Germany stands by carbon target, US insists Copenhagen delivered progress

Germany will retain its ambitious target to cut carbon emissions 40 per cent by 2020, despite the failure of the Copenhagen Summit to deliver a binding international agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

There had been fears that the failure of the Copenhagen Summit to deliver an agreement featuring binding emission targets could prompt some countries to downgrade their domestic targets. But a senior advisor to the German government insisted yesterday that it would stand by an emission target for 2020 that is among the most demanding in the world.

Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, head of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, told reporters that while it was uncertain if the EU would upgrade its 2020 emission reduction target from 20 to 30 per cent, Germany would make good on its offer to raise its target from 30 to 40 per cent.

"Germany has a firm target that the government has even spelled out in its coalition agreement to cut its emissions by 40 per cent," Schellnhuber said. " That's unconditional. Germany will continue to be a driving force."

The announcement came on the same day as a Committee of British MPs called on the government to also act unilaterally to upgrade its emission reduction target for 2020 from the current goal of a 34 per cent reduction to a 42 per cent cut.

Schellnhuber dismissed concerns that the German decision to opt for such an ambitious target would undermine its economic competitiveness, predicting that it would give the country the "chance to make its economy more fit for the future".

He also expressed optimism that a binding international deal that ensures other countries commit to similar levels of emission cuts could be agreed this year. "The game isn't over yet," Schellnhuber said. "The dice haven't fallen yet. We still have the chance in the multilateral system to reach a worthwhile agreement."

It is a view echoed by the White House, which yesterday gave its most detailed analysis to date of the progress delivered at last month's Copenhagen Summit.

Speaking in a webcast to reporters, White House environment and climate change advisor Carol Browner admitted that the summit had fallen short of the administration's hopes, but still represented significant progress.

"What is important is that you now have China and India, among the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions, agreeing that it is time to do something," she said. "It's an important step, and with time the world will find its way to a binding international treaty."

Significantly, she signalled that the White House would continue to press the Senate to deliver a climate bill as soon as possible, despite speculation that the fallout from the bruising fight over healthcare reform and the prospect of mid-term elections in the autumn could lead to further delays.

"We're going to continue to engage with the rest of the world while we work here domestically to get our legislative bill passed," she said.

Browner also underlined the administration's commitment to reviving the US nuclear industry as a means of curbing the country's carbon emissions and enhancing its energy security.

"We have not built a nuclear plant in this country in a long time, but we want to work with the industry to make that happen in the not-too-distant future," she said, adding that "the president believes that nuclear needs to be a part of our energy future".

Her comments will fuel speculation that the Democrats are willing to offer increased support for nuclear energy as an element in the climate change bill that they are struggling to secure Senate support for.