Bush Isolates U.S. on Climate Change

The U.S. and China seem to have more and more in common these days. Torture comes to mind, but also the failure to take part in any framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The New York Times reported today that the Bush administration has rejected an offer from Germany to a proposed framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050. It was pretty clear from the outset that Europe (Germany, Italy, France, and Britain) was going to agree to the framework. The interesting bit of news was the addition of Japan to that group. That leaves, among major emitting countries, the United States and China as the resistors. The Bush administration not only rejected the offer, but rebuked the Germans for "crossing multiple red lines" in the offer.

Apparently, the U.S. has now isolated itself even further from the rest of the world. One diplomat was quoted saying, "The United States, on this issue, is virtually isolated". Well we do have some company, China, and perhaps India.

Now we are part of our own axis, the axis of assholes!