The US government has confirmed attendance to the UN meeting in Bali on Dec. 3-14, amidst world’s pressure for US and other “big polluters” countries to accept binding targets to reduce the pollution linked to global warming, saying it recognized the importance of the meeting that will lead to a new approach on energy security and climate change as reported by Xinhua News.
“The United States is committed to advancing negotiations at Bali. In recognition of the importance the United States attaches to this conference, the White House is sending Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality James L. Connaughton to join in leading the Ministerial sessions Dec. 12-14,” the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta said in a emailed statement. Connaughton is a senior adviser to President George W. Bush, and his personal representative to the Major Economies Process on Energy Security and Climate Change.
The U.S. delegation will be led by Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, it said. The White House is also sending Trade Representative Ambassador Susan C. Schwab for the trade ministers’ meeting on Dec. 8-9 and Under Secretary of Treasury for International Affairs David H. McCormick for the finance ministers’ meeting on Dec. 10-11. Senior Climate Negotiator and Special Representative Harlan Watson will attend both weeks, and act as alternate to Dobriansky.
Other senior U.S. representatives attending the Bali conference include Claudia McMurray, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, Environment and Science, Andrew Karsner, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, C. Boyden Gray, Ambassador to the European Union and Cameron R. Hume, Ambassador to Indonesia.
Comments
Leave a Comment