COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Developed countries should make major cuts in carbon emissions in the next decade, says a draft document released at the Copenhagen climate conference.
The text was prepared by Michael Zammit Cutajar, who heads the Ad-hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action at the U.N.-sponsored conference, The Washington Post reported.
The draft sets several possible targets for cuts for industrialized countries by 2020. One of the targets calls for cuts of 25 percent to 40 percent below 1990 levels, while others are 30 percent, 40 percent and 45 percent.
Those are far more drastic than the target proposed by the United States, Politico says.
The U.S. recommendation was 17 percent below the 2005 level, which would amount to about 4 percent below the 1990 level.
The draft did not take a position on a target for overall global temperature rise.
Small island countries could be wiped out by a significant rise in ocean levels. And some of those that would be hit hardest by climate change pledged to seek a legally binding treaty in Copenhagen, the Post said. But most major participants expect no more than a political deal.
The conference has brought together 13,000 people and about 60 heads of governments are expected to be in Copenhagen next week.
