U.S. climate envoy promises to 'make up for lost time'

by Rich Bowden - Mar 30 2009, 20:33

Obama administration-appointed climate envoy Todd Stern has assured delegates at the opening of U.N.-sponsored climate talks that his government intends to "make up for lost time."

Speaking in Bonn before 2,600 conference delegates, the Special Envoy of the President for Climate Change drew applause when he said:

"America is now once again strongly committed to developing a global response to climate change. We do not doubt the science, we do not doubt the urgency, and we do not doubt the enormity of the challenge before us."

He added that the current U.S. administration has flagged action against climate change as a major priority.

"President Obama and his Administration are fully committed to action, both at home – where that action is well underway already – and abroad," Stern said.

"During the past two days in Bonn, we have had productive discussions with representatives from many countries, both developed and developing... we have been doing a lot of listening, a lot of sharing of ideas with many of my counterparts," he added. "I am more convinced than ever that it is important that we be guided in these negotiations by a combination of science and pragmatism."

While offering no specific proposals, and acknowledging that the administration was constrained by the will of Congress, Stern said there could be no progress on climate change without the U.S. and the cooperation of developing emissions giants such as India, China and Brazil.

"I would note that China has, much like the United States, taken an important step by having a significant clean energy component of its stimulus package, but more can and must be done to pursue the path of low-carbon development," he outlined.

"Many other countries -- South Africa, India, Brazil, and others have also designed projects and have plans for clean energy transformation that are quite important, and they are going to help them get on the path to sustainable development. It is vital in general that the global community support the efforts of developing countries to leap frog the carbon-intensive fossil fuel stage of development that industrialized countries have followed."

"Our job in these negotiations is to define a path forward that will be supported by the people that we serve so that our agreements can actually take effect with all countries participating, and can then start to make a difference," he said.

Want regular updates from The Tech Herald? Follow us on Twitter.

The Tech Herald: Clinton-appointed climate envoy causes buzz

Around the Web