Mixed Reviews
January 25th, 2007 by Carbon CoalitionThe general consensus among business leaders at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland was that the President’s State of the Union Address left people wanting more–on the issue of climate change at least. Business leaders said they were pleased he acknowledged climate change as a “serious challenge,” but most were dissappointed when he stopped there. James Rogers, chief executive of Duke Energy, said “it is a good step, but we need to take many more.” K. Srinivas, a campaigner for India Greenpeace, explains why many are frustrated: “He is diluting the issue by talking in terms of cutting the United States’ oil dependency, rather in terms of the serious environmental consequences.”
Some, however, are trying to see the glass half full. Yvo de Boer, head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat, thought Bush’s comments were “very encouraging,” and Nicholas Stern said “he did have quite strong targets for biofuels. That is in itself an important step forward.” (Read the entire article from the New York Times here.)
In the Granite State the Laconia Citizen and Foster’s Daily Democrat got reactions from opinion leaders on both sides of the aisle. Environmental activist Jan Pendlebury said ‘’The president’s big ethanol gamble is a pipe dream. In the 1970s, Jimmy Carter proposed creating a giant alternative fuels industry, too. Three years later, oil prices fell and the whole thing went bust.” Rep. Jim Ryan believes the energy policy the President is offering is “too little, too late.” However, Rep. Fergus Cullen thought “This is his best speech yet.”
Reviews of potential presidential contender Gov. Bill Richardson’s Jan. 16 State of the State Address were much more positive in regards to his stance on climate change. Richardson declared that New Mexico should become the first state to power all of its state buildings with 100% renewable energy. He would also like to implement tax credits and cuts for green offices and homes, set up a fund to promote innovations, and his long-term goal is to cut carbon emissions by 30% and set more technological control over coal-fired power plants. (Read the whole story from ScrippsNews here.) I wonder if his speech writer would be interested in a position at the White House?
Also, check out the blog “A Few Things Ill Considered.” It offers a guide on “How to talk to a Climate Skeptic.” Between this guide and the very similar one from Grist, you should have all the answers you’ll ever need.
