WASHINGTON — At its first negotiations on climate change, the Obama administration is trying to convince other countries that the U.S. does care about global warming and wants to shape an international accord.
After eight years on the sidelines, the U.S. says it is ready for a central role in developing a new agreement to slash greenhouse gases. But whether the U.S., which is the second-largest source of heat-trapping pollution, is ready to sign onto a deal by year’s end could depend on Congress.
In a rare move, State Department climate envoy Todd Stern joined the rest of the U.S. delegation in Bonn, Germany, for the first of a series of largely technical meetings that begin today. The talks are hoped to lay the groundwork for an agreement to be signed in December in Denmark.
Stern, in a telephone interview Thursday with The Associated Press from London, said it was important for him to attend and “make the first statement on behalf of the United States and say we’re back, we’re serious, we’re here, we’re committed, and we’re going to try to get this thing done.”
President Barack Obama has acted to reduce greenhouse gases and wants Congress to pass a cap-and-trade program that would cut global- warming pollution 80 percent by mid-century.
Stern said the U.S. position on an international agreement will be framed by what happens in Congress. The reductions expected to be required by Congress will be the basis for what the U.S. can commit to reducing, he said.
Congress already is trying to address the recession, health care and other priorities.
“This will be a big, big fight to get the domestic piece done,” Stern said.
