President George W. Bush will present proposals on controlling global warming to European leaders next week in a bid to soothe anger over his abrupt rejection in March of the 1997 Kyoto accord on climate change.

The plan, to be presented at a meeting with European Union leaders in Gothenburg, Sweden, next week, is expected to contain voluntary measures for the reduction of greenhouse gases in industry and the preservation of farms and forests that absorb carbon emissions.

It also may include proposals for a large international research programme and for global trading of pollution permits.

The president and vice- president were briefed on the proposals on Tuesday but observers said most of the discussions centred on the public relations aspects of its presentation.

European leaders were among the most outspoken critics of Mr Bush's stance on the Kyoto treaty and have continued to press Washington to remain engaged in efforts to control global warming. But the proposals are aimed as much at domestic critics of the administration.

Mr Bush's job approval rating has been declining in recent public opinion polls, due largely to his energy and environmental policies.

Word of the plan came with a "charm offensive" launched by Richard Cheney, vice-president, aimed at environmental groups, which have been among the administration's most vociferous critics. He met them for the first time on Tuesday.

He promised to consider greater support for renewable energy but stayed only 20 minutes during a 90-minute meeting, said attendees. After his departure, global warming was discussed with his remaining aides, who reiterated the administration's opposition to regulating carbon power plant emissions.

Although the details are not yet known, most environmentalists were unimpressed by the prospect of voluntary controls. "It appears they are ramping up the rhetoric about their concern on global warming while designing a voluntary policy for which the track record is poor," said Kalee Kreider of the National Environmental Trust.

"In 1992 President [George] Bush the elder made a solemn promise that the US would return emissions to 1990 levels by 2000 through voluntary action. Instead, they were 13 per cent above by 2000."

Nor is the plan likely to satisfy European companies which are concerned that they would be disadvantaged by less stringent US environment rules.

Capitol Hill staffers on Wednesday were being briefed by theNational Research Council, which has been studying the scientific aspects of climate change.

Don Ritter, a physicist, former Republican congressman and head of the National Environmental Policy Institute, said a voluntary scheme was appropriate considering "the relative uncertainty" of the science of global warming.

He said the National Academy of Science has recommended a change in the direction of research, looking at the effects of higher temperatures rather than the causes.

nicked from the Financial Times...