FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2006

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Pelosi: Bush Administration Lacks Serious Policy on Global Warming

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, which met in Australia yesterday and today:

“At the climate change meetings in Australia, the Bush Administration yet again wore a fig leaf and called it a full suit of clothes.  To cover up the lack of a serious policy on global warming, the Administration instigated this Partnership, which claims to promote technologies that reduce greenhouse gases.  In reality, the Asia-Pacific Partnership is a red herring to distract attention from the Bush Administration’s failure to tackle the greatest environmental challenge of our time.   

“Voluntary measures to promote new technologies are not enough; binding agreements to reduce greenhouse gases are essential if we are to stabilize the earth’s climate.  Yet even the Bush Administration’s commitment to new technologies falls short, because they are clearly unwilling to make the investments needed to ensure that these new technologies will be rapidly developed, commercialized, and adopted by developed and developing countries alike. 

“The United States pledged to include $52 million in the 2007 budget to promote cleaner technologies in Asia-Pacific Partnership countries.  This is a tiny sum in comparison to the need, a promise on which the US is unlikely to deliver, since the Administration continues to squeeze the budget to pay for tax cuts for the rich and the war in Iraq.  In contrast, House Democrats have put forth our Innovation Agenda, which includes a strong commitment to clean energy.

“While many companies are now taking climate change seriously, the prominent participation of naysayers such as ExxonMobil casts further doubt on the purpose of the Asia-Pacific Partnership.  At the same time, nations with a real commitment to reducing greenhouse gases, such as Canada, were shut out.  It’s time for the Bush Administration to cast off the fig leaf and join with the nations of the world to stop global warming.”

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi