The Obama Administration is uncharacteristically speaking with two voices on international climate policy.

Here is Todd Stern, special envoy on climate change for the State Department:

No deal will be possible if we don’t find a way forward with China

Here is Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy:

President Obama has made it clear that the US should act first. Using China as a reason not to act is no longer an option.

Predictably, Republicans have seized upon the apparent inconsistency. Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-PA) fired off a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton requesting the following:

Please clarify for the record that the State Department still leads the Administration’s international efforts on climate change. Please also clarify the position of the United States in the U.N. climate change negotiations that are to result in an agreed outcome in Copenhagen in December. Specifically, is the United States seeking “a strong new international agreement that will include significant commitments from all countries,” as articulated by Mr. Stern, or a “new global deal on climate change” without commitments by China and other developing countries, as articulated by Secretary Chu?

Please provide clarification of the Administration’s position on these critical matters by June 15, 2009.

I’m not sure what the odds are, but I’m taking Chu in a knockout.

H/T Environmental Capital