Blair To Challenge Bush (*Snort!*) On Climate Issues - Independent

[hatrack]

"Tony Blair is persuading President George Bush to launch a new international initiative to fight global warming. The move, in part an attempt by Mr Blair to shrug off the label as the President's "poodle", is the result of a series of behind-the-scenes meetings between high-level officials, The Independent on Sunday has learnt.

The two leaders are close to agreement on combating climate change at the next two G8 meetings of the world's most powerful leaders

EDIT

The move comes as the President, renowned for his efforts to kill off the Kyoto Protocol, is facing increasing domestic pressure over global warming. Mr Blair decided last month to make reviving the international effort on global warming a major theme of the G8 summit in Britain next year, and to try to persuade Mr Bush to put it high on the agenda at this year's meeting.

Last month, Professor Sir David King - Mr Blair's chief scientific adviser - led a delegation to Washington to work out the details with senior members of the Bush administration. The President will concentrate in this year's summit on how to develop new technologies."

EDIT

[cprise]

1. Britain is almost dead last in EU renewable energy

So the posturing is just a way to make himself (Blair) look environmentally concerned to casual observers.