MEDIA REACTION - DAVOS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000173 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, WHA/EPSC STATE FOR INR/IAA, PM, INL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - DAVOS AND CLIMATE CHANGE ¶1. On February 1, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio" (circ. 129,000) carried a column by international commentator Karin Ebensperger entitled, "Bush, Davos, and Climate Change." Quotes: ¶2. "This week two events occurred that strengthen the theory that global warming is a great challenge for the new century.... In the State of the Union address, President Bush expressed concern over global climate change, proposed lowering gasoline consumption by 20% in ten years, and supported alternative energy. This is an entirely new attitude because the President...was reluctant to admit a connection between human activity and climate change. His new stance is, therefore, a powerful sign.... ¶3. "Those who are distrustful say that Bush is troubled by his low level of popularity and that he will speak about global warming, but he will not commit to conventions such as the Kyoto Protocol.... But the President's remarks are a statement of principles and must be added to a second important recent event: The World Economic Forum in Davos...which discussed regulations concerning global warming. This in itself is an acknowledgement that the problem exists and is serious.... President Bush and the Davos summit, where the first Chinese entrepreneurs are participating, have changed the discussion. We can say that already there is a before an after." KELLY