US Senators agree on framework for Climate Change Bill

Sending encouraging signal to the rest of the world, a bipartisan group of powerful US Senators today agreed on a framework for a climate change bill.

"It will also send a strong message to the world and to the world gathering at Copenhagen. That message is, the US Senate is committed to addressing this challenge, and the majority leader has committed us to do so early next spring," Senator John Kerry, Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters at a news conference here.

"We support a strong international agreement with action from all countries paired with strong financial support to assist developing countries to adapt to the impacts of global change, reduce emissions from deforestation and transition to a low-carbon future," Kerry said releasing the framework, which was also been sent to President Barack Obama.

Kerry's remarks came at a time when 192 members of the UN's Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are meeting in Copenhagen to discuss tackling climate change.

"Our framework embraces the President's and the House of Representatives' commitment to reduce emissions in the range of 17 per cent in the near term and at least 80 per cent by mid-century. This also reflects the agreement reached by the G-8 in Italy last summer," the Senator said.