The London Telegraph is characterizing President Bush’s last G8 Summit in the worst light possible. Highlighting an apparant joke he made on his way out.

The American leader, who has been condemned throughout his presidency for failing to tackle climate change, ended a private meeting with the words: “Goodbye from the world’s biggest polluter.”

He then punched the air while grinning widely, as the rest of those present including Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy looked on in shock.

Mr Bush, whose second and final term as President ends at the end of the year, then left the meeting at the Windsor Hotel in Hokkaido where the leaders of the world’s richest nations had been discussing new targets to cut carbon emissions.

One official who witnessed the extraordinary scene said afterwards: “Everyone was very surprised that he was making a joke about America’s record on pollution.”

I suspect the “shock” other world leaders felt is being purposely overblown, but even if it’s not I still find it hilarious. I imagine the President could only swallow so much climate change fearmongering before he had to do something to lighten the mood.

In a few years we’re gonna look back on all the global warming hysteria and wonder how Al Gore was able to trick the entire world with his junk science.