Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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When will PM deliver the cooperation of 'best buddy' Bush on Climate Change?
Speaking ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit to the US this week, Lewes MP and Lib Dem Shadow Environment Secretary, Norman Baker has challenged Tony Blair on the floor of the House of Commons to press President Bush to join global efforts to tackle the urgent issue of climate change. Under the Bush administration the United States, by far the planet’s biggest polluter, has failed to cut its emissions levels of greenhouse gases and refuses to reconsider its decision to pull out of the Kyoto treaty – an international treaty signed up to by the planet’s major polluters under which they have agreed to cut their own emissions levels.
Speaking during Prime Ministers Questions Norman asked Tony Blair:
“Will the Prime Minister raise the issue of climate change when he reports for duty in Washington tomorrow? Given the importance that he attaches to the issue and the fact that President Bush has been the main obstacle to international progress on climate change, are we to conclude that he has not been raising the matter with President Bush, or have his concerns been contemptuously swept away in this one-way street of a special relationship?”
In response the Prime Minister insisted that there is a clear difference between the British and US governments on the issue but refused to answer whether it would be on the agenda for this week’s meeting with President Bush
Speaking after the debate, Norman said:
“We all know that climate change is a huge problem facing the future of the planet and that all nations must work together if we are to effectively combat it. Clearly, as the world’s biggest polluter, the US must play a major part in this. We cannot continue in this situation where a country with only 4% of the world’s population is responsible for 25% of its total carbon emissions.
“The Prime Minister claims to recognise the urgency of the issue and maintains that he has pushed the Bush administration to act. However, judging from US intransigence, it appears that either Tony Blair is not trying hard enough or that he is simply being swept aside”
“It is imperative that we now get the US on board global efforts to tackle climate change. In our supposedly unique position of influence in our ‘special relationship’ with the US, I would urge the Prime Minister to redouble his efforts to do so when he meets with his best buddy George Bush whilst he’s in the US.”
A copy of Norman’s question and the Prime Minister’s response is attached
10 Nov 2004 : Column 840
Norman Baker: Will the Prime Minister raise the issue of climate change when he reports for duty in Washington tomorrow? Given the importance that he attaches to the issue and the fact that President Bush has been the main obstacle to international progress on climate change, are we to conclude that he has not been raising the matter with President Bush, or have his concerns been contemptuously swept away in this one-way street of a special relationship?
The Prime Minister: The difference between us and the American Administration on climate change is well known, although it is not only a difference with this particular Administration—I think I am right in saying that the Senate vote against the Kyoto protocol was something like 100 to nothing. The difference is clear and well documented. However, I must tell the hon. Gentleman and other Liberal Democrat Members who cavil at our relationship with the United States that none of the issues—not climate change, not the Palestinian peace process, not the changes we want to see in the world—will be addressed without the engagement of the United States of America. We should be proud of our relationship with it.