Representatives of U.S. environmental organizations at the World Summit on Sustainable Development say the Bush administration is acting against the long-term interests of its own people.
Michael Dorsey of the Sierra Club says the U.S. government has failed to keep pace with the rest of the world in ratifying agreements such as the Kyoto protocol on climate change. He says that in doing so it is acting against the interests of future generations of Americans.
"The White House's failure to act jeopardizes [not only] the U.S. economy, but the entire planet," he said. "American businesses now risk being left behind as our neighbors and competitors invest more resources in new, clean and efficient technologies."
Monique Harden of the National Black Environmental Justice Network said that President Bush needs to understand that a healthy and sustainable environment cuts through political divisions and is more important than the profits of multi-national corporations.
In his address to the summit, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the United States is committed to addressing environmental problems such as climate change.