The American Spectator

Special Report

The Snowe-Rockefeller Road to Kyoto

By Marlo Lewis on 11.3.06 @ 12:07AM

(Page 2 of 2)

With a few exceptions like Great Britain, European countries are having trouble meeting their Kyoto targets. For example, Kyoto aims to reduce European Union (EU) emissions by 8% below 1990 levels during 2008-2012. However, even with European gasoline prices exceeding $6.00 a gallon, EU transport sector emissions are 24% above 1990 levels.

Some European nations may be able, with the help of accounting gimmickry, to barely comply with the first phase (2008-2012) Kyoto targets. But there is no way Europe will be able to meet more stringent targets in the next phase unless European firms can find a vast new supply of low-cost emission reduction credits. Such a supply will materialize only if key developing countries like China and India agree to participate. However, there is no hope of China and India ever participating unless, in Snowe and Rockefeller's words, "the United States officially reengage[s] and demonstrate[s] leadership on the issue of climate change" -- i.e., unless the United States joins the Kyoto club.

Why doesn't the United States "reengage"? In Snowe and Rockefeller's opinion, it's because ExxonMobil, through its "front groups," has exerted "relentless pressure on the media." This has "confused the public and given cover to a few senior elected and appointed government officials whose positions and opinions enable them to damage U.S. credibility abroad."

In other words, the tail wags the dog. The chain of causality runs as follows. ExxonMobil funded CEI. CEI puts pressure on the media. Due to that pressure, the Bush administration keeps America out of Kyoto. Because America does not join, neither do China and India. Without China and India, Kyoto collapses. Therefore, CEI is responsible for killing Kyoto. Quick somebody put that in our next fund-raising letter!

In effect, Snowe and Rockefeller suggest that when CEI says "jump," the White House says "How high?" They also appear to believe that China's leaders are just waiting for Bush to give the word and then they'll agree to stop building coal-fired power plants. This is all so ridiculous it's funny.

Unfortunately, the hunt for scapegoats is never funny. As it becomes clearer that the Kyoto Protocol is doomed, the need within green political circles to blame domestic enemies for the failure of this unsustainable treaty will only become more pressing. Expect congressional subpoenas, show trial hearings, and harassment suits by state attorneys general to punish climate skeptics and silence free market voices in the marketplace of ideas.

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Foreign Policy, Environment, Global Warming, European Union, NATO, Energy