Hopes for climate deal get a boost

[TomCADem]

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/04/AR2009120404515.html?hpid=topnews

President Obama will attend the high-level portion of international climate talks in Copenhagen on Dec. 18, the White House announced Friday, ratcheting up expectations that the United Nations-sponsored negotiations could produce a significant deal on global warming.

Obama had planned to stop in Copenhagen on Wednesday, on his way to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Instead, the president will be there during the critical period when more than 80 heads of government convene to try to finalize an agreement.

In a statement, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama has determined that "there is progress being made towards a meaningful Copenhagen accord" now that both China and India have announced nationwide energy-efficiency targets in the last week.

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Obama's aides have said for weeks that he would attend the closing hours of the world meeting only if he thought his presence could help secure an accord.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/04/AR2009120404515.html?hpid=topnews