Blair Promises To Be Really, Really Mean To Bush On Climate Issues

[hatrack]

The government signalled a tougher British and European stance yesterday against the Bush administration's hostility to the Kyoto treaty when Tony Blair takes over the chair in both the EU and the G8 group of major industrial states next year.

Ahead of Mr Blair's big September speech on climate change - the world's biggest collective challenge, he will say - a minister admitted the time has come for the government "to move from words to delivery" at home. Abroad it must also press Washington "to be more ambitious", he said.

That amounts to confirmation that Labour has not done enough, despite brave words since 1997, and that ahead of likely British elections in the spring it must improve its record and distance itself from the White House. In a speech to an environmental conference in London, Lord Whitty, Labour's former general secretary, now an environment minister, told delegates, "we plan to use our position in every way we can to push this agenda at a senior level" in the EU and the G8, makingwhat he called "a clear case for concerted action" by the world community.

EDIT

With Mr Blair returning from holiday this week to start preparing his speech, and the environment featuring as a sensitive issue in the Bush-Kerry presidential race, Lord Whitty had to tread a diplomatic course yesterday and was careful to praise US research. He continued: "But research and development is not a substitute for taking concerted action to reduce emissions now. We know enough about climate change to know that if we do not act now, we will need to make more drastic changes later."

In answer to questions about aircraft pollution he admitted he personally favours a pan-European, preferably, a global tax to tackle a fast-growing problem. Aviation fuel is untaxed. That is no more likely to appeal to the US aviation lobby than Lord Whitty's confirmation that Mr Blair's chairmanship will press for the start of an EU emissions trading scheme and tackle EU aviation emissions."

EDIT

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/green/story/0,9061,1289369,00.html

[xchrom]

1. that's a really long joke

but the punch line is funny -- blair tough on bush -- bwhahahahahahahahaha!

[aden_nak]

2. If Blair ever wants to see public office again. . .

He's going to have to start pimp-slapping Bush at every oppertunity. Our Great Leader is, eh, not so popular over there in Europe. Especially the "Old" section.