UN climate chief says US, Western nations must agree to strict 2020 emissions targets to secure global climate treaty

In Poland, the top climate official for the UN insisted that the US and other leading Western polluters must agree on specific greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, and a 2020 timeline, in order to secure an international climate change treaty that will replace Kyoto when it expires in 2012. President-elect Obama has not indicated support for 2020 timetables that do more than roll back emissions to 1990 levels. A 2007 agreement by many Kyoto-signing nations had set targets of 25-45 percent emissions reductions by 2020.

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