China will face challenges after Copenhagen conference
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The stories on Copenhagen conference I read recently weren't very positive about China. Developed and developing countries all identified China as the country which should accept most accountability on changing the course of global warming.
A Swedish delegate said in a speech yesterday that as half of the world's carbon emissions come from the United States and China they should shoulder responsibility based on their different abilities. The delegate believes United States and China will play crucial roles in reducing carbon emissions and hopes the two countries do more to combat climate change. The Swede expects the United States and all the other developed countries to make a legalized commitment to cut emissions. Meanwhile, it's hoped China will take some actions ratified by laws in the emissions cutting process.
In my opinion, China as a developing country should be treated differently from the United States. How can the delegate mention China together with the U.S.?
I also heard some stupid reports about the Chinese delegation this morning. Worse still an Indian delegate from a non-governmental organization (NGO) wrote on behalf of Global South on Can Talk urging China to do the right thing and take the leading role in Copenhagen. Since China and India are both developing powers, they are in the same boat; if China makes commitments, India should pledge with no exception.
We all expect great achievements from Copenhagen as well as a fair and rational agreement at the end of the conference. But this needs the efforts of all participants and depends on a leading performance from the developed countries.
Tomorrow is the last day of negotiations but the conference is still proceeding slowly. The documents have been discussed item by item and word by word. The delegates are acting like professional editors.
I attended a meeting at the conference in which the chairperson looked helpless when responding to tough questions raised by Russian delegates. "Who can help me?" the chairperson said many times while taking deep breaths. The work wasn't completed in the discussion this afternoon, the "editing" job will continue tomorrow.
I expect to listen to a speech by Premier Wen Jiabao tomorrow and I hope for a miracle.
(This post was first published in Chinese on December 18, 2009 and translated by Wu Jin.)
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