NPR: Bush Invites Nations to Climate Change Conference

Bush Invites Nations to Climate Change Conference

When I first saw this headline from The Associated Press, "Bush invites nations to climate change summit," I thought the next one I'd see might be: "Hell freezes over." (The last time hell froze over was, of course, in October 2004, when the Boston Red Sox won the World Series.)

Not that I'm questioning the president's intentions. He wants "to bring India, China and other fast-growing countries to the negotiating table so they are part of the solution, not the problem." Maybe the relentless beat of reports that have confirmed the reality of global warming has changed his mind. Or maybe his buddy, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who feels very passionately about global warming, convinced the president that he could no longer ignore the elephant in the corner of the Oval Office.

Whatever. For the most part, Bush appointees have relentlessly underplayed the effects of global warming, if not denied them altogether, or have said it's not a problem we necessarily need to "wrestle with."

But if the president is really serious now about dealing with climate change, then, as Blair has often said, he could have a huge positive effect.

The conference is set for September and will be hosted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The United Nations also has a similar meeting set for a few days before the Bush conference.

4:47 PM ET | 08- 3-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

You noted that Bush set the date of the conference on the same dates as a similar conference was scheduled at the UN? Is this supposed to support the UN conference?

Sent by Bill Reiswig | 8:08 PM ET | 08-06-2007

Bill: The AP story Tom mentioned touched on your question a bit.

"Presidential spokesman Scott Stanzel dismissed a question about whether the White House conference was aimed at competing with or deflecting attention from the U.N. meeting Sept. 24.

'This effort is intended to aid the U.N. process that is ongoing,' Stanzel said."

Sent by Erica Ryan | 8:52 AM ET | 08-07-2007

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Tom Regan

Blogger

About Us

This year's election cycle has been one of the most exciting in memory. At the NPR News Blog we'll do our best to bring you interesting, informative -- and controversial -- stories from our own reporters and bloggers, as well as the rest of the best of the Internet and blogosphere. And we hope you'll let us know what you think as well.

Want to learn more? Be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions and our discussion guidelines.