Just landed in Copenhagen, American climate change envoy Todd Stern responds to statements by Chinese top negotiator
Statements by Su Wei, Deputy Head of the Chinese COP15 delegation, on lack of ambitions from the US were opposed by Todd Stern, President Barack Obama’s climate change envoy, as he arrived Wednesday at the conference in Copenhagen.
“The country whose emissions are going up dramatically, really dramatically, is China,” Todd Stern said according to Bloomberg – adding that “there can’t be a new agreement without China”.
According to The Australian, Su Wei said that the present target announced by the US translates into a one percent cut below 1990 levels, adding that:
“I’m not very good at English, but I doubt whether just a one percent reduction can be described as remarkable or notable.”
Todd Stern commented that the US target – a 17 percent cut by 2020 compared to 2005 – is based on pending legislation.
“God willing, in the spring the US will be able to report to the UN that our target is even higher,” Mr. Stern said, according to Bloomberg. Stern also expressed support for a UN call for 10 billion US dollars to be provided internationally from 2010 to 2012 for short-term adaptation in vulnerable countries.
Source: COP15
The liveeco team
