China Seeks to Limit ‘Impact’ of Copenhagen Plan, Stern Says

By Kim Chipman | Bloomberg | February 09, 2010

China, India and other countries are trying to “limit the impact” of the Copenhagen Accord by emphasizing that the climate change deal isn’t legally binding, U.S. negotiator Todd Stern said today.

China, India, South Africa and Brazil have submitted their voluntary plans to curb climate change under the agreement, reached in December during United Nations talks in Copenhagen.

While he’s confident the nations will sign on to the accord, the countries have been “ambiguous” about their commitment, Stern said an event today in Washington. Stern, who serves as President Barack Obama’s top climate-change negotiator, said 90 nations so far have said they want to associate with the agreement.

Stern also stressed the need today for the U.S. Congress to pass climate-change legislation this year.

--With assistance from Alex Morales in London. Editors: Joe Richter, Romaine Bostick

To contact the reporter on this story: Kim Chipman in Washington at +1-202-624-1927 or kchipman@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Larry Liebert at +1-202-624-1936 or lliebert@bloomberg.net.

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