A rhetorical step forward?

In a wide-ranging summit, President Bush and EU leaders discussed the issue of climate change. Bush said both sides recognize that climate change is a challenge requiring global action. Bush so far has refused to commit the U.S. to limiting carbon emissions, so what does his words mean? See Bush and EU Agree Climate Change is Problem. See also Bush, EU Leaders Discuss Climate Change.

President Bush said global warming is happening much quicker than he thought, and then his staff pulled him aside and said "It's just springtime." --Jay Leno