China unveiled its first climate change action plan on 3 June, while stressing it will not sacrifice its economic ambitions to international demands to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Speaking at the action plan鈥檚 launch, Ma Kai, director of China鈥檚 National Development and Reform Commission 鈥� which steers climate change policy 鈥� said that the nation must address climate change in order to sustainably develop its economy.
鈥淚mplementing a climate change containment policy may cost a fortune, but the cost will be even higher if we delay. Early action is imperative,鈥� he said, echoing the messages of the Stern Report on climate change and the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
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But he also said that China would not commit to quantified limits on its greenhouse-gas emissions.
鈥淭he ramifications of limiting the development of developing countries would be even more serious than those from climate change,鈥� said Ma. 鈥淐hina will not commit to any quantified emissions reduction targets, but that does not mean we will not assume responsibilities in responding to climate change.鈥�
鈥淚ncreased seriousness鈥�
The full text of the 62-page climate change action plan has not been released. According to the state-owned news outlet Xinhua, the plan proposes to combat global warming by generating more renewable and nuclear energy, and increasing energy efficiency.
It is also thought to support clean transport, recycling in industry, 鈥渟tress-resistant鈥� crops and shore walls to withstand rising seas, and to state that the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will head a 鈥渘ational leading group鈥� to orchestrate climate change policy.
The creation of the new group 鈥渋ndicates increased seriousness about the climate change issue鈥�, according to Gorild Heggelund, who analyses Chinese global warming policy at the Fridjof Nansen Institute in Norway.
At the launch, Ma said that rich countries had shifted manufacturing to poor nations like China and then blamed them for rising pollution, while dragging their feet over promises to share clean technology.
Kyoto rival?
On Thursday 31 May, George W. Bush called for the 15 most-polluting countries to meet later in 2007 to agree on a strategy for limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
In the same speech, he underlined his belief in developing 鈥済reen鈥� technologies and transferring them to developing countries to help them develop sustainably.
China welcomed Bush鈥檚 speech as a 鈥減ositive change鈥�, but joined several European leaders in calling for a single global approach.
Some critics fear Bush鈥檚 proposal for separate talks could rival the efforts of the United Nations, which governs the Kyoto protocol. Ma said they should be a 鈥渉elpful complement, not a substitute鈥�.
India has also said that it is willing to cooperate with other governments on the issue of climate change, but will not accept equal responsibility to developed nations.
鈥淲e are willing to work in partnership in this process to cut emissions, but we cannot accept equal responsibility,鈥� a top Indian foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
Climate Change 鈥� Want to know more about global warming: the science, impacts and political debate? Visit our continually updated special report.
