A global agreement to reduce carbon emissions could be achieved during a climate conference in Mexico next month, a US official said.
Mr. Todd Stern. (Photo: internet)
Todd Stern, the US government's special envoy in negotiations on climate change, came to China yesterday to discuss with the country's officials about climate conferences in Cancun, Mexico in late November and many questions. Climate change, AP said.
Stern said that the time is not much in the context of the Cancun conference will take place in late November. According to him, the ability to reach an agreement depends only on the political will of the participating countries.
'My job is torn and all officials in the climate issue are trying their best to find compromises and words to reach an agreement on reducing emissions,' Stern said.
The United States and China - the two countries that produce the most carbon emissions - still disagree about the key provisions in the draft greenhouse gas reduction agreement. This year's UN climate conference has just taken place in Tianjin, China.
The two rich countries and developing countries are still conflicting about how to share the financial burden in emissions reduction efforts and measures to monitor money use.
Washington wants China and other developing countries to commit to reducing emissions by specific numbers and under the supervision of the international community. Meanwhile, China insists that the United States and rich countries should increase their emissions cuts, because developed countries have created emissions from hundreds of years ago.
Most representatives of countries believe that a legally binding agreement is difficult to achieve this year. However, countries are still trying to achieve smaller consensus to lay the groundwork for a framework agreement. Delegates hope the framework agreement will be approved at a conference in South Africa in 2011.
The United Nations is sponsoring negotiations to achieve an agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This agreement will replace the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012.