TRAPPED: Climate change activists and volunteers gather to form a human sculpture of the shape of the earth trapped inside an hourglass in New York City's Central Park on September 20. The event came before heads of state meet at the UN to discuss climate change (XINHUA/AFP)

At the UN climate change summit on September 22, Chinese President Hu Jintao elaborated China's views on climate change. He called on the international community to strengthen cooperation in dealing with the challenges of climate change and contribute to the success of the Copenhagen conference.

If we look into the standpoints, policies and actions of the principals, it is clear that international climate change negotiations have become increasingly complex—a trend that makes people anxious about their prospects.

Weakening EU influence

The European Union (EU) has played a leading role in international climate change negotiations for years, and is the most active party in prompting the world to reach a new agreement at the Copenhagen conference.

However, its leading position is now severely challenged. For one thing, divergences are increasing among EU member states on key issues, including reduction commitment targets and emissions trading system reform. Although it passed an energy and climate package, vowing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020 compared with 1990 levels, the EU seems to have difficulty in maintaining a unanimous voice among its member states in the face of the economic downturn.

When it comes to goal setting and delegation of tasks, protectionism rises and divergences increase notably. East and Central European nations such as Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania, which are relatively less developed economically, call for full consideration of the differences in the economic conditions of the EU members.

Italy charges that the target of the EU program is set too high and will become a heavy burden on the economic development of the member states. Even Germany, which was the most active EU member in addressing climate change, now holds a conservative attitude. France and Britain, meanwhile, are sticking to the original goals and hoping other member states will adjust their standpoints.

U.S. ambitions for leadership

The United States seems poised to lead global climate negotiations. The Obama administration has clearly expressed that it will take actions to restore leadership in international climate change negotiations.

The White House is trying to urge the Congress to complete federal climate legislation. Its efforts have initially paid off with the passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 26.

At the same time, the United States is conducting close contact with developing powers such as China and India at various levels, seeking to establish bilateral cooperation in terms of clean energy and environmental protection.

The EU is unable to play a leading role in climate change negotiations without the support of developing countries. But the negotiation process it promotes has never produced substantive programs sufficient to win their trust.

The international community had expected former U.S. President George W. Bush to change the passive climate policies and negotiation standpoints of the United States to create a favorable atmosphere for the Copenhagen agenda.

Indeed, faced with internal and external pressures, Bush moved in this direction in the later period of his administration, though he refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol. President Barack Obama, however, has clearly expressed determination to reform U.S. climate policies.

The U.S. Congress also made an important breakthrough in legislation on climate change. The House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, albeit with the narrow margin of 219-212. This is the first significant achievement the United States has made since Congress launched legislation on climate change.