China urges U.S. to increase Copenhagen offer: Reuters

china-urges-u-s-to-increase-copenhagen-offer-reuters Copenhagen – China said on Wednesday it wanted the United States to offer sharper carbon cuts by 2020, and President Barack Obama’s top aides promised “robust” engagement with world leaders at Copenhagen climate talks.

Success at the December 7-18 climate talks in Copenhagen, meant to agree the outline of a new treaty, will hinge on agreement between the United States and China which together emit 40 percent of global carbon dioxide.

Beijing’s top climate envoy Xie Zhenhua said the world’s biggest emitter wanted to play a constructive role.

Xie urged the United States to increase its planned cuts in carbon emissions by 2020 and said China could “discuss” a target to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 if developed nations sharpened carbon cuts and raised financial help.

“If the demands of developing countries can be satisfied I think we can discuss an emissions target” to halve global emissions by 2050, he said.

Developed nations want the world to agree a global halving of emissions to indicate that all are willing to take part in the climate change fight. Many developing nations say the rich have to commit to more first.

“I do hope that President Obama can bring a concrete contribution to Copenhagen,” Xie told Reuters. When asked whether that meant more than Obama’s existing proposal, a 3 percent cut of emissions by 2020 on 1990 levels, he said “Yes.”

The deputy chairman of the powerful economic planning superministry, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), rejected a U.N. proposal for $10 billion (6 billion pounds) per year financial aid for poorer nations from 2010-2012 as “not enough.” Continued…

9 December 2009

China urges U.S. to increase Copenhagen offer: Reuters

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