Related News
China, EU sign emissions deal
Source: Agencies |
September 21, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA has struck a deal to work with the European Union to cut greenhouse gases through projects that include the development of Chinese emissions trading schemes, the European Commission said yesterday.
The European Union and China have had frequent clashes over climate policy and Beijing has flouted EU law requiring that airlines using European airports should pay for their emissions through the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme.
Andris Piebalgs, the EU's development commissioner, and Chen Deming, the Chinese commerce minister, signed a financing deal that will promote the transition "toward a low-carbon economy and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in China," the commission said in a statement.
Connie Hedegaard, the EU'S climate commissioner, said that the Chinese financing deal was "an important step for an ever closer cooperation toward a robust international carbon market."
In the statement, she said: "Needless to say that it makes a significant difference when now also China wants to use carbon markets to reduce emissions cost-effectively and boost low-carbon technologies."
The EU will contribute 25 million euros (US$33 million) and technical assistance over a four-year period to three carbon-reduction projects.
In addition to helping with the design and implementation of emissions trading schemes in China, the other projects are to assist Chinese cities in making efficient use of resources, to cut water and heavy-metal pollution, and to implement sustainable waste treatment policies.
China already has provincial emissions trading schemes and it is unclear whether further development of Chinese carbon trading would include aviation emissions.
The EU's decision to include aviation in its Emissions Trading Scheme has drawn international criticism and threats of a trade war.
All sides are now looking to the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization to come up with an alternative global scheme to curb airline emissions.
This, the EU says, would enable it to drop its requirements.
The international Kyoto system for cutting greenhouse gas emissions does not include aviation and progress has been slow in trying to extend the lifetime and scope of the Kyoto Protocol.
At climate change talks in Durban last year, the EU led efforts to get a tentative deal, bringing in all greenhouse gas emitters, including China, which had previously been excluded as an emerging nation.
The European Union and China have had frequent clashes over climate policy and Beijing has flouted EU law requiring that airlines using European airports should pay for their emissions through the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme.
Andris Piebalgs, the EU's development commissioner, and Chen Deming, the Chinese commerce minister, signed a financing deal that will promote the transition "toward a low-carbon economy and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in China," the commission said in a statement.
Connie Hedegaard, the EU'S climate commissioner, said that the Chinese financing deal was "an important step for an ever closer cooperation toward a robust international carbon market."
In the statement, she said: "Needless to say that it makes a significant difference when now also China wants to use carbon markets to reduce emissions cost-effectively and boost low-carbon technologies."
The EU will contribute 25 million euros (US$33 million) and technical assistance over a four-year period to three carbon-reduction projects.
In addition to helping with the design and implementation of emissions trading schemes in China, the other projects are to assist Chinese cities in making efficient use of resources, to cut water and heavy-metal pollution, and to implement sustainable waste treatment policies.
China already has provincial emissions trading schemes and it is unclear whether further development of Chinese carbon trading would include aviation emissions.
The EU's decision to include aviation in its Emissions Trading Scheme has drawn international criticism and threats of a trade war.
All sides are now looking to the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization to come up with an alternative global scheme to curb airline emissions.
This, the EU says, would enable it to drop its requirements.
The international Kyoto system for cutting greenhouse gas emissions does not include aviation and progress has been slow in trying to extend the lifetime and scope of the Kyoto Protocol.
At climate change talks in Durban last year, the EU led efforts to get a tentative deal, bringing in all greenhouse gas emitters, including China, which had previously been excluded as an emerging nation.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
