Reuters AlertNet Lite - Experts react to China's climate change plan

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Experts react to China's climate change plan

04 Jun 2007 07:17:51 GMT
Source: Reuters

BEIJING, June 4 (Reuters) - China released its first national plan on climate change on Monday, setting out goals for tackling global warming but stressing that rich nations must take the lead in cutting greenhouse gases.

Here are some comments from a senior climate official and other experts:

MA KAI, CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND REFORM COMMISSION, WHICH OVERSEES CHINESE CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY:

"The ramifications of limiting the development of developing countries would be even more serious than those from climate change."

"Our general stance is that China will not commit to any quantified emissions reduction targets, but that does not mean we will not assume responsibilities in responding to climate change."

On technology transfers from advanced countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: "We feel that there's been lots of thunder but little rain, lots of talk but little action."

WENRAN JIANG, EXPERT ON CHINESE ENERGY POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA:

"Expecting that China will be ranked with the U.S. as the two countries mostly responsible for global emissions, Beijing wants to put out a clear line of argument that China is not at the rank of the U.S. in terms of emission responsibilities. After much talk about a 'China energy threat', now Beijing sees the coming of talk of a 'China environment threat'."

ZOU JI, CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY EXPERT AT THE PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY OF CHINA IN BEIJING WHO ADVISED ON THE PLAN:

"The position that development shouldn't be sacrificed to climate change measures or emissions quotas is a basic national policy, and it's not going to change. But that doesn't mean there's not room for cooperation or negotiation. It does mean that cooperation has to be on the basis that economic development has to continue."

YANG AILUN, CLIMATE CHANGE CAMPAIGNER FOR GREENPEACE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP IN BEIJING:

"It is quite clear that what China is trying to do is on the one hand try to introduce ambitious domestic measures... but they are taking a very tough stance on international negotiations, like the way that Ma Kai was talking about historical and per-capita emissions."

LIU DESHUN, ENERGY EXPERT AT TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY IN BEIJING:

"This plan shows that while China is a developing country and it has no emission cuts obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, it is taking climate change very seriously and acting as a responsible great power.

"But we need clean energy sources -- clean coal, alternative energy -- to meet these objectives. If the West can provide advanced technology and funding support, then it will be much easier for China to achieve that transformation."

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Last updated:Mon Jun 4 07:19:23 2007