Whilst I'm all for reducing dependence on oil (i.e. mineral oil) I think that for any nation to allow outside interest groups steer its economy is plain stupid. Obviously America thinks that too.

Bob Millar, Stockholm, Sweden

As a US citizen I have come to see that waiting for my government to mandate meaningful change in energy policy is futile. It is incumbent upon us as individuals to use less power in our homes and less fuel in our cars. Our government long ago ceded its leadership position on environmental issues (as well as most others). The truth is that government mandates will only take us so far anyway. The power companies and oil refiners and auto companies will never change their ways without market pressure to do so. At the end of the day, we have to change the way we live, and, as always, that is up to us, not George Bush or Angela Merkel, though, obviously, their help would be nice.

Emlyn Lewis, Medford, MA

Germany apparently has lost sight of a fundamental truth of international relations: nobody can make the US do anything it doesn't want to do.

No country can, and no combination of countries can. We're the Big Dog. You need us more than we need you, and if you annoy us we'll simply shrug, pick up our toys, and go somewhere else.

Learn to live with it.

And incidentally, Germany might make a nod towards the fact that China is now burning more coal than the EU, Japan and the US all put together -- and that they're adding 8 megawatts of coal-fired generating capacity _every day_.

All this climate-change hoopla is purely symbolic and demonstrative. In fact, nothing substantial will be done.

S.M. Stirling, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

I agree with Linda from Santa Fe, the majority of us here in the US are counting the days until this absolutely arrogant administration is gone from office. I also have to agree with Max from Worcester, MA, USA who indicates that China and India should also be pressured upon to sign up. Climate change is a global problem and it requires all countries to participate and that's a good point, but it is also unrealistic to expect all countries to sign on at once and at this point in time it is time for the US to sign on. Afterwards, it will require a country by country commitment and continual pressure upon those who do not abide as suggested by Phil from London.

Jack, Mansfield, MA, USA

Ha, just a thought: Merkel telling Bush "You are on your own. Agree with the majority or else we will reconsider some of our (trade) relations. " Whoopee. Won't happen. She will not dare to play the majority card. As long as Europe doesn't play hardball like the US nothing will change.

Niko, Wiesbaden, Germany

Why do you want to wait until India, China and the rest of the developing world to sign these agreements first? US is a first world country and should set a leading example to reducing carbon emission and reversing the effects of global warming. This is no "I am not going to do it unless you do it first" children's game. The consequences for failing to act in time means putting the whole human population in jeopardy. Currently, US is the country with the biggest carbon emission so the tree Germany is barking up is actually the right one.

Cyrus, Toronto, Canada

So when'll stiff economic sanctions be coming against the US? Every little nation gets slapped around the ears for comparatively small missteps but God's Own Country apparently is free to do anything with impunity. Let China implode the dollar and have the US economy smash against the wall. It's going to happen anyways, let's get over with it already.

Matt, Wuerzburg, Germany

Of course the Bush/Cheney administration are going to reject any global climate restrictions.
Restrictions would mean that Cheney's oil company would take a profit hit. It would also mean, that the corporations which are invested in Chinas emerging industrial boom, would take a profit hit also.

If it stands in the way of making a buck, the current US administration will not back it....future generations be damned.
This is the ugly side of capitalism, unfortunately.

Mike Hermsen, Omaha, Nebraska/U.S.A.

The USA and president Bush in Particular is very short sighted even in terms of their own interests. The fundamental cause could be laid at the fundamentalist Christian rejection of scientific fact and I find it scary that a President and/or his administration can make descisions under the influence of such views. There seems to be a blindness to the facts and they are hiding behind a screen of "we will do it differently". We should ignore them and get the rest of the world on the side of sense. We should act even if the scientific data is worse than may seem reasonable, as not to act could be disastrous.

Nick Platt, Newtown, Powys

this infuriates me. whilst many countries are attempting to do what we all know to be right, the good old us of a continues to belch its noxious waste into our environment. perhaps it's time to boycott this country's products/culture until it wakes up to its responsibilty as probably the most influencial (sadly) country on this planet. the bush administration's attitude to global environmental concerns is seriously compromising any 'special relationship' feelings i had for this promising country.

bryan gammelgaard-baker, canterbury, england

Surprise, surprise. Follow the money.

Colin, Cahors, France

George Bush is correct in his assertion that the US should not sign these agreements, just as (I REALLY hate to admit it) Bill Clinton was correct in not implementing the Kyoto protocols. Let's get India, China, and the rest of the developing world to sign these environmental agreements first, and then decide where to go. It's a known fact that these countries are using highly polluting technologies because they are cheaper to run and maintain. Blaming the US? You're barking up the wrong tree.

Max, Worcester, MA, USA

If it comes down to economics then simply slap huge trade tarrifs on American goods produced by high polluting industries. You'd quickly see the red ink removed from American documents. Sure they would try to retaliate, but America imports a far higher proportion of its goods than Europe and they can't afford to import even more from China as their trade deficit with China is vast.

phil, london, uk

Please rewrite the title of this article.....it is NOT the US it is the Bush administration. This failed group has less than 30% approval BUT still has power and will for another 18months. God help the US and the world.

Linda, Santa Fe, US

Why the Surprise? Bush the neocon born-again Christian figures the SECOND COMING IS DUE, so there is no sense for trying to make the world better for the future generations.

It is far better to wage wars [Iraq, Afganistan, Somalia, Palestine -arm one segment; Darfur -through CIA financed uprising to control Oil; Morroco and Western Sahara, soon Pakistan and IRan], transgress against all International Laws, Geneva Convention, Hague Convention, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Right of the Child, etc ad infinitum], run a corrupt Government [a new corruption scandal per week is best] etc.

Salamon, Olds, Canada