Greenhouse polluters to meet
2009-04-27 14:06
Washington - Diplomats from the world's biggest greenhouse gas polluters including the United States, China and India are set to take part in a forum on Monday at the US State Department aimed at getting a UN agreement to
curb global warming.
The two-day meeting of so-called major economies is meant
to jump-start climate talks in advance of a December deadline,
when the international community meets in Copenhagen to find a
follow-up agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, which limits
climate-warming greenhouse emissions and expires in 2012.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to make
opening remarks. Participants are expected to discuss
technology cooperation and other issues.
The major economies include Australia, Brazil, Britain,
Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India,
Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa
and the United States. Denmark, the host of the December
meeting, also was invited.
Environmentalists and others see US commitment to
fighting climate change as key to any global pact.
"Without US leadership, a global warming agreement in
Copenhagen will be largely out of reach," said Jake Schmidt of
the Natural Resources Defence Council activist group.