Bush on global warming, second hand, from a partisan source

Analysis:

This article is an original piece by a GR Press reporter and it was framed around the comments of local US representative Vern Ehlers on his observations of Bush’s comments on the issue of global warming at the G-8 summit. The piece starts with Ehlers being quoted as saying “It clearly indicates a change in attitude,” “He’s put a lot of money into research and the results are starting to come in.” This is followed by quotes from Tom Leonard, executive director of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council, who says “I don’t see any evidence of a shift,” “The Bush administration has been denying this for a long time”. The article then lists a series of points showing how the Bush has addressed environmental issues, noting things such as white house officials editing out mentions of global warming in EPA policy documents, Bush’s failure to follow through a campaign pledge to reduce emissions, and the resignation of his first EPA administrator over policy issues.

The final person quoted is local US representative Peter Hoekstra. The article says that Hoekstra “thinks Bush hopes to convince the world it must draw up air quality standards that apply equally to everyone.” So the article, while containing some important contextual information in the middle, starts and ends with two partisan figures making statements about what they think the President is going to do on the issue of global warming. The reporter never states what Bush actually said at the recent G-8 summit on the issue of greenhouse emissions, rather, it gives the reader this information filtered through the perspective of two local politicians. Also, the headline frames the piece in terms of Ehlers comments, that Bush may be changing policy on Global warming. And yet, no evidence to support this conclusion, other than the two representatives’ remarks, is given to the reader.

Story:

Ehlers says Bush may be warming up to old argument
Sunday, July 10, 2005
By Steven Harmon
The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS — President Bush isn’t about to join the global warming crowd, but he may be warming up to it.

That’s what U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids, thinks after hearing what Bush had to say about climate change last week at the Group of Eight summit in Scotland.

Bush said Wednesday he recognizes “the surface of the Earth is warmer and that an increase in greenhouse gases caused by humans is contributing to the problem.”

“It clearly indicates a change in attitude,” said Ehlers, chairman of a House subcommittee that deals with global warming. “He’s put a lot of money into research and the results are starting to come in.”

The statement doesn’t square with Bush’s history, said Tom Leonard, executive director of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council. For instance, he said, Bush refused to sign the Kyoto treaty. And he generally has been dismissive of science that concludes global warming is at least partly caused by human activity.

“I don’t see any evidence of a shift,” Leonard said.

“The Bush administration has been denying this for a long time,” Leonard said. “Now, perhaps it is prepared to accept the reality, but there’s not much indication that he’s prepared to work with the rest of the world in doing anything about it.”

Environmentalists were critical of the G-8 summit’s failure to commit to urgent action for reducing greenhouse gases, saying the Bush administration was the main obstacle.

The list of disappointments for environmentalists is long:

– Environmental Protection Agency administrator Christine Todd Whitman, considered a moderating force on environmental issues, resigned in 2003 after policy clashes with the Bush administration.

– In 2002, White House officials, editing an EPA policy document, eliminated references to studies that conclude global warming is a serious problem partly caused by industry emissions.

– In 2001, Bush reversed a campaign pledge and said he would not seek to regulate power plants’ emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas that many scientists say is a key contributor to global warming.

Bush has long said that more scientific study on climate change is needed and that developing alternative energy sources is a better answer. At the summit, he said he still opposes the Kyoto treaty, saying it “would have wrecked our economy,” and called for a “post-Kyoto era where we can work together to share technologies, to control greenhouse gases as best as possible.”

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, said he thinks Bush hopes to convince the world it must draw up air quality standards that apply equally to everyone. Kyoto made exceptions for undeveloped countries.

“I’m not convinced we’re at the point where we need to do radical changes solely to address the issue of global warming,” he said. “If we can reduce greenhouse gases committed by humans, we’d be better off.

“But does that mean I’d write a letter encouraging the president to present Kyoto to the House for approval? No. If applied fairly and equitably across borders, I’d be inclined to support it.”