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November 5, 2009

US Downplays Likelihood of Climate Deal in Copenhagen
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The Obama administration is downplaying hopes for reaching a global
climate change treaty at the world summit in Copenhagen next month. On
Wednesday, State Department climate change envoy Todd Stern said nations
are unlikely to reach a deal in Copenhagen and should aim for an
agreement in the following months. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has
warned against delaying a climate treaty, citing the urgent need to
begin cutting greenhouse gas emissions to avoid environmental
catastrophe. Climate negotiators are currently meeting in Spain in
advance of the Copenhagen talks. On Tuesday, delegates from the African
bloc walked out of the negotiations, saying their concerns have gone
ignored. The African countries said they would refuse to participate
until richer nations agreed to consider making larger emissions cuts.



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