Obama urged to increase offer
By Gerard Wynn |
December 10, 2009, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA urged United States President Barack Obama to increase an American offer to cut carbon emissions but its top climate envoy indicated willingness yesterday to compromise at the United Nations conference in Copenhagen.
Xie Zhenhua said China wanted to play a constructive role at the December 7-18 climate talks.
"I do hope that President Obama can bring a concrete contribution to Copenhagen," Xie told Reuters.
When asked whether that meant something additional to what Obama has proposed, a 3-percent cut on 1990 levels by 2020, he said: "Yes."
Xie also said China could accept a target to halve global emissions by 2050 if developed nations stepped up their emission-cutting targets by 2020 and agreed to financial help for the developing world to fight climate change.
"We do not deny the importance of a long-term target but I think a mid-term target is more important," Xie said.
"We need to solve the immediate problem,'' he said.
"If the demands of developing countries can be satisfied I think we can discuss an emissions target."
Xie, deputy chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, said rich countries should cut emissions by 25-40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.
"It is our hope that the emissions cuts of developed countries can fall into the range of 25-40 percent below 1990 levels," he said.
Xie said that he preferred a final, legally binding agreement at the meeting in Copenhagen, but if that were not possible a deadline to wrap up a full treaty by June "would be very good."
He rejected a UN proposal for fast-track funding of US$10 billion a year from 2010-2012 as "not enough."
Xie Zhenhua said China wanted to play a constructive role at the December 7-18 climate talks.
"I do hope that President Obama can bring a concrete contribution to Copenhagen," Xie told Reuters.
When asked whether that meant something additional to what Obama has proposed, a 3-percent cut on 1990 levels by 2020, he said: "Yes."
Xie also said China could accept a target to halve global emissions by 2050 if developed nations stepped up their emission-cutting targets by 2020 and agreed to financial help for the developing world to fight climate change.
"We do not deny the importance of a long-term target but I think a mid-term target is more important," Xie said.
"We need to solve the immediate problem,'' he said.
"If the demands of developing countries can be satisfied I think we can discuss an emissions target."
Xie, deputy chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, said rich countries should cut emissions by 25-40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.
"It is our hope that the emissions cuts of developed countries can fall into the range of 25-40 percent below 1990 levels," he said.
Xie said that he preferred a final, legally binding agreement at the meeting in Copenhagen, but if that were not possible a deadline to wrap up a full treaty by June "would be very good."
He rejected a UN proposal for fast-track funding of US$10 billion a year from 2010-2012 as "not enough."
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