Two days of high-level diplomatic discussions in Washington D.C. may have improved the chances of reaching agreement on an international climate change treaty by the end of the year, despite the lack of any concrete proposals.
Delegates from the world’s major economies reportedly praised the meeting as constructive, and reaffirmed their belief that the U.S. under new presidential leadership is committed to addressing global climate change.
However, participating countries still vary greatly on the details.
"It was very clear that the Americans are moving a lot," German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters. "Measured by what Europeans believe needs to be done to fight climate change, we’re still very far apart from each other."
The Obama administration continues to hold its position that the U.S. will cut greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels (roughly 15% lower than current levels) by 2020. The European Union has pledged to cut emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by the same date, and is willing to go lower if other nations participate.
This was the first Major Economies Forum hosted by the Obama Administration. The Forum was started under the Bush Administration.
U.N. Climate Chief Yvo de Boer said, "I saw none of the acrimony that I’ve seen in previous meetings of this kind. I saw a good understanding and sympathy for each other’s positions but also the recognition that there is a huge challenge ahead of us."
Another meeting is scheduled for the end of May in Paris and a third is planned for June. The location of that meeting is not yet set. Mexico had expressed interest in hosting a meeting, but the recent flu outbreak in Mexico City is likely to affect that decision.
The Forum is scheduled to culminate with a meeting of heads of state on the sidelines of the July G8 summit in Italy, though participants said the process could continue after that.
"I come out of this meeting if anything a bit more optimistic," said Todd Stern, the U.S. special envoy for climate change. "That does not change the fact that the issues are extremely difficult, that it’s not going to be easy to reach an agreement."
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