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Skriven 2005-06-30 23:33:02 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (050630e) for Thu, 2005 Jun 30
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Fact Sheet: President Bush Is Addressing Climate Change
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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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