Jun 2, 2007

Lantos calls for new global climate treaty

Local efforts can only do so much, says Democratic congressman

By Will Oremus / Daily News Staff Writer

U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos says he's proud of local cities for tackling climate change by studying their emissions, buying hybrid vehicles and signing on to pacts such as the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.

"Within limits, these (local initiatives) can be very successful," Lantos, D-San Mateo, said in an interview at his district office in downtown San Mateo. "One of the assets of a decentralized government is that at a local level things can move ahead while at the national level there's paralysis."

But the 14-term congressman said real progress on global warming will require global treaties, and he's trying to use his newfound power as chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to prod the Bush administration into action.

Lantos has authored a bill, H.R. 2420, that would commit the United States to re-engaging in international negotiations on binding emissions-reduction treaties. The ultimate goal, he said, would be a new and improved "post-Kyoto" protocol mandating less pollution by all major nations.

"It's based on the recognition that unless effectively dealt with, global warming will create irreversible havoc of gigantic proportions," Lantos said. "The science is in, but unfortunately the U.S. administration has been relatively late in accepting the consensus judgment of the world's leading scientists."

The foreign affairs committee last week voted 29-16 to support the bill, mostly along partisan lines. Lantos said he's optimistic the bill will pass the House and the Senate, at which point it will be up to the president to sign or veto it.

Efforts of Democratic legislators such as Lantos to use their new majority to influence American foreign policy have had mixed results so far. Earlier this month, Lantos and some of his Democratic colleagues were stymied in their efforts to scale back the war in Iraq by attaching restrictions to a troop funding bill.

On Thursday, Lantos promised that defeat wouldn't be the last word from Congress on Iraq policy.

"United States military and foreign policy positions are like a battleship, not a canoe," Lantos said. "You cannot turn on a dime. But we are making very considerable headway."


E-mail Will Oremus at woremus@dailynewsgroup.com.