The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Washington

US President George W. Bush is to announce his vision for fighting global climate change on Wednesday, in a marked turnaround for a president who has long steered clear of the topic. The speech by Bush, known for cozying up to big energy-burning industries and opposing mandatory caps on carbon emissions as too costly to the economy, will lay out goals for countering environmental pollution over the next 20-50 years. Bush's spokeswoman revealed few details, but the leader of one of the world's top polluters was not expected to stray far from the largely voluntary, pro-technology approach he has embraced in the past. "This speech is not going to lay out a specific proposal," said White House press secretary Dana Perino. "It is a speech that will talk about a strategy for a way forward, and principles for dealing with the problem."