News from elsewhere

US domestic politics is an ever-present influence here in Bali. Every delegation - whether or not it approves of current Bush administration climate policy - is inevitably looking towards 2009 when a new President will take office.

A harbinger of change is a flurry of activity in the US Congress and Senate. Late last night, the Lieberman-Warner climate change bill finally made it out of a Senate committee, and is now headed for a full debate on the floor.

The bill's supporters are jubilant. John Warner, a Republican and one of two co-sponsors, believes that it is time for the US to take a leadership role on the issue. "If we don't act, China and India will simply hide behind America's skirts of inaction," he says.

Barbara Boxer, meanwhile, chair of the Senate's environmental committee, described the proposed legislation as ‘the most far reaching global warming bill in the world.' For detailed coverage of the bill, and what it means, Brian Beutler has the goodies.

While the US delegation seemed a little unsure of how to respond to the news, Yvo de Boer, UNFCCC executive secretary, appeared delighted by what he described the mandatory cuts it contains as a ‘very encouraging sign.'

I'll be covering this issue in more detail as an army of US senators and representatives descends on Bali next week...