World 'at tipping point over global warming'
Pastor Dale Morgan
World 'at tipping point over global warming'*
By Alex Massie and Toby Harnden in Washington
Last Updated: 2:10am GMT 17/02/2007
World at tipping point over global warming
Senator John McCain is a long-term critic of US climate policy
A leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination declared
the debate on global warming "over" yesterday and said that the US would
act to save the environment.
Senator John McCain's speech at a summit on green policies indicated a
crucial change in US political opinion towards climate change.
"I am convinced that we have reached the tipping point and that the
Congress of the United States will act with the agreement of the
administration," said Mr McCain, who is a favoured candidate in next
year's presidential primaries.
"The debate is over, my friends. Now the question is: what do we do? Do
we act, do we care enough about the young people of the next generation
to act seriously and meaningfully, or are we going to just continue this
debate and this discussion?"
Mr McCain, a long-term critic of US climate policy, was speaking after a
two-day summit in Washington of envoys from the G8 group of countries,
as well as representatives of developing nations including China, India,
Brazil, South Africa and Mexico.
All leading presidential candidates have emphasised the dangers of
global warming or the need for energy independence. Diplomats, who
dismiss the Bush administration's efforts as too little are confident
that whoever is elected in 2008 will take significant steps on global
warming.
Individual states have begun to act. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of
California joined forces with Tony Blair last year to launch plans for a
new transatlantic carbon trading market.
The Global Legislators' Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE)
called for a new worldwide agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol on
global warming, which expires in 2012. Among the panel's recommendations
is a new global market to limit and trade carbon emissions.
GLOBE believes that developing countries should set targets to reduce
their own emissions. The Kyoto Treaty on climate change was never
ratified by the US Senate, largely because it did not require countries
like China and India to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.
"In our view, the evidence that man is changing the climate is now
beyond doubt. But we must be clear that climate change is a global issue
and there is an obligation on us all to take action, in line with our
capabilities and historic responsibilities," the group said in a statement.
Although GLOBE has no legal power, its recommendations reinforce a new
consensus on Capitol Hill: global warming is a genuine and man-made
phenomenon and the US must do more.
Mr McCain said voluntary agreements to reduce emissions from power
plants and vehicles were not enough to "change the status quo".
Senator Joe Lieberman, who ran for vice-president on the Democrat ticket
in 2004, co-chaired the conference with Mr McCain. He said the new
Democratic-controlled Congress would pass tighter energy restrictions by
2009.