John Kerry: US targets depend on Copenhagen

IF international climate change talks falter this week, chances for the United States approving its own carbon pollution-reduction plan will seriously erode, US Senator John Kerry warned yesterday.

“With a successful deal here in Copenhagen, next year the United States Congress — House and Senate — will pass comprehensive energy/climate legislation that will reduce America’s emissions,” Kerry predicted.

In a speech that sought to encourage the negotiators in Copenhagen and assure them the United States had finally joined their efforts, Kerry added that a failure to address core global issues here will make it “exceedingly difficult” for elected officials to back legislation.