The United Nations has released draft documents to serve as the basis for ongoing negotiations to create an international plan for combatting climate change.
Two seprate documents, totaling 68 pages, outline major issues, such as emissions trading, forests, nuclear power and aviations, in an effort to facilitate an agreement by December, when negotiators meet in Copenhagen.
The first text released Friday suggests deep emissions cuts for rich nations–reductions of more than half 1990 levels by 2018-2022. This target is likely to be a major sticking point, as President Obama has suggested a 2020 target to reduce emissions to 1990 levels, far less than the U.N.-proposed target.
The text also outlines possible systems to allow developed nations to acquire carbon trading credits through investments in renewable energy projects in poor nations.
It also states that a decision must be made regarding whether nuclear power and carbon capture will be included in future carbon credit schemes.
The second of the two texts, published Monday, deals with long-range emissions targets as well as actions that could be taken by developing nations, led by China and India.
The next round of talks will take place in Bonn, Germany from June 1-12.
Yvo de Boer, head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat which published the document, said, "The texts will provide governments with the basis to get down to the real nitty gritty of identifying where they agree, where they disagree and what they can do to turn disagreement into an agreement."
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