Stick to the green commitment
- Source: Global Times
- [00:56 December 11 2009]
- Comments
The climate change summit is headed to a chaotic ending with a clandestine document of the developed countries trying to dodge the Kyoto Protocol obligations being exposed publicly.
The covert action is not surprising. Despite being hyped as the "best and last chance of saving the Earth," disagreements between the rich and the poorer countries have been evident since the beginning of the summit.
In Copenhagen, developed countries have two options: Stick to their unrealistic agenda and continue pressing developing countries; or recognize the situation of developing countries, make due concessions, take more responsibility, and help reach an agreement acceptable to all.
If developed countries keep on thinking that technological and capital support to developing countries is charity instead of their legal obligation, and climate change issue has to be solved on their terms, that is a wishful thinking. Such selfishness is unacceptable, as it will destroy all efforts the world has made previously on cutting emission.
That is not the result China would like to see, though perhaps it needs to be prepared for the worst scenario of the summit falling apart.
Regardless of whether the summit leads to any concrete result, China will stick to its commitment, made in recognition of its national situation, and not in response to pressure from any developed country.
The emission cutting commitment China has made is to share the obligation with every other country to make a greener world possible, but is also in line with the "scientific development concept," a goal the Chinese government is promoting vigorously to advance the economy without sacrificing the environment.
Environmental deterioration has become a major public concern in China, and caused serious social discontent as well in recent years.
The government has to respond to the growing public awareness of environmental issues, especially people's concern over their immediate surroundings.
By making an open pledge to the world community, China has taken the onus on itself to transform the traditional way of growth. Low-carbon is now at the center of economic growth.
The prevalent pressure of feeding the entire population and meeting the growing demands of the population do not allow China to make large-scale emission cutting pledge. Even the carbon intensity reduction, perhaps, means that overall emission may increase for some time.
As a manufacturing giant, China has shown the world its seriousness in protecting the Earth. No matter how the world reacts, the commitment means a lot to people at home.
