FACTBOX-Climate negotiating positions of top emitters

Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:49am EDT

Oct 30 (Reuters) - Following are the negotiating positions of top greenhouse gas emitters in the run-up to a U.N. meeting in Copenhagen in December where a new pact for combating climate change is due to be agreed:

1) CHINA (annual emissions: 6.8 billion tonnes, 5.5 tonnes per capita)

* Emissions - President Hu Jintao promised on Sept. 22 that China would cut its carbon dioxide emissions per dollar of economic output by a "notable margin" by 2020 compared to 2005. [ID:nN22195458]. The "carbon intensity" goal is the first measurable curb on national emissions for China. Hu reiterated a promise that China would try to raise the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to 15 percent by 2020.

* Demands - China wants developed nations to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and to give far more aid and green technology.

2) UNITED STATES (6.4 billion tonnes, 21.2 tonnes per capita)

* Emissions - President Barack Obama wants to cut U.S. emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020 and by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. He told the United Nations on Sept. 23 that the days when the United States "dragged its feet" on climate change were over. [ID:nN23275858]

Democratic U.S. senators will try to push a bill through the Environment and Public Works Committee as early as the first week of November. The bill would cut emissions by 20 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 -- about 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. [ID:nN29370923]. It would still face a long road to become law.

* Finance - The United States says a "dramatic increase" is needed in funds to help developing nations.

* Demands - "We cannot meet this challenge unless all the largest emitters of greenhouse gas pollution act together," Obama said. [ID:nLN445414]

3) EUROPEAN UNION (5.03 billion tonnes, 10.2 tonnes per capita)

* Emissions - EU leaders agreed in December 2008 to cut emissions by 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and by 30 percent if other developed nations follow suit.

* Finance - EU leaders made progress towards an agreement on funding at a summit on Oct. 30. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said an accord had been reached but diplomats said leaders were still trying to seal an east-west rift. [ID:nLU584151]. A draft declaration says developing nations will need 100 billion euros ($148 billion) a year by 2020.

* Demands - The EU wants developing nations to curb the rise of their emissions by 15 to 30 percent below a trajectory of "business as usual" by 2020.

4) RUSSIA (1.7 billion tonnes, 11.9 tonnes per capita)

* Emissions - President Dmitry Medvedev said in June that Russia's emissions would be around 10 to 15 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. That means a rise from now -- emissions were 34 percent below 1990 levels in 2007. [ID:nLJ881370]

* Demands - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Sept. 11 that Russia would reject any new climate pact that imposed restrictions on Russia but did not bind other big polluters such as the United States or China. [ID:nLB2724].

5) INDIA (1.4 billion tonnes, 1.2 tonnes per capita)

* Emissions - India is prepared to quantify the amount of greenhouse gas emissions it could cut with domestic actions, but will not accept internationally binding targets, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Sept. 17. [ID:nDEL381436]. India has said its per capita emissions will never rise to match those of developed nations.

* Demands - Like China, India wants rich nations to cut emissions by at least 40 percent by 2020. But Ramesh signalled room to compromise on Oct. 16: "It's a negotiation. We've given a number of 40 percent but one has to be realistic." [ID:nDEL313884].

6) JAPAN (1.4 billion tonnes, 11.0 tonnes per capita)

* Emissions - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama wants to cut Japan's emissions by 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 if Copenhagen agrees an ambitious deal, toughening a goal set by the previous government of an eight percent reduction.

* Finance - Hatoyama told the United Nations on Sept. 22 that Tokyo would also step up aid. [ID:nT293715]

(Note: Greenhouse gas emissions are 2008 data by Germany's Energy industry institute IWR except EU, which are from 2007 submission to United Nations [ID:nLA268743])