US - climate change

Obama to attend Copenhagen summit as US offers to cut gas emissions

Article published on the 2009-11-25 Latest update 2009-11-25 18:02 TU

(Image: UNFCCC)

US President Barack Obama is to attend one day of the climate summit in Copenhagen next month when he will offer to cut US gas emissions by 17 per cent from 2005 levels by 2020.

According to a White House official, Obama is hoping to "give momentum to the negotiations" on 9 December when he attends part of the 12-day global summit aimed at finding a successor to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change that expires in 2012.

A White House statement said Obama would commit to the near-term US emissions reduction target of 17 per cent - as long as China and other emerging nations made serious pledges of their own;

"In light of the president's goal to reduce emissions 83 per cent by 2050, the expected pathway set forth in this pending legislation would entail a 30 per cent reduction below 2005 levels in 2025 and a 42 per cent reduction below 2005 in 2030," it said.

The announcement has been warmly welcomed by Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is in charge of the conference.

"I think it's critical that President Obama attends the climate change summit in Copenhagen," de Boer said in a telecast news conference from Bonn.

"The world is very much looking to the United States to come forward with an emission reduction target and to contribute international finance support to help developing countries adapt to the impact of climate change.

"I think that if he can deliver on his election campaign statements that Copenhagen needs to be a success by coming to Copenhagen himself, that I think will be critical to a good outcome."

France, meanwhile, has applauded the American intention to cut gas emissions.

"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.

Borloo admitted that the US administrations 17 per cent offer falls well short of the kind of cuts that most climate scientists agree are necessary, but said: "It's an extremely encouraging first response."

But he regretted that Obama plans to attend an early session of the summit, on 9 December, and not the conclusion more than a week later when other heads of state will be in Copenhagen hoping to sign a binding treaty.