US power industry leaders turn on Bush

Financial Times 4 September 2002

US energy business leaders yesterday condemned the Bush administration for defeating attempts to set new targets for the use of renewable energy. In the biggest confrontation at the summit the US and oil exporting countries from Opec refused to compromise on EU proposals to adopt new targets to reduce the use of fossil fuels. The US stance angered American businessmen responsible for the expansion of renewables. Michael Marvin, president of the US business council for sustainable energy, said: “We spent two weeks listening to the words about sustainable development and environmental protection, but in the end it was the status quo that ruled the day. An historic opportunity was lost in Johannesburg.” Instead of agreeing new targets, the summit agreed to promote the growth on an urgent and substantial basis. US opposition to the targets was always expected, though it has perplexed many in the energy industry.

Margaret Beckett, head of the UK delegation, said the EU had backed down over the issue after the US had made clear its total opposition to the proposals. She said the development of renewables could continue at a regional level. US sensitivity on energy policy was further demonstrated yesterday after it forced the removal of any specific mention of the climate change convention reached at the Rio earth summit and signed by the US, from the political declaration to be signed by world leaders in Johannesburg. However, during the summit both Russia and Canada indicated they would ratify the Kyoto protocol by the end of the year. This would mean enough countries having ratified to bring the agreement into force.

By John Mason in Johannesburg, Financial Times