Will the NY climate summit change US emissions?

With world leaders meeting in New York at, what has been labelled in certain circles, as the last change to make breakthroughs before the Copenhagen summit in December, everyone is looking at the world's most developed countries to set an example in cutting carbon emissions and slowing down the rate of climate change.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has already said that a failure to reach agreement at December's climate talks in Copenhagen would be "morally inexcusable" and as such is hoping the New York talks will unveil new proposals to tackle climate change.

America and China have been earmarked as the two countries that are hoped to lead by example, not just because they are the two largest economies in the world, but also because they are the largest polluters.

President Obama has acknowledged that if a deal is going to be made, the world has to stand together, regardless of its emission output or state of development.

"The world cannot allow the old divisions that have characterized the climate debate for so many years to block our progress," Mr. Obama told the leaders gathered at the General Assembly hall.

"It is a journey that will require each of us to persevere through setback, and fight for every inch of progress, even when it comes in fits and starts," he said. He said the world had been too slow to recognize the gathering danger from rising temperatures. "It is true of my own country as well; we recognize that."

Along with China, the United States accounts for 20 percent of all emissions (40 percent between the two). As a result, President Obama said he was committed to the United States making its largest-ever investment in renewable energy, new standards for reducing pollution from vehicles and making clean energy profitable, among other initiatives.

He has announced a target of returning to 1990 levels of greenhouse emissions by 2020, but critics say Washington is moving too slowly on legislation which does not go far enough especially with the current health-care reform bill causing such a stir State-side.

America has already been leap-frogged by China in terms of renewable energy investment and today has the world's biggest wind power market and a fast-growing solar power sector. It is hoped that the Chinese President Hu Jintao will unveil further energy targets at the summit.

The BBC however has reported that it is unlikely that the Chinese will agree to a cap on their carbon emissions. Despite all its advances in green technology, China still gets 70 percent of its energy from coal - and as its economy increases, this will see a further increase in CO2 emissions.

True to his oratory skills, President Obama told reporters that he would ensure the gravity of the climate threat was taken seriously and he would act accordingly.

"If we are flexible and pragmatic; if we can resolve to work tirelessly in common effort, then we will achieve our common purpose: a world that is safer, cleaner, and healthier than the one we found; and a future that is worthy of our children," he said.

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