Brazil could cap its carbon dioxide emissions, limiting them to 2005 levels, the country’s environment minister said this week. His comments suggest that Brazil, one of the most important emerging economies, could be going to the Copenhagen talks in December with a serious commitment to put on the table.

That is particularly significant because, until now, Brazil has been reluctant to offer emissions cuts, preferring to talk about preventing deforestation. For the administration of president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and indeed for much of the Brazilian public, environmental issues have come a poor third to questions of social and economic development.