U.S. pledges billions; China says climate pact is doubtful
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Leaders seek climate change agreement in Copenhagen
Leaders from around the world gather in Copenhagen Dec. 7-18 to forge a long-anticipated international agreement on climate change, while thousands of activists gather outside to make sure their voices are heard.
COPENHAGEN -- The United States pledged Thursday to help build a $100 billion annual fund by 2020 to help poor countries cope with climate change but said its commitment depends on whether the nations gathered here forge a substantive environmental pact that includes "transparency" on tracking emissions cuts.
Seeking to break through an impasse, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the historic talks must result in an international accord that includes emission reduction commitments from both developed and major developing countries; financial and technological assistance for poor countries; and a way to independently verify the cuts all nations made. Such language is essential to U.S. senators, who have yet to pass climate legislation and would have to ratify any future climate treaty.
Clinton warned that China -- which has resisted attempts for international verification of emission cuts and told officials here before Clinton spoke that a global pact seems unlikely -- must agree to monitoring if a deal is to be reached.
"We're running out of time," Clinton said at a news conference. "Without the accord, the opportunity to mobilize significant resources to assist developing countries with mitigation and adaptation will be lost."
An international agreement, Clinton added, would be impossible "in the absence of transparency from the second-biggest emitter" in the world -- in other words, China.
China told participants earlier Wednesday that it cannot envision reaching an immediate, operational accord out of the negotiations here, according to an official involved in the talks. Another source said Chinese officials are now seeking a two-page agreement. The source added that it is unclear what specifics such an agreement might contain, although "you can get a lot into two pages."
Developing countries have insisted they need to know how the industrialized world will help them adapt to climate change and curb their own emissions before signing off on a substantive deal.
The $100 billion annual fund would help poorer countries switch to less environmentally harmful forms of energy production and prepare for the impacts of rising seas and warmer global temperatures.
The administration's financial overture could spark some resistance in Congress, which controls federal spending through the appropriations process.
Clinton did not detail how much the U.S. would contribute. She said there were a number of financing options under consideration but would not provide details -- although environmental activists said they have been told by U.S. officials that part of the funding could come from the $60 billion in annual subsidies to fossil fuel industries that the G-20 nations have agreed to phase out.
The European Union has also committed to building a long-term, $100 billion fund, while Japan has committed $15 billion in short-term funding to poor countries over the next three years if an agreement is reached.
"One hundred billion dollars is a lot. It can have tangible effects," Clinton said, adding, "We have lost precious time in these past days. In the time we have left here, it can no longer be about us versus them -- this group of nations pitted against that group. We all face the same challenge together."
Gallery
Leaders seek climate change agreement in Copenhagen
Leaders from around the world gather in Copenhagen Dec. 7-18 to forge a long-anticipated international agreement on climate change, while thousands of activists gather outside to make sure their voices are heard.
COPENHAGEN -- The United States pledged Thursday to help build a $100 billion annual fund by 2020 to help poor countries cope with climate change but said its commitment depends on whether the nations gathered here forge a substantive environmental pact that includes "transparency" on tracking emissions cuts.
Seeking to break through an impasse, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the historic talks must result in an international accord that includes emission reduction commitments from both developed and major developing countries; financial and technological assistance for poor countries; and a way to independently verify the cuts all nations made. Such language is essential to U.S. senators, who have yet to pass climate legislation and would have to ratify any future climate treaty.
Clinton warned that China -- which has resisted attempts for international verification of emission cuts and told officials here before Clinton spoke that a global pact seems unlikely -- must agree to monitoring if a deal is to be reached.
"We're running out of time," Clinton said at a news conference. "Without the accord, the opportunity to mobilize significant resources to assist developing countries with mitigation and adaptation will be lost."
An international agreement, Clinton added, would be impossible "in the absence of transparency from the second-biggest emitter" in the world -- in other words, China.
China told participants earlier Wednesday that it cannot envision reaching an immediate, operational accord out of the negotiations here, according to an official involved in the talks. Another source said Chinese officials are now seeking a two-page agreement. The source added that it is unclear what specifics such an agreement might contain, although "you can get a lot into two pages."
Developing countries have insisted they need to know how the industrialized world will help them adapt to climate change and curb their own emissions before signing off on a substantive deal.
The $100 billion annual fund would help poorer countries switch to less environmentally harmful forms of energy production and prepare for the impacts of rising seas and warmer global temperatures.
The administration's financial overture could spark some resistance in Congress, which controls federal spending through the appropriations process.
Clinton did not detail how much the U.S. would contribute. She said there were a number of financing options under consideration but would not provide details -- although environmental activists said they have been told by U.S. officials that part of the funding could come from the $60 billion in annual subsidies to fossil fuel industries that the G-20 nations have agreed to phase out.
The European Union has also committed to building a long-term, $100 billion fund, while Japan has committed $15 billion in short-term funding to poor countries over the next three years if an agreement is reached.
"One hundred billion dollars is a lot. It can have tangible effects," Clinton said, adding, "We have lost precious time in these past days. In the time we have left here, it can no longer be about us versus them -- this group of nations pitted against that group. We all face the same challenge together."