WORLD> America
|
WORLD> America
|
|
US urged to set 2020 target to save climate deal
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-11-03 03:20 "Empty-handed" Both Denmark and the European Union urged President Barack Obama to do more to unlock a deal at the December 7-18 talks. Danish Climate and Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard said she found it "very hard to imagine" that Obama could collect the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10 "in Oslo, only a few hundred kilometres from Copenhagen, and at the same time has sent an empty-handed delegation to Copenhagen". "We have seen a significant, real change in the American position ... but we still expect more," said Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
"The notion the United States is not making enough effort is not correct," said Jonathan Pershing, head of the US delegation in Barcelona, pointing to a series of measures under Obama to promote clean energy and cut emissions. "Our view is that it is extremely important to be a party to this (Copenhagen) deal," he said. Obama's administation is waiting for Congress to pass a climate bill which could underpin a US target. That legislation is no longer expected to be approved in time for Copenhagen. African nations called for tougher emissions curbs from the developed world and Gambia, Ethiopia and Algeria spoke in favour of walking out of the U.N. talks, said Antonio Hill of Oxfam. Outside the conference centre, protesters lined up hundreds of ringing alarm clocks to show that time was running out to reach a deal meant to slow rising temperatures and floods, heatwaves, wildfires and rising seas.
|
