As Bangkok Concludes, Boxer Says Obama Could Commit to Targets With or Without US Bill

United Nations negotiations on climate change in Bangkok concluded last week. The Danish Prime Minister said the negotiations are progressing at a slow pace and required personal intervention of heads of state if Copenhagen was to produce a successful outcome.  European Union, Denmark and Indian leaders expressed willingness to work toward a last-minute agreement in Copenhagen, but suggested it was more likely a broad framework would be agreed to this year, the details of which would be determined in 2010. While last week Jonathan Pershing, U.S. Deputy Envoy on Climate Change, said it would be “extraordinarily difficult” for the administration to commit to a numerical reduction target before Congress passed a bill, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer claimed that the administration should be able to commit to a target based on what has already been accomplished. Read more at E&E News (sub. req’d).