Ban: China an example in fighting climate change

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-11 10:06

POZNAN, Poland -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday described China as an example in fighting climate change at a meeting with the head of the Chinese delegation to UN climate talks here.

China has been coping with climate change in a positive way and worked out a national climate strategy to address the problem by its own, thereby setting an example for other countries to follow, Ban told Xie Zhenhua, vice director of China's National Development and Reform Commission.

The UN chief, who is in the central Polish town of Poznan for the ministerial meeting on climate change, said China has been playing a positive and constructive role in the Poznan talks.

Ban said the Poznan climate talks are crucial to the Copenhagen meeting next December and parties need to agree on three key issues -- a long- and mid-term emission reduction targets for developed countries, more fund to help the world economy transform to a low-carbon mode, and adaptation to climate change.

Ban said he hoped the adaptation fund to help poor countries tackle the adverse effects of climate change can be launched as soon as possible.

Xie underlined the UN's role in addressing climate change, saying the world body has been wielding political influence to promote cooperation worldwide.

China has raised a number of proposals in mitigation, adaptation and technology transfer, a move that demonstrates China's support for and involvement in international cooperation in tackling climate change, Xie said.

He said developed countries should take the lead in the global fight against climate change by cutting 25-40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions below the 1990 levels by 2020.

"Without a mid-term target, any long-term goal for fighting climate change is meaningless," Xie said.

China spared no efforts in saving energy, improving energy efficiency and expanding the use of renewable energies in 2007, which was enough to offset the emissions of 835 million tons of carbon dioxide that year, he added.