Climate change: U.S. not interested

Sometimes, all one can do is appreciate the synchronicity of things. On the very day we hear about the glacial progress on climate change at the G-8 summit, with President Bush at the table, of course, we hear of the cuts Vice President Dick Cheney's office ordered in congressional testimony on the health consequences of climate change.

When the White House demanded cuts to climate change testimony by the U.S. Centers dor Disease Control and Prevention last fall, we were told it was done because of issues relating to the testimony's accuracy. But a former Environmental Protection Agency advisor says Cheney's office worked hard to dilute the testimony.

According to The Associated Press, in a letter to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Jason Burnett wrote that, "The Council on Environmental Quality and the office of the vice president were seeking deletions to the CDC testimony (concerning) ...any discussions of the human health consequences of climate change." Committee chairwoman Barbara Boxer noted the heavy editing was done to try to make sure the EPA's response to calls to regulate greenhouse gases "would be as weak as possible."

How appropriate that just as the G-8 is being accused of "stalling tactics" by environmentalists, it comes to light that at least one player -- the U.S. -- has little interest in meaningful greenhouse gas/climate change regulation, here or elsewhere.