    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [May 23, 2007]
    [Pages 612-613]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Energy Information Administration's Report
    May 23, 2007

        I was pleased to receive the Energy Information Administration's
    report today, which includes its ``flash estimate'' of U.S. carbon
    dioxide emissions for 2006. The report shows that emissions declined 78
    million metric tons over 2005, or 1.3 percent, while our economy grew
    3.3 percent. That means CO2 intensity decreased by 4.5
    percent--the largest annual improvement since 1990--putting us well
    ahead of what is needed annually to meet my greenhouse gas intensity
    reduction goal of 18 percent by 2012.
        In 2001, I outlined fundamental principles to guide a scientifically
    sound and effective effort to reduce greenhouse gas

    [[Page 613]]

    emissions. In 2002, I committed this country to reduce our economy's
    greenhouse gas intensity--how much we emit per unit of the GDP--by 18
    percent by 2012. Since then, we have moved forward with an effective
    climate change policy that is science based, encourages research and
    investment in the technologies needed to solve the problem, and takes
    advantage of the power of markets.
        We are effectively confronting the important challenge of global
    climate change through regulations, public-private partnerships,
    incentives, and strong economic investment. New policies at the Federal,
    State, and local levels--such as my initiative to reduce by 20 percent
    our projected use of gasoline within 10 years--promise even more
    progress. I have called on Congress to pass this legislation quickly,
    and I have also directed the EPA and the Departments of Transportation,
    Energy, and Agriculture to take the first steps toward regulations,
    using my 20-in-10 plan as a starting point. At the same time, we will
    continue to lead internationally through sensible partnerships promoting
    development and deployment of clean energy technologies, such as the
    Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, which
    includes China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.