Reuters – Updated on Jul 04, 2008
China says it is open to general discussion at the G8 summit on longer-term goals and industrial targets to combat global warming, but has deflected talk of pledges, stressing rich nations should lead the way.
China is not a member of the Group of Eight industrialised countries but President Hu Jintao is attending the talks around the gathering next week.
The G8 countries have been discussing whether to take on the medium-term targets, with China and other developing countries saying rich nations should make big cuts in the next few decades. An official in charge of steering China’s climate change policy said yesterday that his government was open to discussing commitments in the longer term, and Tokyo’s proposals for emissions goals for specific industries.
But the official, Su Wei, director-general of the Office of China’s Leading Group on Climate Change, said developed countries should show leadership also in transferring pollution-cutting technology. “China has a very open attitude towards discussing any issues about responding to climate change,” Mr Su said, while discouraging the idea China was considering specific international greenhouse goals.