DW-World.de
Deutsche Welle

Germany has slammed US President George W. Bush's blueprint on climate change as "Neanderthal" and accused him of backtracking on earlier pledges to fight global warming. German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said that the president's speech prior to a climate conference in Paris failed "to take account of global challenges." Bush had said that imposing limits on greenhouse gas emissions before 2025 was the wrong way to combat global warming. Representatives of the world's 16 leading economies, which account for 80 percent emissions, are in the French capital Paris for two-days of talks on fighting climate change. Bush's proposals fall short of European goals and legislation being considered by the US Congress.