| China has raised the stakes in the
game of 'climate poker' being played in Durban by affirming
publicly - and for the first time - that it would be willing
to sign up for a legally-binding international agreement to
combat global warming.
China’s chief negotiator, Xie Zhenhua, told a packed press
briefing that his country, the world’s number one carbon emitter,
would be prepared to negotiate such a deal - if the EU and
others renewed the Kyoto protocol.
Mr Xie, who is vice-chairman of China’s National Development
and Reform Commission, spelled out a number of other conditions,
including the delivery of promised aid to poorer developing
countries to help them cope with the impacts of climate change.
He said China has “deeply suffered from climate change and
fully understands the losses suffered by less-developed countries
and small island states”, which are pushing hard for a deal
in Durban that would result in a treaty being adopted in 2015.
China also favours a more robust international framework
for reporting on greenhouse-gas emissions, a scientific review
of the voluntary pledges made in Copenhagen two years ago
and recognition of “common, but differentiated responsibilities”.
Mr Xie described the renewal of Kyoto, which is due to expire
next year, as “the most important issue of Durban”. However,
the EU is almost alone in its willingness to renew the protocol,
subject to others agreeing to a 'roadmap' towards a
new treaty in 2015.
Asked about China’s reaction to the fact that Japan, Russia
and Canada have said they would not sign up for a renewal
of Kyoto - thereby reducing by half the volume of emissions
it would cover - Mr Xie said - “I hope these countries can
find the right position for themselves”.
Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the South African minister for international
relations who is presiding at the UN conference, welcomed
the progress made before ministers arrived. “China is laying
its cards on the table and I’m sure others will be doing that
too.”
However, JM Muskar, head of the Indian delegation, said the
objective should not be to launch negotiations for a new treaty,
but rather to “enhance implementation of the principles and
provisions of the existing and valid climate treaty” - in
other words, Kyoto.
US special envoy for climate change Todd Stern, who has been
holding informal meetings with other parties in Durban, said
he hadn’t talked to Mr Xie yet, but intended seeing him to
discuss the “balanced package” Durban should produce.
Responding to questions from reporters, Mr Stern said - “China
and the US are not at loggerheads at all. We see eye-to-eye
and have a good relationship on this issue.” However he said
the US did not favour a “Swiss cheese kind of agreement” that
would be full of holes.
“What matters - and this is going to be absolutely critical
- is that all the major players, including China, are going
to have to be in [any binding international agreement] with
obligations, commitments with the same legal force, not conditional
on financing and no trap-doors.”
Nicholas Stern, who produced an influential report on the
economics of climate change in 2006, said a “new-energy industrial
revolution” was required to achieve “radical” cuts in emissions,
if the world was to have a chance of containing global warming.
Source - The Irish Times
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