US and China to reduce emissions, but not enough

AMSTERDAM (AP) — From Beijing to Trinidad, governments are huddling to plan their negotiating strategies at next month's climate summit.

Promises by the U.S. and China to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are adding needed momentum as governments begin final preparations for the 192-nation conference in Copenhagen, where parameters will be set for a new climate change agreement.

Still, the world's combined pledges fall far short of what experts say is needed to avert dangerous global warming.

Scientists say the industrial countries must slash carbon emissions by 25 to 40 percent by 2020 below 1990 to prevent the Earth from adding two degrees Centigrade (3.6F), the maximum considered safe.

In addition, a U.N. climate panel says developing countries need to lower their emissions growth by 15 to 30 percent from business as usual.