International negotiations on climate change resumed yesterday in Bonn, Germany, and all eyes are on the U.S. delegation, which is expected to play a much greater role under the Obama administration.
U.S. special envoy for climate change Todd Stern spoke on the opening day, drawing sustained applause from the United Nations conference, which aims to create a climate change treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol by December 2009.
Stern acknowledged that the U.S. has a "unique responsibility" as the main historic emitter of greenhouse gases. He also said he was "enormously impressed" by climate change actions taken by developing countries such as India, South Africa, Brazil, China and Mexico.
He said the U.S. would be "powerfully and fully engaged" in negotiations, but warned that the U.S. doesn’t have a "magic wand" that can solve the climate change threat.
Negotiations have made only limited progress over the last 15 months, as countries around the world waited for a new U.S. presidential administration to take on climate change in a serious manner. President Bush’s delegates were accused of inaction and even booed at earlier UN conferences.
Despite the Obama administration’s committment to leading the fight against climate change, the administration’s mid-term goals are far below those recommended by the UN Climate Panel.
Obama has said he wants to bring U.S. emissions back to 1990 levels by the 2020. Climate Panel scientists say 2020 goals should be in the range of 25% to 40% below 1990 levels by 2020.
Obama’s long-term goal is to reduce U.S. emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. That goal is in line with the Climate Panel’s earlier long-range suggestions; however, recent studies suggest it may not be enough to avert the worst effects of climate change.
UN Climate Change Secretary Yvo de Boer has said that Obama’s 2020 goal is a good "opening offer." At the beginning of the conference on Sunday, he said "everyone is very excited" by signs of a stronger US commitment.
Almost no other developed nations have laid out goals within the 25%-40% range. Among the most ambitious, the European Union’s plan calls for cuts of 20% below 1990 levels by 2020.
Obama to Host Climate Talks
President Obama has invited the "major economies" to continue climate change talks in Washington on April 27-28.
These talks include the 16 biggest industrialized and developing nations and are meant to supplement UN-led effort.
The talks began under President Bush, but were largely considered a farce, considering Bush’s apparent lack of interest in addressing climate change through the UN efforts.
April’s meeting will be hosted by the U.S. State Department and is likely to address a range of issues including technology, financing and emissions trading, according to officials.
The major economies include: Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the United States.
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