As the old saying goes, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions."ÃÂ Unfortunately, this adage may be accurately applied to George W. Bush's stance on environmental issues. The president wishes to usher in a new era of environmental protection by abolishing the federal government's role in mandating, regulating, and litigating. More than three decades have passed under this form of environmental stewardship, but Bush believes it is time to return significant authority to state and local communities (Chandler). I believe the president's policies in this matter are dangerously misguided and pose a serious threat to the environment.
President Bush has taken disturbing stances on several environmental issues. At the international level, he vehemently opposes the Kyoto Protocol, a widely accepted agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Originally, the summit that resulted in the Kyoto Protocol called for 60 to 80% emission reductions, as the scientific community advised this was necessary to stabilize the environment "ÃÂ it would do nothing to address the damage already done.
English: Official photograph portrait of former U....
English: Bush in Concord, New Hampshire signing to...
President George W. Bush shakes hands with Iraqi P...This was immediately opposed, due to the economic setbacks such high requirements would involve. After a great deal of discussion and negotiation, the nations present agreed to a 6% global reduction "ÃÂ meager, yes, but certainly a step in the right direction. Bush believes the United States was targeted unfairly, as we were required to have greater reductions. "Unfair"ÃÂ is hardly the case, as there exists valid reasoning behind the decision. First and foremost, the United States is a huge source of greenhouse gas emissions, and it is essential that we begin curtailing our contributions to industrial pollution. In addition, it was hoped that developing nations would follow the lead of the "superpower"ÃÂ to environmental consciousness (Greenstein).
The president also believes that further research of global warming is necessary, as he feels...