Senator John Kerry today issued the following statement in response to the announcement that the G8 nations will not make binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many European leaders had indicated a willingness to support concrete limits to reverse climate change.

“This appears to be another tremendous missed opportunity by this Administration,” Senator Kerry said. “There was a strong willingness for bold action on climate change by other leading industrial nations, and once again our President offered up more half-hearted talk and refused to commit to any hard and fast reductions. He has repeatedly chosen to punt the serious decisions about climate change to the next administration. In the absence of a commitment from the President, it is all the more critical that the Senate passes a strong energy bill that promotes energy efficiency, increases renewable energy production and address emissions from coal-fired power plants.”

I think it’s clear that the American people can’t wait on the White House to do anything about climate change. The growing pressure has forced the Bush Administration to at least appear to be taking it seriously, but all we get is more “half-hearted talk,” as Senator Kerry said.

Change needs to come from Congress, not the White House, and change can only happen with the activism of all of us.