Bush administration report links human acts to global warming
In past, has denied proof of such ties
WASHINGTON -- Warmer temperatures in North America since 1950 were probably caused in part by human activities, the Bush administration said in a report that seems to contradict the White House position there was no clear scientific proof on the causes of global warming.
In a report sent to Congress this week, the administration noted a recent government-sponsored study supported the view of many scientists that human action from driving automobiles to running power plants helped cause global warming.
"North American temperature changes from 1950 to 1999 were unlikely to be due only to natural climate variations," the report said.
Warmer temperatures that occurred from 1900 to 1949 were "likely due" to natural causes, the report added.
The brief passage in the report was surprising because President Bush and other senior administration officials have long insisted there was no clear scientific proof to link human activities to global warming. The White House could not immediately be reached for comment on the report.
Bush withdrew the United States from participating in the Kyoto treaty that sought to reduce emissions produced mostly by industrialized nations. He said its tough requirements would be too costly to the US economy.
The White House has promoted a voluntary program for US power plant and oil refinery owners and other industries to cut their emissions of so-called greenhouse gases.
The specific study on temperature changes from 1950 to 1999 was included in a list of research projects on climate change sponsored by various government agencies that were recently completed or are underway.
In its report to Congress on the research, the administration said the studies did not "make any findings of fact that could serve as predicates for regulatory action."
One environmental group said, however, the report put pressure on Bush to address the global warming issue at the Republican National Convention next week in New York.
"It will be interesting to see whether he plans to do something about global warming or just continue ignoring it for political reasons," said Philip Clapp, president of the National Environmental Trust.
