U.S. tells U.N. it may shift climate policy

By Gerard Wynn

LONDON (Reuters) - A speech by President George W. Bush on Thursday could signal a shift in U.S. climate policy, White House officials told the U.N. climate change chief Yvo de Boer.

The United States has until now rejected greenhouse gas emissions targets and timetables. Earlier this month it rejected starting talks in Indonesia in December on a new global climate deal to extend the Kyoto Protocol after 2012.

On Thursday, Bush said the United States would work with other nations on a post-Kyoto framework.

"White House staff said that this could result in a policy shift," de Boer told Reuters.

"I asked White House representatives does this mean you're in favour of launching negotiations in Bali (this December) and they said in a way discussions had already started.

"It's imperative in Bali we launch negotiations on a post-2012 climate policy."

Bush outlined plans for meetings this year extending into next year, without specific reference to the U.N. talks in Bali.

De Boer's support depended on those talks remaining within the U.N. multilateral process, he said.