In his last State of the Union address on Monday night, President Bush called for “an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases.” But don’t get excited — he hasn’t done a 180 on the Kyoto Protocol. “This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy,” he continued, reiterating his long-held view that the U.S. shouldn’t pledge to act unless China, India, and other big developing nations pledge too. Everything else Bush said about the environment during the address was also recycled from previous statements and speeches. He emphasized “clean energy technology,” lauded “emissions-free nuclear power,” and called for investment in “new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions.” In the Democratic response to the speech, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius praised mayors, governors, and the majority in Congress who are taking steps now to fight global warming, and asked, “Mr. President, will you join us?” We suggest she not wait by the phone.
