China raises pressure on climate change[fr][de] 

Rich nations should give between 0.5% and 1% of their annual economic worth to aid climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries, reads a statement by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), which oversees China's climate policy.

The calls are in line with China's submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) last month. It reinforces the message that developing nations such as China and India, although they are expanding rapidly, should not be forced to place a cap on their emissions. The NDRC argues that there needs to be a balance between development and climate efforts.

The document also sends a message to US President Barack Obama by stating that the new agreement must "ensure developed countries that have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol assume corresponding and comparable emissions reduction commitments". The US refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol under George W. Bush in the absence of emissions reduction targets for large developing countries.

So far, the EU is the only region that has made a binding commitment to cut its emissions, saying it will reduce them by 20% by 2020, and raise the bar to 30% if other rich countries match its offer. 

However, this figure now falls far short of Chinese demands which call for a 40% reduction.

The US climate bill, aimed to reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 17% below 2005 levels, passed the House energy committee vote yesterday (21 May). But this would do little more than stabilise emissions to 1990 levels.

Climate cooperation

Nevertheless, China has taken a generally cooperative line on climate negotiations, promising energy efficiency improvements and boosting renewable energies.

At the EU-China summit in Prague on Wednesday (20 May), Chinese officials predictably failed to answer Commission President Barroso’s demand that all major economies reveal the scale of emissions cuts that they are willing to make in view of a global agreement in Copenhagen.

"China stands ready to work with the European Union," Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told reporters but added that they should work according to "common but differentiated responsibility".

The two parties nevertheless agreed on cooperation to develop clean coal technology to curb emissions from China's coal-powered plants.

Climate plan

Moreover, China is working on developing its climate plan, which is meant to show the negotiating partners in Copenhagen that the country is serious about dealing with climate change.

"We are working on a further national plan based on a longer term in a bid to strengthen the enforcement of international treaties about the issue," Xie Zhenhua, China's chief climate negotiator, told Xinhua news agency.

The plan will focus on energy-saving measures, developing clean coal technology and reforestation activities, in order to tackle climate change while boosting economic growth, Xie said, He did not, however, give any figures for possible energy efficiency or emissions reduction targets.