US Emissions Targets

The US will have a specific carbon emissions reduction target before the Copenhagen Climate Conference begins on December 7, announced White House officials this week. The target will most likely mirror legislation passed in the House, which aims to reduce emissions 17 to 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. This is significantly less aggressive than goals set by other countries, which typically use 1990 levels of greenhouse gas emissions to create reduction targets. President Obama has not said whether he will join the more than 60 heads of state that have pledged to attend the conference, which is less than two weeks away.