China to play active role in climate change, enhance cooperation

COOPERATION WITH ALL PARTIES

The World Bank would continue to be a strong partner of China, with the country's commitment and leadership on climate changes issues, Laura Tuck, vice president for sustainable development of the World Bank, said Friday.

In an interview with Xinhua, Tuck hailed China's effort on climate issues, praising its impressive National Determined Contributions targets for 2030, which will take a variety of measures to achieve, among them the planned Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Tuck said the ETS China will be worth 50 billion US dollars, the largest in the global range.

"The scale of the ETS China would be an inspiration for the countries and it has the potential to change investment and consumption decisions made by individuals and that can lead to a much lower-carbon economy," said Tuck, adding that it could be a model.

Meanwhile, members of the European Parliament on Friday urged the European Union and China to join forces at COP22.

"In Paris, China and the EU played a key role of honest brokers among different 'camps' during negotiations. That contributed to the final conclusion of the ground-breaking agreement," said Jo Leinen, chair of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with China.

The historic Paris Agreement, adopted in December 2015, has been ratified by 96 countries and the EU, and entered info force on Nov 4.

Under the agreement, nations have agreed to combat climate change and to unleash actions and investment toward a low-carbon, resilient and sustainable future.

"In Marrakech, we will have to work on the implementation of the Paris Agreement. We shall also work to consolidate the trust between developed and developing countries," said Giovanni La Via, chair of the European Parliament's delegation to COP22.

"China is expected to line up with the EU. These two global powers should assume their responsibility by forming a new coalition with the aim of fighting for a progressive global climate policy," Leinen said.