China is becoming more active in the battle to combat global warming by pressing for developed nations to share more “green†technology to the world’s poorest nations, and they want the world’s richest nations to pay for it.
A senior Chinese official for climate change policy, Gao Guangsheng, said that the current global economic crisis should not prevent Western nations from increasing funds and technologies to poorer nations.
“Developing countries should take action, but a prerequisite for this action is that developed countries provide funds and transfer technology,†Gao said in a recent press conference.
This shift in Chinese policy is seen by some observers as an indication that China is preparing to take a more active role in fighting global warming and climate change.
Traditionally China has adopted a passive and low key approach to international discussions and treaty negotiations on climate change.
“Developed countries’ funding to support developing countries response to climate change should reach 1 percent of the developed countries GNP,†said Gao. He also noted that the current funds available to fight climate change amounted to “virtually nothing.â€
China with it’s population of 1.3 billion, fast growing economy and expanding export capability has become the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases, surpassing the United States which had held that dubious distinction since the 1930s.
The current Kyoto Protocol gives China and other third world countries a pass on the responsibility of meeting specific goals to contain carbon emissions.
This gave the United States the rationale to avoid ratifying the Kyoto agreement arguing that the lack of emission caps on China and other developing third world carbon emitters made the agreement ineffective.
Officials are now saying that China may soon accept applying emission controls as they push to become more involved in climate control talks.
Gao suggested that his government would not be passive during future talks for a treaty that will replaced the Kyoto Agreement which expires in 2012. He indicated that China might not resist calls for emission targets if their call for more active financial aid and technologies is given serious consideration by Western nations.
China has long blamed their lack of an ability to control carbon dioxide from factories, power plants and vehicles on the failure of Western nations to provide promised technologies.
“The present mechanism is unsuited to the needs of addressing climate change,†said Gao. “Developed countries have not carried out their relevant commitments.â€
Western nations counter that there is a worry that China will abuse patents and say that China’s demands for technology transfer have been to vaque.
Gao is saying that China will address those concerns and offer stronger intellectual property protections.
All this shifting in climate change policy comes as the deadline for a new climate change agreement approaches. The new agreement will be finalized at a major international meeting scheduled for late next year in Copenhagen.
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