US 'does accept climate threat'



Most US policymakers do accept that climate change is a significant threat, a leading British scientist believes. Professor John Schellnhuber, of the University of East Anglia, said he thought about 80% of senior politicians recognised the danger "in principle".

He said he thought this consensus would eventually lead to a change in policy by President Bush's administration. Professor Schellnhuber was among a UK scientific delegation which held talks on climate recently in Washington DC.He is research director of the UEA's Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, and was speaking to BBC News Online.

Professor Schellnhuber said: "We spoke to the Congressional scientific committee, and my feeling is that in principle 80% of the people in Washington who are really informed feel dramatic climate change is a major threat.

"The administration is a prisoner of its own determination not to do anything that would affect the lifestyle of US citizens."

"Perhaps, in a parallel with its stance on Iraq, it has chosen a certain position and will now not alter it for fear of losing face."

"I don't think the US public and policymakers will be happy to go on with a business-as-usual approach for the next five years. "I'm a scientist, not a politician. But I think the political elite understands pretty well what is going on, and the administration will eventually change."