Bush on Global Warming: Save the Bears!

He's changing his mind about global warming - at least where the polar bears are concerned:

The Bush administration on Wednesday made one of its most significant concessions to date on the dangers of global warming, proposing protection for the polar bear, whose habitat is threatened by the melting Arctic sea ice.

The recommendation by the Interior Secretary, Dick Kempthorne, that the bears be added to the list of threatened species, marks a reversal by the administration from its reluctance to acknowledge the consequences of climate change.

It would bar US government agencies from any activity that would jeopardise polar bears or their hunting grounds, and could potentially require the administration to compel US industries to curb their carbon dioxide output.

The move was hailed as a victory for environmental organisations which have increasingly resorted to the US courts to try to bring America in line with other countries on global warming.

I'm glad for this sign of hope, since we got more disturbing news today about the Polar ice cap.