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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Bush hosts climate change talks | Bush hosts climate change talks |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Delegates from the world's top 16 polluting nations are meeting in Washington to discuss ways of tackling climate change. | Delegates from the world's top 16 polluting nations are meeting in Washington to discuss ways of tackling climate change. |
| The meeting was called by US President George Bush, who said he is looking for a show of leadership on climate change. | The meeting was called by US President George Bush, who said he is looking for a show of leadership on climate change. |
| Representatives will draft national measures for curbing emissions and seek agreement on long-term objectives. | Representatives will draft national measures for curbing emissions and seek agreement on long-term objectives. |
| Critics are concerned that the meeting might be used to press for voluntary rather than binding emission cuts. | Critics are concerned that the meeting might be used to press for voluntary rather than binding emission cuts. |
| Many scientists say political action is falling behind what is needed to avert lasting damage to Earth's climate. | Many scientists say political action is falling behind what is needed to avert lasting damage to Earth's climate. |
| Negotiations | Negotiations |
| The two days of talks will be chaired by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. President Bush will address the meeting on Friday. | The two days of talks will be chaired by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. President Bush will address the meeting on Friday. |
| Motives behind Bush's summit | |
| Representatives from Australia, Britain, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the US will attend. | Representatives from Australia, Britain, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the US will attend. |
| Together they account for more than 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions. | |
| Delegates will seek agreement on long-term global goals, as well as "nationally defined mid-term goals and strategies, and sector-based approaches for improving energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions," the White House said in a statement. | Delegates will seek agreement on long-term global goals, as well as "nationally defined mid-term goals and strategies, and sector-based approaches for improving energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions," the White House said in a statement. |
| Representatives from the EU and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will also attend. | Representatives from the EU and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will also attend. |
| Critics of the meeting fear it could dilute attempts to reach a global agreement through the UN in the next two years. | Critics of the meeting fear it could dilute attempts to reach a global agreement through the UN in the next two years. |
| A UNFCCC meeting later this year will aim to set a roadmap for negotiations to tighten a mandatory clamp on carbon gas after 2012, when current commitments under Kyoto Protocol run out. | A UNFCCC meeting later this year will aim to set a roadmap for negotiations to tighten a mandatory clamp on carbon gas after 2012, when current commitments under Kyoto Protocol run out. |
| However, UNFCCC leader Yvo de Boer said US officials had repeatedly pledged that Mr Bush's initiative would feed back into the UN process. | However, UNFCCC leader Yvo de Boer said US officials had repeatedly pledged that Mr Bush's initiative would feed back into the UN process. |