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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| US pledges carbon emissions cuts | US pledges carbon emissions cuts |
| (about 3 hours 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. | The offer will be made at December's UN climate talks in Copenhagen, which Mr Obama will attend. |
| But he does not plan to be there for the crucial last days, when delegates including other world leaders are hoping to pull together a deal. | But he does not plan to be there for the crucial last days, when delegates including other world leaders are hoping to pull together a deal. |
| The talks aim to draw up a new treaty to supplant the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. | The talks aim to draw up a new 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. |
| MARK MARDELL The president may regard climate change as a pressing problem, but many Americans don't Mark Mardell, BBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in full | MARK MARDELL The president may regard climate change as a pressing problem, but many Americans don't Mark Mardell, BBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in full |
| "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. |
| The cuts Mr Obama has proposed are similar to those included in a bill passed by the US House of Representatives in June. | The cuts Mr Obama has proposed are similar to those included in a bill passed by the US House of Representatives in June. |
| But with legislation currently stuck in the Senate, correspondents say the president will be unable to commit to any of the figures he is proposing at the summit. | But with legislation currently stuck in the Senate, correspondents say the president will be unable to commit to any of the figures he is proposing at the summit. |
| So far more than 60 world leaders have said they will attend. | So far more than 60 world leaders have said they will attend. |
| 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. | 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. |
| CUTS ALREADY PLEDGED EU - 20% cut from 1990 levels, rising to 30% in the event of a global agreementAustralia - 25% from 2000 levelsJapan - 25% from 1990 levels Where countries stand on summit | CUTS ALREADY PLEDGED EU - 20% cut from 1990 levels, rising to 30% in the event of a global agreementAustralia - 25% from 2000 levelsJapan - 25% from 1990 levels Where countries stand on summit |
| Mr Obama will outline a "pathway" towards the US 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". |
| But most other countries' targets are given in comparison with 1990 figures. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 7-18 December summit. | But he does not plan to return for the key last stages of the 7-18 December summit. |
| Major priority | Major priority |
| Responding to the announcement, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said: "I welcome that President Obama has committed to come to Copenhagen. | Responding to the announcement, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said: "I welcome that President Obama has committed to come to Copenhagen. |
| 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 |
| "I have made clear that we need as many world leaders present as possible. I hope that others will follow suit." | "I have made clear that we need as many world leaders present as possible. I hope that others will follow suit." |
| Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, the host of the talks, said he hoped Mr Obama could "contribute to an ambitious global deal in Copenhagen". | |
| The announcement was also welcome by environmental group Friends of the Earth. | The announcement was also welcome by environmental group Friends of the Earth. |
| "Obama's pledge to go to Copenhagen is a welcome and significant development - but he must adopt a 'Yes we can' attitude in the UN climate talks if he is to earn his Nobel prize," spokesman Tom Picken said. | "Obama's pledge to go to Copenhagen is a welcome and significant development - but he must adopt a 'Yes we can' attitude in the UN climate talks if he is to earn his Nobel prize," spokesman Tom Picken said. |
| 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 Climate: A defining issue What's your Copenhagen solution? | |
| "The US is the world's biggest per capita polluter. It has a moral responsibility to take the lead in securing a strong and fair agreement." | "The US is the world's biggest per capita polluter. It has a moral responsibility to take the lead in securing a strong and fair agreement." |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. | |
| But Senator John Kerry, co-sponsor of the Senate bill, said Mr Obama's move could have an impact on domestic politics. | |
| "This could be one hell of a global game changer with big reverberations here at home," he said. | |
| 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. |