China has been contributing actively to international efforts to
fight climate change, UN Environment Program (UNEP) chief Achim
Steiner has said.
"What is interesting and also encouraging is that in the last
few years China has become much more active in international
discussions and the search for solutions (to climate change) as a
proactive player, as a contributor of ideas and in putting forward
proposals," Steiner said recently.
"In the past three to five years, China has become very active
in looking at the whole issue of greenhouse gas emissions, the
impact of climate change, and the contribution that China will make
to global warming," he said. "This is something the international
community and the UN welcome very much."?
The National Climate Change Program (NCCP),
released by China in June, sends out a "tremendous signal" that it
is both willing and interested in playing an active global role to
fight climate change. Steiner hoped that the targets set in the
program would be achieved.
China has pledged to sincerely carry out all the tasks laid out
in NCCP, strive to build a resource conservative and
environmentally friendly society, increase national capacity to
mitigate and adapt to climate change, to make contribute further to
the protection of the environment.
Among the targets set in the program are an estimated 20 percent
cut in energy consumption per unit GDP by 2010 and raising the
proportion of renewable energy, including large-scale hydropower,
in primary energy supply up to 10 percent by 2010.
China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Liu Zhenmin
reiterated that "subsistence and "development emissions" of
developing countries should be accommodated into the plan, and the
"luxury emissions" of the rich countries should be restricted.
Emphasizing the principles of equity and "common but
differentiated responsibilities", Liu urged developed countries to
"shoulder in good faith their historical and present
responsibilities".
"For developing countries, economic development and poverty
eradication are overriding priorities," Liu said at an informal
debate of the UN General Assembly on climate change.
"In fulfilling these tasks, controlling greenhouse gas emissions
and adapting to the negative impact of climate change to the
greatest extent will also contribute to achieving sustainable
development," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2007)
