Chuck Hagel: “as I stated in a previous colloguy with my colleagues, we have reached broad agreement on many of the provisions within…”

“as I stated in a previous colloguy with my colleagues, we have reached broad agreement on many of the provisions within Title X related to the development and coordination of a national climate change policy. There remain considerable uncertainties about the causes of climate change, which has been noted by the National Academy of Sciences. Our focus should be on addressing these uncertainties, not taking drastic unwarranted action that could cause severe economic disruption. The revised provisions of Title X and other provisions will help reduce these uncertainties and take practical, market oriented steps to vastly improve our energy efficient technologies. The agreement appropriately calls for the creation of a national strategy to address the challenge of climate change. It also creates an interagency task force to better coordinate climate change policies with the Executive Branch. This is needed. Climate change policy cris- crosses the jurisdiction of multiple government agencies. Far too often questions posed to the previous administration were answered with the response, ``You'll have to ask someone else. We don't handle that area.'' There needs to be accountability for climate change within the Executive Branch. President Bush has already taken the initiative, and put forth a forward looking strategy to take action on climate change.”