Europe and the United States have unveiled a new era of energy cooperation between the two blocs as their leaders told a press conference that they had held a 'very productive' meeting on climate change ahead of the Copenhagen conference.

The US and EU announced the creation of a new Energy Council to develop cooperation in areas such as environmental and energy technology research and the deployment of environmentally friendly technology. It holds its first meeting on 4 November.

After a series of meetings on 2 and 3 November, President Barack Obama told reporters from the White House that it was 'imperative' for all countries to redouble efforts between now and Copenhagen to assure to create a 'framework for progress in dealing with what is a potential ecologic disaster.'

Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Prime Minister of Sweden, which holds the EU Presidency, said the two sides agreed on the need for a global agreement in Copenhagen to meet the two degree goal and present a solution for climate financing.

'The meeting was mainly a climate summit where we discussed how to bring about an agreement in Copenhagen,' he said. 'We have shown our political will and understand each others political processes. Now we will help drive those processes forward.'

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he was 'more confident now than in the days before' on the likelihood of achieving an agreement at Copenhagen.

'President Obama has changed the climate on climate negotiations,' he said. 'With the strong leadership of the US we can reach an agreement that we are working hard towards. We had a very good discussion on this today and it was a very productive meeting.'

A bill sponsored by Democrat Sernators Barbara Boxer and John Kerryproposing a 20% reduction of carbon pollution by 2020 from 2005 levels, which equates to a 7.3% cut from a 1990 baseline - the line used in the current talks - is currently going through the Senate.

Europe has already committed to achieve a 30% reduction in harmful emissions by 2020 compared to 1990 levels, as its conditional offer to a global and comprehensive agreement for the period beyond 2012.

Related links

Climate summit at the White House, Swedish Presidency of the European Union