Climate Deal

NYT reported The United States agreed today to “seriously consider” a European proposal

We can seriously consider anything, as long as we don't have to destroy our economy to implement it.

to combat global warming by halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, breaking a trans-Atlantic deadlock at a meeting here of the world’s richest industrial nations. The compromise, hammered out in tough negotiations between the United States and Germany, also endorses President Bush’s recent proposal to gather together the world’s largest emitting countries, including China and India, to set a series of national goals for reducing emissions.

Unless those two nations are on board, doing anything to hurt our economy would be sheer stupidity.

The agreement does not include a mandatory 50 percent reduction in emissions, a key provision sought by Chancellor Angela Merkel. Nevertheless, Mrs. Merkel, the host of the meeting, proclaimed it a “huge success.”

50% is insane, but it is nice that she has backed down.

After days of discord between Europe and the United States, which had threatened to veto any reference to concrete reductions, the deal amounted to a face-saving compromise for Mrs. Merkel. It also reaffirmed that climate negotiations should take place under the auspices of the United Nations

Of course. They have done such a wonderful job preventing Iran and North Korea from getting nuclear weapons, and in stopping the genocide in Darfur, why shouldn't we do it through the Usless Nations.

— something else sought by Mrs. Merkel.... With Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain planning to leave office later this month, and the new French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, an unknown quantity to Mr. Bush, Mrs. Merkel may be the president’s best friend in Europe, and he can ill afford to cause strain to the relationship.

It would be even worse if he did something to hurt our economy. US Carbon Emissions decreased on Bush's watch, without Kyoto and ten of 15 European Union signatories will miss the Kyoto targets.