EU urges US climate commitment

By Roger Harrabin Environment analyst, BBC News

EU leaders say the downturn is an opportunity to develop green energy

The EU is calling on President Barack Obama to cap US carbon emissions and sign up to a global system of carbon trading between rich nations.

The European Commission says America will need to join a carbon market charging firms for every tonne of pollution if the US is to raise the huge sums needed for combating climate change.

The Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas, said rich nations needed to raise 175bn euros (