11/30/11 5:00pm

Article By: Marty Niland

Environmentalists and other countries are apparently unhappy with the way the United States is bargaining at the world climate talks in Durban, South Africa.

U.S. negotiators have said they prefer that countries pledge voluntary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, rather than a legally-binding deal. Now, green groups have written to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, urging her and the U.S. negotiating team in Durban to show more flexibility in supporting mandatory, long-range cuts and climate funding for emerging nations. "America risks being viewed not as a global leader on climate change, but as a major obstacle to progress," the letter states. It was signed by the leaders of 16 major U.S. nonprofits, including the Environmental Defense Fund, the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Meanwhile, The Associated Press Reports that foreign delegations are joining in the criticism of U.S. positions. "Developed countries as a whole are not taking climate change seriously as a global issue," said Seyni Nafo, of Mali. "Look at the U.S. We use and we welcome their leadership on democracy, on access to markets, on human rights issues. We would want to have the same leadership to tackle climate change, because for us in the developing world the biggest threat, the biggest enemy, is climate change."

But chief European Union negotiator Artur Runge-Metzger acknowledged that domestic political pressure from opponents of the Obama administration's previous climate policies could be keeping the U.S. from taking a stronger stance in Durban. "The U.S. could set a good example, but we all know the situation of the U.S. at home," he said. "It's very hard for the Obama administration to move forward with climate change because of the situation in Congress."