“4/18/2008, 2:25pm EST”
Bush climate tragicomedy continues →
President Bush’s last “major” climate speech was 6 years ago in 2002, indicating just how lethargic his approach has been to what can be aptly labeled the most pressing issue of our generation. (And yes, [as even the pentagon has admitted](http://observer.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4864237-102275,00.html), it is even more serious than terrorism, particularly as climate change has the deep potential to fuel greater social unrest around the world.) In keeping with Bush’s climate record, he provided very little substance this time around, although at the very least, he is now able to admit that climate change is happening.
The speech focused on the familiar theme of reducing so-called “greenhouse gas intensity” (GGI). For the layperson, that may sound impressive — and undoubtedly this is the reaction that the Bush administration and its corporate allies hope for — but in reality it means extremely little.
GGI is a metric used to describe the growth in carbon emissions relative to gross domestic product (GDP). So: an economy can reduce its GGI to zero and still increase its carbon emissions. In fact, GGI routinely decreases even as total emissions rise. This is because businesses generally become more efficient over time, even as total greenhouse gas output increases with heightened overall economic activity.
Instead of getting serious about fixing this problem, Bush has embraced the wimpiest approach imaginable. It is one that does nothing to actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with no incentive whatsoever provided to shift our carbon-spewing economy and lifestyles towards greener pastures. What’s worse, such muddied language can further confuse the electorate on an already complex issue.
In terms of specific policy aims, President Bush prescribed a goal of reducing the growth in greenhouse gas emissions in America to zero by 2025. This would be a tragic case of far too little, far too late. Fortunately, our lame duck — no disrespect whatsoever to ducks — will be out of office before he can spew too much more hot air.
Never leave home without it.
