[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16387]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    COMMENDING THE NATIONS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE WORLD SUMMIT ON 
                        SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 9, 2002

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the one hundred and 
ninety-one nations that participated in last week's United Nations 
World Summit on Sustainable Development. I hope that the cooperative 
efforts of these nations will begin to solve the mounting problems that 
have been brought to bear by decades of rampant consumption, resource 
depletion, and overpopulation.
  I applaud a major victory of the conference: China's decision to join 
the Kyoto Protocol and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. I welcome 
Russia's intention to do the same very soon in the near future. But, I 
am left with profound disappointment at the United States continued 
failure to offer our leadership and cooperation in this effort.
  The United States, absence at the World Summit on Sustainable 
Development was not only a setback to America's leadership in the 
world, it was indicative of the Bush Administration's lack of 
commitment to solving a problem for which we are a major cause.
  Fossil fuel consumption and Carbon Dioxide (C02) 
emissions--the major contributors to greenhouse gas and global 
warming--are on the rise, most notably in the United States and Asia. 
The United States, Canada, and Mexico are the primary source of 
CO2, emissions in the world. In fact, CO2, 
emissions in North America have grown steadily over the last decade, 
nearly 16 percent between 1990 and 2000. Meanwhile, these emissions 
have declined in the former Soviet Union, Europe and Japan.
  The World Summit was a unique opportunity for nations to 
cooperatively address what scientists have long stated are the serious 
consequences of global climate change. Major glaciers and arctic sea 
ice are retreating, causing sea levels to rise. Rainfall has increased 
in the Northern Hemisphere leading to unexpected flooding and related 
disasters. Insurance payments for flood and storm damage rose by $28 
billion in just a decade. Meanwhile, droughts and subsequent poverty 
and famine have been devastating large parts of Asia and Africa.
  The President's failure to attend the summit--like his withdrawal of 
the United States support for the Kyoto treaty--puts the world's 
environment and economic well being in jeopardy, even as nations forge 
on without us. The President's indifference only isolates us from our 
allies and alienates the developing world.
  Indeed, the root causes of global climate change are inextricably 
tied to the economic and social conditions in which much of the world 
lives. We cannot ignore the lack of econonmic opportunity and poverty 
that help breed extremism and hatred toward the United States. The 
World Summit was a profound opportunity for us to lend a compassionate 
hand to improving lives of people throughout the world.
  The United States, as the only remaining superpower, is expected to 
show leadership on all issues affecting the global community. The 
President's decision to abandon a leadership role on global climate 
change and sustainable economic development, I fear, will severely harm 
our standing in the world--not to mention the environment--for years to 
come.

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