UK attacks US over climate

[cal04]

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has criticised the US's record on combating global warming in the wake
of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans. In a speech in Berlin, Mr Prescott took a swipe at the US government, which has refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol. He told the International Congress of the Council for European Urbanism that climate change was to blame for rising sea levels and more storm activity. Mr Prescott drew a parallel between New Orleans and "at risk" island states.

'Solidarity and compassion'
Mr Prescott stressed his "compassion" for the US, but said President Bush's administration had been "wrong" not to join Britain and other leading industrial nations in supporting the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. "I want to take this opportunity to express our solidarity and compassion after the havoc of Hurricane Katrina. "As a European negotiator at the Kyoto climate change convention, I was fully aware that climate change is changing weather patterns and raising sea levels," he said. Some commentators have suggested Katrina is an example of the type of storms that will become more common with global warming.

The Kyoto agreement aims to reverse global warming through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. But the US government has been reluctant to accept that human activity is to blame. In his speech, Mr Prescott also hailed the US city mayors who had ignored their federal government's position and had taken action locally to limit carbon emissions. He said: "On a recent visit to the United States, I was delighted to see that city mayors are taking their own environmental initiative on Kyoto.

"This year, 178 mayors, representing over 36 million Americans have signed up to the goals of Kyoto - along with 60 mayors from cities like London, Shanghai, Moscow and Rio who have agreed to take 21 practical actions on energy waste, urban design, health water and transport." He continued: "The horrific flood of New Orleans brings home to us the concern of leaders of countries like the Maldives, whose nations are at risk of disappearing completely. "I'm proud that Britain has already achieved its Kyoto target on greenhouse gas emissions - six years ahead of time, with a growing economy."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4232612.stm

[Greeby]

1. John Prescott speaking decent English?

Will wonders never cease? :wow:

[cal04]

2. I guess he'll be apologizing. Can't say anything against the King

Prescott attack on US causes storm
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was accused of opportunism after he linked the hurricane disaster in New Orleans with America's record on climate change.

In a speech in Berlin, Mr Prescott said he believed global warming was to blame for rising sea levels and increased storm activity. He drew a parallel between the US city devastated by Hurricane Katrina and the island states which scientists believe are under threat unless the process is halted.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1922142005

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[Coventina]

4. It's the elephant in the room no one wants to acknowledge

"GLOBAL WARMING"

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[Piscis Austrinus]

7. Welcome to DU!

And that's a fair question. However, I would point out that the current administration failed on a number of fronts, all of which contributed to the magnitude of the Katrina disaster.
Would New Orleans have been hit? Probably, but not definitely. For reasons of my own, I have been fearful for this city since 2003. I also do not believe that full funding for all levee projects over the past five years would necessarily have prevented what we now see unfolding.
The problem to me is the incredible indifference and neglect and outright hostility I see emanating from the GOP and its spokesmen prior to, during, and in the wake of Katrina. It's clear to anyone with even passing knowledge of the issues surrounding this disaster that the current regime did not consider this kind of event as a priority. That understanding should give every American serious pause, and judging by the poll numbers I have been seeing, it has.

PsA

[DeepModem Mom]

6. The press has had to focus on the immediate, but they must address...

climate change re. Hurricane Katrina. I hope they will, and when they do, I hope it will be with the same strength most have shown in reporting the response to Katrina.

[buzzsaw_23]

8. Prescott (UK Deputy PrimeMinister) Links Global Warming to Katrina

Prescott links global warming to Katrina

Juliette Jowit and Ned Temko
Sunday September 11, 2005
The Observer


John Prescott sparked controversy yesterday by linking America's refusal to tackle climate change to the devastation of the New Orleans hurricane.The Deputy Prime Minister caused potential embarrassment for Britain by drawing a parallel between the US city destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and island states that scientists believe are under threat of being swamped.

<snip>

A debate has raged in the US over whether global warming is responsible for the recent series of storms. So far this year there have been 15 named storms, significantly more than average.

<snip>

He told the international congress of the Council for European Urbanism: 'As a European negotiator at the Kyoto climate change convention, I was fully aware that climate change is changing weather patterns and raising sea levels.

'The horrific flood of New Orleans brings home to us the concern of leaders of countries like the Maldives, whose nations are at risk of disappearing completely. There has been resistance by the US government to Kyoto - which I believe is wrong.'

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1567318,00.html