change, claiming they would actually result in a 'very substantial' increase in greenhouse emissions.