The environmental policy team put in place by President Barack Obama and the new administration's announcements of its plans for reducing polluting emissions have gladdened American environmentalists (see separate article). They are also welcomed in Europe, where it is hoped that these good intentions will be transformed into actions as swiftly as possible.

The climate, biodiversity and law of the sea are the points on which the European Union has the greatest expectations from the new US administration. President Obama "proposes a radically different policy and a re-engagement by the United States on the international scene, as borne out by several important declarations made since the presidential election," notes the European Commission.

Time is of the essence

The EU welcomes President Obama's proposed objective of an 80% reduction in American emissions by 2050 compared with 1990 levels and his intention to put in place an emissions ceiling scheme. It plans to discuss ways of attaining this long-term objective with the new administration. The Union, notes the Commission, aims to seal a global agreement in Copenhagen in December 2009: "Time is of the essence and all eyes are on the United States: we expect it to demonstrate the will to act both at home and abroad".

Washington will have a big job ahead drawing up, adopting and implementing its climate change legislation. That is not a prerequisite for a redefinition by the United States of the position it will defend internationally, but the United Nations interim meetings, scheduled in February and March, do not leave it much time to carry out the analyses and consultations necessary for shaping a new policy. "We hope that an American position will emerge in the coming weeks, particularly with regard to the intermediate stages necessary for achieving the long-term objectives announced," commented the Commission.

In this context, the carbon market plays an important role and the pooling of the European and American markets would create important leverage worldwide. The EU says it is willing to share its experience, especially on its emission trading scheme, and to review at an early date ways of developing technical cooperation. In any case, notes the Commission, "the Obama team tells us it is prepared to take up the gauntlet".

Threats to biodiversity

Although the international climate negotiations are the focus this year, it is important not to lose sight of other challenges, such as the irreversible and unprecedented biodiversity loss occurring globally. Both the United States and the EU have recognised that it is urgent to act more effectively than has been the case so far and both have adopted important domestic measures for the sustainable management and protection of biodiversity. The EU hopes that the United States will get things moving here too and ratify the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity at last. The Union also hopes to see progress on related matters, "on which there is a convergence of views," such as the reduction of biodiversity loss by 2010 and the future negotiations on charting a common 'post-2010' approach to this issue, particularly in the G8.

Protection of marine environment

Washington has hinted that it could ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Doing so would be an important step, because this convention looks likely to play a key role for the protection of the marine environment outside of US territorial waters. The EU acknowledges that the United States is in the forefront in terms of establishing protected zones in its own waters and would like to see the Americans and Europeans work together to extend these good practices globally.