General

Mr. Obama goes to Copenhagen

Unlike Stephen Harper, the U.S. president plans to attend next month’s climate change conference

The White House has confirmed U.S. President Barack Obama will attend the global climate summit in Copenhagen next month, a meeting which Canadian officials have already dismissed as unlikely to produce a meaningful follow-up to the Kyoto Protocol. Though officials in Stephen Harper’s office say plans could change should world leaders decide to meet there, Canada’s prime minister isn’t planning on attending the summit, opting to send Environment Minister Jim Prentice instead. So far, 65 world leaders have confirmed they’ll be in Copenhagen, but Obama’s presence stands out as the conference organizers’ biggest coup. “The world is very much looking to the United States to come forward with an emission reduction target and contribute to financial support to help developing countries,” says Yvo de Boer, the UN’s climate treaty chief.

CBC

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