China has been contributing actively to international efforts to fight climate change, UN Environment Program (UNEP) chief Achim Steiner has said.

 

"What is interesting and also encouraging is that in the last few years China has become much more active in international discussions and the search for solutions (to climate change) as a proactive player, as a contributor of ideas and in putting forward proposals," Steiner said recently.

 

"In the past three to five years, China has become very active in looking at the whole issue of greenhouse gas emissions, the impact of climate change, and the contribution that China will make to global warming," he said. "This is something the international community and the UN welcome very much." 

 

The National Climate Change Program (NCCP), released by China in June, sends out a "tremendous signal" that it is both willing and interested in playing an active global role to fight climate change. Steiner hoped that the targets set in the program would be achieved.

 

China has pledged to sincerely carry out all the tasks laid out in NCCP, strive to build a resource conservative and environmentally friendly society, increase national capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change, to make contribute further to the protection of the environment.

 

Among the targets set in the program are an estimated 20 percent cut in energy consumption per unit GDP by 2010 and raising the proportion of renewable energy, including large-scale hydropower, in primary energy supply up to 10 percent by 2010.

 

China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Liu Zhenmin reiterated that "subsistence and "development emissions" of developing countries should be accommodated into the plan, and the "luxury emissions" of the rich countries should be restricted.

 

Emphasizing the principles of equity and "common but differentiated responsibilities", Liu urged developed countries to "shoulder in good faith their historical and present responsibilities".

 

"For developing countries, economic development and poverty eradication are overriding priorities," Liu said at an informal debate of the UN General Assembly on climate change.

 

"In fulfilling these tasks, controlling greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the negative impact of climate change to the greatest extent will also contribute to achieving sustainable development," he said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2007)