Climate of cooperation

Prof Robert Watson is taking up his post as the new chief scientist at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He tells Natasha Gilbert what he wants to achieve The appointment of Prof Robert Watson as chief scientist at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) fortifies Gordon Brown's growing army of climate change experts in key science positions in government.

Top of his agenda is climate change, but he knows that to achieve any real progress, he faces the difficult task of convincing the US to share the vision.

"We can't become climate-friendly without the US and certainly not without India and China, especially because of their rapid economic growth," he says.

"My view is that without the US showing leadership along with the EU and Japan, China and India are going to say: 'You largely caused the problem, so why should we take on obligations when you, the US, are one of the richest countries in the world and we are still developing and have a lot of poor people'."

The targets set by the European Commission in January to reduce carbon emissions by 50-60% over the next 50 years are "exactly what we need", says the professor, "and the US has to be inline with those targets".

"If they do then I believe there will be a solid fighting chance we can bring India and China on board." Strong political and business partnerships will be key to finding solutions to emerging economies' growing appetites for energy while making headway on reducing carbon emissions, he says.

"We need really strong partnerships, both government to government and private sector to private sector, to work with India and China to meet their insatiable need for more energy - and they do need it for poverty alleviation and economic growth.