Markey calls on Bush Admin. to Stop Procrastinating on Climate Change

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Select Committee, 202-225-4012

MARKEY: BUSH ADMIN. STILL PROCRASTINATING ON CLIMATE CHANGE

WASHINGTON (September 10, 2007) - The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Sydney, Australia came to a close yesterday after failing to produce any major arrangement addressing climate change. The presidents of the United States, China, Russia and leaders of other Asia-Pacific economies produced a declaration acknowledging the dangers posed by heat-trapping global warming emissions, but containing no binding targets or timetable for reducing emissions.

Below is the statement of Edward J. Markey, Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming:

"The Bush White House is engaging in climate change chit-chat, hoping that a nice long conversation about aspirational goals will substitute for joining our allies in setting binding targets that will move American away from global warming pollution for good. The administration has realized the need to start talking the talk when it comes to global warming, but they still can't bring themselves to walk the walk, and back up their statements with real action.

"This disappointing APEC declaration is just a prelude to the upcoming emitters conference here in Washington, DC, which is shaping up as the granddaddy of all Aspirational Conversational Invitational forums, where the world's biggest polluters compete to talk circles around one another, misleading the public into thinking that action is being taken while ensuring that no action actually occurs.

"Thirty percent of the world's species are facing extinction, and millions of people living in vulnerable communities face massive dislocation, death and misery within a few decades. The Bush administration is playing for more time, but there is no more time to play with. Their failure to stand up on this issue could well be a legacy that eclipses the war in Iraq when the history books are written."

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