resident Hu Jintao of China told the UN climate change summit in New York that his country will increase their efforts to improve energy efficiency as well as cut CO2 emissions. He gave no details but stated that it would mean emissions would grow slower than the economy does. Of course, the US says that China’s proposals are helpful but they need more figures. About 100 leaders are attending the talks, ahead of the Copenhagen summit which is due to approve a new treaty.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said failure to agree a treaty in December would be “morally inexcusable”.  Negotiators for the Copenhagen summit are trying to agree on a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol to limit carbon emissions.

ANALYSIS

Shirong Chen, BBC China analyst

Change from Beijing is partly a reaction to international criticism as China becomes the world’s biggest polluter.  The country’s rapid economic growth has created demand for more energy and fuel. There is a growing need for Beijing to provide clear answers on what is being done to deal with the problem.  Image-conscious Chinese officials want to be seen as co-operative internationally and accept that China must become part of the solution to major global issues such as the financial crisis and climate change.

China’s climate policy shift

“Your decisions will have momentous consequences,” he told the assembled leaders.

‘Momentous consequences’

Mr. Ban called the meeting an attempt to inject momentum into the deadlocked climate talks.

“The fate of future generations, and the hopes and livelihoods of billions today, rest, literally, with you,” he added.

The Chinese president said his country’s cuts would be measured by unit of Gross Domestic Product.  He also pledged to “vigorously develop” renewable and nuclear energy.  He restated China’s position that developed nations needed to do more than developing nations to fight climate change because they were historically responsible for the problem.

“Developed countries should fulfill the task of emission reduction set in the Kyoto Protocol, continue to undertake substantial mid-term quantified emission reduction targets and support developing countries in countering climate change,” he said.

A US official said that China’s proposals were helpful but Beijing needed to provide figures.

“It depends on what the number is,” US President Barack Obama’s climate change envoy Todd Stern said, quoted by Reuters news agency.  In his speech to the meeting earlier, Mr. Obama said Americans understood the gravity of the climate threat and were determined to act, but there was much more work to be done.

“If we are flexible and pragmatic; if we can resolve to work tirelessly in common effort, then we will achieve our common purpose: a world that is safer, cleaner, and healthier than the one we found; and a future that is worthy of our children,” he said.

According to the BBC’s UN correspondent, Barbara Plett, discussions have stalled because rich nations are not pledging to cut enough carbon to take the world out of danger, while poorer countries are refusing to commit to binding caps, saying this would prevent them from developing their economies.

China’s role is crucial, because it is both an emerging economy and a big polluter, our correspondent says.  Despite all its advances in green technology, China still gets 70% of its energy from coal – and as its economy increases, this means yet more growth in greenhouse gases, our correspondent says.

For those businesses who want to go green . . . Whether you own and operate a small business or happen to be a large manufacturing firm specializing in the technology sector, you can find a wide and varied selection of top-of-the line, fully recyclable promotional bags which may be used for all of your public and private events, trade shows, educational seminars company off-sites     and special marketing or product launch campaigns; custom packaging products for shipping and storing with ease. There are also custom printed bags that will carry your product and showcase your brand with style as well as recyclable poly bags.

Pressure on US

There is also concern about the US.  President Obama has recognized climate change as a pressing issue, unlike the previous administration, our UN correspondent says.  He has already announced a target of returning to 1990 levels of greenhouse emissions by 2020, but critics say Washington is moving too slowly on legislation which does not go far enough.

President Obama is currently dogged by domestic issues such as the economy and healthcare reforms, but his speech to the UN meeting will still be watched for signs he is willing to fulfill his pledge to take the lead in reaching a global carbon deal.

If both China and the US demonstrate the political will a very important breakthrough in the deadlock in negotiations could be possible according to correspondents.  About 40% of the world’s greenhouse gas pollution from coal, oil, and natural gas is produced by China (20%) and the US (20%). The European Union is responsible for 14%, followed by Russia and India with 5% each.

___________________________________

My Take: Global warming is the problem of every human being on the planet! However, every human being on the planet doesn’t think it was their fault. They blame the government for everything that’s going wrong. Well, here in the US, the people are the government although they don’t think so.

Many people in the US are very conscious of global warming or as the article calls it, the greenhouse gas problem. These same people are taking steps to alleviate it. Unfortunately, the number of these people is not large enough for it to really affect global warming. More people need to become involved in this issue for it to really be turned around.

Problem is that many people would rather think of a simpler time in life when they did not have to worry about bills, pollution or health insurance. A time when they could look for wood propellers to use as ceiling fans in their family room or living room. A time to get wanted signs made up as jokes for friends and family.

____________________________________

Other Resources

Travel Time

One travel website provides the most valuable travel services for its customers like discount hotels and cheap airfare. No vacation or business trip can be successful without the help of a trustworthy travel agency and this is the best one around. They are here both to help you come up with a great goal for your vacation or business trip and to help you realize that goal by finding you cheap airline tickets.