How To Lead 101

Bush needs to pay more attention in class:

European Union leaders have agreed on a series of new policies aimed at putting Europe at the forefront of global efforts to curb climate change.

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, who chaired a two-day summit, put forward the key compromise to secure agreement to set a legally binding target for renewable fuels.

The deal sets binding targets for slashing greenhouse gas emissions, develops renewable energy sources and uses biofuels.

Leaders accepted the target of 20 per cent of renewable sources in EU energy consumption by 2020 in return for flexibility on each country's contribution to the common aim.

Update: Spiegel Online interviews Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen:

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Internationally, nuclear energy seems to be approaching a renaissance. Is it, as France sees it, the new green energy?

Rasmussen: No. And it is not part of our energy policy. First and foremost, I want to stress that it is a basic principle of EU policy that it is national responsibility to decide the energy mix. We do not interfere with other countries' decisions concerning nuclear energy. But I do not consider it a renewable energy.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Greenland, where the ice sheet is rapidly melting, is part of Denmark, and large parts of your country are below sea level. Meaning Denmark is one of the first to be affected by climate change. How high of a priority is climate change for Denmark?

Rasmussen: Our long-term vision is to make Denmark independent of fossil fuels. For now, we are in a very comfortable position: We have oil and gas fields in the North Sea, so we are independent for our energy needs and we are the only net exporter of energy in the EU. I want Denmark to be completely independent in the future as well, meaning after the reserves in the North Sea have been emptied. To that end, we have to further develop renewable energy.