Copenhagen talks:US unlikely to make imp reduction commitments

New Delhi, Nov 13 (PTI) The US Friday indicated that it
would make no significant emissions reduction commitments to
tackle global warming at the climate change talks in
Copenhagen next month.

"We have a Bill (on climate change) which has been passed
by the Congress and is yet to be approved by the Senate," US
Energy Secretary Steven Chu said replying to a query on
whether the US would undertake any firm commitments at
Copenhagen.
He was referring to the Kerry-Boxer legislation which
aims to cut fossil-fuel emissions to 17 per cent below 2005
levels by 2020 and and 83 per cent in 2050.
The EU has committed unconditional emissions cut to at
least 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. It has offered to
scale up emission cuts to 30 per cent if other developed
nations follow suit.
"We have to make sure that history does not repeat
itself. We have to get clearance from the Senate," he said
during an interaction at the IIT-Delhi here after delivering a
speech on "Meeting the Energy and Climate Challenge."
Chu said the US did not want a repeat of the Kyoto
Protocol when it signed international climate agreement
negotiated in part by then US Vice President Al Gore which was
later rejected by the Senate.
Tough international negotiations on deciding a successor
to Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012, are currently on and
are expected to culminate in Copenhagen at the 15th Conference
of Parties (COP) between December 7-18. PTI SKU
DDC


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