WHAT NOW...?

It’s likely that James Hansen’s House speech made enough of a splash to spur positive change in American environmental policies. The late June timing of the speech may have already influenced the international stage as well. For just two weeks after Hansen’s warm reception in Washington, President Bush did something quite uncharacteristic and unexpected at the Group of 8 conference in Tokyo. At this gathering of the world’s eight richest nations, the president led a pledge to “move toward a low-carbon society” by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050 (NY Times). As the New York Times noted, “The declaration by the Group of 8—the U.S., Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and Russia—was the first time that the Bush White House had publicly backed an explicit long-term target for eliminating the gases that scientists have said are warming the planet.” Coincidence? Or an attempt to catch the wave of attention and adulation that Hansen’s recent House appearance generated in the media?

Bush’s proposal wasn’t ideal. It didn’t set a goal for cutting emissions over the next decade, and that angered environmentalists. However, it was a surprising reversal for the president, who had previously dismissed global warming as a speculative threat, and perhaps “naturally caused.” (tv clip link) The NY Times suggested that “For Mr. Bush, who has just six months left in office, (his Group of 8) declaration was part of a concerted effort to salvage his legacy on climate change before the next administration comes in.” It’s nice to think that Hansen’s House speech—which catalyzed the country into an urgent dialogue on climate change—helped inspire the president’s reversal. Whether his about-face was out of conviction or capitulation.