U.S. President Barack Obama is set to attend the global climate summit in Copenhagen next month, in an effort to ramp up support for commitment to cutting greenhouse gas emissions-a goal the United States has taken very seriously. The president will take part in the conference on December 9 before heading to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. In a statement, the White House called Obama"s decision "a sign of his continuing commitment and leadership to find a global solution to the global threat of climate change, and to lay the foundation for a new, sustainable and prosperous clean energy future." Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, the host and chairman of the talks, said he was "very happy" with Obama"s decision to attend. "The visit underlines the president"s desire to contribute to an ambitious, global agreement in Copenhagen," said Loekke Rasmussen. During his visit, Obama will outline his goals for reducing the United States" carbon dioxide emissions, pledging to cut heat-trapping pollution by about 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. That target reflects the still-unfinished climate legislation on Capitol Hill. The European Union has urged the United States, as well as China, to deliver greenhouse gas emission targets at the summit, saying their delays were hindering global efforts to curb climate change. The conference had originally been intended to produce a new global climate change treaty on limiting emissions of greenhouse gases that would replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. However, hopes for a legally binding agreement have dimmed lately, with leaders saying the summit is more likely to produce a template for future action to cut emissions blamed for global warming. At least 65 world leaders will attend the summit, but unlike Obama, most are expected to attend the final days of the December 7 to 18 conference. The White House said about seven or eight U.S. officials will be present at the time the other world leaders will be Copenhagen. The White House also dodged telling SPA which counties they have called on for their explicit support in combating climate change, but reiterated that it is important for the major economies to play their part.
