The White House announced today that President Obama will travel to Copenhagen on Dec. 9 to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where he is eager to work with the international community to drive progress toward a comprehensive and operational Copenhagen accord. The President has worked steadily on behalf of a positive outcome in Copenhagen throughout the year. Based on the President's work on climate change over the past 10 months - in the Major Economies Forum, the G20, bilateral discussions and multilateral consultations - and based on progress made in recent, constructive discussions with China and India's Leaders, the President believes it is possible to reach a meaningful agreement in Copenhagen. The President's decision to go is a sign of his continuing commitment and leadership to find a global solution to the global threat of climate change, and to lay the foundation for a new, sustainable and prosperous clean energy future. The White House also announced that, in the context of an overall deal in Copenhagen that includes robust mitigation contributions from China and the other emerging economies, the President is prepared to put on the table a U.S. emissions reduction target in the range of 17% below 2005 levels in 2020 and ultimately in line with final U.S. energy and climate legislation. In light of the President's goal to reduce emissions 83% by 2050, the expected pathway set forth in this pending legislation would entail a 30% reduction below 2005 levels in 2025 and a 42% reduction below 2005 in 2030. This provisional target is in line with current legislation in both chambers of Congress and demonstrates a significant contribution to a problem that the U.S. has neglected for too long.
The White House announced today that President Obama will travel to Copenhagen on Dec. 9 to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where he is eager to work with the international community to drive progress toward a comprehensive and operational Copenhagen accord. The President has worked steadily on behalf of a positive outcome in Copenhagen throughout the year. Based on the President's work on climate change over the past 10 months - in the Major Economies Forum, the G20, bilateral discussions and multilateral consultations - and based on progress made in recent, constructive discussions with China and India's Leaders, the President believes it is possible to reach a meaningful agreement in Copenhagen. The President's decision to go is a sign of his continuing commitment and leadership to find a global solution to the global threat of climate change, and to lay the foundation for a new, sustainable and prosperous clean energy future.
The White House also announced that, in the context of an overall deal in Copenhagen that includes robust mitigation contributions from China and the other emerging economies, the President is prepared to put on the table a U.S. emissions reduction target in the range of 17% below 2005 levels in 2020 and ultimately in line with final U.S. energy and climate legislation. In light of the President's goal to reduce emissions 83% by 2050, the expected pathway set forth in this pending legislation would entail a 30% reduction below 2005 levels in 2025 and a 42% reduction below 2005 in 2030. This provisional target is in line with current legislation in both chambers of Congress and demonstrates a significant contribution to a problem that the U.S. has neglected for too long.
PARIS, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2009 France said Wednesday a US offer to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 is "extremely encouraging" in the run-up to the Copenhagen climate conference."To have a figure put on an American undertaking, announced by the White House, is worthwhile progress," said environment minister Jean-Louis Borloo as he set off for Beijing for talks with Chinese officials.World leaders will meet in the Danish capital for 12 days from December 7 to try to agree a global pact to reduce manmade emissions of the gases that are blamed for climate change.
"To have a figure put on an American undertaking, announced by the White House, is worthwhile progress," said environment minister Jean-Louis Borloo as he set off for Beijing for talks with Chinese officials.
World leaders will meet in the Danish capital for 12 days from December 7 to try to agree a global pact to reduce manmade emissions of the gases that are blamed for climate change.
BEIJING -- China's top climate envoy lashed out at Europe for failing to meet its previous greenhouse-gas commitments, and said reaching an agreement at the global warming summit in Copenhagen next month is essential. "Europe made a lot of commitments. But if you compare those commitments to actions, there is a big disparity," China's special envoy on climate change, Yu Qingtai, told reporters Wednesday. He said Europe had failed to meet its previous promises to cut greenhouse gases and deliver on technology transfer and aid to poor countries. Mr. Yu's comments reinforce China's tough negotiating stance less than two weeks ahead of the Dec. 7 global climate summit in the Danish capital. China has repeatedly called for a global agreement on carbon emissions, but has been unwilling to commit to the kind of difficult sacrifices needed to reach one, saying the burden lies on wealthier nations.
"Europe made a lot of commitments. But if you compare those commitments to actions, there is a big disparity," China's special envoy on climate change, Yu Qingtai, told reporters Wednesday. He said Europe had failed to meet its previous promises to cut greenhouse gases and deliver on technology transfer and aid to poor countries.
Mr. Yu's comments reinforce China's tough negotiating stance less than two weeks ahead of the Dec. 7 global climate summit in the Danish capital. China has repeatedly called for a global agreement on carbon emissions, but has been unwilling to commit to the kind of difficult sacrifices needed to reach one, saying the burden lies on wealthier nations.
He said Europe had failed to meet its previous promises to... deliver on technology transfer...
Excuse me? China's entire wind industry commercially is due to Eurozone technology transfer. "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
He said Europe had failed to meet its previous promises to cut greenhouse gases
Europe is currently nicely below its emissions commitment under the Kyoto treaty, the only one of the signatories in that case. Sure, some individual countries have failed in their goals, but the overall target for the EU is being met. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
