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Rice chairs climate change talks Rice urges climate change accord
(about 2 hours later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is hosting a conference of the world's top 16 polluting nations in Washington on ways to tackle climate change. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said climate change is a real problem, and world leaders should forge a new global consensus on tackling it.
The meeting was called by US President George Bush, who said he wanted a show of leadership on climate change. At a meeting of the top 16 polluting countries, Ms Rice said nations should pursue lower-carbon energy sources.
Representatives will draft national measures for curbing emissions and seek agreement on long-term objectives. She expressed support for UN efforts to achieve international agreements on the issue at talks in Bali in December.
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.
This would dilute attempts to reach a global agreement through the UN in the next two years, ahead of the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012.
All nations should tackle climate change in the ways that they deem best Condoleezza Rice
The US, China, India and other major polluters have opposed mandatory cuts in greenhouse gases pressed for by the UN and some European countries.
Ms Rice challenged leaders to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels by shifting toward energy sources that would reduce global warming - without harming their economies.
She said climate change could not be dealt with entirely as an environmental question but "in a way that does not starve economies of the energy that they need to grow".
"Though united by common goals and collective responsibility, all nations should tackle climate change in the ways that they deem best," she said.
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.
NegotiationsNegotiations
President Bush will address the meeting on Friday. The two-days talks were called by US President George W Bush, who said he was looking for a show of leadership on climate change. He will address the meeting on Friday.
Motives behind Bush's summitMotives 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 are attending.
Together they account for more than 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions.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 global goals for "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 are also taking part.
Critics of the meeting fear it could dilute attempts to reach a global agreement through the UN in the next two years. A UN conference in Indonesia 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 the 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. The top UN climate official, Yvo de Boer, said US officials have repeatedly pledged that Mr Bush's initiative will feed back into the UN process.
However, UNFCCC leader Yvo de Boer said US officials had repeatedly pledged Mr Bush's initiative would feed back into the UN process.