U.S. negotiator "not anticipating any change" in U.S. carbon target

COPENHAGEN, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. commitment on carbon emissions reduction will not change, the lead U.S. negotiator in UN climate talks said on Tuesday.

"I'm not anticipating any change" in the commitment that was announced by President Barack Obama a couple of weeks ago, Todd Stern told reporters here.

The United States has pledged to reduce its carbon emissions by17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020, equivalent to a reduction of 4 percent compared with 1990 levels.

Stern also defended U.S. efforts on cutting emissions, saying they are equal to or higher than those of the European Union and other developed countries by five out of six measures.