Nov 25 (Reuters) - The White House laid out the U.S. negotiating position on Wednesday for U.N. climate change talks in Copenhagen, pledging to cut emissions roughly 17 percent by 2020 compared to 2005 levels, in line with legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. President Barack Obama will attend the Copenhagen talks on Dec. 9, officials said. Below are the proposed figures and other elements of the U.S. proposals: EMISSIONS CUTS The United States will pledge to make the following cuts in its greenhouse gas emissions compared to a 2005 base year: -- an emissions reduction target "in the range of 17 percent" by 2020 -- a 30 percent emissions reduction in 2025 -- a 42 percent emissions reduction in 2030 Compared to 1990, the base year used by the European Union and many other developed countries, the figures correspond to: -- a 3 percent reduction in 2020 -- an 18 percent reduction in 2025 -- a 32 percent reduction in 2030 IN LINE WITH CONGRESS The Obama administration's hands have been tied in international negotiations because a domestic climate bill has not yet become law. The House of Representatives has passed its version, but a Senate bill is still languishing. The House passed a bill that sets a 17 percent reduction target for emissions by 2020 from 2005 levels. A Senate version is shooting for a 20 percent cut. The White House said its 2020 targets would be flexible based on the outcome of final legislation, but it chose the less ambitious 17 percent figure passed by the House to ensure its negotiating position would have lawmaker support. White House officials conferred with lawmakers before laying out the U.S. plans. CALLING ON CHINA, OTHER COUNTRIES White House officials said the U.S. proposal would come "in the context of an overall deal in Copenhagen that includes robust mitigation contributions from China and the other emerging economies." But the U.S. proposals are far lower than what the 27-nation European Union has called for. The EU is pledging a 20 percent emissions cut by 2020 compared to 1990 levels and has promised to change that to 30 percent if other rich nations follow suit. U.S. PLAYERS IN COPENHAGEN Obama will go to the Denmark talks on Dec. 9, right at the beginning of the two-week negotiating period. Other players slated to attend during the course of the talks include: -- Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson -- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar -- Commerce Secretary Gary Locke -- Energy Secretary Steven Chu -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack -- Assistant to the President Carol Browner and Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley - Climate negotiator Todd Stern and deputy national security adviser Michael Froman (Reporting by Jeff Mason in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham)((For more on the road to Copenhagen, see [ID:nLL527527] For an overview of climate change stories, click [nCLIMATE])) ((jeff.mason@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202 898 8392; Reuters Messaging: jeff.mason.reuters.com@reuters.net))
People fish in a lagoon in Patok near Tirana November 23, 2009. The beach at Patok is one of the areas where the effects of climate change can be seen in ...
