The Associated Press has obtained a copy of the new U.S. Climate Action Report. This report is required by all signatories to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change which includes the U.S. The report was originally due Jan 1, 2006 but is still officially being reviewed.
This AP article mentions that by 2020, CO2 emissions will be 20% higher than in 2000, according to the report. The report straightforwardly says warming will lead to less snowpack in the Northwest and more drought: all conclusions well known from IPCC reports.
The administration's excuse for the delay is the "extensive review process". Also a 20% increase is somehow a win because it would be even larger if not for Bush administration policies to reduce the rate of increase of CO2 emissions.
Further coverage in the New York Times, who also got a copy of the report, says the report was leaked by a government employee frustrated by the slow pace. Quotes from former CCTP director David Conover point out, correctly, that a 20% increase is not a win.
The Times points out how the earlier report, issued in 2002, was shockingly honest on the harmful effects of global warming. Bush distanced himself from it. The Times also mentions that the delay is due partly to recent departures of climate science managers who have yet to be replaced. Has anyone seen more coverage of that?
More coverage of the report in The Guardian.
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