by Richard Morrison
November 1, 2005

Washington, D.C., November 2, 2005—The Competitive Enterprise Institute congratulates British Prime Minister Tony Blair for his recognition that the Kyoto Protocol is a dead end and that the approach first laid out by President George W. Bush in 2001 is a sensible way forward.  At climate talks in London yesterday, Mr. Blair explained that he now realized that setting new emissions reduction targets after Kyoto expires in 2012 was not going to be possible because most countries are not willing to restrict their economic growth.  He went on to say that climate policies were going to have to rely on the development of new technologies by the private sector. 

“It takes a real leader to do what Prime Minister Blair has done.  He was the world's leading advocate for the Kyoto Protocol, but has now recognized that Kyoto isn't working and can't possibly work,” said Myron Ebell, CEI’s Director of Global Warming Policy.  “Mr. Blair has now joined President Bush in rejecting energy rationing policies that would impoverish developing countries.”

“The prime minister has seen through the obfuscations of the alarmists and the vested interests to the central truth that the economic well-being of the world cannot be reconciled with the drastic emissions cuts that might be needed to slow or stop potential global warming,” said CEI Senior Fellow Iain Murray.  “The poor of the world need the benefits that wealth and technology will bring them and Kyoto would deny them.”

Like Prime Minister Blair, President Bush has endorsed a program of research into new energy technologies and development of strategic alliances with the rapidly industrializing nations, which currently face no obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. In July, the White House joined six nations, including China and India, in signing the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

"Tony Blair has cleverly moved the UK away from the worst energy rationing aspects promoted by climate alarmists, while also leveraging their agenda to revive the nuclear power industry,” said CEI Senior Fellow Christopher C. Horner.