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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 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 comments | 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 comments |
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". |
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 comments | 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 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 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. |