In the United States and in Copenhagen, climate change talks are underway. U.S. Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) released their framework for comprehensive climate change and energy independence legislation. The four-page framework from offers several broad statements that are at the center of the Copenhagen, Denmark, negotiations and the Obama administration’s position.
The senators slightly lowered their sights on greenhouse gas emission limits for 2020, dropping from 20 percent to the same “range” of 17 percent below 2005 levels that the United States has already put on the table. And they pledged to include in their bill long-term financing for developing countries’ adaptation, deforestation and technology deployment efforts.
As Copenhagen discussions enter their final stage Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has promised the United States will help raise $100 billion annually by 2020 to assist poor countries in coping with climate change as long as America’s demands for a global warming pledge are met.
As of this evening it was noted a deal was not yet reached in Copenhagen but a United Kingdom (UK) Government spokesperson has said: “There has been real movement this evening and we are more hopeful that a deal can be done tonight. Final details are still being nailed down, but we are now confident that we can get the two degree target agreed”
The Climate Framework released can be viewed at: http://kerry.senate.gov/newsroom/pdf/Climate_Framework.pdf
To view complete remarks from Clinton, please visit: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/12/133734.htm
To find out more on Copenhagen, please visit: http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/climatechange/gateway