Policies on CO2 emission

Policies on CO₂ emission

Policies for reducing the emission of CO₂ per se are still under negotiation among nations. China appears to be more concerned with the problems of air and water pollution since the CO₂ emission problem is less urgent for China. A recent expression of China’s policy of limited involvement in the prevention of global warming is a statement of President Hu Jintao on Thursday June 7, 2007, during the G8 meetings in Germany that calls for upholding the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" for developing countries in tackling climate change. "We should work together to make sure the international community upholds the goals and framework established in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol [in 1997] and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities” while developing countries should also carry out "active, practical and effective cooperation…Considering both historical responsibility and current capability, developed countries should take the lead in reducing carbon emission and help developing countries ease and adapt to climate change… For developing countries, achieving economic growth and improving the lives of our people are top priorities. At the same time, we also need to make every effort to pursue sustainable development in accordance with our national conditions."

Climate change, which could cause swelling sea levels and climate swings, was a major issue at the G8 summit from June 6 to June 8, 2007. Kyoto Protocol which requires industrialized countries to cut greenhouse gas emission by 5 percent from 1990 levels will expire in 2012. Parties concerned hope to launch negotiations for its replacement at an early date. Skepticism, however, was evident at the summit for reaching a fixed, quantifiable targets for reducing the greenhouse gas emission. (See People’s Daily Online, June 8, 2007).