Congressional Democrats Will Send Separate Climate Team To Bali Negotiations In December - BBC

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A team of leading US Democrats is planning to send a delegation to a key UN climate conference to rival President Bush's official team. They are so frustrated by Mr Bush's refusal to support US emissions cuts that they will travel to Bali to set out their alternative vision.

The UN summit in December is seen as a vital step towards a new global climate deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol.

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The Democrat visit is welcome news to EU politicians, who have pledged to cut Europe's emissions by an ambitious 30% by 2020 from 1990 levels if other big nations make similar effort. Big developing nations like China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico are refusing to make any international commitments while the US refuses to move.

Climate negotiators from Europe and Africa have told BBC News that a Democrat presence in Bali would be very welcome. They said it could apply pressure on President Bush's representatives in the negotiating hall. Last week, Sigmar Gabriel, the German environment minister, said he had visited Mr Bush's Washington meeting on climate change and that he had enjoyed very fruitful discussions with the Democrats about the shape of US climate policy.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7027641.stm