- Prospects, in US policy, for adopting and implementing forceful measures for addressing climate change are looking far better than at any time. However, some important circumstances affecting development remain stubbornly fixed.

This is one of the key messages from a new report delivered by SEI researcher Mikael Román and Marcus Carson from Department of Sociology, Stockholm University.

The report provides an analysis of climate policy prospects under the Obama administration and was produced for the Swedish Government's Sustainability Commission in preparation for the upcoming Swedish EU Presidency and the Swedish leadership of the COP15 EU delegation in December 2009.

Román and Carson argue that the Obama administration has already begun to demonstrate a keen interest in re-engaging energetically in international climate negotiations. However this is also conditional on whether the United States and countries like China, India and Brazil can reach agreement on how to proceed with firm commitments.

Download the report here (pdf)