As leaders of the Group of 8 (G8) nations meet June 6-8 in Heiligendamm, Germany, industry and environmental groups are waiting to see what they say about global warming. President Bush on May 31 proposed that major countries join to set “a long-term global goal” by the end of 2008 to trim greenhouse gas emissions. But environmental organizations criticized the announcement, contending that it was just a call for more discussions and not concrete steps to reduce global warming.
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) on June 4 said that Bush’s announcement was “a hollow proposal.” Philip Clapp, president of the National Environmental Trust, called it “a transparent effort to divert attention from the President’s refusal to accept any emissions reductions proposals” during the G8 conference.