In Europe, President Bush to Feel Heat Over Kyoto Treaty
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is expected to come under pressure at the G8 Summit to reverse his decision to abandon the Kyoto Treaty on global warming. Talks aimed at rescuing the 1997 pact are under way now in Bonn, Germany. Here now is CNN environment correspondent Natalie Pawelski.</s>NATALIE PAWELSKI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The last time international negotiators gathered to tackle global warming, the American delegation ran into opposition from protesters accusing the United States of dragging its feet. This time around, more harsh words are expected, from diplomats, upset President Bush has declared the Kyoto Protocol dead.</s>GLENN KELLY, GLOBAL CLIMATE COALITION: The criticisms will come fast and furious in Bonn. It is scripted, and it is expected. It will be sort of like watching a world wrestling federation smackdown: It looks painful to the observer, until they realize it is all done for show.</s>PAWELSKI: Despite Washington's decision to drop the Kyoto Treaty -- that's the United Nations-sponsored grand plan for curbing global warming -- the Bush administration has sent a delegation to the Bonn conference.</s>KALEE KREIDER, NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST: I think the real question is going to be does the United States try to either passively or actively block progress other countries might be trying to make to complete the negotiations and move ahead.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And the National Academy of Science Indicates...</s>PAWELSKI: President Bush has called for more research on global warming and says international efforts should focus on new technologies, instead of mandatory pollution controls, which the administration says could hurt the U.S. economy. Many U.S. business leaders say the president has the right idea.</s>KELLY: ... he understands how important it is that we address it on ways that are based on sound science, on market principles, on technology -- that holds the key to the future, rather than the United Nations deciding how much energy Americans can and cannot use.</s>PAWELSKI: Supporters of the Kyoto Treaty, including major environmental groups, say time is running out.</s>KREIDER: The Untied States is the largest polluter. We contribute about 25 percent of the global warming pollution that you find in the atmosphere, so it's just really unfortunate the Bush administration chose to abandon this treaty without any real policy review.</s>PAWELSKI (on camera): In Bonn, all eyes will be on the Japanese delegates, who may hold the fate of the Kyoto Protocol in their hands. If Tokyo decides against the treaty, it's difficult to see how it could survive. But if Japan sides with Europe, the treaty could end up deciding how much of the world combats global warming, whether or not the White House approves. Natalie Pawelski, CNN.