美國總統布希於5日在華盛頓會議中心舉辦的第三屆全球部長級再生能源會議（Washington International Renewable Energy Conference, WIREC 2008）中表示：「10年內這個研討會將會被視為是難以置信地過時。大家將會驚異於科技是如何深遠地改變我們的習慣與這個世界。我希望你們都會因處於如此具建設性的改變而感到驕傲。」
「首先讓我告訴各位，美國必須改變習慣：我們必須捨棄石油。原因是，第一，對石油的依賴已經威脅我們的經濟。」布希說。
「而且，依賴石油也讓我們任由恐怖份子擺佈。如果在需要石油時供應量拮据，只要有1個恐怖份子出來干擾，價格就會飆漲。這顯示出對國家安全的威脅。」
「最後，我們對石化燃料的依賴，如石油，也對我們的環境造成威脅。當我們燃燒石化燃料時會釋出溫室氣體，溫室氣體的濃度已經大量攀高。我們認定這三者的威脅，也正在採取因應措施。」
布希總統解釋美國在鼓勵發展生質柴油和酒精、太陽能和風力、與核能所做的努力。「我們希望人民了解這一代的核能電廠是安全的。我們希望人民能對核能的擴展應用感到自在無憂。」
布希向與會者表示，他支持國際協議限制造成全球暖化的溫室氣體排放量，但是這「必須包含承諾，由每個主要經濟體一致認同的承諾，沒有任何國家能免責」。
布希總統並沒有發表任何新的解決方案，但他的演說中出現了「處理全球暖化」這個新的強烈承諾。在4日，農業部長Ed Schafer和能源部長Samuel Bodman也已向WIREC的與會者們表示，他們這2個政府機構將在3年投資1,840萬美金做為21個生質研究與發展和示範的計畫。
其他國家也在WIREC上做出重要的再生能源承諾。截至4日為止，共有超過60個承諾提交成為華盛頓國際行動計畫(WIAP)，這份複雜的承諾是WIERC與會者們為了加速全球再生能源的普及率，所宣告的國內與國際計畫。
2008年華盛頓國際再生能源會議(WIREC)從3月4日開始持續到6日。將近有3,000名與會者出席部長會議，並有其他4,000名與會者。
"This conference will seem unbelievably outdated within a decade," President George W. Bush today told participants at WIREC 2008, the third global ministerial-level conference on renewable energy, taking place at the Washington Convention Center. "People will marvel about how far technology has helped change our habits and change the world. And I hope you take great pride in being a part of this constructive change," he said.
"Let me start first by telling you that America has got to change its habits," said Bush. "We've got to get off oil. And the reason why is, first, oil is - dependency on oil presents a real challenge to our economy."
"The dependency upon oil also puts us at the mercy of terrorists. If there's tight supply and demand, all it requires is one terrorist disruption of oil and that price goes even higher," he said. "That dependency presents a challenge to our national security."
"And finally, our dependence on fossil fuels like oil presents a challenge to our environment. When we burn fossil fuels we release greenhouse gases. The concentration of greenhouse gases has increased substantially," said Bush. "We recognize all three of these challenges, and we're doing something about it."
The president explained the U.S. efforts on encourage development of biodiesel and ethanol, of solar and wind power, and of nuclear power. "We want our people to understand that this generation of nuclear power plants is safe. We want people to feel comfortable about the expansion of nuclear power," he said.
Bush told the conference audience that he supports an international agreement to limit the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming, but it "must include commitments, solid commitments, by every major economy, and no country should get a free ride."
The president announced no new initiatives today, but what was new in his speech was a strong verbal commitment to "deal with global climate change." On Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer and Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman told WIREC participants that their two agencies will invest up to $18.4 million, over three years, for 21 biomass research and development and demonstration projects.
Other countries have made major renewable energy pledges at WIREC. At the end of Tuesday, over 60 pledges had been submitted for the Washington International Action Program, a compilation of pledges from WIREC participants announcing domestic and international plans to accelerate the global uptake of renewable energy.
The Washington International Renewable Energy Conference, WIREC 2008, opened on March 4 and will continue through March 6. Close to 3,000 participants are registered for the ministerial meeting and 4,000 other participants are in attendance.
全文及圖片詳見：ENS
