UK govt happy with Obama green commitment

Thursday, 20 November 2008 12:00 AM

Barack Obama's speech committing his administration to environmental regulation has been welcomed by figures within the UK government.

Speaking in a recorded message at a climate change conference hosted by California state governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday, the president-elect pledged his White House would reverse the reluctant policies of current president George Bush on green issues.

"Once I take office, you can be sure that the United States will once again engage vigorously in these negotiations and help lead the world toward a new era of global cooperation on climate change," he said.

A UK government source told the Independent newspaper: "This is an incredibly welcome statement about the need not to delay, and it will send a very positive message around the world, especially to the developing countries."

Yvo de Boer, head of the UN's climate change secretariat, told the Reuters news agency yesterday that the statement is expected to have "a very positive influence on the negotiations".

"I think that that statement will be seen as a huge signal of encouragement to the international community," he said.

Mr Obama, who will be inaugurated as the US' 44th president on January 20th next year, has pledged to help reduce US carbon emissions by 80 per cent before 2050.

Tags:
• domestic policy
,
• environment
,
• foreign policy
,
• north america