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As stipulated in last December's Copenhagen Accord, January 31, 2010
was the deadline for weathier nations to submit their emissions
reductions targets. Obama Pledged to reduce US greenhouse gases (GHGs)
by approximately 17 percent below 2005 levels over the next 10 years.
In
his letter to the UN, US Special Climate Envoy Todd Stern called the
Accord "an important step forward by the global community to address
climate change and mitigate its impacts" He said the 17 percent range
target, which Obama announced late last year, showed the President's
"continued commitment to meeting the climate change and clean energy
challenge through robust domestic and international action that will
strengthen our economy, enhance our national security and protect our
environment."
The Accord is not a legally binding treaty, and
although it was not officially adopted by the 193 nations in attendance
at COP15, weathier nations have submitted their reductions estimates.
While the Copenhagen Accord includes measures to verify that nations
are meeting their emissions targets there are no penalties for
countries that fail to meet their targets.
The administration
said they would provide more details once Congress passes a bill to
limit GHG emissions. However, the fate of the climate change bill,
including cap-and-trade, appears uncertain amid the protracted fight
over health care and Democrats' increasing nervousness about the
mid-term elections.
