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Clinton caught between promises, politics in clean air battle
June 24, 1997
Web posted at: 11:05 p.m. EDT (0305 GMT)WASHINGTON (CNN) -- When it comes to improving air quality, President Clinton finds himself caught between practicality, promises -- and, of course, politics.
On one hand, his own Environmental Protection Agency is pushing for tougher air quality standards. On the other, big city mayors -- including some from his own party -- are complaining they can't possibly meet those standards and will have to pay six-figure fines they can ill afford.
Still another chorus to be heard from are environmentalists, who say Clinton and Vice President Al Gore simply haven't done enough to combat the emission of so-called greenhouse gases, which some scientists believe are contributing to global warming.
Even British Prime Minister Tony Blair, often critiqued in his homeland as a Clinton clone, chimed in critically this week. Alluding to the United States, he said some countries are not living up to their promises on greenhouse gas emissions.
"Setting new targets means little if old ones are ignored," Blair said in a speech at the United Nations.
At the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting this week in San Francisco, discussion has been dominated by talk about the EPA's stiffer air standards. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, a Democrat whose brother sits in Clinton's Cabinet, complains that the plan isn't fair to cities because they often have little control over what emissions are generated in their areas.
"I can't close a heavily traveled federal highway that runs through my city," Daley said. "I don't have that power. Many of the problems with emissions are out of the hands of mayors."
In 1993, Clinton announced a commitment to reduce U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases to their 1990 levels by the year 2000. While some environmentalists say just-implemented standards on these emissions need time to take effect in order to meet that promise, others express disappointment with the administration's effort, noting that emissions are up, not down.
"The United States has to take the moral leadership on this issue, or we'll never achieve a treaty that will seriously reduce greenhouse gas emissions," says Philip Clapp of the Environmental Information Center.
With the president set to decide on new air quality standards by mid-July, Gore -- the administration's point man on all things green -- is particularly dancing the political two-step, and unapologetically boasting of progress.
"We've seen more progress in protecting the environment during these last four and a half years than we've ever had," says Gore. "We've really made major advances, and we're going to continue to make advances."
White House Correspondent Eileen O'Connor contributed to this report.
Related story:
- Earth Summit opens amid harsh words, hints of compromise - June 23, 1997
- Earth Summit set to begin amid low expectations - June 22, 1997
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