Merkel praises Bush in Davos

Jan.24.- Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany on Wednesday lauded the announcement by President George W. Bush that the United States will seek to raise energy efficiency and reduce gasoline consumption by 20 percent over the next 10 years.
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Merkel called his energy goal "an ambitious target." I'm hearing signals from the United States that are more hopeful than those of past years," ...

Merkel likewise took up the subject, saying that she supported a proposal by the European Commission to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 30 percent before 2020, provided that other major emitters are part of that step. Echoing the idea that fighting climate change must go hand-in-hand with greater reliance on "green" technologies, Merkel said that Europe was embracing a comprehensive policy for sustainable economic growth.

"With that we are creating planning security for emissions trading, for investments in low-emission technologies and for European energy policy," Merkel said. "Everyone can see that we are changing course."

Merkel, who currently holds the EU's rotating presidency and the chair of the Group of 8 industrialized nations, also urged the United States and the European Union to revive the faltering Doha round of trade talks only days before a meeting of dozens of trade ministers during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. ...

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