The Bush plan might "destabilize" support for the Kyoto pact, which is awaiting ratification.

But since President Bush rejected the Kyoto pact in 2001, local groups have been emerging on the regional, state and municipal levels.

Yet while the Kyoto pact has focused minds, environmental advocates say it has not yet pushed companies far enough.

But President Bush rejected the Kyoto pact, saying that the emissions cuts would harm the economy.

The idea was that after the Kyoto pact each subsequent step in the treaty process would bring stricter and broader limits on emissions.

But the Kyoto pact has always been extremely fragile.

The Canadian oil industry has been among the most vocal opponents of the Kyoto pact, and is presently lobbying the federal government for tax reductions.

Although the United States government has rejected the Kyoto pact, businesses must pay attention.

Mr. Bush summarily rejected the Kyoto pact shortly after taking office.

But the pessimists point to basic differences between the Kyoto pact and the chemical ban and other successful environmental treaties.