Hopes of a successful result at the international climate summit next month in Copenhagen have been universally lifted as the United States confirms that the Obama administration will join the talks with a clear emissions target. US Government officials made the declaration yesterday that Obama will confirm firstly the US national reduction targets but also, crucially, whether the President will himself attend the climate negotiations.
As the news travels around the world, hopes are raised that a concrete plan can be agreed for future action to cut global emissions. More than 60 global leaders, presidents and prime ministers, have already stated their intention to attend the talks. The latest, Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, stated yesterday that he hoped the summit can reach a non-binding political agreement, more of a pathway to a legal commitment later on next year.
As yet the leaders from some of the world’s top polluting countries, India and China, have not confirmed their attendance. Løkke Rasmussen, the host and chairman of the climate talks, commented on the growing momentum that "heads of state and government are ready to fly in, realising that the political momentum is pointing towards Copenhagen as the place ... to address the outstanding issues so we can conclude an ambitious deal. The active involvement of heads of state and government is crucial."