U.S. and Europe partners on climate?

POZNAN, Poland, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's man at a U.N. climate conference in Poland said the United States and Europe could jointly lead on climate protection.

"Europe is a vital partner and can and will be critical in efforts" to help curb climate change, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., Thursday told reporters on the sidelines of a major climate conference in the western Polish city of Poznan. Kerry said under Obama, the United States would rejoin the global climate-protection effort with full force.

Obama "recognizes the need for the United States to take the lead, and he will push that lead," Kerry said.

The senator is tasked with reporting back to the president-elect from the conference, which aims to pave the way for a comprehensive climate-protection treaty to be signed by the end of 2009 at a summit in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is not part of the official U.S. delegation leading the negotiations.

Kerry said the next administration would do everything in its power to come to a climate deal by 2009 that includes mandatory emissions targets for all the world's major emitters.

On the way to Copenhagen and thereafter, there are several ways for Europe and the United States to cooperate on climate protection -- projects could be a joint cap-and-trade market or technology joint ventures, for example on clean coal, Kerry said.

"I believe Europe has been waiting with bated breath for someone to partner up with on climate change," Kerry added.

It seems that wait will be over soon.