The Bush Administration's Approach to Climate Change

In this Policy Forum, U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham discusses the Bush administration9s strategy to achieve the U.N.9s Framework Convention on Climate Change objective of stabilizing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that avoids interference with the climate system. Over the short term, the administration has developed policies and voluntary programs to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the U.S. economy by 18% between 2002 and 2012. Longer term, the United States is laying the groundwork in climate science and technology to reduce uncertainties, clarify risks and benefits, and develop realistic mitigation options to meet the UNFCCC objective. Major research activities under the administration9s Climate Change Science Program and Climate Change Technology Program are described.