With U.S. on Board, Environmental Plan Approved

BALI, Indonesia, Dec. 15, 2007 -- After two weeks of intense negotiations, the Bali Roadmap was adopted today by delegates from nearly 190 countries. The closing day, filled with high emotion, resulted in an agreement to start negotiations for a new international climate treaty.

The pact was solidified when the United States reversed its position after hearing strong and pointed comments from other nations on the floor.

"And in fact, in this the United States is very committed to this effort and just want to really ensure that we all will act together," U.S. delegation head Paula Dobriansky said. "So with that, Mr. Chairman, let me say to you that we will go forward and join consensus in this today."

The White House today also issued a statement saying, "There are many features of the decision that are quite positive, including those provisions recognizing the importance of developing clean technologies, financing the deployment of those technologies in the developing world, assisting countries in adapting to climate change, exploring industry sector agreements on emissions, and addressing deforestation."

The statement went on to say that "the United States does have serious concerns about other aspects of the Decision as we begin the negotiations," referring to differentiating responsibilities among developed and developing countries.

Which country should be responsible for what regarding the environment is and will continue to be the core debate for future agreements.

"The politics of global warming have completely changed in America," David Doniger, climate policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council said in a statement. "States, cities, the business community, and the U.S. Congress are moving forward, making real progress towards a new climate treaty possible under the next president."

In Bali, negotiations took longer than expected because critical issues regarding both climate change and economic policy were at stake. The key point over the last week was whether developed countries would agree to specific targets -- reducing emissions by 25 to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

The final agreement removed the specifics, as advocated by the United States and conceded by the European Union, to more generally read "recognizing that deep cuts in global emissions will be required."

Over the next two years, to make the next deadline of 2009 to give countries enough time to ratify any future agreement before the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, many detailed issues will need to be resolved.

For now, through the leadership of the United Nations, initial steps have been taken towards what comes after the Kyoto Protocol.

The lead up to today's end results proved dramatic and eventful.

On Monday, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., breezed into Bali telling ABC News, "If global climate change is not responded to adequately, it has all the ability to be able to change life as we know it on earth, and to be catastrophic in its proportions. That's what the scientists tell us. That's not political talk. That is scientific analysis."

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Al Gore, the former Vice President, arrived Thursday and spoke openly before a packed house about his take on the role of the United States during negotiations.

"My own country, the United States, is principally responsible for obstructing progress here in Bali, we all know that," he said. "But my country is not the only one that can take steps to ensure that we move forward from Bali with progress and with hope."

On Thursday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stepped in.

"We have technology, we have financing, the scientists have made it quite clear. What is largely lacking is the political will," he told ABC News.

As initial negotiations continued past the deadline on Friday, the secretary general made an unplanned return trip to Bali this morning to plead with the delegates to come to an agreement.

"I know most of you are all exhausted from your sleepless night negotiations. In fact, I come before you very reluctantly. Frankly, I'm disappointed at the lack of progress," he said.

He tried to soften the criticism somewhat, expressing his appreciation for the delegates' flexibility and cooperation. "Your work here is not done," he said.

President Yudhoyono of host country Indonesia, who spoke before the secretary general, told the delegates, "The world is watching us today," and reiterated the message that "We cannot fail. We must not fail."