On Monday, China fully laid out its stand on climate change,
calling on industrialized nations to lead the way in tackling the
problem.
"To deal with climate change is a systematic and integrated work
and requires the international community to enhance cooperation and
make joint efforts," said Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan.
While meeting with UN special envoy on climate change, Han
Seung-soo, Tang elaborated on the nation's viewpoints and plans for
the issue, as China faces increasing pressure to take up more
responsibility.
Han Seung-soo, the current South Korean Foreign Minister, is one
of three special envoys on climate change appointed by UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to meet with national leaders and
consult with them on solutions to global warming.
During the meeting, Tang outlined that developed nations should
primarily bear the brunt of greenhouse gas emission reductions and
aid developing countries with technology transfer and capital,
while these countries hold a steady course of sustainable
development.
"Developed nations have both responsibility and capability to
contribute more to climate change," said Tang. "Only when the
developed and developing nations work together can climate change
truly be solved," he added.
Tang added that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
touted the principle of "common but differentiated
responsibilities" which provides a blueprint for international
cooperation in this area. He then developed this idea, stating that
any climate change scenario should be created whilst accounting for
varying national and developmental climates in different
countries.
The Chinese government has set a goal of reducing energy
consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 20 percent by
2010, while pollutant discharges should drop by 10 percent.
In early May, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged industries with higher energy
expenditure and higher pollution rates to actively curb these
trends in order that the national economic growth maybe both be
expedient and healthy.
Wen also said global climate change is an immediate problem and
that coal-dependant China must play its part in slashing
emissions.
China supports the UN's active role in dealing with climate
change, hoping the UN can help lead the next generation of gas
emission reduction regulations after the Kyoto Protocol expires in
2012, said Tang.
UN envoy Han Seung-soo praised China for its responsible role in
fighting climate change and echoed Tang in calling for
international cooperation to end this global menace.
(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2007)
