Tom Udall: “The World Meets to Solve Global Warming. U.S. on Sidelines. U.S. Won't Join in Binding Climate Talks. These are news…”

“The World Meets to Solve Global Warming. U.S. on Sidelines. U.S. Won't Join in Binding Climate Talks. These are news flashes from the Montreal Conference this weekend on global warming. Countries from around the world met in Montreal to address the issue of global warming. Where was the United States and the Bush administration? On the sidelines, out of commission, not willing to forward a plan or proposal on the far-reaching challenge of our time. The Bush administration has its head in the sand. For most of its time in office, this administration has refused to recognize there is even a problem. Recently they acknowledged that man's burning of fossil fuels is warming the Earth but refused to take concrete action. When President Clinton was invited to speak to the conference, the U.S. team threatened to boycott. President Bush, wake up. The countries of the world are leaving you behind. President Bush, our country needs a leader who will protect our children's future. Since 1990, we have seen the 10 warmest years in history. Before our eyes, ice caps are melting, glaciers are shrinking, oceans are warming, and sea levels are rising. Scientists tell us we can expect more extreme storms, higher intensity hurricanes, more severe droughts, and other dramatic climate changes. We must act now to protect our children. We must act now to leave our children a better world. Carbon dioxide emissions must be brought under control. We know how to do this.…”