WASHINGTON, D.C. — United States officials confirmed March 28 that the country has effectively abandoned the 1997 Kyoto treaty to fight global warming, dealing a blow to European hopes to salvage the pact.
“The president has been unequivocal. He does not support the Kyoto treaty,” said White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer.
“It is not in the United States’ economic best interest,” he said.
Asked whether the U.S. would withdraw from the treaty, Fleischer said it had never come into force, meaning “there’s nothing to withdraw from.
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“Given the fact that it was voted 95-0 against in the Senate, it’s a clear sign that there is little support, if any.”
Fleischer was referring to a non-binding resolution, passed before the Kyoto pact was reached, that said the Senate could not support any global warming pact that did not bind developing countries along with developed countries.
The European Union, which said last week the global warming issue was an integral part of its relations with the U.S., expressed concern over the Bush administration stance.
Democrats and environmental groups denounced the U.S. position.
“The new president came to town saying he would change the tone and change the climate in Washington. I guess we didn’t realize it was the real climate he wanted to change,” said Richard Gephardt, U.S. House Democratic leader.
Officials later said the U.S. would work with other countries on alternatives to the pact and that it was not considering formally “unsigning” the treaty.
An official said Washington planned to attend last-ditch talks on the treaty in Bonn, Germany in July.
The pact, which aims to limit industrial-nation emissions of greenhouse gases thought to cause global warming, was signed by former president Bill Clinton in 1998 but never introduced in the Senate for ratification.
Bush opposes the pact because it does not require developing nations to curb emissions.
He believes the costs of the pact outweigh the benefits, Fleischer said.
