US willing to back binding climate 'obligations'

US officials say the nation is ready to accept "binding international obligations" on reducing greenhouse gas emissions if other nations do the same, writes BBC News’ Richard Black.

The comments came in a news conference in Paris given by James Connaughton and Daniel Price, environmental and economics advisers to President Bush.

The US hopes the world's major economies will conclude a "leaders' declaration" before the July G8 summit.

There was no indication of how much the US might be prepared to cut emissions.

But the Bush administration is clearly looking for some kind of binding commitment from major developing countries such as China, India and Brazil.

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