- More adults in the United States are defending the need for environmental guidelines, according to a poll by the New York Times and CBS News. 63 per cent of respondents believe continuing improvements to the environment must be made regardless of cost, up six points since November 2002.

In 1998, several countries agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, a proposed amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement commits nations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The U.S. signed the protocol but has not ratified it.

In June 2005, U.S. president George W. Bush defended his decision not to adhere to the protocol, saying, "Kyoto would have wrecked our economy. I couldn't in good faith have signed Kyoto."

In 2004, the environmental policies initiated by the Bush administration included tax incentives totalling $4.1 billion U.S. to boost the use of energy-efficient technologies, including hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles.

Bush has also proposed opening less than 10 per cent of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration. According to the White House, the area could potentially provide more than one million barrels of oil each day.

Polling Data

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Protecting the environment is so important that requirements and standards cannot be too high and continuing environmental improvements must be made regardless of cost.

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