Platts quoted Mr Nobuo Tanaka executive director of International Energy Agency as saying that the US is the key to unlocking the deadlock in UN climate change talks that seek to secure a new deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol.

Mr Tanaka said that "The important thing everybody is talking about is how the United States comes to UN climate negotiations under the new administration. That's the biggest element for the final conclusion of the December 2009 talks in Copenhagen."

He added that until the new administration of US President elect Mr Barack Obama takes office in January 2009, it is unlikely significant progress on a post Kyoto deal would be forthcoming.

He said that "I cannot really tell you what they are aiming at. Probably this is still the roadway to Copenhagen, so it's not necessarily that they are aiming to achieve something very concrete in Poznan."

Mr Tanaka said that "The US position is that they have to enact domestically first and then come to the international negotiating table. So can they deliver as such, or can they take a different path? That is a big question for the success for Copenhagen and we don't have much time."