Sweden says US must move faster on climate change

Sweden, which currently holds the EU presidency, urged the US to move faster to tackle climate change ahead of a major environmental summit in Copenhagen later this year.

Andreas Carlgren, Environment Minister for Sweden, told journalists at a meeting of EU energy and environment ministers that he welcomed US President Barack Obama's efforts to fight global warming but called on the US to do even more.

"We welcome that the ambitions have changed dramatically compared to the previous Administration, but still we expect more and we need more," he told reporters at a mountainside meeting held in central Sweden.

Sweden took over the six-month presidency of the European Union earlier this month and is helping to pave the way for tough talks on a major climate deal in Copenhagen this December which would replace the Kyoto Protocol after it expires in 2012.

The French government last month criticised the US and Canada for being too slow, saying they needed to do more to tackle greenhouse gases.

It warned that Canada and the US were not on course to cut emissions by the level needed, making it difficult for rich nations to meet the 25-40 per cent collective reduction in greenhouse gases recommended by a UN climate panel.

Mr Carlgren said it was encouraging that a Bill which seeks to reduce US emissions 17 per cent by 2020 and 83 per cent by 2050 from 2005 levels had already been approved by the House of Representatives and was on its way to the Senate.

But European member states have already agreed to slash carbon emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2020 from levels in 1990.

"We see within that Bill the possibilities of raising the ambitions, and we are really urging our American friends to raise their bids and make sure that they can commit to more," he said.