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US pledges major emissions cuts US pledges carbon emissions cuts
(20 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, the White House has said.President Barack Obama is to pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the US in several stages, beginning with a 17% cut by 2020, the White House has said.
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 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 presence 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 presence 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.
'Momentum for talks''Momentum for talks'
Officials said the US would pledge a 17% cut in emissions by 2020, 30% by 2025, 42% by 2030 and 83% by 2050. Officials said the US would pledge a 17% cut in emissions from 2005 levels by 2020, 30% by 2025, 42% by 2030 and 83% by 2050.
COPENHAGEN SUMMIT Planning to attend: Leaders of United States, Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Australia, Japan, Indonesia and Brazil Yet to commit: Leaders of China and India Where countries stand on summit Climate: A defining issue Send us your commentsCOPENHAGEN SUMMIT Planning to attend: Leaders of United States, Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Australia, Japan, Indonesia and Brazil Yet to commit: Leaders of China and India Where countries stand on summit Climate: A defining issue Send us your comments
Mr Obama will outline a "pathway" towards these goals at the summit, a White House statement said. Mr Obama will outline a "pathway" towards the US goals at the summit, a White House statement said.
It described the cuts as "a significant contribution to a problem that the US has neglected for too long".It described the cuts as "a significant contribution to a problem that the US has neglected for too long".
The president will be in the Danish capital on 9 December, a day before receiving his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. But most other countries' targets are given in comparison with 1990 figures.
BBC environment correspondent Richard Black says that on that basis the US figure amounts to just a few percentage points, as its emissions have risen by about 15% since 1990.
This is much less than the EU's pledge of a 20% cut over the same period, or a 30% cut if there is a global deal; and much less than the 25-40% figure that developing countries are demanding.
The US president will be in the Danish capital on 9 December, a day before receiving his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.
But he does not plan to return for the key last stages of the summit, which runs from 7-18 December.But he does not plan to return for the key last stages of the summit, which runs from 7-18 December.
White House aide Mike Froman said the decision to go to Copenhagen was "to give momentum to the negotiations there".White House aide Mike Froman said the decision to go to Copenhagen was "to give momentum to the negotiations there".
The decision follows intense speculation about whether the US president would go at all.The decision follows intense speculation about whether the US president would go at all.
Delegations from 192 countries will be attending the summit.Delegations from 192 countries will be attending the summit.
HAVE YOUR SAY I'm sure the event in Copenhagen will be beneficial for Planet Earth Juan Leonidas Vega G, San Salvador Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY I'm sure the event in Copenhagen will be beneficial for Planet Earth Juan Leonidas Vega G, San Salvador Send us your comments
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, after previous incumbents had failed to ratify the Kyoto treaty.Mr Obama has made climate change a major priority for his administration, after previous incumbents had failed to ratify the Kyoto treaty.
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. But a bill to cap US emissions and establish a national carbon trading scheme is currently stuck in the Senate and is not expected to pass before the end of the year.
A similar bill passed the House of Representatives in June.
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.