Significant Arctic Climate Change May Force Bush's Hand on Environmental Policy

In an article from the CSMonitor (as many of you know, one of my favorite newspapers), a group of international climate experts released a report, Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, on Monday (11/8/2004) suggesting that "global warming is heating the Arctic at a rapid pace." This report indicates that glaciers are melting at a rapid pace, that Arctic temperatures are increasing at twice the rate of the global average, and a 20 percent reduction in the summer ice pack on the Arctic Ocean in the last 30 years. The study was assembled over a four-and-a-half-year period and includes input from over 300 scientists from leading polar-research centers, and experts on arctic climate from eight countries and at least six independent organizations.

This report comes on the heels of the signing of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kyoto agreement requires signatories to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 5.5% between 2008 and 2012. The Bush administration has refused to participate in the Kyoto agreement, and many commentators believe the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment and a new report from the Pew Center for Climate Research will push the President to take more significant measures to curb CO2 emissions during his second term.

Another option that seems viable would be a proposal that was initially suggested by former EPA administrator Christie Whitman and former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill (both quietly removed from those positions in the Bush administration). Ms. Whitman and Mr. O'Neill suggested addressing the measurable quantities of CO2 in the atmosphere rather than addressing the issue of emissions (which can be a less-measurable quantity). The Bush administration, largely through the leadership of Vice-President Dick Cheney and his work with the top-secret energy advisory commission, has neglected to address environmental quality standards, or to make any effort to significantly reduce any of the known factors that contribute to the 'global-warming' issue.