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China offers proposal on tackling global climate change

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-10 15:52

Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo on Thursday offered a three-point proposal on the global fight against climate change.

In a speech at the leaders' meeting of a forum of major economies on energy security and climate change, Dai said that firstly, the right principle should be upheld in tackling climate change.

Dai, attending the meeting on behalf of Chinese President Hu Jintao, said the cooperation among countries is indispensable for the fight against climate change.

He called for unswerving implementation of the principle of "common but differentiated responsibility" established by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), since it is the guideline of international cooperation to cope with the challenge.

The State councilor said that developed countries should take the lead in reducing emissions to honor their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol for the first commitment period.

The developed countries should also set a medium-term emission reduction target after 2012, when the first commitment period expires, Dai said.

He added that the developing countries, within the framework of sustainable development, should also take active measures to make due contributions to emissions cut.

Secondly, the spreading of technologies should be reinforced, said the state councilor. He called for the building of environment-friendly and energy-saving societies, technology promotion, energy optimization and strengthening environmental protection.

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He expressed the hope that all parties concerned, especially the developed countries, will support a proposal by the Group of 77 and China in Bali in 2007, which called on the developed countries to take concrete actions to help the developing countries fight climate change by providing them with funds and technology.

No countries should resort to any forms of protectionism under the excuse of tackling climate change and developing low-carbon economy, Dai said.

Thirdly, a solid foundation should be strengthened, he said. Dai said that economic development is the key to the fight against climate change and efforts to tackle the challenge would be in vain without the economic development of the developing countries.

The UNFCCC stipulates that economic and social development and poverty elimination are the primary tasks of the developing countries that have signed the convention, Dai said.

Therefore, actions to deal with climate change should promote rather than hinder the economic development of the developing countries.

For the time being, it is imperative for the developed countries to offer support for the sustainable development of the developing ones to inject new vigor into international cooperation, Dai said.

Leaders of the G8 industrialized countries and five leading emerging economies -- India, China, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa -- met on Thursday to discuss economic issues, climate change, trade and other international issues.