Stockholm - Sweden regards the proposed emission cuts by the United States ahead of a UN climate change summit next month as insufficient, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said in a comment published Thursday. The US reduction of 17 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020 were announced Wednesday. The White House also confirmed that US President Barack Obama was to take part during the early stages of the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen that runs from December 7-18.
"We will continue to argue that the UN system has demanded, and Europe is offering more ambitious (cuts)," Reinfeldt told the Stockholm daily Dagens Nyheter, noting that Obama had to follow decisions set by Congress.
Sweden is current holder of the rotating presidency of the European Union that has said it will cut emissions by 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. The 27-nation bloc has offered to raise its commitment to 30 per cent if other major emitters follow suit.
Using the same baseline year, 1990, the US target was just 4 per cent below 1990 levels.
Reinfeldt welcomed the news that Obama is to attend the UN summit on December 9, the day before he visits Oslo, Norway to accept his Nobel Peace Prize - but said he had hoped the US leader would take part in the final stages of the Copenhagen meeting.
Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren said "the EU will carefully analyse what the offer involves and how it can be coupled to a binding international agreement."
"With this offer, the US is preparing for a significant reduction in emissions compared with the present situation," Carlgren added.
"However, I regret that the level of emissions reductions up to 2020 is not higher, as previous estimates indicate that it is possible for the US to do more," Carlgren said.
The Danish government has said some 60 heads of state and government have indicated they plan to attend the UN summit.
