US hits back over climate allegations

The United States has hit back angrily at allegations from the European Union that President Bush’s new climate change initiative was unambitious without mandatory emissions reductions.

Stavros Dimas, the European Environment Commissioner, gave a cool reception to Mr Bush’s announcement that he would support the agreement of a new post-Kyoto agreement on climate change before he leaves office in 2009.

Mr Dimas said: “The declaration by President Bush basically restates the US classic line on climate change – no mandatory reductions, no carbon trading and vaguely expressed objectives.”

Telegraph