Call it the Obama effect or a last minute face saving tactic but the Obama Administration made it clear that it is willing to include national mitigation measures announced by the advanced developing countries in the international climate treaty to be discussed at Copenhagen next month.

In a joint statement the US and Chinese officials announced that the new climate treaty should be based on ‘common but differentiated responsibility’. This is the first time that the United States has agreed for different climate goals for developed and developing countries.

[B]oth sides believe that, while striving for final legal agreement, an agreed outcome at Copenhagen should, based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, include emission reduction targets of developed countries and nationally appropriate mitigation actions of developing countries.

During the Bangkok round of negotiations the US and EU negotiators raised objections to the principles agreed upon in the Kyoto Protocol and Bali Climate Convention which said that there will be clear distinction between the mitigation measures of developing and developed countries. It was surprising to see US, EU raise objections to the Bali agreement as it was unanimous. But the move could be explained as a diversion tactic by the US as it was under pressure to give solid numbers regarding emission reductions.

The Obama Administration officials have made it clear that a final climate treaty can only be reached in 2010. The possibility of an official agreement was already bleak given the US Congress’ failure to approve the climate change bill which includes emission reduction targets along with carbon trading mechanisms. Commitments from the US are crucial for the climate treaty as it failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

President Obama said that the new climate treaty must be an effective one which could produce quick and positive results. Although the chances of a final deal at Copenhagen are bleak it’s good to see that the developed and developing countries working to reach on an agreement on the principles of the climate treaty.

Former chief economist of the World Bank Nicolas Stern proposed a logical approach to distribute the responsibilities among developed and developing countries. According to the proposal, developed countries would take up mandatory emission targets probably in line with the IPCC recommendations (25-40 percent reduction by 2020) while the developing countries would reduce their carbon emissions through various mitigation measures which will be set up according to their own discretion.

China has announced 15% renewable energy target for 2020 and improving energy efficiency and energy intensity. China can announce sectoral emission targets during the Copenhagen meet. India’s Parliament will be debating an energy efficiency bill the month which will set stringent usage limits on various industries. Brazil has announced 40 percent emission reduction target by 2020, half of which will be achieved through forest conservation. South Korea has announced 30 percent emission reduction plan by 2020. South Africa and Indonesia are also planning to take up national emission reduction targets.

The issue now is accountability and monitoring. An efficient mechanism for reporting the progress and results of the mitigation measures must be a part of the climate treaty. The developed and developing countries must also agree on the issue of technology transfer and financing. The financing issue is closely integrated with the mitigation measures of developing countries as a major portion of these emission reduction will be financed by either direct aid or through carbon offset mechanisms.

These initiatives are more than welcome as they would not only push the developed countries to take up even more ambitious targets but would mean that the after the commitment period of the proposed climate treaty the developing countries will be be in an even better position to reduce their carbon emissions.

Yesterday the Nobel Peace Prize Committee awarded President Obama the Nobel Peace Prize for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama’s vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons… Thanks to Obama’s initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting.”

In the past, Nobel Prize winners have included Al Gore and the IPCC for their work on climate change and Wangari Maathai for her work on sustainable development and democracy building. These laureates were awarded the prize for their track record, rather than their stated intentions.

In fact, recent American actions and position in international negotiations on climate change seem to belie the Nobel committee’s laudatory words. And with the Climate Change and Energy Security bill stuck in Senate negotiations (and seemingly losing the push from the White House as Obama focuses on health care reform), the future of this piece of legislation is far from secure.

Rookie of the year, perhaps. Hall of fame, not quite yet.