Bush Inaction May Push Climate Talks For 2012 Plan Into 2010 - Reuters

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OSLO, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Talks on extending a U.N.-led fight against global warming beyond 2012 may last until 2010 to allow a wider U.S. role after President George W. Bush steps down, a U.N. expert said on Wednesday. Many environmentalists, and some governments, want a new pact on cutting greenhouse emissions agreed by 2008 to give businesses and investors time to adapt to new rules after the U.N. Kyoto Protocol's first period ends in 2012.

"I sense in the rhetoric that people are talking more about 2009 (than 2008)", said Michael Zammit Cutajar, a climate expert from Malta who leads a U.N. group looking at how to extend Kyoto. "We need a deal that includes Kyoto and includes the United States," he told Reuters during a conference in Oslo on capturing carbon dioxide emissions. "I wouldn't be surprised, given the U.S. electoral calendar, if the overall deal would be 2010," he said. The United States is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from fossil fuels burned in power plants, factories and cars.

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He said U.S. involvement in capping emissions could also encourage big developing nations, such as China or India, to look at ways to brake the rise of their emissions. No countries are proposing developing nations adopt Kyoto-style caps on their emissions from 2012, he said.

He said the Nairobi talks would also look at proposals for forests to be planted or preserved from logging as part of a fight against global warming. Plants soak carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, as they grow.

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By all means, let's talk a while longer. After all, what's another four or five years at this point? We certainly wouldn't rush into anything that might be economically unfair, now would we?

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

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