Bush climate plan: too little, too late

On Wednesday U.S. President George W. Bush unveiled a plan to halt the growth of U.S. emissions by 2025, toughening a previous goal of braking the growth of emissions by 2012. The United States and China are the top greenhouse gas emitters.

The European Union, which is seeking to cut emissions below 1990 levels, called Bush's plan disappointing and many delegates at two days of U.S.-led climate talks under way in Paris said faster action was needed to avert the worst effects of global warming.

"The president gave a disappointing speech," German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said in a statement issued in Berlin headlined "Gabriel criticizes Bush's Neanderthal speech. Losership, not Leadership".

"The American administration is starting to awake," French climate change ambassador Brice Lalonde said, welcoming the setting of a federal cap for 2025. "It's a bit late".