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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| US 'pledges major emissions cuts' | US 'pledges major emissions cuts' |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama is to pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the US in several stages, beginning with a 17% cut by 2020, US officials say. | |
| The offer will be made at December's UN climate talks in Copenhagen, which Mr Obama will attend. He does not plan to be there for the crucial last days. | |
| The talks will try to draw up a new global climate treaty to supplant the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. | The talks will try to draw up a new global climate treaty to supplant the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. |
| UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said his attendance could be vital for a deal. | UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said his attendance could be vital for a deal. |
| "It's critical that President Obama attends the climate change summit in Copenhagen," he told journalists. | "It's critical that President Obama attends the climate change summit in Copenhagen," he told journalists. |
| So far more than 60 world leaders have said they will attend the summit. | So far more than 60 world leaders have said they will attend the summit. |
| Observers say the attendance of such figures as Mr Obama will raise hopes for action on climate change, although the talks are not expected to result in a new treaty. | Observers say the attendance of such figures as Mr Obama will raise hopes for action on climate change, although the talks are not expected to result in a new treaty. |
| Mr Obama will be in the Danish capital on 9 December before travelling to Oslo to pick up his Nobel Peace Prize, but does not plan to return for the key last stages of the summit, which runs from 7-18 December. | |
| The decision, which is expected to be formally announced later in the day, follows intense speculation about whether the US president would go to Copenhagen. | The decision, which is expected to be formally announced later in the day, follows intense speculation about whether the US president would go to Copenhagen. |
| Climate bill stuck | Climate bill stuck |
| Officials said the US would pledge a 17% cut in emissions by 2020, 30% by 2025 and 42% by 2030. | Officials said the US would pledge a 17% cut in emissions by 2020, 30% by 2025 and 42% by 2030. |
| Delegations from 192 countries will be attending the summit. | Delegations from 192 countries will be attending the summit. |
| Leaders saying they will attend include UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. | Leaders saying they will attend include UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. |
| Hu Jintao, president of the world's largest polluter, China, is yet to commit to attending. | Hu Jintao, president of the world's largest polluter, China, is yet to commit to attending. |
| The US is the second largest polluter after China. | The US is the second largest polluter after China. |
| Mr Obama has made climate change a major priority for his administration, but a bill to cut US emissions is currently stuck in the Senate and is not expected to pass before the end of the year. | Mr Obama has made climate change a major priority for his administration, but a bill to cut US emissions is currently stuck in the Senate and is not expected to pass before the end of the year. |
| Correspondents say most nations have given up hope of a legally binding treaty because of uncertainty about the US position. | Correspondents say most nations have given up hope of a legally binding treaty because of uncertainty about the US position. |