CHINA is asking developed countries to pay greater attention to fulfilling their environmental commitment rather than raise various unreasonable requirements which go against the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol on developing nations, Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Tong Xiaoling told The Brunei Times yesterday.
The Chinese Ambassador said the issue of climate change today was the result of cumulative CO2 emissions by developed countries in the process of their industrialisation over the past 100 to 200 years, and it would be unfair for developed countries to require China, India and some other developing countries to undertake similar obligations.
“In that sense, the developing countries are the victims, and therefore developed countries should take historical responsibilities on climate change,” she added.
China, the world’s third biggest economy and also the biggest developing country, is seeking a balance between economic growth and environmental protection.
Asked about China, India and other developing countries facing pressure from developed countries on setting higher emission cut target, the diplomat insisted any actions by the international community on climate change should observe the principles of “common but differentiated responsibilities” of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol, and honour the commitments of the Bali Roadmap.
“The UNFCCC clearly provides for the obligations which developed countries should undertake and the actions which they should adopt. This is not the proposition of developing countries, but a consensus reached by the international community including developed countries. Therefore, it is unfair for developed countries to require China, India and some other developing countries to undertake similar obligations to theirs,” she stressed.
In her opinion, the November 26 by China’s State Council on the country’s targets for the control of greenhouse gas emissions are both challenges and opportunities for China’s development in a sustainable manner.
China has vowed to cut CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 40-45 per cent by 2020 from the 2005 level. Likewise, its government has announced it would increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 15 per cent by 2020, and increase forest coverage by 40 million hectares and forest strick volume by 1.3 billion cubic metres by 2020 from 2005 levels.
“This is a voluntary action taken by the Chinese government and a major contribution to the global campaign against climate change. These targets have shown China’s utmost efforts and embodied the most sincere aspiration of the 1.3 billion Chinese people in addressing climate change,” the ambassador said.
The targets, announced for the first time by China, would be incorporated into its medium- and long-term national development plans, demonstrating its commitment towards environmental protection, she said.
Laws, regulations and standards will be formulated and fiscal, taxation, pricing and financial measures will be introduced to manage and facilitate the implementation of the targets.
More funds will be channelled to the research and development of energy-related and environment-friendly technologies. China will also strengthen joint efforts with the international community in sustainable development for the world.
Given the country’s huge population, prominent structural problems, coal-dominated energy consumption structure, and increasing demand for energy, “the Chinese government needs to make arduous efforts to realise all the targets,” Ambassador Tong said, adding that China being a developing country would meet various difficulties and challenges ahead.
Speaking on the eve of the UN Climate Change Conference 2009, the top Chinese diplomat in Brunei said her country’s position in the conference would be focused on making clear and specific arrangements for mitigation, adaptation, technology transfer and capital support.
The first objective is to establish quantified emission reduction targets for developed countries during Kyoto Protocol’s second commitment period and ensure those developed countries which have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol will undertake comparable emission reduction commitment.
Second on the agenda, will be to make effective mechanism arrangements and to ensure developed countries will fulfil their commitment of providing developing countries with capital, technology transfer and capacity building support.
The third objective will be for developing countries to adopt appropriate adaptation and mitigation efforts in line with their own national conditions under the framework of sustainable development, after receiving technology, capital and capacity building support from developed countries.
She stressed that no matter what form the final document would be carried in, it should comply with the provisions of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol, and should not deviate from the basic principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” or the mandate of the Bali Roadmap.
“The international community should implement their obligations and take actions in a highly responsible manner in order to protect the common interests of the whole humanity,” she said.
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