WH Science Report Recognizes Manmade Global Warming As Problem - Industry Shrugs - LA Times

[hatrack]

President Bush's top science advisors issued a comprehensive report Thursday that for the first time endorses what most scientific experts have long asserted: that greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion "are very likely the single largest cause" of Earth's warming.

The 271-page report could undercut opposition to the more aggressive provisions of climate legislation, which is to be debated in the Senate next week.

Ed. - emphasis added

EDIT

Industry representatives greeted the report with a shrug. "It's well known that autos represent about 20% of the total in the U.S. of man-made emissions," said Charles Territo, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

Jim Owen, spokesman for the Edison Electric Institute, said the power industry "abandoned the science debate years ago. It's universally recognized in our industry that climate change is very real."

EDIT

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-me-warming30-2008may30,0,4571589.story

On edit: more coverage - and in case you'd been wondering, it wasn't that they wanted to release it . . .

The Bush administration has released a climate change assessment - four years late and pushed forward by a court order - that says human-induced global warming will likely lead to problems like droughts in the US West and stronger hurricanes.

President George W Bush's stance on the issue has evolved from denying climate science to acknowledging that global warming is happening.

EDIT

In 2006, the Bush government was accused of censoring its scientists on global warming, such as NASA expert James Hansen, which led to the firing of an official at the space agency.

Sharon Hays, the White House associate science director, said Thursday's document offered "a greater focus on what scientists know about climate change impacts in the United States" than the 2007 reports by the UN panel.

EDIT

http://news.theage.com.au/world/us-climate-report-fuels-fears-of-drought-20080530-2jr3.html

[kestrel91316]

1. ".....Industry representatives greeted the report with a shrug........"

....because they truly don't give a damn and aren't going to do a f---ing thing in response.

It's ALL about increasing THIS quarter's profits. Period.

[phantom power]

2. How ground breaking. What with it being his lame-duck period...

and a "throw-the-bums-out" election year and all.

[silverweb]

3. Further proof...

...that "the market," "self regulation," and "voluntary measures" will never be enough for industry to the right thing. Even concern for the ultimate survival of the human race is not enough.

The bastards will have to be forced into compliance and anyone who says different is either in bed with them or a complete idiot.

[pscot]

6. If we just take a dozen or so corporate execs

out behind the barn and shoot them, it might serve to inspire the rest.

[silverweb]

7. Could we put them in jail instead?

I'm anti-death penalty, even for them. :D

[pscot]

8. To paraphrase Dr.Johnson

Nothing concentrates the mind like knowing you'll be shot for bad behaviour.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. This report was written in 2004 and the White House has refused to release it until now.

[WillyToad]

5. The GOP is a suicide cult....

...so is the christian religion. The end fantasy is the destruction of the world. Why don't people see this religion for what it is? It is a human extermination cult.