">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
US takes new climate change agenda to global talks
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Search
Search:
US takes new climate change agenda to global talks
By DINA CAPPIELLO,Associated Press Writer AP - 1 hour 52 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Joining climate change negotiations for the first time, the Obama administration is trying to convince other countries that the U.S. does care about global warming and wants to shape an international accord.
ADVERTISEMENT
After eight years on the sidelines, the U.S. says it is ready for a central role in developing a new agreement to slash greenhouse gases. But whether the U.S, which is the second largest source of heat-trapping pollution, is ready to sign onto a deal by year's end could depend on Congress.
The State Department sent climate envoy Todd Stern to Bonn, Germany, for the first of a series of largely technical meetings that begin Sunday. The talks are hoped to lay the groundwork for an agreement to be signed in December in Denmark.
Stern, in a telephone interview Thursday with The Associated Press from London, said it was important for him to attend and "make the first statement on behalf of the United States and say we're back, we're serious, we're here, we're committed and we're going to try to get this thing done."
He added, "We want to convey that we mean it."
Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is hosting the Bonn talks, said participants "will be very excited" to hear Stern outline the basic principles that will guide the U.S.
Other countries are expecting a new tone after eight years during which the Bush administration made clear its disdain for any climate discussions aimed at securing a commitment to mandatory greenhouse gas reductions.
This time the U.S. delegation represents the views of a White House committed to mandatory action on climate change. And unlike 1997, when the Kyoto Protocol was drafted, there is now a Democratic-controlled Congress moving to embrace mandatory limits on greenhouse gases.
Back then, the United States lacked support for mandatory actions to achieve the reductions the U.S. had signed on to. Congress never ratified that accord and the Bush administration later rejected it outright, citing the lack of participation from developing countries.
That lack of involvement and the cost of emission cuts, in form of higher energy bills, have dominated the U.S. debate over Kyoto for years. Those issues have not have not disappeared.
But President Barack Obama has acted to reduce U.S. greenhouse gases and wants Congress to pass a cap-and-trade program that would cut global warming pollution 80 percent by mid-century.
"The president has embarked on a strong domestic program already and there is much more coming," Stern said at a briefing Friday in Berlin.
Stern said the U.S. position on an international agreement will be framed by what happens in Congress. The reductions expected to be required by Congress will be the basis for what the U.S. can commit to reducing, he said.
But Congress already is trying to address the recession, health care and other priorities. "This will be a big, big fight to get the domestic piece done," Stern conceded.
Many European countries want the U.S. to adopt stronger short-term targets, equal to a 25 percent to 40 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2020. Obama has called for reaching 1990 levels by then, a roughly 15 percent cut.
Stern has warned European leaders that their demands will lead to stalemate.
In Germany, the U.S. team is expected to spend most of its time listening and forming relationships rather than discussing concrete proposals.
That "is unfortunate given the intense timetable between now and Copenhagen, but understandable," said Jennifer Havercamp, who leads Environmental Defense Fund's international climate negotiations team. "It will not achieve a lot of substantive progress in the negotiations because the Obama team is so new."
___
Associated Press writer Vanessa Gera contributed reporting from Berlin.
___
On the Net:
U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change: http://unfccc.int/2860.php
White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/energy_and_environment/
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Climate Change
Asia dims the lights for Earth HourReuters - 1 hour 21 minutes ago
US takes new climate change agenda to global talksAP - 1 hour 52 minutes ago
Australia kicks off Earth Hour climate campaignAFP - Sunday, March 29
Pacific switches off lights for Earth HourReuters - Sunday, March 29
Related Articles: World
Obama monitors Midwest flooding, pledges govt helpAP - 1 hour 18 minutes ago
Pakistan troops kill 26 militants in border zoneAFP - 1 hour 31 minutes ago
Relatives bury victims of Pakistan mosque bombingAFP - 1 hour 34 minutes ago
Fargo begins another day preparing for floodAP - 1 hour 35 minutes ago
Kabul hails US plan as "better than expected"AFP - 1 hour 36 minutes ago
Related Full Coverage
climate change
climate change
All Full Coverage
Most Popular – World
Viewed
Hot tea linked with throat cancer
Pope 'publicly distorted' condom science: Lancet
US consumer spending up for second month
UK economy hit by worst slide since 1980
Scientists see asteroid hurtle to Earth
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Saturday, 28 March 2009 Italy's Josef Fritzl arrested for incest and abuse
| International
|
Russia to boost Arctic troops to defend resources
| International
|
Pink Panther jewel thief suspect held in Cyprus
| International
|
Mobile software, data fees in spotlight at CTIA
| Technology
|
New technologies coming to Web start-ups' rescue
| Technology
|
No more oil rigs for ousted American Idol Sarver
| Entertainment
|
Geoffrey Rush debuts on Broadway to rave reviews
| Entertainment
|
No. 1 lady detective series?
| Entertainment
|
Welcome to Hawaii Pacific Teleport
Singapore News
Bolshoi Theatre may not reopen till 2013: report
Singapore News
Singapore News
Iraq to move Iranian opposition group: official
Japan deploys defense for North Korea rocket launch
| International
|
Iran, Venezuela revise ties ahead of Chavez visit
China turns to Buddhism to calm Tibet, Taiwan tensions
| International
|
Obama widens war against al-Qaida in Afghanistan
Brown calls for global unity on crisis, IMF reform
Guatemala finds Mexico drug smuggler training camp
| International
|
Suicide bomb in Pakistan mosque kills about 50
Russia, Azerbaijan in talks on gas deal: Gazprom
Pakistan's ISI still linked to militants, U.S. says
| International
|
Fallujah is test case for post-US Iraq
US consumer spending up for second month
Malaysia readies for new PM promising reform
| International
|
US judge orders Iran to pay $25M for Hamas killing
Fresh fighting in south Philippines kills 27 people
| International
|
Afghanistan backs US plan as fighting rages
Turkey's local polls set to give Erdogan reform boost
| International
|
Major dates in Fallujah's war
Obama makes Pakistan center of Al-Qaeda war
Mobile software, data fees in spotlight at CTIA
| Technology
|
NEC to quit PC market abroad with Asia-Pacific exit
| Technology
|
Obama puts Pakistan at center of Al-Qaeda war
Americans spend eight hours a day on screens
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 599
Google to expand TV ad service to online video
Official: Intel predicts rising Afghan violence
New technologies coming to Web start-ups' rescue
Grim US newspaper ad revenue figures released
UN chief hails Obama's new Afghan strategy
Google to cut 200 sales, marketing jobs
Outcry after new Ground Zero tower loses 'Freedom'
Turkish PM raises objections to Rasmussen's NATO bid
Russia to end Chechnya anti-terror mission
Mexico wants more U.S. funding for drugs battle
Republican in court over N. Ireland killings
'Italy's Fritzl' sequestered daughter for 25 years
British PM eyes royal reform: reports
Designer sues Courtney Love over Web rants
| Entertainment
|
British Airways ends direct flights to Bangladesh
Rapper T.I. sentenced to one year on gun charges
| Entertainment
|
Afghan, Pakistani leaders praise new US strategy
Devoted music fans pay top dollar for deluxe sets
| Entertainment
|
Japan OKs deployment of missile defense system
Geoffrey Rush debuts on Broadway to rave reviews
The Dead aim to foil scalpers with charity auction
| Entertainment
|
Morkel, Boucher trump Hussey and Australia
Radioactive material found in China: state media
French visits to patch up ties in China
Former Thai PM Thaksin points finger of blame
Japan says ready to shoot down NKorea missile
India's Spice puts bid for fraud-hit Satyam on hold: report
Designer sues Courtney Love over Web rants
Thai ex-PM adds to calls for gov't to resign
Vietnam Q1 growth lowest in decade: official
The Dead aim to foil scalpers with charity auction
Afghan president welcomes new US strategy
China Construction Bank profits up 34 percent
Vanessa Redgrave reschedules Cathedral appearance
China ready to contribute more to IMF fund
Rapper T.I. sentenced to one year on gun charges
Pakistan targets 350 bln rupees in T-bill auctions
Smithsonian unveils 6 design models for new museum
Australia sets conditions on China mine purchase
CNBC's Dylan Ratigan leaving `Fast Money'
No more oil rigs for ousted "American Idol" Sarver
Madonna applies to adopt girl in Malawi
Courtney Love's apparent online rants now in court
Longtime NBC newsman Irving R. Levine dies at 86
Mobile software, data fees in spotlight at CTIA
Markets soar on stimulus plan despite WTO warning
Singapore News
Singapore News
Singapore News
Pakistan spies under heat in new US strategy
Kabul hails US plan as "better than expected"
Militants destroy 12 NATO trucks in Pakistan
Venezuela, Iran FMs meet ahead of Chavez visit
Madonna due in Malawi to adopt second child
Soros sees risk of Britain needing IMF bailout
US space shuttle heads back home
Australia kicks off Earth Hour climate campaign
Australia turns the lights out for Earth Hour
Medvedev, Obama to agree arms declaration: Kremlin
Pacific switches off lights for Earth Hour
American Language Center to reopen in Syria
Obama team takes its climate change agenda abroad
New US strategy better than expected: Karzai
US takes new climate change agenda to global talks
NEC to quit PC market abroad with Asia-Pacific exit
California politician wants to censor online maps
Thousands in London for pre-G20 march
EU ministers seek to reassure Balkan nations
Pakistan's Zardari backs Sharif govt return in Punjab
Pakistan president moves to end political crisis
Afghan president backs new US strategy for war
China marks "emancipation" of Tibet with new holiday
Australia kicks off Earth Hour climate campaign
'Thousands' of Chinese workers heading to Vietnam
Taiwan's ruling party wins key by-election
S.Korea vice fin min sees "good signs" in econ -reports
Nehru relative arrested in India
Pakistani cenbank buys 9 bln rupees of T-bills
Afghan leader: US strategy better than expected
Philippine troops near militants' base withdraw
Heigl says she'll stay if 'Grey's' will have her
Report: North Korea launch would go before UN
Guests for the Sunday TV news shows
CNN likely third-place network in prime-time
Burst Indonesia damn kills 77, 100 still missing
Death toll from Indonesia dam burst rises to 77
Dam bursts near Indonesian capital, killing 77
Dam bursts near Indonesian capital, killing 69
Death toll in Indonesia's dam burst climbs to 69
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights