The only way to get Bush to act other than in his own interests is with the application of political pressure from those he considers his important allies, and they are simply too scared to try and tell him what to do. Shame. John Barnes, Hull, E. Yorks
The fact that Bush fails to recognise the depth of its impact on climate and the environment speaks volumes about his ignorance. Trying to appease him with watered down and goalless legislation is hopeless. Would you take a new law seriously if it were changed every time you said you didn't agree with it. Other nations around the globe should take the lead and show up the US for the polluting greedy country it is. Paul Goddard, Baldock, Herts
The evidence for anthropogenic climate change is far from perfect, but the case for it is far stronger than the case against. The climate system and its many positive and negative feedback loops is still poorly understood, but undoubtedly thresholds are key to rapid changes in climate. If we go past a threshold because of increased CO2, CH4, dust, etc, emissions it may be irreversible. To gamble the welfare of all life on earth by ignoring the evidence and hoping that humans have no impact is ridiculous. It is better to be safe than sorry. Name withheld, Whitley Bay
It is not global warming that poses the greatest threat to humanity but the philosophy of environmentalism and the idea that the environment should be worshipped independently of its worth to man and in contradiction to his interest. The climate has undergone severe disruptions without the presence of man over millions of years and there is simply no objective evidence that man is causing disruptions today. Problems associated with human existence, such as the environment, are a technological issue, not a political one, and can be resolved, provided man has the freedom to think objectively and act in his best interest. D. S. A. Murray, London
Bush's view on climate change vs US prosperity saddens me. I realise that a healthy economy in the US drives the rest of the world, but the time must come when what is basically American greed and selfishness, irreparably damages the rest of the world. Gayle Walker, Chichester, Sussex
If you shared a house with other people and they abused the conditions which enabled you to live together happily and safely, you would do something about it. If they took more than their share of food, smoked cigarettes around non-smokers, didn't clean the toilets, left water running in an unused shower; if they did any of these things to pollute your environment and diminish your way of life, you would do something about it. Someone should inform Mr Bush that we all live in the same house as he does and we want him to clean up his act. Keith Downer, London
Sadly it is true that the US doesn't think of itself on the same terms of the rest of the world. Many Americans see themselves isolated from the rest of the world's problems, and it does not help that our government promotes that idea. The US Government does not do anything unless it has something to gain. Bush has proven himself untrustworthy in his word. The right-wing politicians need to get off their high horse and see that the environment is everybody's problem and quit looking at the dollar signs. Please note that many Americans don't feel this way and can't wait for Bush to be out of office. Robin Castellanos, San Antonio, Texas
Take a look at the fleet of "gas guzzlers" that taxi George W. around town. The man is a liar. He got us into this war for three reasons - O I L. It is frightening to think he will be in charge for another three years. Kim Righetti, Upland, California
It is all rhetoric. Everything the man says is false. He clearly does not want Americans to lose their love affair with gas guzzlers because that will affect his love affair with his mates in Saudi Arabia. Quite frankly, the US invaded Iraq to secure its energy source for its gas-guzzling culture which will not change. Bush has no desire to curb energy demand in the US. More oil means more money for Bush and his crooked friends at Carlyle. If you can listen to the man and not cringe at his poor command of the English language, you would know he rarely doesn't lie. He is not telling the truth in this case either. Peter Philips, London
It really doesn't matter whether or not this president's remarks go far enough, because everyone by now realises that he doesn't mean what he says anyway. Typical to the man, he tries to deflect blame on the consumer, and not the manufacturers of those gas-guzzling SUVs, even though they have had thirty-plus years to make them stop guzzling gas (instead, they try to get SUVs reclassified as trucks, to make their passenger car mileage figures look better). No matter what this president says now, he will do nothing to help the environment but will do everything he can to help shield the large corporations from their responsibilities. Name and address withheld
The very term "gas guzzler" is in itself an immotive word in casual conversation here in the US. The vast increase in bigger and heavier vehicles for personal use is totally opposite to what has happened in most of the rest of the world, as fuel costs and emmissions have increased. The problem lies in the average American's way of looking at the world. "If I can afford it I can damn well have it". Americans don't like to be told what's good for them, the irrational defence of the right to bear arms is a perfect example of this thinking process. With gas at $2.20 gallon its still only half what most other nations pay. Take into account the average disposable income and fuel cost has even less impact on individuals. Not until it hurts the pocket book will the US do anything really dramatic about energy consumption. Bush, as any other American President is powerless to change attitudes. Keith Manton, Marietta, USA
When are you fools going to figure it out? Kyoto cuts at the heart of the US economy. Why should we support such a measure? If you want to give away your wealth, do so and we will applaud you. Donald Cheatham, Ann Arbor, Michigan
George Bush says he will be focused on US interests. Perhaps someone should explain to him the term "global warming". The clue is in the word global, George - it does affect you, mate! Robert Thompson, Bath
George Bush fails to understand that the interests of the whole world are in the interest of the USA. The two are not exclusive. Canada has a strong commitment to Kyoto and on June 28, 2005 our House of Commons unanimously accepted a plan to increase aid to 0.7 per cent GDP by 2015. I feel positive about the G8 meeting, despite Bush's attitude. Jan-Michael Wildeman, Toronto, Canada
D. S.A. Murray is the only contributor so far who has drawn attention to natural climate change -independent of human interference. As an illustration of this phenomenon, it is interesting to note that as the ice-cap recedes at the South Pole, dead leaves have been found underneath. You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to work out where they came from. Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames
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