U.N., E.U. Pressure U.S. to Bring More to Copenhagen Talks Table

Yvo de Boer, head of the U.N. Climate Change Secretariat, called on the U.S. to set standards for emissions limits in order to make a climate deal possible in Copenhagen, Reuters reported. De Boer was quoted as saying: "We need a clear target from the United States in Copenhagen. That is an essential component of the puzzle." He was speaking at the final international negotiating sessions before the Copenhagen meeting taking place in Barcelona this week.

Denmark and the European Union urged President Obama to press for climate-change legislation now working its way through Congress. The Guardian quoted Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren, who currently serves as president of the E.U., as saying: "We expect American leadership. President Obama has created great expectations around the world. Now we urge [the US] to contribute in the way that we have. We are prepared to cut a deal. Other countries should demonstrate leadership and step up their current pledges."

Jonathan Pershing, chief negotiator for the U.S., responded: "Notions that the U.S. is not making an effort is not correct. To apportion blame is not the constructive thing to do. We do not want to be outside [an agreement]. We have the best chance to [make an agreement] if we can implement something domestically. We and Congress recognise the need to move forward."

The Irish Times reported that de Boer has already said that a climate treaty cannot emerge from the Copenhagen meeting. De Boer was quoted as saying it would be "physically impossible to finalize all the details of a treaty" but he did believe it was "absolutely feasible to adopt a set of decisions" that could lead to a treaty.

Wrote Reuters: "De Boer said he wanted Copenhagen to agree four elements: individual cuts in emissions for rich nations, actions by poor nations to slow their rising emissions, new finance and technology for developing nations and a system to oversee funds."

- Related stories also appeared in AFP and Green Inc. blog via the New York Times, Nov. 2.